Once again, you show all the sensitivity of a blunt axe.

From this point forth, we shall be leaving the firm foundation of fact and journeying together through the murky marshes of memory into thickets of wildest guesswork.

Well, [bad] times like that bring out the best in some people and the worst in others.

Read as much as you possibly can. Nothing will help you as much as reading.

With another shock of excitement, Harry saw Sirius give James the thumbs-up. Sirius was lounging in his chair at his ease, tilting it back on two legs. He was very good-looking, his dark hair fell into his eyes with a sort of casual elegance neither James's nor Harry's could ever have achieved, and a girl sitting behind him was eyeing him hopefully, though he didn't seem to have noticed.

... there are far, far worse things in the living world than dying.

Failure is not fun. It can be awful. But living so cautiously that you never fail is worse.