# We swears precious, we love the little hobbits's...Favorite Tolkien quotes: **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 12, 2007, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-swears-precious-we-love-the-little-hobbitss-favorite-tolkien-quotes/407731 "2007-06-12T17:13:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-swears-precious-we-love-the-little-hobbitss-favorite-tolkien-quotes/407731/41 "2007-06-13T18:38:50Z")
“And when He finally got His Ring, Sauron ruled Middle-Earth forever. The End.” ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-swears-precious-we-love-the-little-hobbitss-favorite-tolkien-quotes/407731/42 "2007-06-13T18:48:16Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] I will add that I memorized this rhyme decades ago: Ho Tom Bombadil, Tom Bombadillo, By water, wood and hill, by reed and willow, By fire, Sun and Moon. Harken now and hear us, Come Tom Bombadil, for our need is near us. [/QUOTE] Oh, man, I’m going to be excoriated for posting this in a Tolkien thread, but: [QUOTE=Bored of the Rings] Tim, Tim Bezedrine! Hash! Boo! Valvoline! Clean! Clean! Clean for Gene! First, second, neutral, park, _Hie thee hence_, you leafy narc! [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-swears-precious-we-love-the-little-hobbitss-favorite-tolkien-quotes/407731/43 "2007-06-13T18:56:58Z")
[QUOTE=Sauron] “And when He finally got His Ring, Sauron ruled Middle-Earth forever. The End.” [/QUOTE] Now, now, man! Your ring was destroyed the one we gave you was a prop. Sorry. [QUOTE=What Exit?] Like you, I am drawn to Tolkien threads the way an Elf is drawn to the sea. That is one of so many great sayings. I love the Ent Battle Chant that ITR champion mentioned before. It sent chills through me when I first read the books 30 years ago and still does when I reread them. [/QUOTE] I remember reading it for the first time when I was but a wee hobbit sized lad, and I remember looking at the HUGE oak tree that dominated my mother’s backyard and picturing it with a huge beard and eyes, and arms etc..etc… The oak is still there today, and I oft remember that feeling I had thinking it was tree beard…all those years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-swears-precious-we-love-the-little-hobbitss-favorite-tolkien-quotes/407731/44 "2007-06-13T18:58:01Z")
[QUOTE=Sauron] “And when He finally got His Ring, Sauron ruled Middle-Earth forever. The End.” [/QUOTE] Well, you’re biased. **Der Trihs** got the song of the Barrow-wight that I like. I guess I’ll go with something from Bilbo’s long-expected party: > [@](#): > > I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-swears-precious-we-love-the-little-hobbitss-favorite-tolkien-quotes/407731/45 "2007-06-13T19:03:08Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr] Now, now, man! Your ring was destroyed the one we gave you was a prop. [/QUOTE] Unless, of course…I mean, I’m _pretty_ sure I gave him the right one…maybe, kinda sorta… ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-swears-precious-we-love-the-little-hobbitss-favorite-tolkien-quotes/407731/46 "2007-06-13T19:15:41Z")
“But I will say this: the rule of no realm is mine, neither Gondor nor any other, great or small. But all worthy things that are in peril as the world now stands, those are my care. And for my part, I shall not wholly fail of my task, though Gondor should perish, if anything passes through this night that can still grow fair or bear fruit and flower again in the days to come. For I also am a steward. Did you not know?” – Gandalf the White Edit: I think of this when I am reading about endangered species and habitat destruction. Sailboat ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-swears-precious-we-love-the-little-hobbitss-favorite-tolkien-quotes/407731/47 "2007-06-13T19:17:14Z")
> [@](#): > > While my favorite quotes have already been covered, “You shall not pass!” is always great fun to utter at appropriate moments. And even more fun at inappropriate moments. Like, say, to students, just before a big test. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-swears-precious-we-love-the-little-hobbitss-favorite-tolkien-quotes/407731/48 "2007-06-13T20:44:25Z")
[QUOTE=Sauron] “And when He finally got His Ring, Sauron ruled Middle-Earth forever. The End.” [/QUOTE] Welcome back sir, I have only heard rumors of you and read a few of your old posts. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-swears-precious-we-love-the-little-hobbitss-favorite-tolkien-quotes/407731/49 "2007-06-13T20:55:21Z")
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. –Gandalf 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 forever dwell: I will not say the Day is done, nor bid the Stars farewell. - Samwise Gamgee, (This isn’t from the books, but Tolkien on the death of C.S. Lewis: “So far I have felt the normal feelings of a man of my age–like an old tree that it losing all its leaves one by one: this feels like an axe-blow near the roots.”) ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-swears-precious-we-love-the-little-hobbitss-favorite-tolkien-quotes/407731/50 "2007-06-13T21:15:43Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Welcome back sir, I have only heard rumors of you and read a few of your old posts. Jim [/QUOTE] Thank you very much. I’m not nearly as interesting as either the rumors or the posts, though. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-swears-precious-we-love-the-little-hobbitss-favorite-tolkien-quotes/407731/51 "2007-06-13T21:38:20Z")
Gandalf, on why he did not consider Bilbo’s decision not to kill Gollum (while invisible) a mistake: _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._ ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f07891/32.png) [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-swears-precious-we-love-the-little-hobbitss-favorite-tolkien-quotes/407731/52 "2007-06-13T21:59:52Z")
(Squee! Sauron is back!) My favorites have already been mentioned, except this one: From Unfinished Tales, _The Mariner’s Wife_ – Thus it is, Ancalime, and we cannot alter it. For men fashioned Numenor: men, those heroes of old that they sing of – of their women we hear less, save that they wept when their men were slain. Numenor was to be a rest after war. But if they weary of rest and the plays of peace, soon they will go back to their great play, manslaying and war. Thus it is; and we are set here among them. But we need not assent. if we love Numenor also, let us enjoy it before they ruin it. We also are daughters of the great, and we have wills and courage of our own. **Therefore do not bend, Ancalime. Once bend a little and they will bend you further until you are bowed down. Sink your roots into the rock, and face the wind, though it blow away all your leaves.** ---
**Author:** ![Cyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@Cyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyn)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-swears-precious-we-love-the-little-hobbitss-favorite-tolkien-quotes/407731/53 "2007-06-13T22:42:15Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] **Cyn** , psss (It was Frodo’s Song at the Prancing Pony) [/QUOTE] :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-swears-precious-we-love-the-little-hobbitss-favorite-tolkien-quotes/407731/54 "2007-06-13T22:48:12Z")
I think I have this right from memory. Aragorn says it to the hobbits at the Prancing Pony, when he is desperately trying to convey how awful the creatures are that hunt them–even more awful than they suppose. **They will come upon you in the wild, in some dark place where there is no hope. Do you wish them to find you? They are _terrible_.** ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-swears-precious-we-love-the-little-hobbitss-favorite-tolkien-quotes/407731/55 "2007-06-13T22:53:19Z")
RE the “far, green country” bit–I am not sure I don’t like Ian McKellen’s version of it better… There is also the quote that Elrond delivers to Arwen upon the death of Aragorn. Those are taken straight from the book (which I cannot locate at the moment). Very moving. Something about the breaking of the day… Now I have to find the book… Tolkien is jam-packed with quotes and good lines. ---
**Author:** ![ryobserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@ryobserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryobserver)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-swears-precious-we-love-the-little-hobbitss-favorite-tolkien-quotes/407731/56 "2007-06-13T23:13:28Z")
Roads go ever ever on Under cloud and under star, Yet feet that wandering have gone Turn at last to home afar. Eyes that fire and sword have seen And horror in the halls of stone Look at last on meadows green And trees and hills they long have known. –Bilbo on coming home, The Hobbit Galadriel’s speech about taking the Ring has already been mentioned. I also like the exchange between her and Sam afterward: “’…I wish you’d take his Ring. You’d put things to rights. You’d stop them digging up my gaffer and turning him adrift. You’d make some folks pay for their dirty work.’ 'I would,” she said. “That is how it would begin. But it would not stop with that, alas!’” The confrontation with Saruman after Helm’s Deep is possibly my favorite scene out of the entire saga. First, Theoden, after hesitating, tells Saruman where to get off: “Yes, we will have peace, when you and all your works have perished-and the works of your dark master to whom you would deliver us. You are a liar, Saruman, and a corruptor of mens’ hearts. You hold out your hand to me, and I perceive only a finger of the claw of Mordor. Cruel and cold! Even if your war on me was just–as it was not, for were you ten times as wise you would have no right to rule me and mine for your own profit as you desired–even so, what will you say of your torches in Westfold and the children that lie dead there? And they hewed Hama’s body before the gates of the Hornburg, after he was dead. When you hang from a gibbet at your window for the sport of your own crows, I will have peace with you and Orthanc. So much for the house of Eorl. A lesser son of great sires am I, but I do not need to lick your fingers.” A few minutes later, Gandalf makes an observation worth remembering: “The treacherous are ever distrustful.” ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-swears-precious-we-love-the-little-hobbitss-favorite-tolkien-quotes/407731/57 "2007-06-14T04:24:06Z")
[QUOTE=jsc1953] The movie takes Tolkien’s words and puts them in a different context. In the book, it’s a dream Frodo has at Tom Bombadil’s house: [/QUOTE] Yes, and Tolkien returned to the image in the last chapter of LOTR, “The Grey Havens,” too: _Then Frodo kissed Merry and Pippin, and last of all Sam, and went abroad; and the sails were drawn up, and the wind blew, and slowly the ship slipped away down the long grey firth; and the light of the glass of Galadriel that Frodo bore glimmered and was lost. And the ship went out into the High Sea and passed on into the West, until at last on a night of rain Frodo smelled a sweet fragrance on the air and heard the sound of singing that came over the water. And then it seemed to him that as in his dream in the house of Bombadil, the grey rain-curtain turned all to silver glass and was rolled back, and he beheld white shores and beyond them a far green country under a swift sunrise._ Beautiful imagery. Makes me puddle up just about every time, as does the description of Elessar’s death in LOTR Appendix B, spoken in shorter form by Elrond in the movie “The Two Towers”: _“Estel, Estel!” [Arwen] cried, and with that even as he took her hand and kissed it, he fell into sleep. Then a great beauty was revealed in him, so that all who after came there looked on him in wonder; for they saw that the grace of his youth, and the valour of his manhood, and the wisdom and majesty of his age were blended together. And long there he lay, an image of the splendour of the Kings of Men in glory undimmed before the breaking of the world._ King Elessar’s quotation of Elendil at his crowning is good stuff, of course. And from the movies (and I know I may be in the minority on this one), I love Arwen’s line to the Nazgul about Frodo, with sword drawn, “If you want him, come and claim him!” Or Boromir in Rivendell, grudgingly, “If this is truly the will of the Council, then Gondor will see it done.” Or his last words to Aragorn, “I would have followed you, my brother, my captain, my king!” Too many to list here, really… ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-swears-precious-we-love-the-little-hobbitss-favorite-tolkien-quotes/407731/58 "2007-06-14T04:52:54Z")
Ok, I’m home now, so here are some I’ve picked out of _The Fellowship of the Ring_: Frodo and Gandalf: \*‘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.’\* Frodo, quoting Bilbo: _“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door,” he used to say. “You step into the Road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to. Do you realize that this is the very path that goes through Mirkwood, and that if you let it, it might take you to the Lonely Mountain or even further and to worse places?” He used to say taht on the path outside the front door at Bag End, especially after he had been out for a long walk.’_ Gandalf, at the council of Elrond: _‘There are many powers in the world, for good or for evil. Some are greater than I am. Against some I have not yet been measured. But my time is coming. The Morgul-lord and his Black Riders have come forth. War is preparing!’_ Aragorn, at the council of Elrond: _Travellers scowl at us, and countrymen give us scornful names. “Strider” I am to one fat man who lives within a day’s march of foes that would freeze his heart, or lay his little town in ruin, if he were not guarded ceaselessly. Yet we would not have it otherwise. If simple folk are free from care and fear, simple they will be, and we must be secret to keep them so. That has been the task of my kindred, while the years have lengthened and the gras has grown.’_ Gandalf, recounting his encounter with Sauroman: \*’“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, to Bilbo: _But you know well enough now that_ starting _is too great a claim for any, and that only a small part is played in great deeds by any hero._ These last two I just think are very evocative prose: Galadriel, speaking of Elrond: _together through ages of the world we have fought the long defeat._ Narration; Frodo watching Galadriel as he leaves Lorien: _Already she seemed to him, as by men of later days Elves still at times are seen: present and yet remote, a living vision of that which has already been left far behind by the flowing streams of Time._ ---
**Author:** ![ACC\_Expat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@ACC\_Expat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ACC_Expat)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-swears-precious-we-love-the-little-hobbitss-favorite-tolkien-quotes/407731/59 "2007-06-14T07:23:34Z")
Googled because I don’t have my books: from “Many Partings” in ROTK: > [@](#): > > Then Eowyn looked in the eyes of Aragorn, and she said: “Wish me joy, my liege-lord and healer!” > > And he answered, “I have wished thee joy ever since first I saw thee. It heals my heart to see thee now in bliss.” Gah, I wish I had the books at hand. I think when I return from this vacation, I will read them again. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-swears-precious-we-love-the-little-hobbitss-favorite-tolkien-quotes/407731/60 "2007-06-14T13:57:34Z")
“It is long, long since we met by stock or stone, _A vanimar, vanimalion nostari_” he said. “It is sad that we should meet only thus at the ending. For the world is changing: I feel it in the water, I feel it in the earth, and I smell it in the air. I do not think we shall meet again.” And Celeborn said: “I do not know, Eldest.” But Galadriel said: “Not in Middle-earth, nor until all the lands that lie under the wave are lifted up again. Then in the willow-meads of Tasarinan we may meet in the Spring. Farewell!” Treebeard to Celeborn and Galadriel [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-swears-precious-we-love-the-little-hobbitss-favorite-tolkien-quotes/407731.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-swears-precious-we-love-the-little-hobbitss-favorite-tolkien-quotes/407731.md?page=4)