Quote

If you're going to have a complicated story you must work to a map otherwise you'll never make a map of it afterwards.

J. R. R. Tolkien

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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
Never
Otherwise
Complicated
Story
Stories
Must
Going
Work
Afterwards
Make
Maps

More quotes by J. R. R. Tolkien

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The Bagginses had lived in the neighbourhood of The Hill for time out of mind, and people considered them very respectable, not only because most of them were rich, but also because they never had any adventures or did anything unexpected: you could tell what a Baggins would say on any question without the bother of asking him.
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Indeed in nothing is the power of the Dark Lord more clearly shown than in the estrangement that divides all those who still oppose him.
J. R. R. Tolkien
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After some time he felt for his pipe. It was not broken, and that was something. Then he felt for his pouch, and there was some tobacco in it, and that was something more. Then he felt for matches and he could not find any at all, and that shattered his hopes completely.
J. R. R. Tolkien
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Don't go where I can't follow!
J. R. R. Tolkien
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I invented that little rhyme about 'One Ring to rule them all', I remember, in the bath one day.
J. R. R. Tolkien
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You have to understand the good in things, to detect the real evil.
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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I will not say, do not weep, for not all tears are an evil.
J. R. R. Tolkien
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Over the field rang his clear voice calling: ‘Death! Ride, ride to ruin and the world’s ending!
J. R. R. Tolkien
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But do not despise the lore that has come down from distant years for oft it may chance that old wives keep in memory word of things that once were needful for the wise to know.
J. R. R. Tolkien
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Gandalf! I thought you were dead! But then I thought I was dead myself. Is everything sad going to come untrue? What's happened to the world?
J. R. R. Tolkien
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I have spoken words of hope. But only of hope. Hope is not victory.
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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It cannot be seen, cannot be felt, Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt, It lies behind stars and under hills, And empty holes it fills, It comes first and follows after, Ends life, kills laughter.
J. R. R. Tolkien
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He stands not alone. You would die before your stroke fell.
J. R. R. Tolkien
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The only just literary critic, he concluded, is Christ, who admires more than does any man the gifts He Himself has bestowed.
J. R. R. Tolkien
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Frodo drew himself up, and again Sam was startled by his words and his stern voice. 'On the Precious? How dare you?' he said. 'Think! Would you commit your promise to that, Smeagol? It will hold you. But it is more treacherous than you are. It may twist your words. Beware!
J. R. R. Tolkien
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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
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All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king.
J. R. R. Tolkien
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Let the unseen days be. Today is more than enough.
J. R. R. Tolkien