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J. R. R. Tolkien Quotes - Page 6

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If you're going to have a complicated story you must work to a map; otherwise you'll never make a map of it afterwards.

If you're going to have a complicated story you must work to a map; otherwise you'll never make a map of it afterwards.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Stories, Maps, Complicated

I have in this War a burning private grudge — which would probably make me a better soldier at 49 than I was at 22: against that ruddy little ignoramus Adolf Hitler (for the odd thing about demonic inspiration and impetus is that it in no way enhances the purely intellectual stature: it chiefly affects the mere will). Ruining, perverting, misapplying, and making for ever accursed, that noble northern spirit, a supreme contribution to Europe, which I have ever loved, and tried to present in its true light.

J. R. R. Tolkien
War, Inspiration, Light
Letter to his son Michael Tolkien on June 09, 1941. "The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien", 1981.

History often resembles myth, because they are both ultimately of the same stuff.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Stuff, Myth
J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “Tales from the Perilous Realm”, p.344, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Fellowship, Death Penalty, Lord Of The Ring
J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “The Lord of the Rings: One Volume”, p.53, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

What does your heart tell you?

J. R. R. Tolkien
Heart, Doe, Obi Wan Kenobi
"Fictional character: Aragorn". "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King", www.imdb.com. 2003.

For if joyful is the fountain that rises in the sun, its springs are in the wells of sorrow unfathomable at the foundations of the Earth.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Spring, Sorrow, Foundation

I do not believe this darkness will endure.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Inspirational, Believe, Darkness
"Fictional character: Faramir". "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King", www.imdb.com. 2003.

True courage is about knowing not when to take a life, but when to spare one.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Knowing, True Courage, Spares
"Fictional character: Gandalf". "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey", www.imdb.com. 2012.

I am going with him, if he climbs to the Moon.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Moon, Climbs, Ifs
J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “The Lord of the Rings: One Volume”, p.72, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

But I have been too deeply hurt, Sam. I tried to save the Shire, and it has been saved, but not for me. It must often be so, Sam, when things are in danger: some one has to give them up, lose them, so that others may keep them.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Hurt, Often Is, Giving
J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “The Lord of the Rings: One Volume”, p.691, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

All that is gold does not glitter.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Being Strong, Travel, Fantasy Novels
J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “The Fellowship of the Ring: Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings”, p.179, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

I was talking aloud to myself. A habit of the old: they choose the wisest person present to speak to

J. R. R. Tolkien
Talking, Speak, Habit
J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “The Two Towers: Being the Second Part of The Lord of the Rings”, p.485, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

For nothing is evil in the beginning.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Evil, Mortality
J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “The Lord of the Rings: One Volume”, p.193, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

I feel thin, sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Fellowship, Too Much, Bread

Not all that have fallen are vanquished.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Fallen, Fellowship Of The Ring

It is not despair, for despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt. We do not.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Hope, Doubt, Despair
J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “The Fellowship of the Ring: Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings”, p.193, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

The world changes, and all that once was strong now proves unsure.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Strong, World, Prove
J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “The Lord of the Rings: One Volume”, p.371, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Each of us embodies, in a particular tale and clothed in the garments of time & place, universal truth and everlasting life.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Uplifting, Tales, Garments

Adventures are not all pony-rides in May-sunshine.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Adventure, Sunshine, Ponies
J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “The Hobbit: 75th Anniversary Edition”, p.64, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

My political opinions lean more and more to Anarchy (philosophically understood, meaning abolition of control not whiskered men with bombs).

J. R. R. Tolkien
Men, Political Opinions, Bombs
1943 Letter to Christopher Tolkien, 29 Apr.

The news today about 'Atomic bombs' is so horrifying one is stunned. The utter folly of these lunatic physicists to consent to do such work for war-purposes: calmly plotting the destruction of the world! Such explosives in men's hands, while their moral and intellectual status is declining, is about as useful as giving out firearms to all inmates of a gaol and then saying that you hope 'this will ensure peace'. But one good thing may arise out of it, I suppose, if the write-ups are not overheated: Japan ought to cave in. Well we're in God's hands. But He does not look kindly on Babel-builders.

J. R. R. Tolkien
War, Writing, Men
Letter to his son Christopher Tolkien on August 09, 1945. "The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien", 1981.

Often does hatred hurt itself.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Hurt, Hatred, Doe
J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “The Two Towers: Being the Second Part of The Lord of the Rings”, p.571, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Pay heed to the tales of old wives. It may well be that they alone keep in memory what it was once needful for the wise to know.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Inspirational, Life, Wise

Go back?" he thought. "No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!" So up he got, and trotted along with his little sword held in front of him and one hand feeling the wall, and his heart all of a patter and a pitter.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Wall, Heart, Hands
J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “The Hobbit: 75th Anniversary Edition”, p.100, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

The world is full enough of hurts and mischances without wars to multiply them.

J. R. R. Tolkien
Peace, Hurt, War
J.R.R. Tolkien (2012). “The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of the Lord of the Rings”, p.937, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

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