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I never liked Hans Christian Andersen because I knew he was always getting at me.
J. R. R. Tolkien -
A single dream is more powerful than a thousand realities.
J. R. R. Tolkien
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Good Morning!” said Bilbo, and he meant it. The sun was shining, and the grass was very green. But Gandalf looked at him from under long bushy eyebrows that stuck out further than the brim of his shady hat. “What do you mean?” he said. “Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?
J. R. R. Tolkien -
Dwarves are not heroes, but a calculating folk with a great idea of the value of money; some are tricky and treacherous and pretty bad lots; some are not but are decent enough people like Thorin and Company, if you don't expect too much.
J. R. R. Tolkien -
There was one picture in particular which bothered him. It had begun with a leaf caught in the wind, and it became a tree; and the tree grew, sending out innumerable branches, and thrusting out the most fantastic roots.
J. R. R. Tolkien -
I will not say, do not weep, for not all tears are an evil.
J. R. R. Tolkien -
Faithful heart may have froward tongue.
J. R. R. Tolkien -
Human stories are practically always about one thing, really, aren't they? Death. The inevitability of death. . . . . . 'There is no such thing as a natural death. Nothing that ever happens to man is natural, since his presence calls the whole world into question. All men must die, but for every man his death is an accident, and even if he knows it he would sense to it an unjustifiable violation.' Well, you may agree with the words or not, but those are the key spring of The Lord Of The Rings.
J. R. R. Tolkien
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If thou hadst thy will what wouldst thou reserve?" said Manwe. "Of all thy realm what dost thou hold dearest?" All have their worth," said Yavanna, "and each contributes to the worth of the others. But the kelvar can flee or defend themselves, whereas the olvar that grow cannot. And among these I hold trees dear. Long in the growing, swift shall they be in the felling, and unless they pay toll with fruit upon their bough little mourned in their passing. So I see in my thought, would that the trees might speak on behalf of all things that have roots, and punish those that wrong them!
J. R. R. Tolkien -
It may be the part of a friend to rebuke a friend's folly.
J. R. R. Tolkien -
Each of us embodies, in a particular tale and clothed in the garments of time & place, universal truth and everlasting life.
J. R. R. Tolkien -
My advice to all who have the time or inclination to concern themselves with the international language movement would be: 'Back Esperanto loyally.'
J. R. R. Tolkien -
May the hair on your toes never fall out!
J. R. R. Tolkien -
False hopes are more dangerous than fears.
J. R. R. Tolkien
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Every morning I wake up and think good, another 24 hours' pipe-smoking.
J. R. R. Tolkien -
Wars are not favourable to delicate pleasures.
J. R. R. Tolkien -
All wishes are not idle, nor in vain fulfilment we devise - for pain is pain, not for itself to be desired, but ill; or else to strive or to subdue the will alike were graceless; and of Evil this alone is deadly certain: Evil is.
J. R. R. Tolkien -
It gives me great pleasure, a good name. I always in writing start with a name. Give me a name and it produces a story, not the other way about normally.
J. R. R. Tolkien -
My armor is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death!
J. R. R. Tolkien -
The Dark Lord has Nine. But we have One, mightier than they: the White Rider. He has passed through the fire and the abyss, and they shall fear him. We will go where he leads.
J. R. R. Tolkien
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Touching your cap to the Squire may be damn bad for the Squire, but it's damn good for you.
J. R. R. Tolkien -
But I am the real Strider, fortunately. I am Aragorn son of Arathorn; and if by life or death I can save you, I will.
J. R. R. Tolkien -
Now it is a strange thing, but things that are good to have and days that are good to spend are soon told about, and not much to listen to; while things that are uncomfortable, palpitating, and even gruesome, may make a good tale, and take a deal of telling anyway.
J. R. R. Tolkien -
It needs but one foe to breed a war, and those who have not swords can still die upon them.
J. R. R. Tolkien