Where there is wand, there is a way

During his preparations for the second task of the Triwizard Tournament Harry falls asleep on top of a book called Where there is a Wand, There is a Way which plays on the muggle phrase ‘Where there is a will, there is a way’. This proverb has first been used in Michael Scott’s Cruise of the Midge in 1836.[1] It means that “if you are determined enough, you can find a way to achieve what you want, even if it is very difficult.”[2]

            The proverb changes slightly in the wizarding world where the will has been replaced by a wand. The proverb reads as follows ‘Where there is a wand, there is a way’. This shows the great dependence of wizards and witches upon their wands without which they are vulnerable. With a wand and the right spell they are able to accomplish anything. The wand and the will are preconditions for a successful solution of the problem. 

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[1] Collins, V. H. A Book of English Proverbs: with Origins and Explanations. London: Longmans 1961, p. 129.

[2] Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. London: Bloomsbury, 2000, p.534.