“It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be.”

“You fail to recognize that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be!”

“You’re not supposed to dislike your own child. You were supposed to like them no matter what, even if they were not what you wanted.”

“She remembered telling a sturdy little girl in guidance that looks did not matter, that personality was much more important. What rubbish we tell children [...].”

“You are determined to hate him [Snape], Harry,” said Lupin with a faint smile. “And I understand; with James as your father, with Sirius as your godfather, you have inherited an old prejudice. By all means tell Dumbledore what you have told Arthur and me, but do not expect him to share your view of the matter; do not even expect him to be surprised by what you tell him. It might have been on Dumbledore’s orders that Severus questioned Draco.”

“He was born with a weakness he didn't know about.”

“I hope that even if you remember not a single word of mine, you remember those of Seneca, another of those old Romans I met when I fled down the Classics corridor, in retreat from career ladders, in search of ancient wisdom:As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters.”