--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the Dark Lord has forbidden it, you…" description: "\"If the Dark Lord has forbidden it, you are not to speak...\" — Severus Snape" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/250/severus-snape-19657_dark_if-the-dark-lord-has-forbidden-it-you-ar_2503317.jpg" --- # If the Dark Lord has forbidden it, you are not to speak... ![“If the Dark Lord has forbidden it, you are not to speak...” quote by Severus Snape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/250/severus-snape-19657_dark_if-the-dark-lord-has-forbidden-it-you-ar_2503317.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/250/severus-snape-19657_dark_if-the-dark-lord-has-forbidden-it-you-ar_2503317.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/250/severus-snape-19657_dark_if-the-dark-lord-has-forbidden-it-you-ar_2503317.jpg) > “If the Dark Lord has forbidden it, you are not to speak...” [Severus Snape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/severus-snape/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If a higher authority forbids it, you must remain silent. **In simple terms:** Obey authority when it bans speech. Key Takeaway Respect authority’s prohibitions. Themes obedience authority secrecy Mood cautious serious Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - classroom - political regimes - corporate policies Key Concepts ethical dilemmas power dynamics loyalty Questions to Reflect On - When should you challenge authority? - What are the risks of staying silent? A Different Perspective Blind obedience can suppress truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Dark Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-lord-1083659/) [Forbidden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forbidden/) [Forbidden Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forbidden-speak-1083657/) [Lord Forbidden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord-forbidden-1083658/) ## Related quotes > [Because there are mysteries. Because there are things that people are forbidden to speak about. Because there are things they do not remember.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/because-there-are-mysteries-because-there-are-things-that-people-are/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I can't change the Dark Lord's mind. But it might be possible for me to help Draco.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/severus-snape/i-can-t-change-the-dark-lord-s-mind-but-it-might-be-possible-for-me/) [Severus Snape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/severus-snape/) > [The Dark Lord, for instance, almost always knows when somebody is lying to him. Only those skilled at Occlumency are able to shut down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/severus-snape/the-dark-lord-for-instance-almost-always-knows-when-somebody-is-lying/) [Severus Snape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/severus-snape/) > [Indeed in nothing is the power of the Dark Lord more clearly shown than in the estrangement that divides all those who still oppose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indeed-in-nothing-is-the-power-of-the-dark-lord-more-clearly-shown/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“And far away, as Frodo put on the Ring and claimed it for his own, even in Sammath Naur the very heart of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/and-far-away-as-frodo-put-on-the-ring-and-claimed-it-for-his-own-even-2/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad, His hair is as dark as a blackboard. I wish he was mine, he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/his-eyes-are-as-green-as-a-fresh-pickled-toad-his-hair-is-as-dark-as/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If we are the ones to hand Potter to the Dark Lord, everything will be as it was, you understand?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucius-malfoy/if-we-are-the-ones-to-hand-potter-to-the-dark-lord-everything-will-be/) [Lucius Malfoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucius-malfoy/) > [Fudge is using all his power, including his influence at the Daily Prophet, to smear anyone who claims the Dark Lord has returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sirius-black/fudge-is-using-all-his-power-including-his-influence-at-the-daily/) [Sirius Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sirius-black/) > [Instead of a Dark Lord, you would have a queen, not dark but beautiful and terrible as the dawn! Tempestuous as the sea, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-a-dark-lord-you-would-have-a-queen-not-dark-but-beautiful/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Boy, you resolve not to go down the path of a Dark Lord and the universe starts messing with you the instant the Hat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/boy-you-resolve-not-to-go-down-the-path-of-a-dark-lord-and-the/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [When the Dark Lord takes over, is he going to care how many O.W.L.s or N.E.W.T.s anyone’s got? Of course he isn’t. . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-the-dark-lord-takes-over-is-he-going-to-care-how-many-o-w-l-s-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Oh, he’ll try , I’m sure. . . . The usual empty words, the usual slithering out of action . . . oh, on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/oh-he-ll-try-i-m-sure-the-usual-empty-words-the-usual-slithering-out/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“The Dark Lord lies alone and friendless, abandoned by his followers. His servant has been chained these twelve years. Tonight, before midnight … the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/the-dark-lord-lies-alone-and-friendless-abandoned-by-his-followers/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“...The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayuri-das/the-one-with-the-power-to-vanquish-the-dark-lord-approaches-born-to/) [Mayuri Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayuri-das/) > [but the idea of the Dark Lord in possesion of the Deathstick is, I must admit, formidable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-the-idea-of-the-dark-lord-in-possesion-of-the-deathstick-is-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Severus Snape > [Read it, control it, unhinge it. In the past it was often the Dark Lord's pleasure to invade the minds of his victims, creating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/severus-snape/read-it-control-it-unhinge-it-in-the-past-it-was-often-the-dark-lord/) [Severus Snape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/severus-snape/) > [The Dark Lord, for instance, almost always knows when somebody is lying to him. Only those skilled at Occlumency are able to shut down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/severus-snape/the-dark-lord-for-instance-almost-always-knows-when-somebody-is-lying/) [Severus Snape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/severus-snape/) > [There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class. As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/severus-snape/there-will-be-no-foolish-wand-waving-or-silly-incantations-in-this/) [Severus Snape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/severus-snape/) > [Look...at...me... The green eyes found the black, but after a second, something in the depths of the dark pair seemed to vanish, leaving them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/severus-snape/look-at-me-the-green-eyes-found-the-black-but-after-a-second/) [Severus Snape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/severus-snape/) > [You just... know? Once again, you astonish me with your gifts Potter. Gifts mere mortals could only dream of possessing. How grand it must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/severus-snape/you-just-know-once-again-you-astonish-me-with-your-gifts-potter-gifts/) [Severus Snape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/severus-snape/) > [The Dark Arts are many, varied, ever-changing and eternal. Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/severus-snape/the-dark-arts-are-many-varied-ever-changing-and-eternal-fighting-them/) [Severus Snape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/severus-snape/) > [The mind is not a book, to be opened at will and examined at leisure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/severus-snape/the-mind-is-not-a-book-to-be-opened-at-will-and-examined-at-leisure-2/) [Severus Snape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/severus-snape/) > [For your information Potter, Asphodel and Wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of the Living Death, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/severus-snape/for-your-information-potter-asphodel-and-wormwood-make-a-sleeping/) [Severus Snape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/severus-snape/) > [How extraordinarily like your father you are Potter, he too was exceedingly arrogant, strutting about the castle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/severus-snape/how-extraordinarily-like-your-father-you-are-potter-he-too-was/) [Severus Snape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/severus-snape/) > [Don't go blaming Dumbledore for Potter's determination to break rules. He has been crossing lines ever since he arrived here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/severus-snape/don-t-go-blaming-dumbledore-for-potter-s-determination-to-break-rules/) [Severus Snape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/severus-snape/) > [I'm afraid you have used up all my stores interrogating students, the last of it on Miss Chang. Unless you wish to poison Potter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/severus-snape/i-m-afraid-you-have-used-up-all-my-stores-interrogating-students-the/) [Severus Snape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/severus-snape/) > [You dare use my own spells against me, Potter? Yes. I'm the Half Blood Prince.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/severus-snape/you-dare-use-my-own-spells-against-me-potter-yes-i-m-the-half-blood/) [Severus Snape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/severus-snape/) > [How touchingly paternal, Black. Perhaps Potter will grow up to be a felon, just like his godfather!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/severus-snape/how-touchingly-paternal-black-perhaps-potter-will-grow-up-to-be-a/) [Severus Snape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/severus-snape/) > [Harry Potter - Our new celebrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/severus-snape/harry-potter-our-new-celebrity/) [Severus Snape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/severus-snape/) > [You have your mother's eyes...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/severus-snape/you-have-your-mother-s-eyes/) [Severus Snape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/severus-snape/) [Explore all 32 Severus Snape quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/severus-snape/) ## More Dark quotes > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [“I could see her will leaving and death seeping through her skin to skewer her soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-stroube/i-could-see-her-will-leaving-and-death-seeping-through-her-skin-to/) [J.D. Stroube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-stroube/) > [The soul wanders in the dark, until it finds love. And so, wherever our love goes, there we find our soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-zimmerman/the-soul-wanders-in-the-dark-until-it-finds-love-and-so-wherever-our/) [Mary Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-zimmerman/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [All comedy comes from a dark place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katt-williams/all-comedy-comes-from-a-dark-place/) [Katt Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katt-williams/) > [It's a really dark, emotionally wrenching world that we've created on 'The Walking Dead.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-holden/it-s-a-really-dark-emotionally-wrenching-world-that-we-ve-created-on/) [Laurie Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-holden/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I guess he'll have to figure out someday that he is supposed to have this dark side, that it is part of what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/i-guess-he-ll-have-to-figure-out-someday-that-he-is-supposed-to-have/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“Once upon a time, there was a naïve and innocent girl who thought she could tame the beast and live happily ever after. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-na-ve-and-innocent-girl-who-thought-she/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [Memory revises me. Even now a letter comes from a place I don’t know, from someone with my name and postmarked years ago, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-young-lee/memory-revises-me-even-now-a-letter-comes-from-a-place-i-don-t-know/) [Li-Young Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-young-lee/) > [Like the water of a deep stream, love is always too much. We did not make it. Though we drink till we burst, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/like-the-water-of-a-deep-stream-love-is-always-too-much-we-did-not/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [Let death bless me with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-death-bless-me-with-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“what do you call/that space between the dark geographies of sex?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-trethaway/what-do-you-call-that-space-between-the-dark-geographies-of-sex/) [Natasha Trethaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-trethaway/) > [Twinking tears in a sea of black. Soft light in a world of darkness. Tiny wishes in a place of dreams. Do you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-gentile/twinking-tears-in-a-sea-of-black-soft-light-in-a-world-of-darkness/) [Nicole Gentile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-gentile/) > [Even in the dark your shadow is like a guide to me! you are my rising sun that brings forth hope just as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkemjika-linus/even-in-the-dark-your-shadow-is-like-a-guide-to-me-you-are-my-rising/) [Nkemjika Linus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkemjika-linus/) [Browse all 10,198 Dark quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If the Dark Lord has forbidden it, you are not to speak...", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Severus Snape" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/severus-snape/if-the-dark-lord-has-forbidden-it-you-are-not-to-speak/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dark" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/severus-snape/if-the-dark-lord-has-forbidden-it-you-are-not-to-speak/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/250/severus-snape-19657_dark_if-the-dark-lord-has-forbidden-it-you-ar_2503317.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/250/severus-snape-19657_dark_if-the-dark-lord-has-forbidden-it-you-ar_2503317.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/250/severus-snape-19657_dark_if-the-dark-lord-has-forbidden-it-you-ar_2503317.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If the Dark Lord has forbidden it, you are not to speak...” — Severus Snape", "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": "Severus Snape", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/severus-snape/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If the Dark Lord has forbidden...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/severus-snape/if-the-dark-lord-has-forbidden-it-you-are-not-to-speak/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/severus-snape/if-the-dark-lord-has-forbidden-it-you-are-not-to-speak/#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 } } ] } ```