Courage & fear

“It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.”

– J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (1997)

What does it mean?

Arguing with people you love can be as hard as fighting enemies. Dumbledore says this to praise a boy who tried to stop his friends from breaking the rules.

Key vocabulary

stand up to
refuse to accept bad behaviour from someone; resist

Who said it?

J. K. Rowling: British author of the Harry Potter books (born 1965). Source: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (1997).