Trolls are slow in the uptake, and mighty suspicious about anything new to them. J. R. R. Tolkien More Quotes by J. R. R. Tolkien More Quotes From J. R. R. Tolkien No dragon can resist the fascination of riddling talk and of wasting time trying to understand it. J. R. R. Tolkien fascination dragons trying To whatever end. Where is the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing? They have passed like rain on the mountains. Like wind in the meadow. The days have gone down in the west. Behind the hills, into shadow. How did it come to this? J. R. R. Tolkien horse rain wind I will not walk backward in life. J. R. R. Tolkien walks past Dwarves are not heroes, but a calculating folk with a great idea of the value of money; some are tricky and treacherous and pretty bad lots; some are not but are decent enough people like Thorin and Company, if you don't expect too much. J. R. R. Tolkien dwarves hero ideas It is useless to meet revenge with revenge; it will heal nothing. J. R. R. Tolkien lord-of-the-ring useless revenge Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. J. R. R. Tolkien lord-of-the-ring death-penalty fellowship Courage will now be your best defence against the storm that is at hand-—that and such hope as I bring. J. R. R. Tolkien defence storm hands Not everyone who wanders is lost. J. R. R. Tolkien wander lost Do not meddle in the affairs of Wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger. J. R. R. Tolkien anger wisdom life Pippin: I didn't think it would end this way. J. R. R. Tolkien journey rain country The greatest adventure is what lies ahead J. R. R. Tolkien future adventure lying The Lord of the Rings is of course a fundamentally religious and Catholic work; unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision. J. R. R. Tolkien revision catholic religious There cannot be any 'story' without a fall - all stories are ultimately about the fall - at least not for human minds as we know them and have them. J. R. R. Tolkien stories mind fall evil labours with vast power and perpetual success - in vain: preparing always only the soil for unexpected good to sprout in. J. R. R. Tolkien soil faith evil It was at this point that Bilbo stopped. Going on from there was the bravest thing he ever did. The tremendous things that happened afterward were as nothing compared to it. He fought the real battle in the tunnel alone, before he ever saw the vast danger that lay in wait. J. R. R. Tolkien tunnels real waiting The world has changed. I see it in the water. I feel it in the Earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was is lost, For none now live who remember it. J. R. R. Tolkien smell air water I was talking aloud to myself. A habit of the old: they choose the wisest person present to speak to J. R. R. Tolkien habit speak talking It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him. J. R. R. Tolkien planning-ahead dragons doe The burned hand teaches best. J. R. R. Tolkien growth action hands Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustrated, I put before you the one great thing to love on earth: the Blessed Sacrament … There you will find romance, glory, honour, fidelity, and the true way of all your loves upon earth. J. R. R. Tolkien romance blessed faith
