Effortlessly charming and endearingly enigmatic, Jude Law’s depiction of Albus Dumbledore is among the greatest elements of the Fantastic Beasts series. The exceedingly powerful Hogwarts professor has been responsible for some of the franchise’s best quotes, with Albus tasking Newt and his friends with stopping Gellert Grindelwald’s war on the Muggle population.
These enchanting lines have provided some of the Wizarding World’s most captivating scenes, as Jude Law’s Dumbledore leads the charge against his former lover. Dumbledore’s utterances within the Fantastic Beasts films perfectly capture the character’s strong knowledge and power, with Albus delivering many wise words to his closest allies.
“Newt Is Not A Great Follower Of Orders…”
The Crimes Of Grindelwald
As Newt Scamander’s former teacher, Albus holds a particularly high opinion of the magizoologist’s magical capabilities. Dumbledore conveys his fondness for his former student upon meeting with the Ministry of Magic’s Torquil Travers, who raises his concerns regarding a rumor that Newt is heading to Paris.
Albus gleefully expresses his delight at Newt breaking his travel ban, as he informs Travers about the magizoologist’s reluctance to follow orders. The Hogwarts professor demonstrates great admiration for Newt’s rebellious behavior, after Dumbledore requested his help in Paris, and also mentions how he was a “pleasure” to teach, showcasing his deep respect for his former student.
The Wizarding World franchise often shows how much respect others have for Dumbledore, but it doesn’t usually paint as clear of a picture of how much respect Dumbledore has for others. He admires people like Newt and Jacob in the Fantastic Beasts movies because they’re willing to put aside their own feelings to do what they believe is right.
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“Your Policies Of Suppression And Violence Are Pushing Supporters Into His Arms.”
The Crimes Of Grindelwald
Though Dumbledore will admit himself to be influenced by his own heart, he also often appears to be one of the most rational people in the Fantastic Beasts movies. When everyone around him barks orders or tries to force him into action, Dumbledore doesn’t budge.
That’s the case when a group of Ministry officials barges into Dumbledore’s Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom at Hogwarts. They seem to intend to force him to fight Grindelwald without actually letting him explain beyond “I can’t.” To be fair, Dumbledore doesn’t make much of an effort to explain his reason, but he does try to caution the aurors who visit him about the hardline they have taken against Grindelwald and his followers.
Dumbledore recognizes that the Ministry’s tactics are driving people away, that the world is becoming even more divided. The aurors, however, do not listen to him, and it only causes them more pain in the end.
“Everyone Fears Something.”
The Crimes Of Grindelwald
In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Remus Lupin teaches his students how to battle a boggart, a magical creature that shapeshifts into their worst fear. The Crimes of Grindelwald gives an indication of just where Remus Lupin might have got that particular teaching inspiration – from Albus Dumbledore himself.
Dumbledore teaches his class, lined up to face the boggart, in much the same way Remus Lupin did. While it’s funny to see that Newt Scamander’s worst fear is working an office job, it’s Leta Lestrange’s reaction that catches Dumbledore’s eye. She hesitates before approaching the boggart because her biggest fear is her own guilt about her brother’s death; she fears that what others say about her is true.
When Dumbledore senses her apprehension, he offers up this line to comfort her. He knows that everyone has something that scares them, no matter how powerful of a wizard they might be or how dark their past might be, fear is something that unites her classmates. It might not be a comfort to Leta at the moment, but it is true.
“That’s Correct. Three Points To Hufflepuff.”
The Secrets Of Dumbledore
In the third Fantastic Beasts movie, there are a surprisingly large number of visits to Hogwarts and the village just outside of it, Hogsmeade. That means that Dumbledore spends quite a bit of time in his teacher guise, not just the tactician trying to save the world from Gellert’s own ambitions.
That means that when, in the middle of the Hogwarts dining hall, Albus Dumbledore shows his allies a magical illustration and Newt is the one to recognize it first, he can’t seem to help but say this line. Though Newt calls him Albus and the two share a friendship that goes beyond Hogwarts, it’s clear that there’s always going to be something of a student-teacher relationship between them. Newt cannot help but try to get the answers right for his favorite teacher and Dumbledore cannot help but remind him of how good of a student he can be.
“Aberforth Drew His Wand, Which I Was Foolish. I Drew My Wand, Which Was Even More Foolish.”
The Secrets Of Dumbledore
It’s not until the third Fantastic Beasts movie that Album Dumbledore tells Newt Scamander about his little sister and the full story of how she died. It’s not even until right before that Dumbledore even reveals that he has a brother.
As Dumbledore recounts what happened to his sister, he reveals that he had planned on running away with Grindelwald so they could be together, and he and Aberforth fought about it. Instead of leaving their fight to words, they both drew their wands, and their magic got out of hand.
Dumbledore’s words do not just note his fight with Aberforth though. The idea of drawing wands against one another, of escalating a fight, always seems foolish to him in the franchise. He tries to find ways to end conflicts without bloodshed, even in Harry Potter’s day. Dumbledore tries to use strategy and his words to stop people because he sees the explosive use of magic, and anger, can lead to violence.
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“The Fact That Everything Didn’t Go To Plan Was The Plan.”
The Secrets of Dumbledore
Albus Dumbledore is one of the Wizarding World’s greatest tacticians, with the all-powerful wizard proving to be an expert at manipulating events to defeat the magical community’s biggest foes. The Secrets Of Dumbledore involves him sending Jacob and his friends to Germany, to warn the German Ministry of Magic about Grindelwald, who has delivered some of the best quotes in the franchise. However, their plan goes somewhat awry when Gellert is acquitted of his crimes, and Albus’s reaction to this news proves somewhat surprising.
The Hogwarts professor appears unconcerned by this outcome as he reassures his buddies that his scheme having failed was “the plan.” His words echo Albus’s cunning nature, suggesting that Dumbledore had planned for their Germany excursion to go wrong. Albus’s take on their failure acts as a neat demonstration of his strategic mindset.
“If We’re To Defeat Him, You’ll Have To Trust Me.”
The Secrets Of Dumbledore
Dumbledore has demonstrated excellent leadership qualities throughout the franchise. The wise wizard shows a steely determination to lead his allies into battle against some of the universe’s most evil sorcerers in two different generations. The Fantastic Beasts movies see him stand firmly against Grindelwald, and Secrets Of Dumbledore features Albus giving a strong declaration to Theseus, as he asks Newt’s brother to “trust” him.
This courageous statement from Dumbledore showcases his fierce perseverance in the face of danger, as he is prepared to move against his former lover, despite his feelings for Grindelwald. Albus knows that his ex-boyfriend must be stopped, with Gellert having displayed a sadistic attitude towards the Muggle population, and asks his friends to place their trust in him, “even when every instinct tells you not to.” He knows that his inability to fight Grindelwald doesn’t inspire confidence in Theseus, but he still makes his case.
“Regret Is My Constant Companion.”
The Crimes Of Grindelwald
Albus has lived a particularly traumatic life, with the death of his sister Ariana, in particular, having caused considerable distress for the Hogwarts professor. Albus has made many mistakes during his lifetime. His particular mistakes, however, make him the prime candidate to offer advice to Leta Lestrange – who comes from one of the most powerful families in Harry Potter – upon learning about her negligent behavior towards her young brother Corvus as a child.
Dumbledore offers sage words of wisdom for Leta, advising that she should not allow her regret to become her “constant companion.” He understands her pain because an early duel between himself, Grindelwald, and Aberforth ended with his own sister’s demise. Albus also states the confession to be “a relief,” highlighting the importance of disclosing the truth, no matter how difficult, to the distraught Leta Lestrange.
“Your Honesty Is A Gift, Even If At Times A Painful One.”
The Secrets Of Dumbledore
Albus has shown himself to be a good judge of character, having befriended some of the universe’s most noble wizards throughout his life. One of his greatest friends is Newt Scamander, though Newt was actually introduced to him as a Hogwarts student. The pair have an especially enlightening conversation in The Secrets Of Dumbledore, as they discuss the tragic incident which led to Ariana’s death.
This piece of dialogue from Albus aptly suggests why he is so fond of Newt, as his friend tries to comfort him during their discussion about Ariana’s untimely passing. The Hogwarts professor voices his appreciation of Newt’s “honesty,” despite acknowledging that his openness can sometimes be “painful,” acknowledging the huge value that Dumbledore places on sincerity. Newt is not someone who is always going to tell Dumbledore what he wants to hear, and Dumbledore understands the need for that.
“You Simply Ask, ‘Is A Thing Right, In Itself?’ If It Is, You Do It, No Matter The Cost.”
The Crimes Of Grindelwald
Newt Scamander has changed considerably during the Fantastic Beasts saga, with the magizoologist having emerged as one of the Wizarding World’s greatest protectors. Dumbledore is especially proud of his former student, as he reveals to Newt why he “admires” him, during a meeting on a London rooftop.
The more cynical fan of the Wizarding World will see this line as Albus Dumbledore hoping to manipulate Newt into doing what he wants. While that may very well be the case, it’s also true of just who Dumbledore is. He sees most things in black and white when it comes to morality, believing that someone has to act when presented with something that is morally wrong.
This particular line is said by Dumbledore to Newt when he’s trying to convince him to search for Credence in Paris in the second Fantastic Beasts movie. Newt appears to be completely surprised by the knowledge that his former teacher admires him, but it doesn’t take long for him to also realize that Dumbledore is buttering him up. Both things, however, can be true.
“Things That Seem Unimaginable Today…”
The Secrets Of Dumbledore
The Wizarding World’s battle against Grindelwald becomes one of the universe’s biggest fights during the Fantastic Beasts movies, with Dumbledore and his handful of loyal allies leading the charge against the diabolical dictator. The Secrets Of Dumbledore sees the stakes grow ever higher as Albus reminds his friends why they must stop his former lover from leading his war against the Muggles.
Dumbledore’s words stress the urgency behind this seemingly unstoppable threat. His remarks effectively express how the precarious circumstances will worsen if they don’t bring an end to Grindelwald’s ambitions, and he continues to explain that these things may become “inevitable” as Gellert and his faithful followers work towards their goal of ruling over the Muggle population.
With Dumbledore’s perceptive nature here and his ability to see the bigger picture, it’s no wonder that 50 years later, the Order of the Phoenix looks to him for guidance in their quest to bring down Voldemort. He’s able to look beyond the immediate battle to understand the long-term implications of what’s happening.
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“You Have Something Most Men Go … Without.”
The Secrets Of Dumbledore
Jacob Kowalski is one of Fantastic Beasts’ most heroic individuals, who many believe should have been a wizard. The Muggle baker is not afraid to stand up to the Wizarding World’s most despicable villains, as he assists Dumbledore and Newt in defeating Grindelwald. Albus is a great admirer of Jacob’s bravery in the face of danger, with the Hogwarts professor complimenting the baker in The Secrets Of Dumbledore.
The Transfiguration teacher discloses his affection for Jacob, as he describes his friend as being “pure of heart.” Albus is impressed by Jacob’s loyalty and devotion to his Wizarding buddies, with the baker willing to place his life on the line against some exceedingly powerful foes. His selfless and noble acts do not go unnoticed by Dumbledore, who describes Jacob as possessing “something most men go their entire lives without.”
“In Your Shoes, I’d Probably Refuse Too.”
The Crimes Of Grindelwald
One of Dumbledore’s less desirable traits within the Wizarding World is his willingness to place others in danger to achieve his own aims. It’s something commented on multiple times in the Fantastic Beasts movies when others notice he’s still safely at Hogwarts while his allies are out in the world.
This rather controversial aspect of his character is present throughout The Crimes Of Grindelwald and is most noticeable during Albus’s attempt to recruit Newt against Grindelwald during their London meeting.
This quote from Dumbledore represents his self-awareness regarding this character flaw, as he admits how he’d likely refuse the mission to track down Grindelwald “in your shoes.” Albus acknowledges that he “can’t move against Grindelwald,” neatly showcasing his crafty personality as he uses Newt as a means to bypass the blood pact, which prevents him from fighting his former lover.
“Funny How Historic Days Seem So Ordinary When You’re Living Them.”
The Secrets Of Dumbledore
Sometimes, Albus Dumbledore’s best lines aren’t earth-shattering, but merely his own musings on the world around them. As he and his allies spend so much time trying to thwart Grindelwald from his rise to power, Albus knows that what they are doing is historic. He knows that if they succeed, it changes the course of the future for the Wizarding World as well as the non-magical world.
Of course, as he looks around him, everyone else is simply living their lives and going about their day, not realizing the significance of Newt hiding a prophetic magical creature in his case, or a No-Maj carrying a coreless wand being allowed to walk the halls at Hogwarts, or the number of other people putting their lives on the lune to make sure that their world can continue moving forward. For everyone around him, historic days are just perfectly ordinary days, and that’s certainly something anyone living through great periods of change can understand.
“We Were Young, We Were Going To Transform The World…”
The Secrets of Dumbledore
Dumbledore and Grindelwald’s passionate relationship is one of the most iconic romances within the Wizarding World despite it being completely absent from the original Harry Potter novels. In the movies, however, the pair shared an especially close connection. in their youth. When others comment that they were as close as brothers, Dumbledore makes sure to correct them that they were “closer,” and he readily admits to his love making him reckless in his youth. The Secrets of Dumbledore delves further into their partnership as Albus explains to his friends his reasons behind the creation of the blood pact.
Dumbledore’s words reflect his deep regret at the immoral plans he made with Grindelwald, as the duo schemed to establish a wizard hierarchy over the Muggle population. Furthermore, the line superbly demonstrates the personal stakes involved in the fight against Gellert, with their ill-conceived blood pact preventing the duo from coming to blows in the initial Fantastic Beasts movies.
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In 1926, British magizoologist Newt Scamander travels to New York City in his ongoing field research into magical creatures. Here, he finds himself caught up in some trouble involving a No-Maj, local wizarding law enforcement, and the Dark Wizard Grindelwald.
- Director
- David Yates
- Release Date
- November 18, 2016
- Runtime
- 133 minutes
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The second film in the Harry Potter prequel franchise, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald delves deeper into the machinations of the titular villain. With the dark wizard Grindelwald intent on sparking a war between magical and non-magical societies, it falls to magizoologist Newt Scamander and a young Albus Dumbledore to stop him.
- Director
- David Yates
- Release Date
- November 16, 2018
- Cast
- Eddie Redmayne , Dan Fogler , Kevin Guthrie , Callum Turner , Katherine Waterston , Ezra Miller , Ingvar Sigurdsson , Jude Law , Johnny Depp , Alison Sudol , William Nadylam , Ólafur Darri Ólafsson , Claudia Kim , Zoe Kravitz
- Runtime
- 134 Minutes
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In the third and final installment of the Fantastic Beasts trilogy, the threat of Grindelwald grows ever larger. To defeat him, Albus Dumbledore recruits Newt Scamander, along with other talented witches and wizards, to fight Grindelwald and his acolytes before their plans to destroy the non-magic world come to pass.
- Director
- David Yates
- Release Date
- April 8, 2022
- Runtime
- 142 minutes
