Quotes from The Lord of the Rings

The Fellowship from left to right: (Top row) Aragorn, Gandalf, Legolas, Boromir, (bottom row) Sam, Frodo, Merry, Pippin, Gimli. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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. – Bilbo’s poem about Aragorn

 

 

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.

“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times.  But that is not for them to decide.  All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” – Frodo and Gandalf in Chapter Two of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

 

 

“Pity?  It was Pity that stayed his hand.  Pity, and Mercy: not to strike without need.” – Gandalf in Chapter Two of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

 

 

“He will not wake again,” said Denethor.  “Battle is vain.  Why should we wish to live longer?  Why should we not go to death side by side?”

“Authority is not given to you, Steward of Gondor, to order the hour of your death,” answered Gandalf.  “And only the heathen kings, under the domination of the Dark Power, did thus, slaying themselves in pride and despair, murdering their kin to ease their own death.”  Denethor and Gandalf in Chapter Seven of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

“What then would you have,” said Gandalf, “if your will could have its way?”

“I would have things as they were in all the days of my life,” answered Denethor, “and in the days of my longfathers before me: to be the Lord of this City in peace, and leave my chair to a son after me, who would be his own master and no wizard’s pupil.  But if doom denies this to me, then I will have naught: neither life diminished, nor love halved, nor honor abated.”

“To me it would not seem that a Steward who faithfully surrenders his charge is diminished in love or in honor,” said Gandalf.  “And at the least you shall not rob your son of his choice while his death is still in doubt.” Denethor and Gandalf in Chapter Seven of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King