--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A thousand years or more ago, When I was…" description: "\"“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 from wild mo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/jk-rowling-15740_dead-and-gone_a-thousand-years-or-more-ago-when-i-was_53285.jpg" --- # A thousand years or more ago, When I was newly sewn, There… ![“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 from wild moor, Fair Ravlenclaw from glen, Sweet Hufflepuff from valley broad, Shrewd Slytherin from fen. They share a wish, a hope, a dream, They hatched a…” quote by JK Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/jk-rowling-15740_dead-and-gone_a-thousand-years-or-more-ago-when-i-was_53285.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/jk-rowling-15740_dead-and-gone_a-thousand-years-or-more-ago-when-i-was_53285.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f3/jk-rowling-15740_dead-and-gone_a-thousand-years-or-more-ago-when-i-was_53285.jpg) > ““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 from wild moor, Fair Ravlenclaw from glen, Sweet Hufflepuff from valley broad, Shrewd Slytherin from fen. They share a wish, a hope, a dream, They hatched a daring plan, To educate young sorcerers, Thus Hogwarts school began. Now each of these four founders Formed their own house, for each Did value different virtues, In the ones they had to teach. By Gryffindor, the bravest were Prized far beyond the rest; For Ravenclaw, the cleverest Would always be the best; For Hufflepuff, hardworkers were Most worthy of admission; And power-hungry Slytherin Loved those of great ambition. While still alive they did divide Their favourates from the throng, Yet how to pick the worthy ones When they were dead and gone? 'Twas Gryffindor who found the way, He whipped me off his head The founders put some brains in me So I could choose instead! Now slip me snug around your ears, I've never yet been wrong, I'll have alook inside your mind And tell where you belong!”” [JK Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jk-rowling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A whimsical origin story for the Sorting Hat, portraying it as a magical artifact created by the Hogwarts founders to assess students' traits and assign them to houses based on bravery, intelligence, diligence, or ambition. **In simple terms:** Explains the Hat's purpose and origins. Key Takeaway Sorting Hat assigns houses by virtue. Themes identity education mythology choice virtue magic Mood playful mysterious inspirational Type narrative mythic instructional When to use this quote - student orientation - house selection - school tradition - magical assessment - character development Key Concepts sorting house system founders character traits Practical Applications - educational role‑playing games - team‑building workshops Questions to Reflect On - How does assigning identity based on a single trait affect personal growth? - What alternative methods could foster inclusive community building? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Harry potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harry-potter/) [Hogwarts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hogwarts/) [Poems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poems/) [Thousand years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand-years/) ## Related quotes > [By Gryffindor, the bravest were Prized far beyond the rest; For Ravenclaw, the cleverest Would always be the best; For Hufflepuff, hard workers were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/by-gryffindor-the-bravest-were-prized-far-beyond-the-rest-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In times of old when I was new And Hogwarts barely started The founders of our noble school Thought never to be parted: United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/in-times-of-old-when-i-was-new-and-hogwarts-barely-started-the/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“Not Slytherin, eh?...Are you sure? You could be great, you know, it's all here in your head, and Slytherin will help you on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/not-slytherin-eh-are-you-sure-you-could-be-great-you-know-it-s-all/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“They shared a wish, a hope, a dream, They hatched a daring plan To educate young sorcerers Thus Hogwarts School began”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/they-shared-a-wish-a-hope-a-dream-they-hatched-a-daring-plan-to/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [I want to be Harry Potter. I want to go to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I want to do it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-anderson/i-want-to-be-harry-potter-i-want-to-go-to-the-hogwarts-school-of/) [Gillian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-anderson/) > [“Harry Potter was a wizard – a wizard fresh from his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And if the Dursleys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/harry-potter-was-a-wizard-a-wizard-fresh-from-his-first-year-at/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [Greyfriars School is like Hogwarts School in the Harry Potter stories and the whole world of magic is the world of J.M.Barrie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyles-brandreth/greyfriars-school-is-like-hogwarts-school-in-the-harry-potter-stories/) [Gyles Brandreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyles-brandreth/) > [“Thank you for that, boy genius! Where did you graduate from? Hogwarts School for the Mentally Unbalanced?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leia-shaw/thank-you-for-that-boy-genius-where-did-you-graduate-from-hogwarts/) [Leia Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leia-shaw/) > [“This diary holds memories of terrible things. Things that were covered up. Things that happened at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-4/this-diary-holds-memories-of-terrible-things-things-that-were-covered/) J.K Rowling > [I wouldn't mind going back to school if Hogwarts was my school...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wouldn-t-mind-going-back-to-school-if-hogwarts-was-my-school/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore (Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/hogwarts-school-of-witchcraft-and-wizardry-headmaster-albus/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“If you are a long-time reader, then you know the story thus far. You were there when the Alma Alerons first arrived at Hogwarts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-norman-lippert/if-you-are-a-long-time-reader-then-you-know-the-story-thus-far-you/) [G. Norman Lippert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-norman-lippert/) ## More by JK Rowling > [“Unlike any other creature on this planet, human beings can learn and understand without having experienced. They can think themselves into other peoples’ places.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jk-rowling/unlike-any-other-creature-on-this-planet-human-beings-can-learn-and/) [JK Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jk-rowling/) > [He can run faster than Severus Snape confronted with shampoo. J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jk-rowling/he-can-run-faster-than-severus-snape-confronted-with-shampoo-j-k/) [JK Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jk-rowling/) > [“Once this is all over, we’ll be a proper family, you’ll see.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jk-rowling/once-this-is-all-over-we-ll-be-a-proper-family-you-ll-see/) [JK Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jk-rowling/) > [The truth. It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should be treated with caution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jk-rowling/the-truth-it-is-a-beautiful-and-terrible-thing-and-should-be-treated/) [JK Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jk-rowling/) > [The consequences of our actions are so complicated, so diverse, that predicting the future is a very difficult business indeed\_Albus Dumbledore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jk-rowling/the-consequences-of-our-actions-are-so-complicated-so-diverse-that/) [JK Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jk-rowling/) > [(speaking about ron being made a prefect) You're a prefect? Oh Ronnie! That's everyone in the family! What are Fred and I? Next door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jk-rowling/speaking-about-ron-being-made-a-prefect-you-re-a-prefect-oh-ronnie/) [JK Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jk-rowling/) > [Indeed, the failure to understand that there are things much worse than death has always been your greatest weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jk-rowling/indeed-the-failure-to-understand-that-there-are-things-much-worse/) [Jk Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jk-rowling/) > [I don't go looking for trouble. Trouble usually finds me. J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jk-rowling/i-don-t-go-looking-for-trouble-trouble-usually-finds-me-j-k-rowling/) [JK Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jk-rowling/) > [Holey? You have the the whole world of ear-related humor before you, you go for holey? J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jk-rowling/holey-you-have-the-the-whole-world-of-ear-related-humor-before-you/) [JK Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jk-rowling/) > [“It's like losing a knut and finding a galleon Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jk-rowling/it-s-like-losing-a-knut-and-finding-a-galleon-albus-dumbledore-in/) [jk rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jk-rowling/) > [It's our choices that show us who we truely are, far more than our abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jk-rowling/it-s-our-choices-that-show-us-who-we-truely-are-far-more-than-our/) [JK Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jk-rowling/) > [Is it true that you shouted at Professor Umbridge? Yes. You called her a liar? Yes. You told her He Who Must Not Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jk-rowling/is-it-true-that-you-shouted-at-professor-umbridge-yes-you-called-her/) [JK Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jk-rowling/) > [“Is it true that you shouted at Professor Umbridge?' 'Yes,' said Harry. 'You called her a liar?' 'Yes.' 'You told her He Who Must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jk-rowling/is-it-true-that-you-shouted-at-professor-umbridge-yes-said-harry-you/) [JK Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jk-rowling/) > [“My philosophy is worry means you suffer twice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jk-rowling/my-philosophy-is-worry-means-you-suffer-twice/) [Jk Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jk-rowling/) > [Mr. Moony presents his compliments to Professor Snape, and begs him to keep his abnormally large nose out of other people's business. Mr. Prongs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jk-rowling/mr-moony-presents-his-compliments-to-professor-snape-and-begs-him-to/) [JK Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jk-rowling/) [Explore all 42 JK Rowling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jk-rowling/) ## More Dead and gone quotes > [Hugging trees has a calming effect on me. I'm talking about enormous trees that will be there when we are all dead and gone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/hugging-trees-has-a-calming-effect-on-me-i-m-talking-about-enormous/) [Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/) > [“Sookie: "Eric, when I'm back to being myself, I'm going to nail your ass for putting me in this position of being pledged to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/sookie-eric-when-i-m-back-to-being-myself-i-m-going-to-nail-your-ass/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [The women of today are the thoughts of their mothers and grandmothers, embodied and made alive. They are active, capable, determined and bound to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/the-women-of-today-are-the-thoughts-of-their-mothers-and-grandmothers/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“That girl, dead and gone, her spirit trapped forever just inside town limits—she'd come from someplace, was going somewhere. Until destiny had stepped into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-rosenfield/that-girl-dead-and-gone-her-spirit-trapped-forever-just-inside-town/) [Kat Rosenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-rosenfield/) > [“When I got there it was all still and Sunday-like, and hot and sunshiny - the hands was gone to the fields; and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/when-i-got-there-it-was-all-still-and-sunday-like-and-hot-and/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“They all seem infected with a vivaciousness that isn't common in our compound, and there are more smiles on their faces than I've ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-khoury/they-all-seem-infected-with-a-vivaciousness-that-isn-t-common-in-our/) [Jessica Khoury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-khoury/) > [ “\[On writing more Sherlock Holmes stories.\] ‘I don’t care whether you do or not,’ said Bram. ‘But you will, eventually. He’s yours, till death… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-moore/on-writing-more-sherlock-holmes-stories-i-don-t-care-whether-you-do/) [Graham Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-moore/) > [“I don't want to see no dead body. Willie ain't in there. She put her walkin' shoes on. She gone to see the Lord.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruta-sepetys/i-don-t-want-to-see-no-dead-body-willie-ain-t-in-there-she-put-her/) [Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/) > [“wouldn’t that person be even more amazing if, instead of telling the time, he or she built a clock that could tell the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-collins/wouldn-t-that-person-be-even-more-amazing-if-instead-of-telling-the/) [Jim Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-collins/) > [All I know is that we are loaded down with old and stale stuff - habits, customs, old attitudes already dead and gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo-antonioni/all-i-know-is-that-we-are-loaded-down-with-old-and-stale-stuff-habits/) [Michelangelo Antonioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo-antonioni/) > [“As they were speaking, a dog that had been lying asleep raised his head and pricked up his ears. This was Argos, whom Odysseus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/as-they-were-speaking-a-dog-that-had-been-lying-asleep-raised-his/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [(...) We are standing in the flames reaching for the fight until the end; yesterday is dead and gone. Our voice will be heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-gossow/we-are-standing-in-the-flames-reaching-for-the-fight-until-the-end/) Angela Gossow > [“If you’re going to make up stories about miracles and events that you are claiming really happened, you have to wait until all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-clark/if-you-re-going-to-make-up-stories-about-miracles-and-events-that-you/) [Mark Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-clark/) > [at first, when we truly love someone, our greatest fear is that the loved one will stop loving us. what we should fear and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/at-first-when-we-truly-love-someone-our-greatest-fear-is-that-the/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [I want to help kids when I'm no longer here, when I'm dead and gone. I want to help kids when I don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-tebow/i-want-to-help-kids-when-i-m-no-longer-here-when-i-m-dead-and-gone-i/) [Tim Tebow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-tebow/) Browse all 128 Dead and gone quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“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 from wild moor, Fair Ravlenclaw from glen, Sweet Hufflepuff from valley broad, Shrewd Slytherin from fen. They share a wish, a hope, a dream, They hatched a daring plan, To educate young sorcerers, Thus Hogwarts school began. Now each of these four founders Formed their own house, for each Did value different virtues, In the ones they had to teach. By Gryffindor, the bravest were Prized far beyond the rest; For Ravenclaw, the cleverest Would always be the best; For Hufflepuff, hardworkers were Most worthy of admission; And power-hungry Slytherin Loved those of great ambition. While still alive they did divide Their favourates from the throng, Yet how to pick the worthy ones When they were dead and gone? 'Twas Gryffindor who found the way, He whipped me off his head The founders put some brains in me So I could choose instead! 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