It simply isn’t an adventure worth telling if there aren’t any dragons.
Living by faith includes the call to something greater than cowardly self-preservation.
War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend.
His rage passes description – the sort of rage that is only seen when rich folk that have more than they can enjoy suddenly lose something that they have long had but have never before used or wanted.
And he took her in his arms and kissed her under the sunlit sky, and he cared not that they stood high upon the walls in the sight of many.
Pay heed to the tales of old wives. It may well be that they alone keep in memory what it was once needful for the wise to know.
Farewell, and may the blessing of Elves and Men and all Free Folk go with you. May the stars shine upon your faces!
I am glad you are here with me. Here at the end of all things, Sam.
We set out to save the Shire, Sam and it has been saved – but not for me.
In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.
Often does hatred hurt itself.
In sorrow we must go, but not in despair. Behold! we are not bound for ever to the circles of the world, and beyond them is more than memory.
The world is full enough of hurts and mischances without wars to multiply them.
But I have been too deeply hurt, Sam. I tried to save the Shire, and it has been saved, but not for me. It must often be so, Sam, when things are in danger: some one has to give them up, lose them, so that others may keep them.
Do not meddle in the affairs of Wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger.
He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom.
It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.
I warn you, if you bore me, I shall take my revenge.
For myself, I find I become less cynical rather than more – remembering my own sins and follies; and realize that men’s hearts are not often as bad as their acts, and very seldom as bad as their words.
We may stand, if only on one leg, or at least be left still upon our knees.