John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, famously known as J.R.R. Tolkien is one of the greatest writers of all time. He is the renowned author of fantasy works The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.
Tolkien was born in January 1892 to an English bank manager, Arthur Reuel Tolkien, and his wife, Mabel. After his father passed away, Tolkien moved to live with his grandparents, where his mother homeschooled him and his younger brother.
Mabel Tolkien taught her children a great deal about botany and enjoying the feel and look of plants. She also taught her eldest son the rudiments of the Latin language; something J.R.R. Tolkien was interested in from a young age.
His love for languages led him to create 15 fictional languages with spellbinding details. He even created dialects of his languages. We all know J.R.R. Tolkien and his languages because of the blockbuster hits The Hobbit trilogy and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. However, his words were weaved way before the movies became popular! Here are some of the best J.R.R Tolkien quotes from his popular books.
J.R.R. Tolkien Quotes
1. “There is nothing like looking if you want to find something. You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
2. “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
3. “A box without hinges, key, or lid, yet golden treasure inside is hid.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
4. “It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations if you live near him.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
5. “Escaping goblins to be caught by wolves!” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
6. “Trolls simply detest the very sight of dwarves (uncooked).” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
7. “May the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
8. “This is a story of how a Baggins had an adventure and found himself doing and saying things altogether unexpected.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
9. “Where there’s life, there’s hope.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
10. “Even darkness must pass.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
11. “Already he was a very different hobbit from the one that had run out without a pocket-handkerchief from Bag End long ago.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
12. “You may not like my burglar, but please don’t damage him.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
13. “I am fire, I am… Death.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
14. “Is it nice, my precioussss? Is it juicy? Is it scrumptiously crunchable?” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
15. “Never laugh at live dragons, Bilbo, you fool!” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
16. “He thought much but said little.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
17. “You ought not to be rude to an eagle when you are only the size of a hobbit.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
18. “Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
19. “Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
20. “Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
21. “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
22. “Short cuts make long delays.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
23. “All that is gold does not glitter.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
24. “And I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
25. “Renewed shall be blade that was broken. The crownless again shall be King.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
26. “It’s the job that’s never started as takes longest to finish”― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
27. “Advice is a dangerous gift, even from the wise to the wise.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
28. “If by my life or death I can protect you, I will.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
29. “Courage is found in unlikely places.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
30. “From the ashes, a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring…” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
31. “The old that is strong does not wither. Deep roots are not reached by the frost.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
32. “Not all those who wander are lost.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
33. “You can fence yourselves in, but you cannot forever fence it out.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
34. “For it is easier to shout ‘Stop’ than to do it.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers
35. “A great storm is coming, but the tide has turned.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers
36. “Fair speech may hide a foul heart.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers
37. “The wise speak only of what they know.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers
38. “Praise from the praiseworthy is beyond all rewards.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers
39. “I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers
40. “If the Lady could hear me and give me one wish, I would wish to come back and find you again. Goodbye!” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers
41. “The treacherous are ever distrustful.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers
42. “There’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo… and it’s worth fighting for.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers
43. “I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
44. “What do you fear, lady?” [Aragorn] asked.
“A cage,” [Éowyn] said. “To stay behind bars, until use and old age accept them, and all chance of doing great deeds is gone beyond recall or desire.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
45. “Do not spoil the wonder with haste!” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
46. “For the time comes of the dominion of men, and the Elder Kindred shall fade or depart.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
47. “If this is victory, then our hands are too small to hold it.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
48. “End? No, the journey doesn’t end here.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
49. “And so, they stood on the walls of the City of Gondor, and a great wind rose and blew, and their hair, raven and golden, streamed out mingling in the air.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
50. “It is useless to meet revenge with revenge; it will heal nothing.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
51. “Oft hope is born when all is forlorn.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
52. “Courage will now be your best defense against the storm that is at hand.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
53. “His grief he will not forget, but it will not darken his heart, it will teach him wisdom.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
54. “And yet their wills did not yield, and they struggled on.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
55. “The world is full enough of hurts and mischances without wars to multiply them.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
56. “You will have to be one and whole for many years. You have so much to enjoy and to be, and to do.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
57. “‘I wished to be loved by another,’ Éowyn answered. ‘But I desire no man’s pity.'” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
58. “Few other griefs amid the ill chances of this world have more bitterness and shame for a man’s heart than to behold the love of a lady so fair and brave that cannot be returned.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
Song of Durin – Eurielle
A king he was on carven throne; In many-pillared halls of stone; With golden roof and silver floor, And runes of power upon the door.
Summary
J.R.R. Tolkien quotes are the essence of his famous words that make his books timeless pieces. A master of creating fantastic worlds, characters, and languages, Tolkien will forever remain an inspiration for high fantasy authors and screenwriters.
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Unknown photo studio commissioned by Tolkien’s students 1925/6 (private communication from Catherine McIlwaine, Tolkien Archivist, Bodleian Library), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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