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J. R. R. Tolkien Quotes

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Famous J. R. R. Tolkien Quotes

“Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.”

GivingEndsDeathDiesDealsWiseJudgmentDeserveRingsJudgementFellowshipDeath PenaltyAccuracyCapital PunishmentFrodoVery WiseFellowship Of The RingMiddle EarthLord Of The RingAgainst Death Penalty
Book:The Lord of the Rings: One Volume
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“Journey’s end In western lands beneath the Sun The flowers may rise in Spring, The trees may bud, the waters run, The merry finches sing. Or there maybe 'tis cloudless night, And swaying branches bear The Elven-stars as jewels white Amid their branching hair. Though here at journey's end I lie In darkness buried deep, Beyond all towers strong and high, Beyond all mountains steep, Above all shadows rides the Sun And Stars for ever dwell: I will not say the Day is done, Nor bid the Stars farewell.J.”

MayEndsDoneRunningLyingNightStrongStarsWaterWhiteDarknessSunTreeJourneyLandFlowerHairBearsMountainSpringShadowWesternBranchesBuriedTowersFarewellJewelsMerryBudSteepSwayingSun And StarsFinches
Author:J. R. R. Tolkien
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“Though here at journey's end I lie In darkness buried deep, Beyond all towers strong and high, Beyond all mountains steep, Above all shadows rides the Sun And Stars for ever dwell: I will not say the Day is done, Nor bid the Stars farewell.”

EndsDoneLyingStrongStarsDarknessSunJourneyMountainShadowBuriedTowersFarewellSteepSun And StarsFinches
Book:The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of the Lord of the Rings
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“So it ends as I guessed it would,' his thoughts said, even as it fluttered away; and it laughed a little within him ere it fled, almost gay it seemed to be casting off all doubt and care and fear. And even as it winged away into forgetfulness it heard voices, and they seemed to be crying in some forgotten world far above: 'The eagles are coming! The eagles are coming!' For one moment more Pippin's thought hovered. "Bilbo! But no! That came in his tale, long long ago. This is my tale, and it ended now. Good-bye!' And his thought fled far away and his eyes saw no more.”

WorldLittlesLongSaidEndsMomentsEyeCareVoiceDoubtSawsHeardCryGayForgottenTalesHis EyesLaughedFar AwayLong AgoCastingEaglesByeForgetfulnessGood ByePippinCasting Off
Author:J. R. R. Tolkien
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“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.”

NeedsWellsLittlesHas BeensEndsHandsEvilHurtChanceCreaturesMercyStrikesRingsPityOwnershipFrodoLord Of The Ring
Book:The Fellowship of the Ring: Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings
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“There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tower high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.”

HeartEndsLightFaithStarsDarkWhiteClearSawsLandColdMountainShadowCloudsRingsPassingPassingsTowersForsakenDark TowerReturn Of The KingPeepingSamwiseSam Gamgee
Book:The Lord of the Rings: The return of the King
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“I come from under the hill, and under the hills and over the hills my paths led. And through the air. I am he that walks unseen. I am the clue-finder, the web-cutter, the stinging fly. I was chosen for the lucky number. I am he that buries his friends alive and drowns them and draws them alive again from the water. I came from the end of a bag, but no bag went over me. I am the friend of bears and the guest of eagles. I am Ringwinner and Luckwearer; and I am Barrel-rider.”

EndsWaterWalksNumbersPathAliveAirBearsLuckyDrawsChosenHillsBagsGuestsUnseenClueEaglesRidersBarrelsCutters
Author:J. R. R. Tolkien
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“Well, here at last, dear friends, on the shores of the Sea comes the end of our fellowship in Middle-earth. Go in peace! I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.”

WellsEndsEarthLastsEvilPeaceFriendshipSeaMiddleTearsDearGoodbyeShoreFellowshipSaying GoodbyeDear FriendMiddle EarthReturn Of The King
Book:The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of the Lord of the Rings
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“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”

MayHas BeensEndsRememberAll ThingsForgivingRingsGladBitterDestroyedVainQuestsReturn Of The King
Book:The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of the Lord of the Rings
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“But it does not seem that I can trust anyone,' said Frodo. Sam looked at him unhappily. 'It all depends on what you want,' put in Merry. 'You can trust us to stick with you through thick and thin--to the bitter end. And you can trust us to keep any secret of yours--closer than you keep it yourself. But you cannot trust us to let you face trouble alone, and go off without a word. We are your friends, Frodo.”

WantDoeSaidI CanEndsSeemsFacesSecretTroubleDependsSticksWhat You WantBitterThickMerryFrodoFellowship Of The RingThick And ThinThrough Thick And Thin
Author:J. R. R. Tolkien
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“It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass.”

KnowsWorldWayWantEndsSometimesStoriesLordDarknessHappenedDangerShadowRingsPassingPassingsTowersWorth Fighting ForSun ShinesFrodoFrodo BagginsTwo TowersThings Worth Fighting ForSamwiseGreat HobbitFantasy StoriesSam Gamgee
Author:J. R. R. Tolkien
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“I do not know what is happening. The reason of my waking mind tells me that great evil has befallen and we stand at the end of days. But my heart says nay; and all my limbs are light, and a hope and joy are come to me that no reason can deny. [...] I do not believe that darkness will endure!”

KnowsMindBelieveHeartEndsReasonLightJoyEvilDarknessMy HeartHappeningsEndureDenyThe End Of The DayNo ReasonWakingLimbs
Book:The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of the Lord of the Rings
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“Gandalf: Confound it all, Samwise Gamgee. Have you been eavesdropping? Sam: I ain't been droppin' no eaves sir, honest. I was just cutting the grass under the window there, if you'll follow me. Gandalf: A little late for trimming the verge, don't you think? Sam: I heard raised voices. Gandalf: What did you hear? Speak. Sam: N-nothing important. That is, I heard a good deal about a ring, and a Dark Lord, and something about the end of the world, but... Please, Mr. Gandalf, sir, don't hurt me. Don't turn me into anything... unnatural.”

IfsThinkingWorldLittlesImportantEndsTurnsSpeakVoiceHurtDarkDealsLordCuttingHeardHonestPleaseLateWindowRaisedRingsGrassEnd Of The WorldFellowshipUnnaturalHurt MeFollow MeVergeTurn MeFellowship Of The RingLord Of The RingEavesdroppingTrimmingSamwiseSamwise GamgeeDon't Hurt Me
Author:J. R. R. Tolkien
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“Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends. I have not much hope that Gollum can be cured before he dies, but there is a chance of it. And he is bound up with the fate of the Ring. My heart tells me that he has some part to play yet, for good or ill, before the end; and when that comes, the pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many - yours not least.”

GivingHeartMayEndsPlayDiesChanceDealsWiseFateMy HeartDeserveBoundsIllRingsPityJudgementFrodoVery WiseFellowship Of The RingLord Of The Ring
Author:J. R. R. Tolkien
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“And when [Bëor] lay dead, of no wound or grief, but stricken by age, the Eldar saw for the first time the swift waning of the life of Men, and the death of weariness which they knew not in themselves; and they grieved greatly for the loss of their friends. But Bëor at the last had relinquished his life willingly and passed in peace; and the Eldar wondered much at the strange fate of Men, for in all their lore there was no account of it, and its end was hidden from them.”

MenFirstsEndsAgeLastsLossGriefSawsFateStrangeFirst TimeAccountsLaysWoundsWeariness
Book:The Silmarillion
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“I don't know how to say it, but after last night I feel different. I seem to see ahead, in a kind of way. I know we are going to take a very long road, into darkness; but I know I can't turn back. It isn't right to see Elves now, nor dragons, nor mountains, that I want - I don't rightly know what I want: but I have something to do before the end, and it lies ahead, not in the Shire. I must see it through, sir, if you understand me.”

IfsKnowsWayWantFeelsKindLongI CanDifferentEndsSeemsLastsLyingNightTurnsDarknessKnow HowMountainDragonsLast NightUnderstand MeLong RoadShire
Author:J. R. R. Tolkien
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“Pippin: I didn't think it would end this way. Gandalf: End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path... One that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass... And then you see it. Pippin: What? Gandalf?... See what? Gandalf: White shores... and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise. Pippin: Well, that isn't so bad. Gandalf: No... No it isn't.”

ThinkingWorldWayWellsEndsCountryTurnsWhitePathJourneyThis WorldRainGreenGlassesRingsSilverShoreSunriseGreyCurtainsReturn Of The KingPippin
Author:J. R. R. Tolkien
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