J.R.R. Tolkien Quotes

(home > readers read > tolkien quotes)


J.R.R. Tolkien is best known for his fantasy novels set in Middle Earth. They include The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Here is a collection of great quotes from these books.

"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."

"Do not tempt me! For I do not wish to become like the Dark Lord himself. Yet the way of the Ring to my heart is by pity, pity for weakness and the desire of strength to do good. Do not tempt me! I dare not take it, not even to keep it safe, unused. The wish to wield it would be too great for my strength. I shall have such need of it. Great perils lie before me.'" - Gandalf, The Fellowship of the Ring

"I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it's very difficult to find anyone." - Gandalf, The Hobbit.

"It's the job that's never started as takes longest to finish."


The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings set from Del Rey


"Short cuts make delays, but inns make longer ones." - Frodo, The Fellowship of the Ring

"Forth now, and fear no darkness!" - Theoden, The Return of the King

It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.

"It is perilous to study too deeply the arts of the Enemy, for good or for ill. But such falls and betrayals, alas, have happened before." - Elron, The Fellowship of the Ring

There is a seed of courage hidden (often deeply, it is true) in the heart of the fattest and most timid hobbit, waiting for some final and desperate danger to make it grow.

I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.

May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out.

"My armour 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." - Smaug, The Hobbit


The Hobbit  75th anniversary cover

"Bilbo Baggins! You are more worthy to wear the armor of elf-princes than many that have looked more comely in it." - Thranduil, The Hobbit

"Thirty white horses on a red hill,
First they champ,
Then they stamp,
Then they stand still." - The Hobbit

"I would not snare even an orc with a falsehood." - Faramir, The Two Towers

"O Sam! What have I said? What have I done? Forgive me! After all you have done. It is the horrible power of the Ring. I wish it had never, never, been found. But don't mind me, Sam. I must carry the burden to the end. It can't be altered. You can't come between me and this doom." - Frodo, The Return of the King

"We are all friends here. Or should be; for the laughter of Mordor will be our only reward, if we quarrel." - Gandalf, The Two Towers

The world is full enough of hurts and mischances without wars to multiply them.


*Note: The top image is The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings from Del Rey and the second image is The Hobbit paperback from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.