Quotes by Minerva McGonagall

"I frequently act as though I am not possessed of the Inner Eye, so as not to make others nervous."
"That explains a great deal," said Professor McGonagall tartly.

"Why would Harry Potter try to get inside Ravenclaw Tower? Potter belongs in my house!"
Beneath the disbelief and anger, Harry heard a little strain of pride in her voice, and affection for Minerva McGonagall gushed up inside him.

Carrow: "Couple of kids more or less, what's the difference?"
McGonagall: "Only the difference between truth and lies, courage and cowardice. A difference, in short, which you and your sister seem unable to appreciate."

"This boy has as much chance of becoming an Auror as Dumbledore has of ever returning to this school."
"A very good chance, then," said Professor McGonagall.

You look in excellent health to me, Potter, so you will excuse me if I don't let you off homework today. I assure you that if you die, you need not hand it in.

"Our Headmaster is taking a short break," said Professor McGonagall, pointing at the Snape-shaped hole in the window.

Harry gaped at her. Now she said it, that seemed the obvious thing to have done.
"I – I didn't think –"
"That," said Professor McGonagall, "is obvious."

Miss Granger remains the only person in this class who has managed to turn a hedgehog into a satisfactory pincushion. I might remind you that your pincushion, Thomas, still curls up in fright if anyone approaches it with a pin!

[..] as a herd of galloping desks thundered past, sheperded by a sprinting Professor McGonagall. She appeared not to notice them: her hair had come down and there was a gash on her cheek. As she turned the corner, they heard her scream: "CHARGE!"

Harry witnessed Professor McGonagall walking right past Peeves who was determinedly loosening a crystal chandelier and could have sworn he heard her tell the poltergeist out of the corner of her mouth, "It unscrews the other way."

The aged caretaker had just come hobbling into view, shouting, "Students out of bed! Students in the corridors!"
"They’re supposed to be, you blithering idiot!" shouted McGonagall.

It's high time your grandmother learned to be proud of the grandson she's got, rather than the one she thinks she ought to have.

He has achieved high marks in all Defense Against the Dark Arts tests set by a competent teacher.

Hopefully, none of you will ever face such evil. But should challenges arise, know that together you are capable of much more than you might think.

We teachers are rather good at magic, you know.

His name is Voldemort. Filius, you might as well use it. He's going to try to kill you either way.

"I wonder," said Professor McGonagall in cold fury, turning on Professor Umbridge, "how you expect to gain an idea of my usual teaching methods if you continue to interrupt me? You see, I do not generally permit people to talk when I am talking."

Dumbledore would have been happier than anybody to think that there was a little more love in the world.

Trelawney: "I dare not, Headmaster! If I join the table, we shall be thirteen! Nothing could be more unlucky! Never forget that when thirteen dine together, the first to rise will be the first to die!"
McGonagall: "We'll risk it, Sybill. Do sit down, the turkey's getting stone cold."

Are you quite sure you wouldn't like a cough drop, Dolores?

"My grandmother thinks Charms is a soft option," mumbled Neville.
"Take Charms," said Professor McGonagall, "and I shall drop Augusta a line reminding her that just because she failed her Charms O.W.L., the subject is not necessarily worthless."

"Hogwarts is threatened!" shouted Professor McGonagall. "Man the boundaries, protect us, do your duty to our school!"

The lesson even your father sometimes failed to heed is that bravery doesn't forgive stupidity. Always think. Think what's possible.

Perhaps it would be more useful if I were to transfigure Mr. Potter and yourself into a pocket watch? That way, one of you might be on time.

"Well, I'm glad you listen to Hermione Granger at any rate," she said, pointing him out of her office.

Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts. Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned.

The time has come for Slytherin House to decide upon its loyalties.

This boy will be famous, a legend. I wouldn't be surprised if today was known as Harry Potter day in future. There will be books written about Harry, every child in our world will know his name!

And Potter - do try and win, won't you? Or we'll be out of the running for the eighth year in a row, as Professor Snape was kind enough to remind me only last night.

Don't tell me what I can and can't do, Potter. I've never been more ashamed of Gryffindor students.

Lily and James... I can't believe it... I don't want to believe it.