Most People say Dumbledore, but Nicholas Flamel made the sorcerors stone, and the Hogwarts ppl made..hogwarts, and all the passageways and such. Think first!

ups
I didn't know that I'm the first
okey
Albus is the greatest I think
why?
1. harry potter still wish any advice from dumbledore
2. about flamel, I know he made sorcerer stone, but I never know that he ever join wizengamot or gave any advice to minister
3. dumbledore is the one an only wizard who voldemort fear of
4. hermione granger, she only clever, great in school
5. ron weasley, he has talent, but not greatest wizard
6. the founder, I don't have any idea about this
they absolutely great, but not the greatest I think

If Godric or Ravenclaw [possibly] came back or something Voldy would be scared of him/her too though. Obviously not Slytherin, and unfortunatly most ppl find Hufflpuff completly unthreatning, although they would be unnerved. And all 4 of them made a castle. With secret passageways and moving stairs and the Room of Requirement, and all that, and apparantly this was when witches and wizards were in great danger and facing much prosectution. They built hogwarts! I doubt even 4 [younger even] completly different [from each other] Dumbledores might have been able to do that. If he went back in time, then maybe there would've been 5 founders of Hogwarts.

i was going to say the four creators of hogwarts but then i changed my mind. i still thnk dumbledore is the greatest wizard ever because he's the only one that lord voldemort was ever scared of and lv is very powerful which shows that dd too has a lot of power and he was asked to be minister of magic. he's also taught a lot of people stuff and everybody likes him. to be the greatest wizard i dont think you just have to be good at magic. i think people need to like you too!

I suppose Nicholas flamel is a good wizard too though because he's the only known maker of the philosopher's stone but i dont think hes ever been asked to be minister for magic or anything so i still think dumbledore's better. He's friends with dd so dd could have helped him make it or told him how he thinks they were made because no one would have made one before that we know of.

Helped, yah, but Flamel found a way to escape death. And yes, with Dumbledore's help, but I think he did most of the work, cause it almost gives him all the credit. Voldy probably hasent even thought of making one himself. And the 4 creators are also well liked [Slytherin by his own kind of ppl] and kinda made having a magic government possible right? Wizards were kinda in hiding I think. Everyone thought that Voldy or Tom Riddle before was going to become Minister of Magic too, remember? And like I said, if Gryffyndor was still alive, I'm sure Voldy would've been scared of 2 wizards. Think if they were all alive, because I did ask greatest wizard who ever lived.

I think it's Dumbledore. I do agree that the founders were great because of making Hogwarts and that Flemel was great because of the Stone. I still think it's Dumbledore, though. He is brilliant! He helped with the Stone. Flemel probably couldn't have made the stone if it weren't for Dumbledore's help with the work on alchemy. Dumbledore is the only one that Voldemort ever feared. Also, one of the O.W.L. examiners says that Dumbledore won't be found if he won't want to. She says she should know because she examined him herself when he did his N.E.W.T. and he did stuff with a wand she had never seen before. That's in book five but I do not have the exact quote or the page number. Dumbledore really is a brilliant wizard. We see that also by the way that he duels in Order of the Phoenix. That was amazing.

I suppose it is possible that the others from a long time ago could have had similar traits, but I think Dumbledore is still the the greatest wizard ever. I agree with the other posters, pretty much.

I agree with Potter4president, Albus Dumbledore is undoubtedly the greatest wizard not only of this generation but ever. I don't tnink it is voldemort because to a great wizard you have to be able to use your magic wisely and well. Voldemort may be super powerful and know all this dark magic but what counts is not what ability he has but how he uses it. I think Albus uses his abilities to the good of the wizarding race which makes him better that Voldy. It could be that the house heads are great wizards/witches but we never really get to meet them but I suppose that Hogwarts is enough of a statement on how amazingly gifted they are.
I still vote dumby though, becuase he is brilliant!

First, she said that Dumbledore wouldnt be found, yes thats true, but Slytheryn built the chamber of secrets without anyone knowing, which is preety weird, but had to take a genius to do that.
Second, I remember that part. Didnt Gryffyndor make the Sorting Hat also? Just saying. I'm sure they invented plenty of spells, curses, jinxes, etc. as well. I would be surprised if they didnt, they made a castle, they need alot of magicky protection and with the moving stairs, and the fact that guys can't get into the girl's dormetary [I dont think theres a specific spell that disables a certain gender from climbing up the stairs to go into the other gender's rooms by having the stairs turn into a slide, and if there is one, I'm guessing theey invented it ] and I'm sure theres alot more too.
I think most ppl believe Dumbledore to be the greatest wizard ever is because we've seen alot of Dumbledore in the books and the amazing things he's done and all, but if there was a story about the 4 founders, I'm sure most ppl would start thinking differently. Maybe.

PurpleForge brings up an excellent point about how you use your powers. I agree. Voldemort may be brilliant, but he uses his brilliance in a horrible way, and Dumbledore uses it for good. That is a great point! So, in my opinion, Dumbledore is definitely greater than Voldemort. I also agree with PurpleForge about the founders. The fact that they made Hogwarts says that they are amazingly gifted, but I still think Dumbledore is better. Also, I think we would hear more about their other acomplishments if any of them were the greatest. I think it is partially a matter of opinion, though. I still think that Dumbledore is the greatest ever.

Wait, did you read mine? Anyway, I just put Nicholas Flamel, Voldy, And the Trio in case other ppl complain [well, not NF, I thought it might be intresting] I dont consider them the best ones. It's more between Dumbledore and The four creators of hogwarts. and hogwarts is an accomplishment for one thing, and the story isnt supposed to be about them and if they started talking about them it would be almsot completly off topic.

Yeah, sorry LeakyCakeage, I started reading and posting before you finished your post so I didn't see it yet when I posted.

So, I will comment on that now. You have a point that the Chamber of Secrets wasn't found for a long time, but I still think it is Dumbledore. You do have some good points, though. Gryffindor did make the sorting hat, but I think Dumbledore would be capable of that, as well. I obviously cannot say for sure because I do not know, but in my opinion, he probably could. He is the greatest headmast Hogwarts has ever had (according to Hagrid). I suppose it is possible that they did make spells, but I still think that it is Dumbledore. He could have made spells we don't know about, too (althoug I doubt it) and he did different kind of studies. I mean, they could have been great in inventing spells, while Dumbledore was great in a number of other things. I just think that we would hear more about the founders' lives other than about Hogwarts if they were greater than Dumbledore. Like I said before though, it is partly a matter of opinion.

My top three:

1. Albus Dumbledore
2. Lord Voldemort
3. Severus Snape

Without a doubt, Dumbledore is the best wizard ever to live. He is fair, well rounded, and has fought evil his entire life. He does what he thinks is right and is not afraid to stand alone. He is the incarnation of all the Hogwart's House qualities and he is respected by many. The Dark Lord Voldemort is afraid of him.

Voldemort is next in line. Voldemort has this natural ability to use magic that is just so powerful. He has strived to be the best for so long, taking very dark paths on this quest, thus landing him in my number two spot. No matter how powerful Voldemort becomes, he still fears death and Dumbledore can still win in a duel. If you notice in OotP, Dumbledore encases Voldemort in a cocoon of water (While Voldemort is on the dais of the fountain) and Voldemort stuggles to keep it off of him, until he finally gives in and disapparates. Clearly, he is second place.

Severus Snape come in third. No matter whose side he is truly loyal to he has managed to decieve atleast one of the greatest wizards of all time, Dumbledore or Voldemort. Severus has gained the trust of Dumbledore and has fought the prying probes of Lord Voldemort's reknowned skills at legilimency and is a worthy adversary in battle. I believe Severus Snape to be loyal to Dumbledore, thus making his services to Dumbleore while spying for the Dark Lord to be very heroic.

~Albus

Albus Dumbledore of course.

The only one Voldemort has ever feared. That's a pretty great wizard. Actually, I consider Albus more of a "Sorcerer" since he is so sophisticated and witty (don't forget old).

I admire how he stood upto the Ministry when they were totally oblivious to the fact that Voldemort was back. Albus could've just shrugged and gone about his business, instead he stood up and fought (not to mention getting in Fudge's face).

Well,
I definitely agree with Albus Dumbledore's top two. I think that if Harry does defeat Voldemort, he will take second or, possibly, third. At the current time, however, I agree with the top two. I wouldn't put Snape as three, though. I think that it would probably be either one of the founders or someone we haven't met entirely. I wouldn't say Harry at this point, either. Snape is great because he tricked either Voldemort or Dumbledore, the top two, but he just doesn't seem like number three to me. He did invent some great spells and he was great at potions, but I think there is more to being a great wizard or witch than inventing spells and tricking people. I do agree with 1 and 2, though. I also agree with what jiggery-pokery said.

Unless Dumbledore is over 600 years old, Flamel made the stone by himself. Dumbledore helped, yes, but in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, it's said that Flamel is 665 years old. So... yeah.. He had to have had a stone to have lived that long.

Anyways, I say Dumbledore is the greatest. He's the most intelligent wizard we've ever seen. Though, I think Godric Gryffindor is a close second.

OMG YOU'RE RIGHT! I COMPLETLY FORGOT THAT FLAMEL WAS 600 YEARS OLD, [DUMBLEDORE IS ONLY 150] SO HE COULDNT HAVE HELPED WITH THE SORCERERS STONE!
Oh darn, I forgot about Caps Lock. Ok, sorry sorry, but I'm in a bit of a hurry and I'm trying to wrap things up so plz dont..punish me.
And ok, Potter4President,yoor right, it's a matter of opinion and all that, and whoever called me 'LeakyCakeage' I cant tell if you're being rude or just didnt read my name properly, just commenting on that.

And you're saying all these things that Dumbledore could've done and possibly has done and all that, but you're not considering what the 4 houses probably couldve done and all that too. And I think they wouldve stood up to the minestry too, and whoever said that Dumbledore has all the qualities of the 4 house's creators [ok, I'm gonna call them GHRS now, I dont like typing it out] is right I guess..so thats a preety good argument. He's brave, smart, hard-working, and I think being resourceful is one of them, I cant see him as cunning, just charming. ..too bad none of THEM are ghosts. I wonder why none of them became Ghosts, that kinda sucks..none of them were curious? I'm sure they figured out how to do it and all..

Anywayz, think about what they could've and would've done too, yoo're all only thinking about what Dumbledore's done.
...LeakyCakeage!..reminds me of a melted Ice Cream Cake or something, I'd like you to answer to that please.

Dumbledore-he's my hero. And a lot of others' hero. He did so many great things-greatest headmaster of Hogwarts, created the twelve uses of dragon blood, worked with Nicolos Flamal (sp?) and lots, lots more.

Not to mention, moldy-Voldy's scared of him, and Dumbledore alone mangaed to find out how he can be defeated-he found out about the Horcruxes.

He was a great wizard and very powerful. He had such a great sense of humor and could be so calm in very tense situations (The cave ring any bells?). He's such a trusting person and believes in second chances and was right to trust Lupin (But not so much Snape).

I loved Dumbledore so so much. I wish he didn't have to ide. He was a great wizard.

if you mean great in the meaning of something positive it has to be Dumbledore... but if great means best then I have to say Voldemort... I really don't like the guy but you have to admit he is the best wizard ever ( most skilled I mean...)

Sorry about that LadyCakeage, I looked at your name quickly and accidently misread it! Sorry!

Aberforth3, I did not think about that! You are right! Dumbledore could not have helped with the Stone. I always assumed that he did because of it saying he worked on Alchemy with his good friend, but I never thought about that. In all probability, Dumbledore could not have helped.
You are correct, LadyCakeage, that there are things that the four founders probably did that were great, as well. I, however, still think Dumbledore is the greatest. I will say this: from the information I have (and from all of the guessing about the past/future that I can do), Dumbledore is the greatest, in my opinion. You are right, though, that it is quite possible that there has been someone much better than Dumbledore, and that could have very well been one of the four founders.

Well, okey then, this makes sense..
Allright. *shakes hand*
Truce, draw, all that, lo
And ok about the LeakyCakeage, although I wish I could change it now, I think I like that one better anywayz Maybe if I get deleted, I keep forgetting about the rules.
Wait, before I stop checking this post regularly, I'm agreeing because this is a..a matter of opinions and that we dont know for sure but that its possible that [based on the book] there might have been someone better than Dumbledore, and that it could've been one of the 4 founders? Rite-o?
..I'm probably gonna keep looking anywayz.

Yes. I totally agree with you, LadyCakeage, that it is a matter of opinion, and that it is possible that there is someone better than Dumbledore out there or there used to be. I also agree that that person could have been one of the four founders. I totally agree with you with all of that. Again, from what I know, it is my opinion that Dumbledore is the best, but it is totally possible that there is someone better out there.

So much of what we theorize on this site is a subjective opinion, although when I used to write editorials in college I learned that the best editorials let the facts speak for themselves. A bit off subject, now to get back on....

I voted for Dumbledore not out of disrespect for other choices. Even Nicholas Flamel, at age 600, doesn't get my vote because we really don't know what he has done in those 600 years except create the sorcerer's stone, which was the key to his longevity.

To me, Harry may go down in history as the greatest wizard of all time, particularly if he lives to be 150 like Dumbledore, but at the age of 17, he's just too young to put at the top. The founders should be revered for having the vision of creating Hogwarts, but I kinda think about them similarly to the founding fathers of the United States. If you ask most people who the greatest president was, most would not say George Washington. In fact, aside from the fact that he was the first president and the commander of the American forces in the Revolution, most Americans (sadly) can't say what else he did that was great. That does not take away from the fact that Washington, Jefferson, Adams, etc. weren't great for creating our country, any more than we should look down upon Griffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. We just don't know enough about them to say where they belong.

ok first i thought, of course its dumbledore,hes the most powerful wizard alive( or was) his influences on the magical world are all over the place and he knows a lot of important things that harry will need to discover if he is to defeat voldy(sorry of topic)and gryffindors hier?

and the the hier thing got me going,imagine salazar slytherin and lord voldemorts powers combined,salazar was the founder of slytherin,voldy was his heir,voldy would of inhereted almost all of salazars skills but imagine the two together,total destuction!this leads me to believe voldy is as equally powerful as dd, which is why voldy fears him,thats why harry scared him because the prophecy said that harry would become lvs equal

but my final conclusion is dumbledore even after all i just said there lol,though i do believe harry and the other two will become wizarding legends there to young to put at the top in order i would say it goes like this

1.dumbledore

2.voldemort

3.the founders

4.harry

5.flamel

6.hermy

7.ron(sorry ron fans)

josh

Dumbledore. He is so full of experience, advice, and knowledge, and he is the only one that Voldemort ever feared. Inevitable winner right there.
However, with Dumbledore dead and the final battle between Harry and Voldemort approaching, it is quite possible that Harry could assume that title if he indeed does defeat Voldemort in the end.
And my belief in Harry comes from the words of the greatest wizard ever, who tells Harry in HBP:
"You have a power that Voldemort has never had. You can-"
"I know!" said Harry impatiently. "I can love!" It was only with difficulty that he stopped himself adding, "Big deal!"
"Yes, Harry, you can love"... "which, given everything that has happened to you, is a great and remarkable thing... Voldemort singled you out as the person who would be most dangerous to him- and in doing so, he made you the person who would be most dangerous to him!" (p. 509)

So Dumbledore as of now, Harry possibly in the future because he has the potential to overpower Voldemort without even finishing his term at Hogwarts! He has already faced him several times and made it out alive... he did so even as a baby! If that isn't some kind of extraordinary wizarding skill, then I do not know what is!

Did I post here already....it feels like I did, but I don't see my name soo I agree with alot of people when I say that I think DD is the greatest. Harry has had alot of luck and people with him that love him to help many of the times he was in a sticky situation. I think that alot of the others are great too, but DD is so wise and has this huge pool of infiniate knowledge and it's kind of uncanny, and I think i grow so used to the idea and that DD is so great and smart that I forget and other wizards and witches aren't always like that and that he's super special. Flemel and Snape and the founders are ok but when I compare them in my mind DD always comes out on top. Hermione is very smart, but has madea a few mistakes and Ron is so wodnerful but I just love him

dumbledore, of course....hes not only a great wizard....but he teaches great morals that you need in life, too....

I think that they all are in their own right, but i voted for the founders of the school becuase without them, then all the rest wouldn't have been able to learn anything to make them into great witchs or wizards!

I wud have to say Dumbledore was def the best but i wud also like to say, tht harry is also a great wizard along with hermione. hermione is smart and harry is brave, they are a good mix but dumbledore is both of them.

I truly think that the greatest wizard was Albus Dumbledore. It's obvious! The headmaster of Hogwarts was a briliant wizard, mad, fun, allways with an answear for any question. I truly miss him!

I'm tempted to give a different answer: all the wizards who have got over personal traumas, egos, troubled pasts and became wise and wholesome and then helped others are equally great. I think both Voldemort and Snape are out of question actually... But Harry, Albus and probably the older ones who are not real characters of the book (we don't know much about Gryffindor for example) are as great.

But the model of the wizard I described above is Dumbledore. He represents precisely that kind of wizard. I also have great respect for his age. So I voted him, but I keep in mind that Harry and the others are as great, only they were supposed to play a different role in the book. The great wizard growing up (Harry) or the same great wizard seen through history (Nicholas and the founders); they are the same wizard but at different age. So I voted the only one who's incarnating the archetype of the wise wizard still in action, but old enough to have already conquered the toughest things in life.

Albus Dumbledore, no doubt. It's almost unanimous!
Dumbledore's amazing, the gratest wizard ever. Voldemort is also great, but he has that lack of love that leaves him in a second place. Snape is very intelligent and a very incredible wizard but not as good as Dumbledore.

Greatest wizard that ever was: Dumbledore! Obviously ... we do learn some things about him in DH but I won't go into that. He's the greatest .... hands down.

Dumbledore. He was a pure genius. He discovered the 12 uses of dragon blood, helped create the Philosopher's Stone, defeated Grindewald I mean what else can he do?

dumbledore no Q's about it

Albus Dumbledore I think. He is the only one that can't be beaten by Voldemort. The have the same powers, but Dumbledore can love others and Voldemort can't, so that makes Dumbledore more powerful.

Albus Dumbledore. he is very smart, funny but most importent good.

Ok. Albus Dumbledore is proubly one of the most obvious choices as i can see from the posts, But what about the Founders of Hogwarts. They where the most brightest and Greatest Wizards/Witchs ever. But as Dumbledore is also one of the greatest, we just dont know.

I think that Albus Dumbledore is the most gifted wizard. He seems to understand all the key parts in life which helps him be a great wizard.

Albus Dumbledore OF COURSE!! He is the most wisest (and fairest) wizard that ever lived. THERE WILL BE NO QUESTIONS ABOUT IT!! YOU SHOULD NO WHY HE IS THE MOST WISEST WIZARD!

Hello! He is the Headmaster of Hogwarts.

I think that if Tom Riddle had not became Voldemort he would have been the greatest wizard of all time. It was turning to the Dark Arts and to evil that was the ultimate downfall of Riddle. Remember, he was younger than Dumbledore and matched him during their duel,

I'd say Hermione is the smartest witch/wizard of her age, more so than Harry Potter. Harry had nerve, but Hermione's brains kept them going a lot of the times and kept them on track throughout.

All in all though, Albus Dumbledore would have to be the greatest wizard of all time. Severus Snape would probably be in the top ten also.

Albus Dumbledore. I mean, he is the wizard Voldemort ever feared, right? And, Voldemort's like the evil-est sorcerer in the world. People are even terrified in saying his name. So, if everyone is afraid of Voldy, and Voldy's only afraid of Dumbledore, that means Dumbledore really is a great wizard to be feared by Voldy like that. Sorry this makes no sense [at all]. Hehe. [:

The Four Founders for creating Hogwarts!

Okay this is a really hard one. I went for Dumbledore cos i think he deserves to be respected for being so skilled, intelligent and clever and also human. Yea i say that cos Voldemort does challange him in this scale but it is the fact that Dumbledore earns the power and learns to use it wisely while Voldemort earns the power and becomes a crazy lunatic.His conquest for immortality deprives him of real luxuries and happiness of life and fails to understands the meaning of being alive. Dumbledore on the other hand, is not like that. He understand he has to die one day and lived his life to fullest. Sometimes we feel Dumbledore knows everything, has the answer for all questions but really he does not. His mistakes and blunders shows that he is human. As far as others like Flamel and Hogwart Founders are concerned, we r not so sure about how they were or how they lived. We only hear of them randomly and so i assume a judgement could only be made between these two.

I would say Albus Dumbledore as First choice and then after him i would choose Snape as a second choice i mean he is really good right? and after him i would have voted for Voldy but he is the dark sorcerer not ok so i ll take Harry than Voldy and after that Godric and Salazar of course the perevell brothers are also great wizards

The greatest wizard ever is Severus Snape! Yeah, he was a complete jerk, but he devoted his life to someone he loved. Just when you think he is the worst person in the world, you find out that everything he did was out of love! He is not the most gifted wizard, but definitely the most courageous. I mean, he killed Albus Dumbledore when Dumbledore told him to, you've got to be pretty brave to do that. The whole world would hate you!

i reckon the creators because if there were no such thing of them then there would be no hogwarts

HA! I knew it would be Dumbledore. He had every solution and knew everything. He was always right about things and was the only one who discovered most about old Voldy's past. When I started the Harry Potter series, I was always afraid that Dumbledore might die. I was really sorrowful and depressed at his death, but still he came to help Harry.

Books and cleverness made Hermione into the brightest witch of her age. Not bad for someone that was brought up as a Muggle. And because she was brought up as a Muggle, she has the advantage of the best of both worlds. Hermione is the greatest witch ever. IMO, no other witch is better than she.

Voldie may be good at casting spells, but, no one compares to Dumbledore! He is an eternal Character. Just like Merlin! He is THE wizard. He knows and understands everything and he is really powerfull.... He is the greatest wizard!!

My first thought is Dumbledore, but then I thought about it and I realized that if it wasn't for the founders then Dumbledore would have never learned about magic and he would have never become so great. Soooo, I think the greatest witch/wizard ever would have to be the founders because they were the ones who opened up the school and were probably the first ones to teach the students all about magic. They opened the door for people like Dumbledore. I mean come on, they created Hogwarts!