--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always surprise myself on my ability to…" description: "\"I always surprise myself on my ability to turn a phrase. Words are, in my not so humble opinion, the most inexhaustible source of magic; capable of bot..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea9/jk-rowling-15740_language_i-always-surprise-myself-on-my-ability-t_3002253.jpg" --- # I always surprise myself on my ability to turn a phrase… ![“I always surprise myself on my ability to turn a phrase. Words are, in my not so humble opinion, the most inexhaustible source of magic; capable of both inflicting injury and remedying it.” quote by JK Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea9/jk-rowling-15740_language_i-always-surprise-myself-on-my-ability-t_3002253.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea9/jk-rowling-15740_language_i-always-surprise-myself-on-my-ability-t_3002253.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea9/jk-rowling-15740_language_i-always-surprise-myself-on-my-ability-t_3002253.jpg) > “I always surprise myself on my ability to turn a phrase. Words are, in my not so humble opinion, the most inexhaustible source of magic; capable of both inflicting injury and remedying it.” [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. Language is a powerful tool that can heal or harm depending on how it is used. **In simple terms:** Words can be magical, both constructive and destructive. Key Takeaway Choose words that uplift and avoid harmful language. Themes creativity communication ethics power of language Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - writing - public speaking - conflict resolution - mental health outreach Key Concepts rhetoric psychology social impact Questions to Reflect On - How can you use language to empower others? - When should you refrain from speaking? A Different Perspective Words alone cannot change outcomes without action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic/) [Magic words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic-words/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) ## Related quotes > [“As part of a French study, researchers wanted to know if they could influence how much money people handed to a total stranger asking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nir-eyal/as-part-of-a-french-study-researchers-wanted-to-know-if-they-could/) [Nir Eyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nir-eyal/) > [Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it. -Professor Albus Dumbledore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/words-are-in-my-not-so-humble-opinion-our-most-inexhaustible-source-3/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/words-are-in-my-not-so-humble-opinion-our-most-inexhaustible-source-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If I do, I say so. That's the only way out of that. If there are three words that need to be used more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/if-i-do-i-say-so-that-s-the-only-way-out-of-that-if-there-are-three/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Sometimes I'll jot a clever turn of phrase down. Sometimes I'll just remember it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kennedy/sometimes-i-ll-jot-a-clever-turn-of-phrase-down-sometimes-i-ll-just/) [John Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kennedy/) > [I've always appreciated a turn of phrase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kennedy/i-ve-always-appreciated-a-turn-of-phrase/) [John Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kennedy/) > [You can be amazing, you can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-bareilles/you-can-be-amazing-you-can-turn-a-phrase-into-a-weapon-or-a-drug/) [Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/) > [All I can do is turn a phrase until it catches the light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-james/all-i-can-do-is-turn-a-phrase-until-it-catches-the-light/) [Clive James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-james/) > [I do like to turn a phrase, but it's all about how you turn it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-mann/i-do-like-to-turn-a-phrase-but-it-s-all-about-how-you-turn-it/) [Gabriel Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-mann/) > [If I hear an interesting turn of phrase on TV, I'll repeat it back - I just like to roll it around on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-winter/if-i-hear-an-interesting-turn-of-phrase-on-tv-i-ll-repeat-it-back-i/) [Terence Winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-winter/) > [“A man who can seduce with a turn of phrase will not disappoint in the bedroom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriana-trigiani/a-man-who-can-seduce-with-a-turn-of-phrase-will-not-disappoint-in-the/) [Adriana Trigiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriana-trigiani/) > [“I earn the magic of words by writing. I learn the myth of worlds by imagining.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/i-earn-the-magic-of-words-by-writing-i-learn-the-myth-of-worlds-by/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [If you want to meet someone who can fix any situation you don't like, who can bring you happiness in spite of what other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/if-you-want-to-meet-someone-who-can-fix-any-situation-you-don-t-like/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [Network marketing is the only industry that allows common people to earn millions with a minimal investment and zero overhead, coupled with total time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-yarnell/network-marketing-is-the-only-industry-that-allows-common-people-to/) Mark Yarnell > [No one seems to have learned, or can remember, the magic words that calm people when they are frightened or threatened: "I'm sorry; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-tavris/no-one-seems-to-have-learned-or-can-remember-the-magic-words-that/) [Carol Tavris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-tavris/) ## 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/) > [“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/) > [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/) [Explore all 42 JK Rowling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jk-rowling/) ## More Language quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [Usually male directors have to use foul language to get the job done. But I never came down to that level as being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-khosla-kumar/usually-male-directors-have-to-use-foul-language-to-get-the-job-done/) [Divya Khosla Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-khosla-kumar/) > [The problem posed by indirect speech acts is the problem of how it is possible for the speaker to say one thing and mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/the-problem-posed-by-indirect-speech-acts-is-the-problem-of-how-it-is/) [John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/) > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [“I only have two words to say More or Less”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timbur/i-only-have-two-words-to-say-more-or-less/) TimBur > [It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/it-s-like-saying-french-shouldn-t-be-taught-because-you-don-t/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [What is music? Music is language. A human being wants to express ideas in this language, but not ideas that can be translated into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-webern/what-is-music-music-is-language-a-human-being-wants-to-express-ideas/) [Anton Webern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-webern/) > [You're beautiful, cute, pretty, gorgeous, and fuck.. I ran out of words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/you-re-beautiful-cute-pretty-gorgeous-and-fuck-i-ran-out-of-words/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [The world has a soul and whoever understands that soul can also understand the language of many things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-world-has-a-soul-and-whoever-understands-that-soul-can-also/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“The words for what I want to say right now don't exist. Everything sounds…so cliché.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-crane/the-words-for-what-i-want-to-say-right-now-don-t-exist-everything/) [Shelly Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-crane/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Words can kill you trust towards someone, mind you language people, every reaction had its consequence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/words-can-kill-you-trust-towards-someone-mind-you-language-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Finxerunt animi, raro et perpauca loquentis. (To action little, less to words inclinded.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/finxerunt-animi-raro-et-perpauca-loquentis-to-action-little-less-to/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) [Browse all 21,951 Language quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I always surprise myself on my ability to turn a phrase. 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