Wisdom from Wizards (and the People Who Write About Them)

Monday Morning Match is a quick post – maybe a quote, inspirational story or idea – intended to spark some motivation inside each of you so your week gets off to a fantastic start on Monday morning.

Tomorrow (July 31st) will be author J. K Rowling’s birthday.

Many of you know her from her best-selling Harry Potter series which certainly helped young kids fall in love with reading long books. Or, if some of you are like me, this series helped parents of young kids read long books aloud (and it was important that the voices were correct each night!).

I just returned from a family vacation to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina so I had the chance to listen to a few of the Harry Potter movies in the car as my kids watched them on the DVD player in the back seat. It really was a great series that taught kids about teamwork, friendship, overcoming obstacles, reaching goals and enjoying yourself.

I thought for this week’s Monday Morning Match I’d share with you ten quotes said or written by J.K Rowling that I really think apply to what we seek to do every day: build relationships, solve problems and have fun.

Whether you have read any Harry Potter books or seen any of the movies, I’m sure these ten quotes will make you think. 

• “If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.”  – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• “It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.” ― Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
•  “It is my belief… that the truth is generally preferable to lies.” ― Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
•  “As much money and life as you could want! The two things most human beings would choose above all – the trouble is, humans do have a knack of choosing precisely those things that are worst for them.” – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

It is our choices…that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. – Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

•  “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
•  “People find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right.” – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
•  “Curiosity is not a sin…. But we should exercise caution with our curiosity… yes, indeed.” – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
•  “Books are like mirrors: if a fool looks in, you cannot expect a genius to look out.” – J.K. Rowling

It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default. – J.K. Rowling, Harvard University Commencement address 2008