--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think what is probably hard for people…" description: "\"I think what is probably hard for people to imagine is how wrapped up the 17 years' work on Harry Potter is with what was going on in my life at the ti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99a/j-k-rowling-2-683_harry-potter_i-think-what-is-probably-hard-for-people_386382.jpg" --- # I think what is probably hard for people to imagine is how… ![“I think what is probably hard for people to imagine is how wrapped up the 17 years' work on Harry Potter is with what was going on in my life at the time. I was mourning the loss of this world that I had written for so long and loved so much. I was also mourning the retreat it had been from - from…” quote by J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99a/j-k-rowling-2-683_harry-potter_i-think-what-is-probably-hard-for-people_386382.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99a/j-k-rowling-2-683_harry-potter_i-think-what-is-probably-hard-for-people_386382.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99a/j-k-rowling-2-683_harry-potter_i-think-what-is-probably-hard-for-people_386382.jpg) > “I think what is probably hard for people to imagine is how wrapped up the 17 years' work on Harry Potter is with what was going on in my life at the time. I was mourning the loss of this world that I had written for so long and loved so much. I was also mourning the retreat it had been from - from ordinary life, which it has been. And it forced me to look back at 17 years of my life and remember things.” [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rowling reflects that her 17‑year immersion in Harry Potter coincided with personal grief, forcing her to confront loss and the blurring of fiction and reality. **In simple terms:** She mourned her fictional world and personal life, seeing them intertwine. Key Takeaway Acknowledge how creative work can mirror personal struggles. Themes grief creativity identity reflection Mood reflective melancholic Type personal literary When to use this quote - writing process - life transitions - emotional processing Key Concepts narrative immersion personal loss authorial introspection Questions to Reflect On - How does long‑term storytelling affect an author’s life? - Can fiction serve as a coping mechanism? A Different Perspective Creative immersion can intensify personal pain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Harry potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harry-potter/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) [Mourning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mourning/) [Ordinary life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary-life/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“It's wrong to give so much time over to mourning, she tells herself. Mourning and brooding. There's nothing to be accomplished by it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/it-s-wrong-to-give-so-much-time-over-to-mourning-she-tells-herself/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“The force behind the movement of time is a mourning that will not be comforted. That is why the first event is known to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/the-force-behind-the-movement-of-time-is-a-mourning-that-will-not-be-3/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [Don't waste time mourning lost opportunites or missed chances. If it was meant for you, it would have happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-waste-time-mourning-lost-opportunites-or-missed-chances-if-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ruins stood for what was lost, and yet there were beautiful-peaceful, historic, intellectual. Not tragic or regrettable. Lena tried to keep hers that way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/ruins-stood-for-what-was-lost-and-yet-there-were-beautiful-peaceful/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“The force behind the movement of time is a mourning that will not be comforted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/the-force-behind-the-movement-of-time-is-a-mourning-that-will-not-be-2/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [“He spent too much time mourning what could have been and questioning what should be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/he-spent-too-much-time-mourning-what-could-have-been-and-questioning/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [“But the time of mourning is always the perfect time for nonsense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/but-the-time-of-mourning-is-always-the-perfect-time-for-nonsense/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [I will die like a true-blue rebel. Don't waste any time in mourning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hil/i-will-die-like-a-true-blue-rebel-don-t-waste-any-time-in-mourning/) Joe Hil > [A great many people who spend their time mourning over the brevity of life could make it seem longer if they did a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-marquis/a-great-many-people-who-spend-their-time-mourning-over-the-brevity-of/) [Don Marquis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-marquis/) > [“Why not celebrate what you had had rather than spend your time mourning its passing? 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That is why the first event is known to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/the-force-behind-the-movement-of-time-is-a-mourning-that-will-not-be/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [We are afraid of losing what we have, whether it's our life or our possessions and property. But this fear evaporates when we understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/we-are-afraid-of-losing-what-we-have-whether-it-s-our-life-or-our/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“A time for every occupation under heaven. A time for giving birth, a time for dying; a time for planting, a time for uprooting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-sherwood/a-time-for-every-occupation-under-heaven-a-time-for-giving-birth-a/) [Ben Sherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-sherwood/) ## More by J. K. Rowling > [I don't think about who the audience is for my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-about-who-the-audience-is-for-my-books/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [... there are far, far worse things in the living world than dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/there-are-far-far-worse-things-in-the-living-world-than-dying/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [Be ruthless about protecting writing days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/be-ruthless-about-protecting-writing-days/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [“I'll join you when Hell freezes over," said Neville. "Dumbledore's Army!" he shouted, and there was an answering cheer from the crowd, whom Voldemort's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-ll-join-you-when-hell-freezes-over-said-neville-dumbledore-s-army/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I just hate meetings. Though it's true that once you've made a lot of money, people around you might be full of ideas about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-just-hate-meetings-though-it-s-true-that-once-you-ve-made-a-lot-of/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [What's the worst that could happen? Everyone turned me down; big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/what-s-the-worst-that-could-happen-everyone-turned-me-down-big-deal/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [Talent and intelligence never yet inoculated anyone against the caprice of the fates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/talent-and-intelligence-never-yet-inoculated-anyone-against-the/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I don't think there's any harm at all in allowing a kid to fantasize. In fact, I think to stop people from fantasizing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-there-s-any-harm-at-all-in-allowing-a-kid-to-fantasize/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I don't think I am evangelical in my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-i-am-evangelical-in-my-work/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [The mind is not a book, to be opened at will and examined at leisure. Thoughts are not etched on the inside of skulls,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/the-mind-is-not-a-book-to-be-opened-at-will-and-examined-at-leisure/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [You'll stay with me?' Until the very end,' said James.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/you-ll-stay-with-me-until-the-very-end-said-james/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I'm not anti-middle-class in the slightest. Look at me! I am very pro people putting time and money and effort into trying to improve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-m-not-anti-middle-class-in-the-slightest-look-at-me-i-am-very-pro/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I'd always said never say never, because I knew that Warner Brothers wanted to do something with "Fantastic Beasts," and I did have kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-d-always-said-never-say-never-because-i-knew-that-warner-brothers/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I'm not putting them on,” said old Archie in indignation. “I like a healthy breeze 'round my privates, thanks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-m-not-putting-them-on-said-old-archie-in-indignation-i-like-a/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [As he followed Bill back to the others a wry though came to him, born no doubt of the wine he had drunk. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/as-he-followed-bill-back-to-the-others-a-wry-though-came-to-him-born/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) [Explore all 402 J. K. Rowling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) ## More Harry potter quotes > [Hats off to starting a franchise younger than we all did in 'Twilight' and keeping your cool. The 'Harry Potter' men and women had,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellan-lutz/hats-off-to-starting-a-franchise-younger-than-we-all-did-in-twilight/) [Kellan Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellan-lutz/) > [... there are far, far worse things in the living world than dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/there-are-far-far-worse-things-in-the-living-world-than-dying/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I have to go with what comes naturally to me. Fantasy isn't my thing. I did enjoy the Oz books when I was growing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-blume/i-have-to-go-with-what-comes-naturally-to-me-fantasy-isn-t-my-thing-i/) [Judy Blume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-blume/) > [You will also find that help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-will-also-find-that-help-will-always-be-given-at-hogwarts-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I like a quiet life, you know me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-like-a-quiet-life-you-know-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“No confíes en cosas que tengan la capacidad de pensar pero de las cuales no sepas dónde tienen el cerebro.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/no-conf-es-en-cosas-que-tengan-la-capacidad-de-pensar-pero-de-las/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“Astoria always knew that she was not destined for old age. She wanted me to have somebody when she left, because...it is exceptionally lonely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/astoria-always-knew-that-she-was-not-destined-for-old-age-she-wanted/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [I think most people are fascinated by chess for that reason. It's just these mystical shapes. It's almost like Harry Potteresque, like wizard's chess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-ashley/i-think-most-people-are-fascinated-by-chess-for-that-reason-it-s-just/) [Maurice Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-ashley/) > [“A thousand years or more ago, When I was newly sewn, There lived four wizards of renown, Whose name are still well-known: Bold Gryffindor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jk-rowling/a-thousand-years-or-more-ago-when-i-was-newly-sewn-there-lived-four/) [JK Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jk-rowling/) > [I need Harry Potter like a grindylow needs water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-green/i-need-harry-potter-like-a-grindylow-needs-water/) [Hank Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-green/) > [The world may not be ready yet for the film equivalent of books on tape, but this peculiar phenomenon has arrived in the form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-mitchell/the-world-may-not-be-ready-yet-for-the-film-equivalent-of-books-on/) [Elvis Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-mitchell/) > [They say Harry Potter is magic but it is Sponge Bob who can light a fire under the sea!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-say-harry-potter-is-magic-but-it-is-sponge-bob-who-can-light-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Listen, Harr,y can I have a go on it? Can I?" "I don't think anyone should ride that broom just yet!" said Hermoine shrilly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/listen-harr-y-can-i-have-a-go-on-it-can-i-i-don-t-think-anyone-should/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [Hermione, will you please —” “Don’t you tell me what to do, Harry Potter!” she screeched. “Don’t you dare! Give it back now! And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hermione-will-you-please-don-t-you-tell-me-what-to-do-harry-potter/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm a big fan of the 'Harry Potter' movies and 'The Lord of the Rings' films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-reilly/i-m-a-big-fan-of-the-harry-potter-movies-and-the-lord-of-the-rings/) [John C. Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-reilly/) [Browse all 692 Harry potter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harry-potter/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think what is probably hard for people to imagine is how wrapped up the 17 years' work on Harry Potter is with what was going on in my life at the time. I was mourning the loss of this world that I had written for so long and loved so much. I was also mourning the retreat it had been from - from ordinary life, which it has been. And it forced me to look back at 17 years of my life and remember things.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J. K. 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