---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I seem to remember telling you both that…"
description: "\"I seem to remember telling you both that I would have to expel you if you broke any more school rules, Which goes to show that the best of us must some..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/131/albus-dumbledore-21998_expel_i-seem-to-remember-telling-you-both-that_821303.jpg"
---

#  I seem to remember telling you both that I would have to…

![“I seem to remember telling you both that I would have to expel you if you broke any more school rules, Which goes to show that the best of us must sometimes eat our words.” quote by Albus Dumbledore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/131/albus-dumbledore-21998_expel_i-seem-to-remember-telling-you-both-that_821303.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/131/albus-dumbledore-21998_expel_i-seem-to-remember-telling-you-both-that_821303.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/131/albus-dumbledore-21998_expel_i-seem-to-remember-telling-you-both-that_821303.jpg)

> “I seem to remember telling you both that I would have to expel you if you broke any more school rules, Which goes to show that the best of us must sometimes eat our words.”

[Albus Dumbledore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albus-dumbledore/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Even disciplined leaders must sometimes admit mistakes and retract earlier harsh decisions, showing humility and growth.

**In simple terms:** Leaders sometimes must retract their words.

Key Takeaway

Accept that even strong leaders can be wrong.

Themes

leadership humility growth

Mood

thoughtful inspirational

Type

educational motivational

When to use this quote

- classroom management
- corporate policy
- team leadership
- public speaking

Key Concepts

learning accountability self‑correction

Questions to Reflect On

- When should a leader stand firm versus admit error?
- How does humility affect team trust?

A Different Perspective

Retracting can undermine authority if not handled carefully.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Broke School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broke-school-475526/) [Eat Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eat-words-270806/) [Expel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expel/) [School Rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-rules-475525/) [Telling Expel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling-expel-252238/)

## Related quotes

> ["I seem to remember telling you both that I would have to expel you if you broke any more school rules," said Dumbledore. Ron…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albus-dumbledore/i-seem-to-remember-telling-you-both-that-i-would-have-to-expel-you-if-3/)

[Albus Dumbledore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albus-dumbledore/)

> [It was something of a mystery how a couple of teenage girls had managed to escape detection for two years, especially when one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/it-was-something-of-a-mystery-how-a-couple-of-teenage-girls-had/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [I seem to remember telling you both that I would have to expel you if you broke any more school rules,” said Dumbledore. Ron…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-seem-to-remember-telling-you-both-that-i-would-have-to-expel-you-if/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If we do not let people do things the way they do, we will never know what they are really capable of and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-semler/if-we-do-not-let-people-do-things-the-way-they-do-we-will-never-know/)

[Ricardo Semler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-semler/)

> [“The school rules are stupid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-casey/the-school-rules-are-stupid/)

[L.A. Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-casey/)

> [“I gaped at what I saw next. She yanked his arm off and ate it. Gross! I knew she was hungry, but that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imogen-rose/i-gaped-at-what-i-saw-next-she-yanked-his-arm-off-and-ate-it-gross-i/)

[Imogen Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imogen-rose/)

> [I used to think that when I grew up there wouldn't be so many rules. Back in elementary school there were rules about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/i-used-to-think-that-when-i-grew-up-there-wouldn-t-be-so-many-rules/)

[Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/)

> [The attack on the British embassy in Tehran came just days after the Iranian 'parliament' voted to expel the British ambassador, and therefore reeks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/the-attack-on-the-british-embassy-in-tehran-came-just-days-after-the/)

[Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/)

> [There's only so much artistic output that I can actually expel at any one given time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-urban/there-s-only-so-much-artistic-output-that-i-can-actually-expel-at-any/)

[Karl Urban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-urban/)

> [The Iraqi regime was supporting terrorist cells all over the world. We had to expel three Iraqi diplomats from the Philippines because of evidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-iraqi-regime-was-supporting-terrorist-cells-all-over-the-world-we/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“We did, however, deliver and expel many homosexual and sodomitic demons from my body, mind, heart, mouth, soul, penis, and anus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-benedict/we-did-however-deliver-and-expel-many-homosexual-and-sodomitic-demons/)

[Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/)

> [“In contrast, innocent persons expect to expel the sassywood”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-t-leeson/in-contrast-innocent-persons-expect-to-expel-the-sassywood/)

[Peter T. Leeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-t-leeson/)

> [“The next time you have any disempowering thoughts, quickly expel them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dines/the-next-time-you-have-any-disempowering-thoughts-quickly-expel-them/)

[Christopher Dines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dines/)

> [Our universities are so determined to impose tolerance that they'll expel you for saying what you think and never notice the irony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/our-universities-are-so-determined-to-impose-tolerance-that-they-ll/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [“cleansing your friends doesn’t mean you have to expel them from your life forever, but depending on the level of their negativity and potentially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-alden/cleansing-your-friends-doesn-t-mean-you-have-to-expel-them-from-your/)

[Michael Alden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-alden/)

## More by Albus Dumbledore

> [Ah, music, A magic far beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albus-dumbledore/ah-music-a-magic-far-beyond-all-we-do-here-and-now-bedtime-off-you/)

[Albus Dumbledore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albus-dumbledore/)

> [Fear of a name increases fear of a thing itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albus-dumbledore/fear-of-a-name-increases-fear-of-a-thing-itself/)

[Albus Dumbledore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albus-dumbledore/)

> [I take my hat off to you--or I would, if I were not afraid of showering you with spiders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albus-dumbledore/i-take-my-hat-off-to-you-or-i-would-if-i-were-not-afraid-of-showering/)

[Albus Dumbledore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albus-dumbledore/)

> [Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love. By returning, you may ensure that fewer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albus-dumbledore/do-not-pity-the-dead-harry-pity-the-living-and-above-all-those-who/)

[Albus Dumbledore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albus-dumbledore/)

> [Harry, I owe you an explanation, An explanation of an old man's mistakes. For I see now that what I have done, and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albus-dumbledore/harry-i-owe-you-an-explanation-an-explanation-of-an-old-man-s/)

[Albus Dumbledore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albus-dumbledore/)

> [For I see now that what I have done, and not done, with regard to you, bears all the hallmarks of the failings of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albus-dumbledore/for-i-see-now-that-what-i-have-done-and-not-done-with-regard-to-you/)

[Albus Dumbledore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albus-dumbledore/)

> [Harry, Cedric, I suggest you both go up to bed, I am sure Gryffindor and Hufflepuff are waiting to celebrate with you, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albus-dumbledore/harry-cedric-i-suggest-you-both-go-up-to-bed-i-am-sure-gryffindor-and/)

[Albus Dumbledore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albus-dumbledore/)

> [I will only truly have left this school when none here are loyal to me…Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albus-dumbledore/i-will-only-truly-have-left-this-school-when-none-here-are-loyal-to/)

[Albus Dumbledore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albus-dumbledore/)

> [Happiness can be found in the darkest of times. If only one remembers to turn on the light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albus-dumbledore/happiness-can-be-found-in-the-darkest-of-times-if-only-one-remembers/)

[Albus Dumbledore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albus-dumbledore/)

> ["I seem to remember telling you both that I would have to expel you if you broke any more school rules," said Dumbledore. Ron…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albus-dumbledore/i-seem-to-remember-telling-you-both-that-i-would-have-to-expel-you-if-3/)

[Albus Dumbledore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albus-dumbledore/)

> [And now Harry, let us step out into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albus-dumbledore/and-now-harry-let-us-step-out-into-the-night-and-pursue-that-flighty/)

[Albus Dumbledore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albus-dumbledore/)

> [No, I was merely reading the Muggle magazines," said Dumbledore. "I do love knitting patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albus-dumbledore/no-i-was-merely-reading-the-muggle-magazines-said-dumbledore-i-do/)

[Albus Dumbledore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albus-dumbledore/)

> [“For In our dreams we enter a world that is entirely our own”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albus-dumbledore/for-in-our-dreams-we-enter-a-world-that-is-entirely-our-own/)

[Albus Dumbledore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albus-dumbledore/)

> [In the light of Voldemort's return, we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided. Lord Voldemort's gift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albus-dumbledore/in-the-light-of-voldemort-s-return-we-are-only-as-strong-as-we-are/)

[Albus Dumbledore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albus-dumbledore/)

> [“Reminds me, reminds us that though we may come from different places, speak in different tongues, our hearts beat as one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albus-dumbledore/reminds-me-reminds-us-that-though-we-may-come-from-different-places/)

[Albus Dumbledore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albus-dumbledore/)

[Explore all 24 Albus Dumbledore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albus-dumbledore/)

## More Expel quotes

> [“cleansing your friends doesn’t mean you have to expel them from your life forever, but depending on the level of their negativity and potentially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-alden/cleansing-your-friends-doesn-t-mean-you-have-to-expel-them-from-your/)

[Michael Alden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-alden/)

> [Our universities are so determined to impose tolerance that they'll expel you for saying what you think and never notice the irony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/our-universities-are-so-determined-to-impose-tolerance-that-they-ll/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [“The next time you have any disempowering thoughts, quickly expel them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dines/the-next-time-you-have-any-disempowering-thoughts-quickly-expel-them/)

[Christopher Dines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dines/)

> [“In contrast, innocent persons expect to expel the sassywood”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-t-leeson/in-contrast-innocent-persons-expect-to-expel-the-sassywood/)

[Peter T. Leeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-t-leeson/)

> [“We did, however, deliver and expel many homosexual and sodomitic demons from my body, mind, heart, mouth, soul, penis, and anus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-benedict/we-did-however-deliver-and-expel-many-homosexual-and-sodomitic-demons/)

[Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/)

> [The Iraqi regime was supporting terrorist cells all over the world. We had to expel three Iraqi diplomats from the Philippines because of evidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-iraqi-regime-was-supporting-terrorist-cells-all-over-the-world-we/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [There's only so much artistic output that I can actually expel at any one given time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-urban/there-s-only-so-much-artistic-output-that-i-can-actually-expel-at-any/)

[Karl Urban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-urban/)

> [The attack on the British embassy in Tehran came just days after the Iranian 'parliament' voted to expel the British ambassador, and therefore reeks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/the-attack-on-the-british-embassy-in-tehran-came-just-days-after-the/)

[Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/)

> [“After being expelled from Paradise, Adam and Eve got married.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ljupka-cvetanova/after-being-expelled-from-paradise-adam-and-eve-got-married/)

[Ljupka Cvetanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ljupka-cvetanova/)

> [Demons live inside all of us, but it is up to you whether you will expel them. Keep in mind that they are like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-b/demons-live-inside-all-of-us-but-it-is-up-to-you-whether-you-will/)

[Becca B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-b/)

> [We do not wish and do not need to expel Arabs and take their places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ben-gurion/we-do-not-wish-and-do-not-need-to-expel-arabs-and-take-their-places/)

[David Ben-Gurion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ben-gurion/)

> [“We have to walk out on ourselves, expel ourselves from our inner castle, and drop our formatted masks if we want to encounter people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/we-have-to-walk-out-on-ourselves-expel-ourselves-from-our-inner/)

[Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/)

> [Instead of yelling and screaming or losing myself all the time, I release everything in my music, and that's kind of how I expel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/instead-of-yelling-and-screaming-or-losing-myself-all-the-time-i/)

[Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/)

> ["I seem to remember telling you both that I would have to expel you if you broke any more school rules," said Dumbledore. Ron…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albus-dumbledore/i-seem-to-remember-telling-you-both-that-i-would-have-to-expel-you-if-3/)

[Albus Dumbledore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albus-dumbledore/)

> [As long as Muslims cross this red line - if they commit crimes, if they start beating up women, if they start the genital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geert-wilders/as-long-as-muslims-cross-this-red-line-if-they-commit-crimes-if-they/)

[Geert Wilders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geert-wilders/)

[Browse all 20 Expel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expel/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I seem to remember telling you both that I would have to expel you if you broke any more school rules, Which goes to show that the best of us must sometimes eat our words.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Albus Dumbledore"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albus-dumbledore/i-seem-to-remember-telling-you-both-that-i-would-have-to-expel-you-if-2/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Expel"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albus-dumbledore/i-seem-to-remember-telling-you-both-that-i-would-have-to-expel-you-if-2/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/131/albus-dumbledore-21998_expel_i-seem-to-remember-telling-you-both-that_821303.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/131/albus-dumbledore-21998_expel_i-seem-to-remember-telling-you-both-that_821303.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/131/albus-dumbledore-21998_expel_i-seem-to-remember-telling-you-both-that_821303.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I seem to remember telling you both that I would have to expel you if you broke any more school rules, Which…” — Albus Dumbledore",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Albus Dumbledore",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albus-dumbledore/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I seem to remember telling you...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albus-dumbledore/i-seem-to-remember-telling-you-both-that-i-would-have-to-expel-you-if-2/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albus-dumbledore/i-seem-to-remember-telling-you-both-that-i-would-have-to-expel-you-if-2/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
