The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1)

by J.R.R. Tolkien

I desired to do this for my own satisfaction, and I had little hope that other people would be interested in this work,

The prime motive was the desire of a tale-teller to try his hand at a really long story that would hold the attention of readers, amuse them, delight them, and at times maybe excite them or deeply move them.

It is perhaps not possible in a long tale to please everybody at all points,

As for any inner meaning or ‘message’, it has in the intention of the author none.

Hobbits are an unobtrusive but very ancient people, more numerous formerly than they are today; for they love peace and quiet and good tilled earth:

I think I might like to be a hobbit

for anything that Hobbits had no immediate use for, but were unwilling to throw away, they called a mathom.

All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.

Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.

‘Elen síla lúmenn’ omentielvo,

The wide world is all about you: you can fence yourselves in, but you cannot for ever fence it out.’

‘Go not to the Elves for counsel, for they will say both no and yes.’

‘Courage is found in unlikely places,’

There is a seed of courage hidden (often deeply, it is true) in the heart of the fattest and most timid hobbit,

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.