10 Quotes From Harry Potter To Live Your Life By

I recently wrote about how Albus Dumbledore gives the best life advice. Seriously, that wizard should have his own talk show or something. And while I stand by my statement that he's the most qualified character in the Harry Potter series to be dishing out life lessons, that doesn't mean that the other characters aren't bringing anything to the table.

We've written in the past about how Harry Potter can help you cope with loss, or deal with growing up. Many of us grew up with series, and turned to it for comfort and advice when life got hard. Harry Potter taught me a lot: how to be brave, how to stay true to my convictions in the face of adversity, and how to make a potion that allows me to impersonate my enemies. You know, exactly what a young teenager needs to learn.

Whether you're 11 or 665 (I see you, Nicolas Flamel), there's a lot we can still learn from Harry Potter. Besides magical adventures and battles between good and evil, the series also provides a lot of pretty solid life advice, even if you are just a muggle. (Just kidding, dear readers, I would never call you muggles!)

"'Ginny!' said Mr. Weasley, flabbergasted. 'Haven't I taught you anything? What have I always told you? Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain?'"

— J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

This was possibly the most important lesson in the entire series, IMO. It's also easily the most relevant to your day-to-day life. Can you see where it keeps its brain? No? Don't trust it. Easy.

"'Me!' said Hermione. 'Books! And cleverness! There are more important things - friendship and bravery and - oh Harry - be careful!'"

— J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Not sure if I COMPLETELY agree that there's more to life than books, but I guess it's good to remember sometimes that there are important things beyond your gigantic library and incredible wit (maybe).

"'Are you sure you don't want me to help you look for your stuff?' he said.'Oh no,' said Luna. 'No, I think I'll just go down and have some pudding and wait for it all to turn up...It always does in the end.'"

— J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

It's like the Luna Lovegood version of "Keep Calm and Carry On": Eat some dessert and eventually everything will work itself out. I can totally get behind that life motto.

"'It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that.'"

— J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

While it can be fun to fantasize about your dream job, partner, or apartment (professional reader, David Tennant, someplace with lots of exposed brick, respectively), remember that it's more important to enjoy the things you actually have (even if that means no David Tennant).

"Don't let the muggles get you down!"

— J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Does this really require any further explanation?

"'The thing about growing up with Fred and George,' said Ginny thoughtfully, 'is that you sort of start thinking anything's possible if you've got enough nerve.'"

— J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Maybe you don't want to be exactly like Fred and George (it has to be kind of exhausting to be in that much trouble all of the time), but it's ok to get a little nervy every once and while when you need to.

"It is the unknown we fear when we look upon death and darkness, nothing more."

— J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Newsflash: life only gets MORE complicated as you get older, so it's nice to remember that a lot of what we fear is actually just the unknown. Unless you fear spiders, which as Harry Potter taught us is a totally legit fear.

"'HAVE YOU GONE MAD?" Ron bellowed. "ARE YOU A WITCH OR NOT?'"

— J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

I'm going to start whispering this to myself when I find myself faced with a problem that I don't think I can solve. Always remember: you ARE powerful enough to save your friends from the Devil's Snare.

"'What do I care how he looks? I am good-looking enough for both us, I theenk!'"

— J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

While it's tempting to focus on looks when you're 19 and hooking up with your hot-but-dumb classmate, as we grow up we find there are more important qualities in a partner than looks. So remember: date for personality, because you're pretty enough for the pair of you.

"'He - well,' Ron's ears turned bright red and he became engrossed in a tuft of grass at his feet, which he prodded with his toes,' he must've known I'd run out on you.''No,' Harry corrected him. 'He must've known you'd always want to come back."

— J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

We all make terrible mistakes, like leaving our friends in the middle of the woods while they're try to save the world from evil. The important thing is that we admit we're wrong, apologize, and come back to help them defeat the most evil wizard of all time.

Images: WiffleGif (10), Warner Brothers