25 Years Later, Dumbledore's Best Sorcerer's Stone Line Is Still The Greatest Harry Potter Quote

In the wizarding world of Harry Potter, Albus Dumbledore is often referred to as one of the wisest and most powerful wizards in history ... so, it's lucky for the titular boy wizard that Dumbledore just happens to be the headmaster of his magical academy. In the original Harry Potter film franchise (which is getting a new life, in a way, with the forthcoming HBO Harry Potter TV show), Harry Potter, as played by Daniel Radcliffe (who may not watch the HBO reboot series), leaves his humdrum life with his mean non-magical relatives behind and starts attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, run by Dumbledore (Richard Harris in the first two movies before the legendary actor passed away in 2002, at which point Michael Gambon took over). There, he meets his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger (Rupert Grint and Emma Watson), learns how to cast magic spells, and has his first encounter, so to speak, with the Dark Lord Voldemort who tried to kill him as a baby.

Let's all be honest: Dumbledore sort of gets all the best quotes in the Harry Potter franchise. After all, his entire purpose is to dispense wisdom, so he drops a lot of stone-cold bangers. But what's his most memorable quote from the first movie, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (which hit theaters on November 16, 2001)? We think we've pinpointed the perfect Dumbledore line from this film 25 years after its release.

During his first Christmas at Hogwarts, Harry receives the Cloak of Invisibility from an anonymous friend who leaves him a note telling Harry it belonged to his late father James. Emboldened by this gift, Harry starts exploring the halls of Hogwarts by night, and one evening, he stumbles upon a room containing a mirror that shows him not only James but his late mother, Lily, and even the extended family he never got a chance to meet. Understandably, the orphaned Harry becomes obsessed with visiting the mirror every night, and despite his confusion when Ron sees something completely different in said mirror, he returns until he finds Dumbledore waiting in the mirror's little room.

Dumbledore explains that it's called the Mirror of Erised, and it shows you your deepest desire. That's why Harry sees the family he never knew, and it's also why Dumbledore tells Harry, "It does not do to dwell on dreams, Harry, and forget to live." Dumbledore is right: Harry's devotion to seeing his family every night in the mirror is a short-term comfort that's terrible for the child's overall mental health, and even though Dumbledore tells him the mirror is moving to a different location anyway, Harry does promise not to look for it again.

Not only that, but in the third act of "Sorcerer's Stone" (as Harry looks for the titular object), we learn that the mirror is part of the defense system that keeps the Stone safe when Harry stares into it and receives the stone not to use but to have. In this way, Harry isn't dwelling on dreams, he's utilizing the mirror to achieve a vital goal.

• "Now if you two don't mind, I'm going to bed before either of you come up with another clever idea to get us killed — or worse, expelled." — Hermione Granger
• "This mirror gives us neither knowledge or truth. Men have wasted away in front of it, even gone mad." — Albus Dumbledore
• "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to your friends." — Albus Dumbledore
• "You're a wizard, Harry!" — Rubeus Hagrid
• "The wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Potter. It's not always clear why. But I think it is clear that we can expect great things from you. After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things. Terrible! Yes. But great." — Garrick Ollivander
• "I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death." — Severus Snape
• "Books and cleverness. There are more important things: friendship and bravery. And Harry, just be careful." — Hermione Granger
• "Only a person who wanted to find the Stone — find it, but not use it — would be able to get it. That is one of my more brilliant ideas. And between you and me, that is saying something." — Albus Dumbledore
• "Not Slytherin, eh? Are you sure? You could be great, you know. It's all here in your head. And Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, there's no doubt about that. No? Well if you're sure, better be ... GRYFFINDOR!" — The Sorting Hat
• "Stop, stop, stop! You're going to take someone's eye out. Besides, you're saying it wrong. It's LeviOsa, not LeviosAR!" — Hermoine Granger