25 Slytherin Quotes From One of the Main Antagonists in the Harry Potter Series

Fans of Harry Potter will love these Slytherin quotes from the powerful wizard.

Salazar Slytherin was a pure-blood wizard that was also one of the four founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

As such, one of the four houses for students is named after him, the Slytherin House.

Slytherin did not believe that muggle-born students, or students with magical powers born to parents without magical powers, should be trusted or accepted into the school.

This opinion put him at odds with the other founders, particularly Godric Gryffindor, to the point where Slytherin eventually left the school.

Slytherin established a certain type of student that he preferred at his “house,” which were pure blood students who possessed cunning, determination, and a disregard for the rules.

Take a look at these Slytherin quotes to learn more about this antagonistic character.

You will also enjoy our article on Ravenclaw quotes.

Best Slytherin Quotes from the House

Learn more about Slytherin through these quotes.

1. “It only put me in Gryffindor because I asked not to go in Slytherin.” — Harry Potter

2. “The Slytherin colors of emerald and silver were everywhere, draping the bead, the walls, and the windows.” — Narrator

3. “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

4. “That is believed to be some sort of monster, which the heir of Slytherin alone can control.” — J.K. Rowling

5. “Better Hufflepuff than Slytherin. There’s not a single witch or wizard who went bad who wasn’t in Slytherin.” — Rubeus Hagrid

6. “Perhaps, in Slytherin, You’ll make your real friends. These cunning folks use any means to achieve their ends.” — J.K. Rowling

7. “The time has come for Slytherin House to decide upon its loyalties.” — Professor McGonagall

8. “For instance, Slytherin took only pure-blood wizards of great cunning, just like him.” — Sorting Hat

9. “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.” — J.K. Rowling

10. “For Hufflepuff, hard workers were most worthy of admission. And power-hungry Slytherin loved those of great ambition.” — J.K. Rowling

Slytherin Quotes from Members of the House

Hear from members of the house in these Slytherin quotes.

11. “Greatness inspires envy, envy engenders spite, spite spawns lies.” — Voldemort

12. “That is just as well, Potter…because you are neither special nor important.” — Severus Snape

13. “Longbottom, if brains were gold, you’d be poorer than a Weasley, and that’s saying something.” — Draco Malfoy

14.” ‘Better save your own life and join me…or you’ll meet the same end as your parents…they died begging me for mercy.’” — Voldemort

15. “But nothing I have seen in the world has supported your pronouncements that love is more powerful than my kind of magic, Dumbledore.” — Voldemort

16. “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

17. “We Slytherins are brave, yes, but not stupid. For instance, given the choice, we will always choose to save our own necks.” — Phineas Nigellus

Slytherin Quotes for Harry Potter Fans

You can learn more about Slytherin origins through these quotes.

18. “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

19. “Is it true? My daughter—pure-blooded descendant of Salazar Slytherin—hankering after a filthy, dirt-veined Muggle?” — J. K. Rowling

20. “For were there such friends anywhere as Slytherin and Gryffindor? Unless it was the second pair of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?” — Sorting Hat

21. “‘Why, I was there, and so can tell the whole sad, sorry tale,’ said Slytherin. ‘We’ll teach just those whose ancestry is purest.’” — Sorting Hat

22. “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

23. “Slytherin wished to be more selective about the students admitted to Hogwarts. He believed that magical learning should be kept within all-magic families.” — Professor Binns

24. “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.” — Dumbledore

25. “Slytherin, according to the legend, sealed the Chamber of Secrets…The heir alone would be able to unseal the Chamber of Secrets, unleash the horror within, and use it to purge the school of all who were unworthy to study magic.” — Professor Binns

What is the Legacy of Salazar Slytherin?

While Slytherin will be remembered for being a founder of Hogwarts School, he will also be remembered for how he treated those he felt “beneath” him and what he left behind at the school.

Before Slytherin left Hogwarts, he created the Chamber of Secrets in the caverns beneath the school.

The Chamber of Secrets concealed a Basilisk, which is a magical, giant serpent that, once released, would destroy all of the muggle-born students at the school.

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