Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.
J. R. R. Tolkien
I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done since I grew old and wary enough to detect its presence.
J. R. R. Tolkien
If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.
J. R. R. Tolkien
It's a job that's never started that takes the longest to finish.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Little by little, one travels far.
J. R. R. Tolkien
The Hobbits are just rustic English people, made small in size because it reflects the generally small reach of their imagination.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Nearly all marriages, even happy ones, are mistakes: in the sense that almost certainly (in a more perfect world, or even with a little more care in this very imperfect one) both partners might be found more suitable mates. But the real soul-mate is the one you are actually married to.
J. R. R. Tolkien, Letter to Michael Tolkien, March 1941
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.
J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
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.
J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
It's a dangerous business going out your front door.
J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
All that is gold does not glitter; not all those that wander are lost.
J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, 1954
One Ring to rule them all,
One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all
and in the darkness bind them.
J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, 1954, chapter 2
His house was perfect, whether you liked food, or sleep, or work, or story-telling, or singing, or just sitting and thinking, best, or a pleasant mixture of them all.
J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
Many that live deserve death. And some die that deserve life. Can you give it 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, Book Four, Chapter One
'I wish life was not so short,' he thought. 'Languages take such a time, and so do all the things one wants to know about.'
J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lost Road
