The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, #3)

by J.R.R. Tolkien

‘Nay! There is no time,’ said the Elf. ‘Do not spoil the wonder with haste!

‘The hasty stroke goes oft astray,’ said Aragorn.

‘Authority is not given to you, Steward of Gondor, to order the hour of your death,’

The knowledge which he obtained was, doubtless, often of service to him; yet the vision of the great might of Mordor that was shown to him fed the despair of his heart until it overthrew his mind.’

But these evils can be amended, so strong and gay a spirit is in him. His grief he will not forget; but it will not darken his heart, it will teach him wisdom.’

Strange and wonderful I thought it that the designs of Mordor should be overthrown by such wraiths of fear and darkness. With its own weapons was it worsted!’

Yet it is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till.

For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.