38 Slytherin Quotes for the Aspirational and Cunning

Voldemort, Bellatrix, and the deeply hated Dolores Umbridge, all dark wizards, hail from the house of Slytherin. However, others have either simply been good or possessed redeeming qualities that are said to prove that this house is nuanced and misunderstood. Read these 37 quotes and make up your mind.

Any "Harry Potter" fan, or Potterheads as they like to refer to themselves, is well aware of the four houses; Gryffindor, the red house that represents bravery and chivalry; the orange Hufflepuff that symbolizes loyalty and justness; and the blue Ravenclaw that represents intelligence.

Lastly, the greenhouse, Slytherin, represents cunning and ambition. While many of the dark or evil wizards have come from this house, some insist that not all Slytherins are evil. Read through the 37 quotes below from individuals who were in Slytherin or simply quotes connected to Slytherin to decide for yourself.

J.K. Rowling's quote from "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone": “You might belong in Gryffindor/\\\\\\\\u00a0Where dwell the brave at heart/Their daring, nerve, and chivalry/ Set Gryffindors apart; /You might belong in Hufflepuff\\\\\\\\u00a0/Where they are just and loyal/Those patient Hufflepuffs are true /And unafraid of toil/Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw/If you've a ready mind/Where those of wit and learning/Will always find their kind;Or perhaps in Slytherin/You'll make your real friends/These cunning folks use any means/To achieve their ends.” | Image: AmoDays

Quotes of Some Slytherin Outlooks

"By Gryffindor, the bravest were prized far beyond the rest. For Ravenclaw, the cleverest would always be the best. For Hufflepuff, hard workers were most worthy of admission. And power-hungry Slytherin loved those of great ambition." — J.K. Rowling

"Slytherin! There's a silence. A perfect, profound silence. One that sits low twists a bit, and has damage within it." — J.K. Rowling

"You could be great, you know, it's all here in your head, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that." ― The Sorting Hat, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," J.K. Rowling

"We Slytherins are brave, yes, but not stupid. For instance, given the choice, we will always choose to save our own necks." — Phineas Nigellus, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," J.K. Rowling

"You might belong in Gryffindor/ Where to dwell the brave at heart/Their daring, nerve, and chivalry/Set Gryffindors apart;/You might belong in Hufflepuff /Where they are just, and loyal/Those patient Hufflepuffs are true /And unafraid of toil/Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw/If you've a ready mind/Where those of wit and learning/Will always find their kind; Or perhaps in Slytherin/You'll make your real friends/These cunning folks use any means/To achieve their ends." — "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," J.K. Rowling

The Sorting Hat’s quote from “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone”: “You could be great, you know, it’s all here in your head, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that.” | Image: AmoDays

"But then, disagreements sprang up between them. A rift began to grow between Slytherin and the others. Slytherin wished to be more selective about the students admitted to Hogwarts. He believed that magical learning should be kept within all-magic families. He disliked taking students of Muggle parentage, believing them to be untrustworthy. After a while, there was a serious argument on the subject between Slytherin and Gryffindor, and Slytherin left the school. Professor Binns paused again, pursing his lips, looking like a wrinkled old tortoise." — J.K. Rowling

"'Is it true?' said Gaunt in a deadly voice, advancing a step or two toward the terrified girl. 'My daughter—pure-blooded descendant of Salazar Slytherin—hankering after a filthy, dirt-veined Muggle?'" — Gaunt , "Harry Potter And the Half-Blood Prince," J.K. Rowling

Half-Blood Prince Quotes: Snape Has His Say

"Then you will find yourself easy prey for the Dark Lord! Fools who wear their hearts proudly on their sleeves, who cannot control their emotions." — Severus Snape, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," J.K. Rowling

Severus Snape's quote from “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows": "Always..." | Image: AmoDays

"The Dark Arts…are many, varied, ever-changing, and eternal...You are fighting that which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible." — Severus Snape, "Harry Potter And the Half-Blood Prince," J.K. Rowling

"Tut, tut. Fame clearly isn't everything." — Severus Snape, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," J.K. Rowling

"I have spied for you and lied for you, put myself in mortal danger for you. Everything was supposed to be to keep Lily Potter's son safe. Now you tell me you have been raising him like a pig for slaughter." — Severus Snape, 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," J.K. Rowling

"Always..." — Severus Snape, 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," J.K. Rowling

He Who Must Not Be Named Quotes

"You are a fool, Harry Potter, and you will lose everything." — Voldemort, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix," J.K. Rowling

Voldemort's quote from the “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince”: "But nothing I have seen in the world has supported your pronouncements that love is more powerful than my kind of magic, Dumbledore." | Image: AmoDays

"I always value bravery, but your mother needn't have died. She was trying to protect you. Now, give me the stone unless you want her to have died in vain." — Voldemort, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," J.K. Rowling

"But nothing I have seen in the world has supported your pronouncements that love is more powerful than my kind of magic, Dumbledore." — Voldemort, "Harry Potter And the Half Blood Prince," J.K. Rowling

Draco Malfoy Quotes

"Or perhaps you can remember what your mother's house stank like; Potter and Weasley's pigsty reminds you of it." — Draco Malfoy, 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix," J.K. Rowling

"My father will hear about this." — Draco Malfoy

"Weasley would like a signed photo, Potter. It'd be worth more than his family's whole house — Draco Malfoy, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," J.K. Rowling

"Longbottom, if brains were gold, you'd be poorer than a Weasley, and that's saying something." — Draco Malfoy, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," J.K Rowling

Draco Malfoy’s quote: “My father will hear about this.” | Image: AmoDays

"Famous Harry Potter. Can't even go into a book shop without making the front page." — Draco Malfoy, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," J.K. Rowling

More Quotes Connected to Slytherin

"You can speak Parseltongue, Harry. Because Lord Voldemort—who is the last remaining descendant of Salazar Slytherin—can speak Parseltongue. He transferred some of his own powers to you the night he gave you that scar." — Albus Dumbledore, "The Chamber of Secrets," J.K. Rowling

"And you must be miss Granger. Yes, Draco's told me all about you. And your parents. Muggles, aren't they? Let me see. Red hair...vacant expressions...tatty secondhand book...You must be the Weasleys." — Lucius Malfoy, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," J.K. Rowling

"Deep down, you know that you deserve to be punished." — Dolores Umbridge, " Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix," J.K. Rowling

Phineas Nigellus’ quote from "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,":"We Slytherins are brave, yes, but not stupid. For instance, given the choice, we will always choose to save our own necks." | Image: AmoDays

"Never try to understand the students. They hate it.They would much rather be tragically misunderstood, wallow in self-pity, stew in their own." — Phineas Nigellus Black "Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix," J.K. Rowling

"I do not wish to criticize the way things have been run at this school…but you have been exposed to some very irresponsible wizards in this class, very irresponsible indeed." — Dolores Umbridge, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," J.K. Rowling

"He was wearing Professor Quirrell's turban, which kept talking to him, telling him he must transfer to Slytherin at once because it was his destiny." — J.K. Rowling

"'I really think I will have to ban these two from playing Quidditch ever again,' she said, looking from Harry to George and back again." — Dolores Umbridge, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," J.K. Rowling

"Never used an Unforgivable Curse before, have you, boy? You need to mean them Potter! You need to really want to cause pain—to enjoy it—righteous anger won't hurt me for long." — Bellatrix Lestrange, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," J.K. Rowling

Narcissa Malfoy's quote in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”: "Is Draco alive? Is he in the castle?" | Image: AmoDays

"Albus Severus...you were named for two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin, and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew." — Harry Potter, "Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows," J.K. Rowling

"Whereas Sirius had sought to advertise his diffidence from the rest of the family, Regulus had striven to emphasize the opposite. The Slytherin colors of emerald and silver were everywhere, draping the bead, the walls, and the windows." — "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," J.K. Rowling

"My own interests are purely academic, of course." — Horace Slughorn, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," J.K. Rowling

"The Dark Lord has, in the past, entrusted me with his most precious." — Bellatrix, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" J.K Rowling

"Being able to talk to snakes was what Salazar Slytherin was famous for. That's why the symbol of Slytherin house is a serpent." — Hermione Granger, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," J.K. Rowling

Horace Slughorn’s quote from “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” : "My own interests are purely academic of course."| Image: AmoDays

"Is Draco alive? Is he in the castle?" — Narcissa Malfoy, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," J.K. Rowling

"He's not back." — Cornelius Fudge, "The Order of the Pheonix," J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter’s quote from “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”: “Albus Severus...you were named for two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin, and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew.” | Image: AmoDays

Slytherin Individuals such as Severus Snape, who arguably redeemed himself, Draco Malfoy, who was hesitant of Voldemort's movement, and Professor Horace Slughorn, whose ambition did not reach evil proportions, are said to prove that Slytherin is not an evil house.

However, some argue that most of the dark wizards come from this house and that it is intrinsically based on ideas of muggle-born discrimination. Either way, if you do the Pottermore quiz, you may still get Slytherin—perhaps some time for self-reflection? Or simply a complimentary ode to your ambition and cunning abilities?

Dive deeper into the world of Hogwarts universe by reading these 38 Dobby quotes.