Quote

True courage is about knowing not when to take a life, but when to spare one.

J. R. R. Tolkien

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

J. R. R. Tolkien
Age: 81 †
Born: 1892
Born: January 3
Died: 1973
Died: September 2
Author
Essayist
Historian
Illustrator
Linguist
Literary Critic
Military Officer
Poet
Teacher
Translator
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
John R. R. Tolkien
J-R-R Tolkien
Tolkien
J.R.R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
Spare
Spares
Courage
Knowing
True
Take
Life

More quotes by J. R. R. Tolkien

Image
And then all the host of Rohan burst into song, and they sang as they slew, for the joy of battle was on them, and the sound of their singing that was fair and terrible came even to the City.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
Then she fell on her knees, saying: 'I beg thee!' 'Nay, lady,' he said, and taking her by the hand he raised her. The he kissed her hand, and sprang into the saddle, and rode away, and did not look back and only those who knew him well and were near to him saw the pain that he bore.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
Then Aragorn was abashed, for he saw the elven-light in her eyes and the wisdom of many days yet from that hour he loved Arwen Undómiel daughter of Elrond.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
Saruman, I said, standing away from him, only one hand at a time can weild the One, and you know that well, so do not trouble to say we!
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
O Elbereth! Gilthoniel! We still remember, we who dwell In this far land beneath the trees. Thy starlight on the Western Seas.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
His love for Frodo rose above all other thoughts, and forgetting his peril he cried aloud: 'I'm coming Mr. Frodo!
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
It matters little who is the enemy, if we cannot beat off his attack.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
I invented that little rhyme about 'One Ring to rule them all', I remember, in the bath one day.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
And thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
it was easier to believe in the Dragon and less easy to believe in Thorin in these wild parts
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
There are many things in the deep waters and seas and lands may change. And it is not our part here to take thought only for a season, or for a few lives of Men, or for a passing age of the world. We should seek a final end of this menace, even if we do not hope to make one.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
The strongest must seek a way, say you? But I say: let a ploughman plough, but choose an otter for swimming, and for running light over grass and leaf, or over snow- an Elf!
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
That's the only place in all the lands we've ever heard of that we don't want to see any closer and that's the one place we're trying to get to! And that's just where we can't get, nohow.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
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
Image
Yet seldom do they fail of their seed, And that will lie in the dust and rot to spring up again in times and places unlooked-for. The deeds of Men will outlast us.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
Hobbits delighted in such things, if they were accurate they liked to have books filled with things that they already knew, set out fair and square with no contradictions.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
How could such a large door be kept secret from everybody outside, apart from the dragon? [Bilbo] asked. He was only a little hobbit you must remember.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
If this is victory, then our hands are too small to hold it.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
You have nice manners for a thief and a liar, said the dragon.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
The Darkness has begun. There will be no dawn.
J. R. R. Tolkien