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08-13-2004, 01:12 PM
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Interview with "Wisdom of Harry Potter" Author - Edmund Kern - conducted by TLC Staff Summary:
Edmund Kern has written a book about the moral issues in Harry Potter, "Wisdom of Harry Potter" - TLC have conducted an interview with him. Article: Interview with "Wisdom of Harry Potter" Author
Edmund Kern, an author has just written a book called "The Wisdom of Harry Potter: What our favorite hero teaches us about moral choices", centered around the Harry Potter series.
A picture of Edmund Kern, can be seen here.
To read the interview and article, both conducted by the TLC Staff, go here. Quote: TLC: Which is your favorite book? Why?
EK: Azkaban, without a doubt. It's incredibly clever and gives readers some important clues about Harry's backstory. It also introduces Professor Lupin, who's one of my favorite characters.
Azkaban's moral ambivalence is also appealing to me; it illustrates how acting morally is an uncertain thing. I love how what is perceived as bad becomes good, and how what is seen as good becomes bad. In the book, Harry really breaks the rules a lot, just because he wants to. In addition, he surrenders to his rage in wanting vengeance on Sirius Black. But he also comes to understand the importance of acting responsibly by the end of the story—even if it means breaking more rules—by refusing to allow Lupin and Black to kill Peter Pettigrew and by rescuing the innocent Black and Buckbeak from the seriously misguided Ministry of Magic.
Quote: TLC: And your favorite character?
I tend to be most intrigued by the adult characters. (I imagine that if I had first read the books as a child, I might feel different.)
Snape is fantastic—Rowling's most complex character. In Latin, "severus" can mean "serious" or "strict," but let's not forget that in English (or French) "sever" can mean "to separate" or "to divide." Who has he separated from? Voldemort? Or Dumbledore?
Lupin is great—a tragically flawed character. Since in Roman mythology, Remus was murdered by his brother Romulus, I suspect we're all going to learn something more about him. Does he have a brother? I could go on, but I’ll only say that Tonks intrigues me as well, even though we’ve caught only a few glimpses of her.
Quote: TLC: Favorite episode/scene?
My favorite scene has to be Harry and Dumbledore's discussion before the Mirror of Erised. I know. BORING!
Within it, Dumbledore encourages Harry to balance his desires against unchanging realities. In other words, he must recognize that many things are beyond his control but his own responses to them are not. He must make his desires correspond to reality. As the headmaster points out, those who fail to do so are driven mad and wither away. Here, Rowling first clearly draws out the tensions between fate and free will—things beyond an individual's control and things within one's control—which are so important to her development of Harry's adventures. Harry is drawn as both a victim of fate and a hero free to shape his own destiny. Quote: TLC: What, if anything, do you think you learned while writing this book?
I think I now have a better sense of how kids think about moral issues. They like autonomy, adventure, rule-breaking, and being frightened, but they're also perfectly capable of thinking about moral ambiguity and individual responsibility. Unlike J. K. Rowling, I don't have an easy time imagining myself back into childhood—which makes me guilty of one of Dumbledore's great sins in Order of the Phoenix. Quote: TLC: Did your opinion about the books or Ms. Rowling alter at all when you were done writing?
After studying them, I really became impressed by the quality and scope of J. K. Rowling's achievement. She updates the classic hero of folklore for twenty-first-century kids. Her prose is simple but evocative, and her use of elements drawn from history, legend, and myth is brilliant. Her literary alchemy reconciles both real-world experiences and inventive fantasy for her young audience by expertly blending both familiar and fantastic aspects of the past and present. She tells a very old story in a very new way.
Quote: TLC: You talk a lot about the moral conscience in the book, and how those who say Potter is evil are clearly wrong because there’s such a moral compass. What makes Harry Potter more than a book about witchcraft and wizardry?
EK: Well, first off, the books are primarily about good and evil. Harry cultivates himself with due attention to the needs of others; Voldemort thinks only of himself and his desire for power. Quite simply Harry is a good kid, trying to do what is right, pitted against an evil villain bent on world domination. Seen from this perspective, the books’ depictions of witchcraft and wizardry are just window dressing.
Quote: TLC: Can you conjecture about his best friends, Ron and Hermione, and where their values, as opposed to Harry’s, will lead them? Are they all Stoics?
Ron’s chief virtue is his loyalty. I expect this to be tested before Harry’s final confrontation with Voldemort. He’s Lancelot to Harry’s Arthur. He’ll likely have to make a hard decision. Hermione’s chief virtue is her intellect. It’s her protective shell, but she might find that it will fail her. She’s Merlin to Harry’s Arthur. She too will probably be faced with a tough choice.
The interview, in it's enitirity, can be found over at The Leaky Cauldron.
Thanks to The Leaky Cauldron for this fantastic interview.  | |
08-13-2004, 02:23 PM
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#2 (permalink)
| | Guest |
that was very interesting. How could he write a whole book on harry potter morals, i couldnt even write a paragraph! His favourite scene was the mirror of erised, mine was in the end of the goblet of fire when harry is in the hospital ward and everyone is with him, so sad. what was everyone elses?
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08-13-2004, 03:43 PM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Crup
Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Avoiding reality
Posts: 2,387
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Wow. Interesting.
The comment about Dumbledore is a sad thought but I agree with it. Heros always have to overcome the ultimate battle without their mentors and then they have the drive to overcome it to avenge their mentors death. That's the way I see it.
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08-13-2004, 03:59 PM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Crup
Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Grimmauld Place
Posts: 2,214
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I work at a library part-time, and we have a copy of his book. I've flipped through it, but it's hardly ever in. I don't think I've seen it within the last three months! I guess people like reading about Harry's moral choices.
I agree with him about Prisoner of Azkaban being the best book. It seems like most people think it is.
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08-13-2004, 04:52 PM
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#5 (permalink)
|  His life is like a riverKneazle
Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Australia
Posts: 3,233
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Oh, I like those whole 'King Arthur - Harry Potter' theories. I can so see Ron being Lancelot, his loyal sidekick, Hermione being Merlin, the intellegent and brilliant friend, Ginny being Guineive, his 'white' and 'pure' love with a 'fiery' side... 
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Captain of SS's HMS Orange Crush (Harry/Ginny) | |
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08-13-2004, 05:06 PM
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#6 (permalink)
| | Skrewt
Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: in a dollhouse; playing twister with Rupert
Posts: 1,472
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that was really good. it gives a really good message and helps people understand how much more important hermione and ron are. the whole 'King Arthur' comparing is very brilliant, never thought of it in that sense.
__________________
" A beautiful girl can make you dizzy. Like you've been drinking jack and coke all morning. She can make you feel high. For that single greatest commotity known to man: Promise. Promise of a better day, promise of a greater hope, promise of a new tomorrow. This particular ora, can be found in the gate of a beautiful girl. In her smile and in her soul. And the way she makes every rotten little thing about life seem like it's gunna be okay."--Taking Back Sunday | |
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08-13-2004, 06:07 PM
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#7 (permalink)
| | Bowtruckle
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 211
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That's very interesting! It looks like a very interesting book too!
I haven't read it, but... maybe I will, now!  | |
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08-13-2004, 06:08 PM
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#8 (permalink)
| | Bowtruckle
Join Date: May 2004 Location: In the corner of a dark room rocking back and forth
Posts: 274
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Quote: She updates the classic hero of folklore for twenty-first-century kids. Her prose is simple but evocative, and her use of elements drawn from history, legend, and myth is brilliant...She tells a very old story in a very new way. Thats one of the things that got me to read the books, since I do prefere the old mythic legends to modern stories.
Very insightful artical.
__________________  
"pretty boy"
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08-13-2004, 06:22 PM
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#9 (permalink)
| | Doxy
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 421
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Well I thought GOF was the best book!!! and Ron is my favorite character :wub:
My favorite part in all of the books would have to be during the ball when hermione yells at ron saying like then you should have ask me to the ball or something like that but yea you get the idea 
I wanted to read that book but i cant find a copy :unsure:
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08-13-2004, 07:10 PM
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#10 (permalink)
| | Chizpurfle
Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Southern Cali
Posts: 686
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Sounds like a really interesting read
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08-13-2004, 07:14 PM
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#11 (permalink)
| Scandinavian Mod Chimaera
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 7,755
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Quote: Originally posted by madmiss88@Aug 13 2004, 02:17 PM
Wow. Interesting.
The comment about Dumbledore is a sad thought but I agree with it. Heros always have to overcome the ultimate battle without their mentors and then they have the drive to overcome it to avenge their mentors death. That's the way I see it. Yes I agree... Quote: Snape is fantastic—Rowling's most complex character. In Latin, \"severus\" can mean \"serious\" or \"strict,\" but let's not forget that in English (or French) \"sever\" can mean \"to separate\" or \"to divide.\" Who has he separated from? Voldemort? Or Dumbledore? Yes! Whose site? ......................
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08-13-2004, 07:18 PM
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#12 (permalink)
| | Crup
Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Grimmauld Place
Posts: 2,214
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Quote: Quote: QUOTE (madmiss88 @ Aug 13 2004, 02:17 PM)
Wow. Interesting.
The comment about Dumbledore is a sad thought but I agree with it. Heros always have to overcome the ultimate battle without their mentors and then they have the drive to overcome it to avenge their mentors death. That's the way I see it. Yes I agree...
It depends upon how you look at it. I can certainly see Dumbledore being considered Harry's mentor, but Sirius also filled that position because he was the father figure in Harry's life. In that case, Dumbledore doesn't need to die and we can stop the character killing madness!
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08-13-2004, 07:33 PM
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#13 (permalink)
| Scandinavian Mod Chimaera
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 7,755
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Quote: Originally posted by Siriusly in Love@Aug 13 2004, 05:52 PM
It depends upon how you look at it. I can certainly see Dumbledore being considered Harry's mentor, but Sirius also filled that position because he was the father figure in Harry's life. In that case, Dumbledore doesn't need to die and we can stop the character killing madness! Yes thats a way to look at it too!
And yes the character killing would be stopped which would be kinda nice..although JK said that there would be more killings... *crosses fingers*
Btw nice new avatars Laura! They rock!
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08-13-2004, 07:38 PM
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#14 (permalink)
| | Crup
Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Grimmauld Place
Posts: 2,214
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Quote: Btw nice new avatars Laura! They rock! Thanks hun! I made them, and it was my first time making an avatar on Photoshop, so I thought I was going to mess 'em up for sure.
The Merlin theory the author brought up is very interesting. I've heard several other people mention it, and it makes sense. I'm currently reading one of the versions of the Arthur Legend, and there are a lot of similarites between it and HP.
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08-13-2004, 07:49 PM
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#15 (permalink)
| Scandinavian Mod Chimaera
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 7,755
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Quote: Ron’s chief virtue is his loyalty. I expect this to be tested before Harry’s final confrontation with Voldemort. He’s Lancelot to Harry’s Arthur. He’ll likely have to make a hard decision. Hermione’s chief virtue is her intellect. It’s her protective shell, but she might find that it will fail her. She’s Merlin to Harry’s Arthur. She too will probably be faced with a tough choice.
This sounds very interesting...yes
And the avatars are great - go youuu! And Photoshop hey I got that too but never got around to actually doin anything with it (which is a crime I know) but I havent had the time to really get into it...but they are great!!!
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08-13-2004, 07:56 PM
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#16 (permalink)
| | Bowtruckle
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Room of requirement
Posts: 268
Hogwarts RPG Name:
Fatima
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Cool. I like that guy.
I'll be reading his book.
My fav. book is PoA aswell.
He's right about his fav. part. Boring. Mine's when Harry, Ron, and Hermione go to Hogsemede in the fourth book and talk to Sirius. Also Snape's worst memory.
His veiw relating to Arther and all is kool too.
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08-13-2004, 08:18 PM
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#17 (permalink)
| | Crup
Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Avoiding reality
Posts: 2,387
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Quote: Originally posted by Siriusly in Love@Aug 13 2004, 04:52 PM Quote: Quote: QUOTE (madmiss88 @ Aug 13 2004, 02:17 PM)
Wow. Interesting.
The comment about Dumbledore is a sad thought but I agree with it. Heros always have to overcome the ultimate battle without their mentors and then they have the drive to overcome it to avenge their mentors death. That's the way I see it.* Yes I agree...
It depends upon how you look at it. I can certainly see Dumbledore being considered Harry's mentor, but Sirius also filled that position because he was the father figure in Harry's life. In that case, Dumbledore doesn't need to die and we can stop the character killing madness! Lol, I would much prefer it that way. The killing of nice characters should stop!
And you are right about the Sirius being like a mentor thing.
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08-13-2004, 09:27 PM
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#18 (permalink)
| | Poltergeist
Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Cardiff, Wales, UK
Posts: 17,095
Hogwarts RPG Name:
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Quote: Originally posted by Lupin Jr@Aug 13 2004, 01:26 PM Oh, I like those whole 'King Arthur - Harry Potter' theories. I can so see Ron being Lancelot, his loyal sidekick, Hermione being Merlin, the intellegent and brilliant friend, Ginny being Guineive, his 'white' and 'pure' love with a 'fiery' side... That would be sort of wrong; Lancelot and Guinerve are meant to have had a 'past' in the romantic sense; Ron & Ginny is just wrong!
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08-13-2004, 10:26 PM
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#19 (permalink)
| sporksSUB Skrewt
Join Date: May 2004 Location: Sporking Mwahahaa
Posts: 1,300
| Moo Spork? SPORKY SPORKY!!
^^EEW!! That would be wrong!!!
I really like how this guy thinks! He seems to understand that a persons opinion is just that and he doesn't take offense to them. I'm glad we have more adults that read HP! "It doesn't bother me if a person has no interest in reading Harry's adventures, since differences in taste can be respected, but hostility toward those who do like Harry is usually the result of literary snobbery."
^I agree with this most of all!!!
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08-14-2004, 01:04 AM
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#20 (permalink)
| | Mooncalf
Join Date: May 2004 Location: Miami!
Posts: 504
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PoA is my fave too. I want to read his book, it seems cool.
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08-14-2004, 01:09 AM
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#21 (permalink)
| | Mooncalf
Join Date: May 2004 Location: Miami!
Posts: 504
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Is it already out?
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"The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return"
"In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
REHS here i come!
DMN member for life! | |
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08-14-2004, 04:45 AM
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#22 (permalink)
| | Bicorn
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,938
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wow the book sounds interesting! the author clearly has done some deep thinking and serious analyzing i think i'll buy this book lol.. haha, the ron/ginny compared with lancelot/gueniviere (okay i have no idea how to spell it i never read much of the story lol) is disturbing.. i think dumbledore and sirius are both harrys mentors but sirius has like.. different life experience since he was in azkaban. so eh..
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08-14-2004, 05:44 AM
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#23 (permalink)
| | Plimpy
Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Godric's Hollow
Posts: 1,077
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Quote: Originally posted by Lupin Jr@Aug 13 2004, 09:26 AM Oh, I like those whole 'King Arthur - Harry Potter' theories. I can so see Ron being Lancelot, his loyal sidekick, Hermione being Merlin, the intellegent and brilliant friend, Ginny being Guineive, his 'white' and 'pure' love with a 'fiery' side... I like that theory too, though it would be funny to imagine that Hermione is simular to a man...
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JKR: Well I think anyone who is still shipping Harry/Hermione after this book -
ES: [whispered] Delusional!
JKR: Uh - no! But they need to go back and reread, I think.
ES: Thank you.
JKR: Yeah. | |
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08-14-2004, 07:04 AM
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#24 (permalink)
| | Erumpent
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,393
| Snuggy!
Quote: Originally posted by Marcella_Riddle+Aug 13 2004, 01:01 PM--> | QUOTE (Marcella_Riddle @ Aug 13 2004, 01:01 PM) | That would be sort of wrong; Lancelot and Guinerve are meant to have had a 'past' in the romantic sense; Ron & Ginny is just wrong! [/b][/quote]
Yes, I read The Once and Future King last year!(7th grade and the book is HUGE!) Anyway, I actually really liked it but Gwenivere(sp?) and Lancelot do have an affair, so thats definately not Ron and Ginny. And Merlin is locked in a cave, even though he knows he is going to be, he lets himslef, I dont see Hermione letting her self be locked up for centuries. Arthur is seduced by his halfsister--thank g-d Harry has no siblings, because she ends up pregnant. Anyway, I agree that Ron is definately loyal, like Lancelot to Arthur--what if Hermione was Gwen, that would definately cause some problems between Harry and Ron, though Arthur pretended he didnt know about their affair. And Lancelot nad Gwen do end up together.
Im definately going to check to see if this book is at the library next time I go! I think the way people compare HP to old legends and myths is great. Im not very good with the whole compare/contrast thing so its cool to see other peoples opinions.
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08-14-2004, 10:37 AM
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#25 (permalink)
| | Gnome
Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 87
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Wow, this is amazing; I have been saying this stuff to my family and friends for ages, but no one seemed to see where I was coming from. It's kind of ironic that someone wrote a book about this, because I was planning on writting something like this in the future about my "Harry Potter Philosophy." I will definitely check this book out. I love this guy.
PS-And I agree with the author about the Mirror of Erised scene; It is my favorite piece of insight from the series (as you can see from the quote in my signature). Here's the whole quote, it wouldn't all fit in my signature:
"It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts. . . However, this mirror will give us neither knowledge or truth. Men have wasted away before it, entranced by what they have seen, or been driven mad, not knowing if what it shows is real or even possible. . . It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that." Dumbledore | |
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