Summary
- Dobby’s quotes offer comedic relief from dark storylines, showcasing his pure soul & loyalty to Harry.
- From socks to friendship, Dobby’s memorable quotes evoke laughter and tears from fans.
- Dobby’s final words in Deathly Hallows affirm his happiness with Harry, a touching moment in the franchise.
SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
The best Dobby quotes showcase why the house-elf is one of the most beloved characters in the Harry Potter franchise. While he doesn’t appear in the films quite as much as he does in the books, Dobby (voiced by Toby Jones in the Harry Potter movies) still manages to stand out. Almost everything that he says is memorable and ranges from the inspiring and powerful, to the darkly comedic, to the incredibly tragic, and each quote has remained stood out to viewers.
The best Dobby quotes act as a reminder that the house-elf is a pure soul who offers viewers comedic relief from some of the darkest storylines in the franchise by being almost constantly hilarious whenever he’s on-screen. Even though it’s just about impossible to forget how heartbreaking the end of Dobby’s story was in the Harry Potter franchise, the best Dobby quotes will always bring a smile to the faces of longtime fans, even if they have to remind fans of the tear-jerking scene where the loyal house-elf has to say goodbye for the last time.
Related
The Potterverse: All The Wizarding World Films In Chronological Order
All the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films from WB and J K Rowling – from the Fantastic Beasts of the 20s to the Deathly Hallows.
15 “Harry Potter. Such An Honor It Is, Sir!”
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (2002)
Dobby’s first line in both the books and the movies comes in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and it’s simply him expresses his awe at meeting Harry Potter. Harry is no stranger to witches and wizards being taken aback by seeing him in the flesh, but no introduction is quite as strange as when a star-struck house-elf appears at Number 4, Privet Drive.
Dobby, like most of the wizarding world, is aware of who Harry is before Harry even knows he’s a wizard. As Dobby points out to Harry at one point, Harry’s “defeat” of Voldemort as a baby means that a lot of older wizarding families start to treat their house-elves much better than before. Though Dobby might still be treated poorly by the Malfoy family, he is already grateful to Harry for the way things changed for other house-elves.
14 “Dobby Has Heard Of Your Greatness, Sir, But Never Has He Been Asked To Sit Down By A Wizard! Like An Equal.”
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (2002)
Many of the best Dobby quotes comes from his introductory scene in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and this includes one of his most heartbreaking lines, as it exposes just how bad a lot in life the house-elf has. Being a house-elf of a Death Eater, Dobby has had a horrible time during his life of servitude.
So bad is the treatment Dobby is used to that when he meets Harry Potter for the first time and Harry offers him a seat, the house-elf starts crying from shock.
So bad is the treatment Dobby is used to that when he meets Harry Potter for the first time and Harry offers him a seat, the house-elf starts crying from shock. It’s absurd how little kindness it takes for Dobby to start crying, so this Dobby quote made the audience aware of the position of house-elves in society. It also marks Harry’s greatness as more than just what happened to him as a baby, as his compassion for others is what drives him to save the wizarding world.
13 “Socks Are Dobby’s Favorite, Favorite Clothes, Sir! I Has Seven Now, Sir. . . . But Sir … They Has Made A Mistake In The Shop, Harry Potter, They Is Giving You Two The Same!”
Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire, The Novel
Clothing is a big deal for house-elves, especially Dobby, who spends the majority of his life prior to meeting Harry wearing nothing but a dirty pillowcase. The very first item of clothing that Dobby is presented with, in both the Chamber of Secrets novel and movie, is a sock. As a result, socks become Dobby’s favorite item of clothing, and he has a large collection of them as a free elf. This obsession also led to one of the most adorable Dobby quotes.
When Harry gives him a pair of old socks for Christmas in the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire novel, however, Dobby is shocked to find that the socks match as he’s been under the impression that each one is unique. It’s a sweet moment that highlights how sheltered Dobby has been prior to his freedom, since he doesn’t know about something so simple despite living and working with wizards his entire life.
12 “And If Dobby Does It Wrong, Dobby Will Throw Himself Off The Topmost Tower, Harry Potter!”
Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince, The Novel
There are many darkly comedic Dobby quotes throughout the Harry Potter franchise, with the house-elf being (unintentionally, of course) hilarious when he displays his tendency to engage in self-flagellation — even after he gains his freedom. Dobby is unflinchingly loyal to Harry Potter. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for the teenage wizard during their short friendship, but he’s also used to having to punish himself when he disobeys the family that used to hold him in servitude.
Harry doesn’t need his allies flinging themselves off the Astronomy tower if they aren’t able to complete a task, and he has to make that clear to Dobby multiple times.
As a result, nearly every time Dobby decides to help Harry, he also makes comments about punishing himself if he does it incorrectly, which unnerves Harry a great deal. Harry doesn’t need his allies flinging themselves off the Astronomy tower if they aren’t able to complete a task, and he has to make that clear to Dobby multiple times.
11 “Dobby Only Wants Harry Potter To Be Safe.”
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (2002)
Throughout his first film appearance in 2002’s Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Dobby proves to be somewhat of an annoyance to Harry Potter. He creates a slew of problems that either get Harry in massive trouble or result in actual injury. In a way, Dobby is an antagonist in the film and even acts like somewhat of a jerk. He’s directly responsible for many of the hardships Harry faces throughout the second movie, including when he breaks his arm during a quidditch match and subsequently loses all the bones in his arm.
However, despite the questionable nature of the house-elf’s approach to keeping Harry Potter “safe”, audiences can’t help but sympathize with Dobby due to this quote, which he speaks forlornly. While he has an interesting concept of “safety”, Dobby isn’t malicious. In fact, he is only acting in such a destructive way because he cares about Harry Potter and wants to do the right thing.
10 “Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!”
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (2002)
The Harry Potter franchise isn’t really one for catchphrases, though several characters do have repeated lines that come close — and this Dobby quote is definitely one of the character’s most well-known. The house-elf yells and scolds himself whenever he does something he assumes he shouldn’t have, and then attempts to bang his head on any surface he can find.
While “bad Dobby” makes for some very funny moments, it also gives a somewhat chilling glimpse into his life when still in the service of the Malfoy family.
While it takes the audience by surprise at first, it becomes both humorous and a little tragic to watch. It’s just chaotic enough to make Dobby appear as a comedic character, while also showing the terrible situation that house-elves are in, constantly feeling that they need to obey their master and punish themselves for any defiance. While “bad Dobby” makes for some very funny moments, it also gives a somewhat chilling glimpse into his life when still in the service of the Malfoy family.
Related
Harry Potter: One Quote From Each Character That Perfectly Sums Up Their Personality
Each main Harry Potter character has at least one truly wonderful and memorable quote that perfectly sums up the character’s personality.
9 “Terrible Things Are About To Happen At Hogwarts. Harry Potter Must Not Stay Here, Now That History Is To Repeat Itself.”
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (2002)
There are several Dobby quotes that highlight the fact that the house-elf is actually much smarter and more clued-in than he first appears — much to the surprise of many other characters (including Dobby himself, who would probably be the last to pay himself a compliment). For example, Dobby is one of the few characters who fully understands the ramifications of the opening of the Chamber of Secrets. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is one of the franchise’s scariest movies, and it’s filled with suspense and foreboding.
Dobby is the first to create this atmosphere when he warns Harry that he must not stay at Hogwarts because of terrible things to come. He then tries to get Harry kicked out of Hogwarts multiple times throughout the year, which he justifies by his fear that Harry is in danger. Dobby’s hint of history repeating itself also creates great tension and further mystery that drives the plot forward. It builds suspense around all the characters, both the victims and the suspects.
8 “You Shall Not Harm Harry Potter!”
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (2002)
If there was ever a moment in the Harry Potter franchise that has viewers cheering in support of a character, it’s when Dobby finally stands up to his abusive former master in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. It’s one of his most memorable moments in the Harry Potter franchise occurs in Chamber of Secrets even though the movie is full of memorable Dobby quotes, and is perhaps the most uplifting scene featuring the house-elf.
It’s the first time the audience sees the kind of powerful magic that Dobby has, magic he hasn’t been able to use since he wasn’t a free elf before.
Just after Harry has hidden a sock in the book that Lucius Malfoy gives to Dobby, Lucius becomes incredibly angry that Harry has cost him a servant. The wizard tries to use his walking stick, which hides his wand, against Harry, but Dobby immediately comes to Harry’s defense. It’s the first time the audience sees the kind of powerful magic that Dobby has, magic he hasn’t been able to use since he wasn’t a free elf before.
7 “Dobby Is Used To Death Threats, Sir. Dobby Gets Them Five Times A Day At Home.”
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (2002)
Dobby is among the most popular Harry Potter characters because he manages to be tragic and funny at the same time. This Dobby quote is a perfect example of these qualities, as it’s both an incredibly heartbreaking reveal from the house-elf and yet, at the same time, is very difficult not to laugh at. When Harry threatens Dobby over trying to get him kicked out of Hogwarts, Dobby simply shrugs it off because he’s become completely numb to threats on his life.
It’s sad because viewers can only wonder how much abuse the house-elf must be taking in order to not be bothered by death threats, but simultaneously, the nonchalance with which he says the quote can’t help but elicit a laugh. This Dobby quote also hints at his bravery, as he is able to withstand any dangerous threat when he is trying to do the right thing.
6 “Master Has Given Dobby A Sock. Master Has Presented Dobby With Clothes! Dobby Is Free!”
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (2002)
This Dobby quote may not be the best, but it is arguably the most memorable thanks to how often it’s still repeated online both inside and outside the core Harry Potter fandom. This is the Dobby quote that has been memed countless times in the 20 years that Chamber of Secrets has been out. In the movie, Dobby is still enslaved by the Malfoy family, but if a house-elf is presented with clothes, they are freed, so Harry tricks Malfoy into freeing Dobby by hiding a sock in a book.
It’s a lovely moment for Dobby, as all the torment that the house-elf has had to endure is now over.
It’s a lovely moment for Dobby, as all the torment that the house-elf has had to endure is now over. It also shows how much Harry cares about Dobby, and since he spends the majority of the movie being annoyed by him, it marks a significant amount of growth. Dobby’s ecstatic cries of freedom will always be one of the best Harry Potter franchise quotes from any character.
5 “Dobby Has No Master. Dobby Is A Free Elf, And Dobby Has Come To Save Harry Potter And His Friends!”
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)
Between the second and seventh Harry Potter movies, film fans may have missed Dobby even more than book fans did, since his appearances are scarce — Dobby appeared much more frequently in the Harry Potter novels, but many of his key scenes were cut. This lack of Dobby meant that, when he shows up to save the Golden Trio from the Death Eaters in Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1, it’s a wondrous surprise.
When Dobby returned in the penultimate Harry Potter movie, it was clear how much he’d grown since leaving the service of the Malfoys and becoming a free elf. The Death Eaters and the Malfoys are shocked at his appearance, with Bellatrix yelling, “How dare you defy your masters!” But Dobby stands proudly and gives this cheer-worthy quote proclaiming his freedom while showing his bravery and strength. Sadly, it’s one of the last few Dobby quotes from the franchise too.
4 “Sir? I Like Her Very Much.”
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)
Many of the best Dobby quotes are funny, which is why he’s such a fan-favorite Harry Potter character. Another character who shares this quality is Luna Lovegood, who is often a source of levity whenever she appears. It’s no surprise then that when the pair finally interact with one-another in Harry Potter and the Death Hallows: Part 1, it leads to some incredibly funny dialogue.
It also marks how much Dobby has grown because, while he used to consistently hate and punish himself, he now appreciates it when people show him respect.
When Dobby is helping prisoners of the Death Eaters escape, this includes Luna Lovegood, and she says to him, “Whenever you’re ready, Sir.” This prompts delight from Dobby, prompting a funny line that adds some levity to the tense situation that the characters are in. It also marks how much Dobby has grown because, while he used to consistently hate and punish himself, he now appreciates it when people show him respect.
Related
Harry Potter: 10 Facts You Didn’t Know About Dobby The House Elf
Dobby the house-elf is one of the most lovable and tragic characters in the Harry Potter series, and here are 10 hidden details about him.
3 “Dobby Never Meant To Kill! Dobby Only Meant To Maim, Or Seriously Injure!”
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)
When Dobby is attacking Bellatrix Lestrange, she cries out in disgust that the “stupid” elf could have killed her and Dobby responds by yelling a quote in the only way that Dobby can: dark and yet still comedic. It’s a mix of several elements of the house-elf that make his lines so memorable, as it shows a severe complete disregard to the concept of injury, and at the same time is incredibly defiant, with a dash of self-deprication thrown in for good measure.
This Dobby quote is a callback to how he tried to injure Harry in The Chamber Of Secrets, only now he’s using the same sentiment to heroically save the day. It’s also great to see such a small creature stand on his own against one of the most dangerous Death Eaters, though she proves this by throwing a knife at Dobby and killing him, one of the worst things Bellatrix ever did.
2 “[Dumbledore] Said We Is Free To Call Him A – A Barmy Old Codger If We Likes, Sir!”
Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire, The Novel
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire cut many key Dobby moments when the book was adapted into a movie, meaning it missed an opportunity to include one of the best Dobby quotes from the entirety of the Harry Potter franchise. When Dobby first becomes a free elf, he does have a bit of a hard time finding work. He wants to maintain his freedom, but Dobby also genuinely enjoys working. He ends up at the one place he knows there is plenty of work to go around — Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Dumbledore is also an excellent boss, offering up more money than Dobby wants and vacation time that Dobby doesn’t want to take.
Dumbledore is also an excellent boss, offering up more money than Dobby wants and vacation time that Dobby doesn’t want to take. He is amused by Dumbledore encouraging Dobby to disagree with him and call him names, and he says as much to Harry in the Goblet of Fire novel, highlighting how different his life is after taking a job at Hogwarts compared to when he worked for the Malfoy family.
1 “What A Beautiful Place… To Be With Friends. Dobby Is Happy To Be With His Friend… Harry Potter.”
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)
The best Dobby quote is memorable not because it’s funny but because it’s incredibly heartbreaking. There are several sad moments in the Harry Potter movies that have viewers reaching for the tissues, but few can match the moment when Dobby died in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1. Dobby’s death is one of the saddest moments in the entire Harry Potter franchise simply because of how beloved the character is, and it is only made sadder by Dobby’s last words.
At the end of the seventh film, Dobby dies in Harry’s arms, meaning that at least Dobby is able to die in a place that makes him happy. His friendship with Harry had changed his life for the better, so it’s fitting that Harry is mentioned in Dobby’s dying breath. It was an incredibly emotional send-off for the house-elf, and his parting words summed up everything that made his story so endearing from his first appearance in Harry Potter.
Harry Potter
Harry Potter is a multimedia franchise about an orphaned boy who enrolls at Hogwarts School of Wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family, and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world. Adapted from the novels, Harry Potter is an eight-episode film saga that follows the journey of Harry Potter and his friends, Hermoine Granger and Ron Weasley, as they navigate the tricky world of growing up, school life, and magic. Starting from year one and moving to their seventh year, the films chronicle the students’ time at Hogwarts while unfurling a sinister plot that centers around the unsuspecting Harry. With the return of the dark wizard, Voldemort, the students and professors at Hogwarts will fight to carry on as the world around them may change forever. Harry Potter has expanded beyond the world of its films and novels with several video games, a spin-off film series titled Fantastic Beasts, and even attractions at Universal Studios.
Created by J.K. Rowling First Film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone First TV Show Harry Potter Cast Daniel Radcliffe , Emma Watson , Rupert Grint , Tom Felton , Alan Rickman , Matthew Lewis , Bonnie Wright , Evanna Lynch , Maggie Smith , Michael Gambon , Richard Harris , Ralph Fiennes , Helena Bonham Carter , Alfred Enoch , Harry Melling , Gary Oldman , Robert Pattinson , Warwick Davis , Oliver Phelps , James Phelps , David Bradley , David Thewlis , Katie Leung , Jason Isaacs , Imelda Staunton , David Tennant , Jamie Campbell Bower , Timothy Spall , Robbie Coltrane , Eddie Redmayne , Jude Law , Katherine Waterston , Ezra Miller , Dan Fogler , Alison Sudol , Johnny Depp , Mads Mikkelsen TV Show(s) Harry Potter Character(s) Harry Potter , Hermione Granger , Ron Weasley , Dumbledore , Minerva McGonagall , Rubeus Hagrid , Dobby the House Elf , Draco Malfoy , Sirius Black , Ginny Weasley , Voldemort
Expand