About this quote

Rowling's quip cuts through sentimental thinking and points you back to reality with a laugh. It nudges you to stop treating wishful thinking like a plan. Ask what concrete step you can take instead of waiting for a miracle. Laugh, then pick one small practical action and do it today.

When to use it

• At a hiring meeting when someone keeps saying we should wait for the perfect candidate, I rolled my eyes and quoted, "Cinderella? Snow White? What's that? An illness?" to push us toward making a shortlist.
• Talking to my teenage niece who insists she'll meet her prince at prom, I said, "Cinderella? Snow White? What's that? An illness?" and then helped her set up a scholarship application instead.
• After months of hoping a health fad would fix my energy, I muttered, "Cinderella? Snow White? What's that? An illness?" and booked a checkup and a nutrition consult.
• During a writers' workshop where someone kept waiting for a muse, I laughed, said the line, and argued we should schedule two focused writing hours this week and call it a start.