Favorite quotes by Prof. Minerva McGonagall, books 1-4 (4/6/08-4/20/08)

This topic serves as an archive of a thread from the Harry Potter Lexicon Forum as hosted on World Crossing, which ceased operation on April 15, 2011. It was copied/saved by Julia H. and reformatted/reposted by Potteraholic. ~Potteraholic

freshwater - Apr 6, 2008 1:56 pm
Edited by Kip Carter Apr 27, 2008 4:37 pm

The idea for a poll on the favorite quotes by Prof. Minerva McGonagall came from Liz Mann, March, '07. Because so many of Prof. McGonagall's best quotes, IMHO, occur in OotP, those quotes from book 5-7 will appear in a separate poll at a later date.

Please indicate your favorite 2 or 3 quotes from the list below....OK, you can choose 4 if you want to!

1) "Potter, this is Wood. Wood, I have found you a seeker." PS/SS 9

2) "JORDAN!" { 'Sorry, Professor.' /during the first -and many subsequent- Quidditch matches} PS/SS 9

3)"We'll leave it to you, then, Gilderoy...Tonight will be an excellent time to do it. We'll make sure everyone's out of your way. You'll be able to tackle the monster all by yourself. A free reign at last."..."Right...that's got him out from under our feet." CoS 16

4) "You look in excellent health to me, Potter, so you'll excuse me if I don't let you off homework today. I assure you that if you die, you need not hand it in." PoA 5

5) "Tripe, Sybill?" PoA 11

6) "I doubt it will make much difference...unless a mad axe-man is waiting outside the doors to slaughter the first into the Entrance Hall." PoA 11

7) "An unworthy trick!...A low and cowardly attempt to sabotage the Gryffindor Seeker! Detention for all of you and fifty points from Slytherin! I shall be speaking to Prof. Dumbledore about this, make no mistake. Ah, here he comes now." PoA 13

8) "Which person...which abysmally foolish person, wrote down this week's passwords and left them lying around?" PoA 13

9) To Neville: "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--particularly after what happened at the Ministry....Take Charms...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." HBP 9

10) "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." PS/SS 8

azi - Apr 6, 2008 2:03 pm (#1 of 33)

4,5 and 9.

Anna L. Black - Apr 6, 2008 2:17 pm (#2 of 33) 4,6,9 (though I'm not sure what a quote from HBP is doing here ).

Solitaire - Apr 6, 2008 2:39 pm (#3 of 33) Number 9 is my favorite, hands down. As a teacher, though, I'll admit I wouldn't mind using number 4 on a couple of my students. hehe

freshwater - Apr 6, 2008 2:56 pm (#4 of 33) Good point, Anna....actually, I was sort of hoping no one would notice! Oh, well.... My resource was the quotes page for Prof. McGonagall on the HP Lexicon, but they only have 2 quotes listed from HBP, and none from DH, at this point. And I wanted to post at least 10 choices, so....I fudged a bit. For the later poll on McGonagall quotes from books 5-7 I'll have to scan books 6 and 7 for examples....unless someone else wants to volunteer for that research and e-mail it to me? **gazes around hopefully** As for my own answers... #2, as an indicator of all the wonderful interactions between Lee Jordan and Prof. McG during the Quidditch matches all through the series, and #5 because it is so succinct and has a delightful double meaning, and also #7 because it shows how strongly she feels injustice and also her support/concern for 'her own' students.

haymoni - Apr 6, 2008 4:14 pm (#5 of 33) 6 is good, but where's the line about asking Umbridge if she needs a cough drop????

geauxtigers - Apr 6, 2008 6:45 pm (#6 of 33) 3, 4, and 6 I still laugh at all of these!

Potteraholic - Apr 6, 2008 6:56 pm (#7 of 33) 9) To Neville: "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--particularly after what happened at the Ministry....Take Charms...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." HBP 9 4) "You look in excellent health to me, Potter, so you'll excuse me if I don't let you off homework today. I assure you that if you die, you need not hand it in." PoA 5 3)"We'll leave it to you, then, Gilderoy...Tonight will be an excellent time to do it. We'll make sure everyone's out of your way. You'll be able to tackle the monster all by yourself. A free reign at last."..."Right...that's got him out from under our feet." CoS 16 10) "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." PS/SS 8 I know this one won't count, since I'm already maxed out at 4 selections , but I love this one, too! 5) "Tripe, Sybill?" PoA 11

freshwater - Apr 6, 2008 8:10 pm (#8 of 33) Haymoni, asking Umbridge if she needs a cough drop happens in OotP. Since about 1/3 of the great quotes by McGonagall are from OotP, I thought I'd put them in a poll of their own....otherwise, none of the quotes in this poll would have gotten any votes! Also, there would have been way too many to chose from. So, in about 2 weeks, look for the poll "Favorite Quotes by Prof. McGonagall in Books 5 - 7."

Solitaire - Apr 6, 2008 8:55 pm (#9 of 33) LOL Haymoni! I actually emailed freshwater and asked her to put that one in the OotP quotes poll! GMTA Solitaire

Hogwarts Class of 85 - Apr 7, 2008 12:35 am (#10 of 33) 9 and 4

Liz Mann - Apr 7, 2008 6:30 am (#11 of 33) 4, 5, 6 and 9 are my favourites.

Julia H. - Apr 7, 2008 6:30 am (#12 of 33) 9, 3 and 10. Are we going to have similar polls for quotes by other characters? It would be fun.

Snuffles - Apr 7, 2008 6:32 am (#13 of 33) I agree with Liz. Definitely 4,5,6 and 9. Gotta love Minnie

journeymom - Apr 7, 2008 8:22 am (#14 of 33) 4 is one of the funniest lines I've ever read anywhere. ===== Edited to take 9 out of my answer. 9 is in book 5!

Swedish Short-Snout - Apr 7, 2008 8:52 am (#15 of 33) 2, 4 and 6.

Orion - Apr 7, 2008 9:45 am (#16 of 33) 4, 5 and 9. What a personality. 5, however, is a bit bitchy. Trelawney seems to bring out the worst in her.

journeymom - Apr 7, 2008 1:08 pm (#17 of 33) Ack! Someone please change my answer to 5) "Tripe, Sybill?" That was my intention.

Thom Matheson - Apr 7, 2008 7:32 pm (#18 of 33) "I agree with what ever Sirius said." Wait that was Mundungus. I meant I agree with Liz. I love that quote as well.

I Am Used Vlad - Apr 8, 2008 11:01 am (#19 of 33) 4 and 5

Elanor - Apr 8, 2008 12:12 pm (#20 of 33) 9 and 5 for me!

Madam Pince - Apr 8, 2008 2:02 pm (#21 of 33) 4) "You look in excellent health to me, Potter, so you'll excuse me if I don't let you off homework today. I assure you that if you die, you need not hand it in." PoA 5 That just slays me every time!

Verity Weasley - Apr 8, 2008 4:33 pm (#22 of 33) Definitely number 4

megfox* - Apr 8, 2008 5:04 pm (#23 of 33) 4) "You look in excellent health to me, Potter, so you'll excuse me if I don't let you off homework today. I assure you that if you die, you need not hand it in." PoA 5 I have used similar lines with my students. If they used half as much brain power on their homework as they did coming up with hypotheticals about the weather, natural disasters, acts of God, technological malfunctions, or horrible maladies that could potentially befall them, their families, or their pets, they would all be passing.

haymoni - Apr 8, 2008 5:43 pm (#24 of 33) Yes, haymoni, actually READ the name of the thread before you comment!!!

PeskyPixie - Apr 8, 2008 9:21 pm (#25 of 33) LOL, I almost did the same thing, haymoni! I was going to remind freshwater of, "Our headmaster is taking a short break" when I actually read the name of the thread. I'm still trying to decide for this poll though. I think I'll come back again tomorrow.

mona amon - Apr 9, 2008 3:52 am (#26 of 33) Definitely 4, 5 and 9!

TwinklingBlueEyes - Apr 9, 2008 6:17 am (#27 of 33) 4, 5, and 9.

PeskyPixie - Apr 9, 2008 11:28 am (#28 of 33) Alrighty, I've finally made my decision. 3)"We'll leave it to you, then, Gilderoy...Tonight will be an excellent time to do it. We'll make sure everyone's out of your way. You'll be able to tackle the monster all by yourself. A free reign at last."..."Right...that's got him out from under our feet." CoS 16 4) "You look in excellent health to me, Potter, so you'll excuse me if I don't let you off homework today. I assure you that if you die, you need not hand it in." PoA 5 5) "Tripe, Sybill?" PoA 11

Dryleaves - Apr 14, 2008 1:13 am (#29 of 33) Oooh, I love McGonagall and her sarcasms! Not an easy choice, but I think I'll go for number 4, closely followed by number 3. I also love "Tripe, Sybill?" but feel a bit guilty about it, as I think McGonagall is a bit too mean to poor Trelawny here...

Mrs Brisbee - Apr 15, 2008 10:09 am (#30 of 33) I'll echo PeskyPixie, and pick: 3) "We'll leave it to you, then, Gilderoy...Tonight will be an excellent time to do it. We'll make sure everyone's out of your way. You'll be able to tackle the monster all by yourself. A free reign at last."..."Right...that's got him out from under our feet." CoS 16 4) "You look in excellent health to me, Potter, so you'll excuse me if I don't let you off homework today. I assure you that if you die, you need not hand it in." PoA 5 5) "Tripe, Sybill?" PoA 11 I also love "Tripe, Sybill?", but feel a bit guilty about it, as I think McGonagall is a bit too mean to poor Trelawny here...-- Dryleaves I wouldn't feel too guilty. McGonagall is very acerbic, but one of her students is supposed to have a crazy escaped mass-murderer hunting him down, and said student is sitting right there at the table. I think she's right to make fun of Trelawney's drama under the circumstances.

PatPat - Apr 15, 2008 3:20 pm (#31 of 33) 4) "You look in excellent health to me, Potter, so you'll excuse me if I don't let you off homework today. I assure you that if you die, you need not hand it in." PoA 5 I have also said similar things to my students. I'm with you megfox* I have often told them that, if they spent as much time studying as making up excuses, they would all have A's. 5) "Tripe, Sybill?" PoA 11 I don't know what it is about this line, but it cracks me up every time I read it. 6) "I doubt it will make much difference...unless a mad axe-man is waiting outside the doors to slaughter the first into the Entrance Hall." PoA 11 Love her sarcasm! 9) To Neville: "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--particularly after what happened at the Ministry....Take Charms...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." HBP 9 This, to me, was one of the most touching parts of HBP. It's about time someone said something about Mrs. Longbottom's treatment of Neville! Go McG!! I LOVE Minerva.

Nicholas Schouten - Apr 15, 2008 8:24 pm (#32 of 33) I once had a teacher like McGonagall and still count my blessings (but she would never let a thing like my own death be a valid excuse for not making sure the homework got in)! My choices: 4) "You look in excellent health to me, Potter, so you'll excuse me if I don't let you off homework today. I assure you that if you die, you need not hand it in." PoA 5 9) To Neville: "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--particularly after what happened at the Ministry....Take Charms...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." HBP 9 3) "We'll leave it to you, then, Gilderoy...Tonight will be an excellent time to do it. We'll make sure everyone's out of your way. You'll be able to tackle the monster all by yourself. A free reign at last."..."Right...that's got him out from under our feet." CoS 16 -Nick

freshwater - Apr 20, 2008 10:50 am (#33 of 33) Well, it's only mid-day on Sunday, but with no posts for 5 days, I'm going to close this poll and tally results. **cue Jeopardy theme song--for those non-US members, Jeopardy is a long-running game show of factual knowledge, and its theme (played while players write their answer to the final question) has become something of a legend here....but, I digress ** 1) "Potter, this is Wood..." zero votes 2) "JORDAN!" 2 votes (you and me, SSS!)= 3% 3)"We'll leave it to you, then, Gilderoy..." 7 votes = 10.7% 4) "You look in excellent health to me, Potter..."20 votes = 30.7% 5) "Tripe, Sybill?" 12 votes =18.5% 6) "I doubt it will make much difference...unless a mad axe-man is waiting ...8 votes = 12% 7) "An unworthy trick!..." one vote (me!) = 1.5% 8) "Which person...which abysmally foolish person..."zero votes 9) To Neville: "It's high time your grandmother learned to be proud of the grandson she's got..." 14 votes = 21.5% 10) "Transfiguration..."1 vote (Go, Julia!) = 1.5% In summary: ...the highest vote-getters were #4 (homework vs. death) with 30.7% of the votes; #9 (McG's comments to Neville about Augusta) with 22% of the votes; and #5 ("Tripe,Sybill?) with 18.5% of the votes. Future polls will feature favorite quotes from Dumbledore, Fred &/or George, Ron, Hermione, Snape, etc. If anyone would like to scan HBP and/or DH for quotes by any of these characters (the Lexicon is not completely updated on quotes yet) please e-mail me with the info. I will credit your research when the poll is posted, and you may find yourself an official contributor to the HP Lexicon pages of character quotes! (pending approval of the actual hosts/moderators, of course)