The Lord of the Rings Quotes

“Moonlight drowns out all but the brightest stars”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

“I think that many confuse 'applicability' with 'allegory'; but the one resides in the freedom of the reader, and the other in the purposed domination of the author.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

“I have looked the last upon that which was fairest,' he said to Legolas his companion. 'Henceforward, I will call nothing fair, unless it be her gift.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

“Frodo: 'What a pity Bilbo did not stab the vile creature, when he had a chance!'
Gandalf: 'Pity? It was pity that stayed his hand. Pity and mercy: not to strike without need.'
Frodo: 'I do not feel any pity for Gollum. He deserves death.'
Gandalf: 'Deserves death! I dare say he does. Many that live deserve death. And some die that deserve life. Can you give that to them? Then be not too eager to deal out death in the name of justice, fearing for your own safety. Even the wise cannot see all ends.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

“What a pity Bilbo did not stab the vile creature, when he had a chance!'
'Pity? It was pity that stayed his hand. Pity and mercy: not to strike without need.'
'I do not feel any pity for Gollum. He deserves death.'
'Deserves death! I dare say he does. Many that live deserve death. And some die that deserve life. Can you give that to them? Then be not too eager to deal out death in the name of justice, fearing for your own safety. Even the wise cannot see all ends.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring