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Famous J. R. R. Tolkien Quotes

“We have sworn, and not lightly. This oath we will keep. We are threatened with many evils, and treason not least; but one thing is not said: that we shall suffer from cowardice, from cravens or the fear of cravens. Therefore I say that we will go on, and this doom I add: the deeds that we shall do shall be the matter of song until the last days of Arda.”

SaidMatterLastsSufferingSongEvilOne ThingGoes OnAddDeedsCowardiceThreatenedDoomOathTreasonLast Day
Book:The Silmarillion
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“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

NeedsSaidDeathGivenWishHappenedRingsMy TimeFellowshipFrodoFellowship Of The RingMiddle EarthFrodo BagginsTwo TowersLord Of The RingGaladrielGreat HobbitSauronDeciding What To Do
Book:The Lord of the Rings: One Volume
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“Those were happier days, when there was still close friendship at times between folk of different race, even between Dwarves and Elves.' It was not the fault of the Dwarves that the friendship waned,' said Gimli. I have not heard that it was the fault of the Elves,' said Legolas. I have heard both,' said Gandalf[.]”

SaidStillsDifferentRaceHeardFaultsFolksDwarvesDifferent RacesHappier DaysClose FriendshipGimli
Book:The Lord of the Rings: One Volume
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“And Gandalf said: "This is your realm, and the heart of the greater realm that shall be. The Third Age of the world is ended, and the new age is begun; and it is your task to order its beginning and to preserve what must be preserved. For though much has been saved, much must now pass away; and the power of the Three Rings also is ended. And all the lands that you see, and those that lie round about them, shall be dwellings of Men. For the time comes of the Dominion of Men, and the Elder Kindred shall fade or depart.”

MenWorldHeartHas BeensSaidAgeLyingOrderThreeGreaterLandTasksThirdsRoundsSavedRingsPreservesRealmsFadesNew AgeEldersDwellingDominionPassing AwayKindred
Book:The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of the Lord of the Rings
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“In one thing you have not changed, dear friend," said Aragorn: "you still speak in riddles." "What? In riddles?" said Gandalf. "No! For I was talking aloud to myself. A habit of the old: they choose the wisest person present to speak to; the long explanations needed by the young are wearying.”

PersonsLongSaidStillsYoungSpeakTalkingOne ThingChangedNeededHabitDearExplanationWisestRiddleDear Friend
Book:The Two Towers: Being the Second Part of The Lord of the Rings
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“If thou hadst thy will what wouldst thou reserve?" said Manwe. "Of all thy realm what dost thou hold dearest?" All have their worth," said Yavanna, "and each contributes to the worth of the others. But the kelvar can flee or defend themselves, whereas the olvar that grow cannot. And among these I hold trees dear. Long in the growing, swift shall they be in the felling, and unless they pay toll with fruit upon their bough little mourned in their passing. So I see in my thought, would that the trees might speak on behalf of all things that have roots, and punish those that wrong them!”

IfsLittlesLongSaidMightSpeakGrowsPayGrowingTreeAll ThingsRootsFruitDearPassingPassingsRealmsReservesMy ThoughtsBehalfTolls
Book:The Silmarillion
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“The eyes were hollow and the carven head was broken, but about the high, stern forehead there was a coronal of silver and gold. A trailing plant with flowers like white stars had bound itself across the brows as if in reverence for the fallen king, and in the crevices of his stony hair yellow stonecrop gleamed. "They cannot conquer for ever!" said Frodo.”

IfsSaidEyeStarsWhiteFlowerHairBrokenKingsGoldPlantBoundsConquerFallenSilverYellowReverenceHollowForeheadsBrowsFrodoCrevice
Author:J. R. R. Tolkien
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“Gandalf! I thought you were dead! But then I thought I was dead myself. Is everything sad going to come untrue? What's happened to the world?" A great Shadow has departed," said Gandalf, and then he laughed and the sound was like music, or like water in a parched land; and as he listened the thought came to Sam that he had not heard laughter, the pure sound of merriment, for days upon days without count.”

WorldSaidSoundWaterHappenedHeardLandPureLaughterShadowLaughedUntrueDepartedMerriment
Book:The Lord of the Rings: One Volume
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“Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?' A man may do both,' said Aragorn. 'For not we but those who come after will make the legends of our time. The green earth, say you? That is a mighty matter of legend, though you tread it under the light of day!”

MenMaySaidMatterLightEarthWalksGreenOur TimeLegendsDaylightGreen EarthTwo Towers
Book:The Two Towers: Being the Second Part of The Lord of the Rings
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“For I am Saruman the Wise, Saruman Ring-maker, Saruman of Many Colours!' I looked then and saw that his robes, which had seemed white, were not so, but were woven of all colours, and if he moved they shimmered and changed hue so that the eye was bewildered. I liked white better,' I said. White!' he sneered. 'It serves as a beginning. White cloth may be dyed. The white page can be overwritten; and the white light can be broken.' In which case it is no longer white,' said I. 'And he that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom.' - Gandalf”

IfsMaySaidLightEyeLeftWhiteBreakCasesPathSawsWiseChangedBrokenPagesMovedRingsColourMakersWovenRobesHueBewilderedWhite LightSaruman
Book:The Lord of the Rings: One Volume
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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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“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.”

WorldSaidCoursesWaterWalksDangerRiversLaysWideFenceShire
Book:The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King
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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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“There was a deep silence, only scraped on its surfaces by the faint quiver of empty seed-plumes, and broken grass-blades trembling in small air-movements they could not feel. 'Not a bird!' said Sam mournfully. 'No, no birds,' said Gollum. 'Nice birds!' He licked his teeth. 'No birds here. There are snakeses, wormses, things in the pools. Lots of things, lots of nasty things. No birds,' he ended sadly. Sam looked at him with distaste.”

FeelsSaidSilenceNiceAirMovementBrokenBirdEmptySurfaceSeedsTeethGrassPoolNastyBladesTremblingQuiverDistaste
Book:The Lord of the Rings: One Volume
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“Well, you have now, Sam, dear Sam,' said Frodo, and he lay back in Sam's gentle arms, closing his eyes, like a child at rest when night-fears are driven away by some loved voice or hand. Sam felt that he could sit like that in endless happiness.”

WellsChildrenSaidHandsEyeNightFeltVoiceArmsLaysDearDrivenEndlessGentleHis EyesClosingFrodo
Book:The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of the Lord of the Rings
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“A great dread fell on him, as if he was awaiting the pronouncement of some doom that he had long foreseen and vainly hoped might after all never be spoken. An overwhelming longing to rest and remain at peace by Bilbo's side in Rivendell filled all his heart. At last with an effort he spoke, and wondered to hear his own words, as if some other will was using his small voice. "I will take the Ring," he said, "though I do not know the way.”

IfsKnowsWayHeartLongSaidMightLastsSidesVoiceEffortFilledLongingRingsSpokesOverwhelmingDreadDoomFrodoSmall VoiceForeseen
Author:J. R. R. Tolkien
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“Dear me! We Tooks and Brandybucks, we can't live long on the heights.' 'No,' said Merry. 'I can't. Not yet, at any rate. But at least, Pippin, we can now see them, and honour them. It is best to love first what you are fitted to love, I suppose: you must start somewhere and have some roots, and the soil of the Shire is deep. Still there are things deeper and higher; and not a gaffer could tend his garden in what he calls peace but for them, whether he knows about them or not.”

KnowsFirstsLongSaidStillsI CanHigherGardenRootsRateDearDeeperHeightSoilHonourMerryPippinShireDear Me
Book:The Lord of the Rings: One Volume
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“But Sam turned to Bywater, and so came back up the Hill, as day was ending once more. And he went on, and there was yellow light, and fire within; and the evening meal was ready, and he was expected. And Rose drew him in, and set him in his chair, and put little Elanor upon his lap. He drew a deep breath. ‘Well, I’m back,’ he said”

WellsLittlesSaidLightFireReadyBreathsRoseExpectedEveningHillsMealsChairsYellowLapDeep BreathI'm BackFire WithinYellow Light
Book:The Lord of the Rings: The return of the King
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“Then Frodo came forward and took the crown from Faramir and bore it to Gandalf; and Aragorn knelt, and Gandalf set the White Crown upon his head and said: Now come the days of the King, and may they be blessed while the thrones of the Valar endure!”

MaySaidWhiteKingsBlessedEndureCrownsBoresThronesBeing BlessedFrodoFrodo BagginsFaramir
Book:The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of the Lord of the Rings
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“Is it not a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt for so small a thing? So small a thing! And I have seen it only for an instant in the house of Elrond! Could I not have a sight of it again?" Frodo looked up. His heart went suddenly cold. He caught the strange gleam in Boromir's eyes, yet his face was still kind and friendly. "It is best that it should lie hidden," he answered. "As you wish. I care not." said Boromir.”

ShouldHeartKindSaidStillsEyeCareFacesLyingSufferingHouseWishDoubtFateStrangeColdSightCaughtInstantFriendlyI CareGleamFrodoElrond
Author:J. R. R. Tolkien
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