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I am a Christian…so that I do not expect ‘history’ to be anything but a ‘long defeat’ — though it contains (and in a legend may contain more clearly and movingly) some samples or glimpses of final victory.

J. R. R. Tolkien

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J. R. R. Tolkien
Age: 81 †
Born: 1892
Born: January 3
Died: 1973
Died: September 2
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John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
John R. R. Tolkien
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J.R.R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
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More quotes by J. R. R. Tolkien

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Mind your P's and Q's.
J. R. R. Tolkien
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Elrond raised his eyes and looked at him, and Frodo felt his heart pierced by the sudden keenness of the glance. 'If I understand aright all that I have heard,' he said, 'I think that this task is appointed for you, Frodo and that if you do not find a way, no one will.
J. R. R. Tolkien
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And there was Frodo, pale and worn, and yet himself again and in his eyes there was peace now, neither strain of will, nor madness, nor any fear. His burden was taken away.
J. R. R. Tolkien
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Do not scorn pity that is the gift of a gentle heart, Éowyn!
J. R. R. Tolkien
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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
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Splendid! They used to go up like great lilies and snapdragons and laburnums of fire and hang in the twilight all evening!
J. R. R. Tolkien
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A story must be told or there'll be no story, yet it is the untold stories that are most moving.
J. R. R. Tolkien
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Tall ships and tall kings Three times three, What brought they from the foundered land Over the flowing sea? Seven stars and seven stones And one white tree. (The Two Towers)
J. R. R. Tolkien
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I am not a 'democrat' only because 'humility' and equality are spiritual principles corrupted by the attempt to mechanize and formalize them, with the result that we get not universal smallness and humility, but universal greatness and pride, till some Orc gets hold of a ring of power--and then we get and are getting slavery.
J. R. R. Tolkien
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It is mine to give to whom I will, like my heart.
J. R. R. Tolkien
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Every writer making a secondary world wishes in some measure to be a real maker, or hopes that he is drawing on reality: hopes that the peculiar quality of this secondary world (if not all the details) are derived from Reality, or are flowing into it.
J. R. R. Tolkien
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Deeds will not be less valiant because they are unpraised.
J. R. R. Tolkien
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It [discovering Finnish] was like discovering a wine-cellar filled with bottles of amazing wine of a kind and flavour never tasted before. It quite intoxicated me.
J. R. R. Tolkien
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I am dreading the publication, for it will be impossible not to mind what is said. I have exposed my heart to be shot at.
J. R. R. Tolkien
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It is not the strength of the body that counts, but the strength of the spirit.
J. R. R. Tolkien
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Then holding the star aloft and the bright sword advanced, Frodo, hobbit of the Shire, walked steadily down to meet the eyes.
J. R. R. Tolkien
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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
J. R. R. Tolkien
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Do not spoil the wonder with haste!
J. R. R. Tolkien
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And long there he lay, an image of the splendour of the Kings of Men in glory undimmed before the breaking of the world.
J. R. R. Tolkien
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The wide world is all about you: you can fence yourselves in, but you cannot for ever fence it out.
J. R. R. Tolkien