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J. R. R. Tolkien Quotes - Page 18

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It was just as the 1914 War burst on me that I made the discovery that 'legends' depend on the language to which they belong; but a living language depends equally on the 'legends' which it conveys by tradition. ...

It was just as the 1914 War burst on me that I made the discovery that 'legends' depend on the language to which they belong; but a living language depends equally on the 'legends' which it conveys by tradition. ... Volapuk, Esperanto, Ido, Novial, &c &c are dead, far deader than ancient unused languages, because their authors never invented any Esperanto legends.

J. R. R. Tolkien
War, Discovery, Esperanto
J.R.R. Tolkien (2014). “The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien”, p.231, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Orcs, and talking trees, and leagues of grass, and galloping riders, and glittering caves, and white towers and golden halls, and battles, and tall ships sailing, all these passed before Sam's mind.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Talking, White, League
J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of the Lord of the Rings”, p.934, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

For I am the daughter of Elrond. I shall not go with him when he departs to the Havens: for mine is the choice of Luthien, and as she so have I chosen, both the sweet and the bitter.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Daughter, Sweet, Choices
J. R. R. Tolkien (1980). “The Lord of the Rings: The return of the King”

Frodo drew himself up, and again Sam was startled by his words and his stern voice. 'On the Precious? How dare you?' he said. 'Think! Would you commit your promise to that, Smeagol? It will hold you. But it is more treacherous than you are. It may twist your words. Beware!

J. R. R. Tolkien
Thinking, Voice, Promise
J.R.R. Tolkien (1973). “The Lord of the Rings part two the Two Towers”

Some sang too that Thror and Thrain would come back one day and gold would flow in rivers, through the mountain-gates, and all that land would be filled with new song and new laughter. But this pleasant legend did not much affect their daily business.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Song, Laughter, Land
J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “The Hobbit”, p.102, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

It never does to leave a live Dragon out of the equation.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Dragons, Doe, Equations

Dead men are not friends to living men, and give them no gifts. (Ghan-buri-Ghan, of allies during war)

J. R. R. Tolkien
War, Men, Giving

But do you remember Gandalf’s words: Even Gollum may have something yet to do? But for him, Sam, I could not have destroyed the Ring. The Quest would have been in vain, even at the bitter end. So let us forgive him! For the Quest is achieved, and now all is over. I am glad you are here with me. Here at the end of all things, Sam

J. R. R. Tolkien
Forgiving, Quests, May
J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of the Lord of the Rings”, p.926, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

For so sworn good or evil an oath may not be broken and it shall pursue oathkeeper and oathbreaker to the world's end.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Evil, Broken, World
J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “The Silmarillion”, p.60, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

No, my heart will not yet despair. Gandalf fell and has returned and is with us. We may stand, if only on one leg, or at least be left still upon our knees.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Heart, Despair, Legs
J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of the Lord of the Rings”, p.749, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

They were frightfully angry. Quite apart from the stones no spider has ever liked being called Attercop, and Tomnoddy of course is insulting to anybody.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Insulting, Spiders, Stones
J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “The Hobbit”, p.65, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Manifestation, Allegory, Like And Dislike
1954 The Fellowship of the Ring, foreword.

There was a little corner of his mind that was still his own, and light came through it, as though a chink in the dark: light out of the past. It was actually pleasant, I think, to hear a kindly voice agin, bringing up memories of wind, and trees, and sun on the grass, and such forgotten things.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Memories, Dark, Past
J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “The Fellowship of the Ring: Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings”, p.48, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

I knew that danger lay ahead, of course; but I did not expect to meet it in our own Shire. Can't a hobbit walk from the Water to the River in peace?" "But it is not your own Shire," said Gildor. "Others dwelt here before hobbits were; and others will dwell here again when hobbits are no more. The wide world is all about you: you can fence yourselves in, but you cannot for ever fence it out.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Rivers, Water, World
J. R. R. Tolkien (2009). “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King”, p.76, HarperCollins UK

If you took this thing on yourself, unwilling, at others' asking, then you have pity and honour from me. And I marvel at you: to keep it hid and not to use it. You are a new people and a new world to me. Are all your kin of like sort? Your land must be a realm of peace and content, and there must gardners be in high hounour.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Land, People, Asking

I stand in Minas Anor, the Tower of the Sun; and behold! the Shadow has departed! I will be a Shieldmaiden no longer, nor vie with the great Riders, nor take joy only in the songs of slaying. I will be a healer, and love all things that grow and are not barren.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Song, Joy, Departed
J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of the Lord of the Rings”, p.153, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

I will not give you counsel, saying do this, or do that. For not in doing or contriving, nor in choosing between this course and another, can I avail; but only in knowing what was and is, and in part also what shall be.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Knowing, Giving, Galadriel
J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “The Lord of the Rings: One Volume”, p.252, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Thank you, Sam," he said in a cracked whisper. "How far is there to go?" I don't know," said Sam, "because I don't know where we're going.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Said, Knows, Cracked
J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of the Lord of the Rings”, p.920, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Tears unnumbered ye shall shed.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Tears, Shed
J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “The Silmarillion”, p.63, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

And that's the way of a real tale. Take any one that you're fond of. You may know, or guess, what kind of a tale it is, happy-ending or sad-ending, but the people in it don't know. And you don't want them to.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Real, People, May
J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “The Two Towers: Being the Second Part of The Lord of the Rings”, p.201, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

What a pity that Bilbo did not stab that vile creature, when he had a chance!' Pity? It was Pity that stayed his hand. Pity, and Mercy: not to strike without need. And he has been well rewarded, Frodo. Be sure that he took so little hurt from the evil, and escaped in the end, because he began his ownership of the Ring so. With Pity.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Hurt, Hands, Evil
J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “The Fellowship of the Ring: Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings”, p.51, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Let this be the hour when we draw swords together. Fell deeds awake. Now for wrath, now for ruin, and the red dawn. Forth, Eorlingas!

J. R. R. Tolkien
Wrath, Together, Dawn
"Fictional character: Theoden". "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers", www.imdb.com. 2002.

We may stand, if only on one leg, or at least be left still upon our knees.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Legs, May, Knees
J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of the Lord of the Rings”, p.749, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

But the enemy has the move, and he is about to open his full game. And pawns are as likely to see as much of it as any. Sharpen your blade!

J. R. R. Tolkien
Moving, Games, Enemy
J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of the Lord of the Rings”, p.743, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

And its object is Art not power, sub-creation not domination and tyrannous re-forming of Creation.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Art, Creation, Domination
J. R. R. Tolkien (2011). “The Silmarillion”, p.11, HarperCollins UK

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