Short cuts make long delays.

After all, I believe that legends and myths are largely made of ‘truth’, and indeed present aspects of it that can only be received in this mode; and long ago certain truths and modes of...

I do not know what is happening. The reason of my waking mind tells me that great evil has befallen and we stand at the end of days. But my heart says nay; and all...

What do you fear, lady?” [Aragorn] asked. “A cage,” [Éowyn] said. “To stay behind bars, until use and old age accept them, and all chance of doing great deeds is gone beyond recall or desire.

Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars, not if you care for such things.

Ce n’était pas un trou déplaisant, sale et humide, rempli de bouts de vers et d’une atmosphère suintante, non plus qu’un trou sec, nu, sablonneux, sans rien pour s’asseoir ni sur quoi manger : c’était...

For the rest, they shall represent the other Free Peoples of the World: Elves, Dwarves, and Men, Legolas shall be for the Elves; and Gimli son of Gloin for the Dwarves. They are willing to...

Why must you speak your thoughts? Silence, if fair words stick in your throat, would serve all our ends better.

They hammered on the outer gate and called, but there was at first no answer; and then to their surprise someone blew a horn, and the lights in the windows went out. A voice shouted...

Master of the Dark Shadow. For I also, Niniel, had my darkness, in which dear things were lost; but now I have overcome it, I deem.

Little by little, one travels far

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 gave a cry, and there was, fallen upon his knees at the chasm’s edge. But Gollum, dancing like a mad thing, held aloft the ring, a finger still thrust within its circle. “Precious, precious,...

There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something. You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after.

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.

Indeed if fish had fish-lore and Wise-fish, it is probable that the business of anglers would be very little hindered.

Far over the misty mountains coldTo dungeons deep and caverns oldWe must away ere break of dayTo seek the pale enchanted gold.The dwarves of yore made mighty spells,While hammers fell like ringing bellsIn places deep,...

Far over the Great River, and the Brown Lands, leagues upon grey leagues away, the dawn came, red as flame. Loud rang the hunting horns to greet it. The Riders of Rohan sprang suddenly to...

Not all those who wander are lost…

Children are meant to grow up, and not to become Peter Pans. Not to lose innocence and wonder, but to proceed on the appointed journey: that journey upon which it is certainly not better to...

I will not say, do not weep, for not all tears are an evil.

it is horrible being all alone.

But perhaps you could call her perilous because she’s so strong in herself. You , you could dash yourself to pieces on her, like a ship on a rock, or drown yourself, like a Hobbit...

No onslaught more fierce was ever seen in the savage world of beasts, where some desperate small creature armed with little teeth, alone, will spring upon a tower of horn and hide that stands above...

In one thing you have not changed, dear friend,” said Aragorn: “you still speak in riddles.””What? In riddles?” said Gandalf. “No! For I was talking aloud to myself. A habit of the old: they choose...

A traitor may betray himself and do good he does not intend.

He who breaks a thing to find out what it is, has left the path of wisdom.

I warn you, if you bore me, I shall take my revenge.

Et E ”¤rello Endorenna ut ”ºlien.Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn’ Ambar-metta!’Out of the Great Sea to Middle-earth I am come.In this place I will abide, and my heirs, unto the ending of the world.’

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.

There is some good in this world, and it’s worth fighting for.

To think I should have lived to be goodmorninged by Belladonna Took’s son, as if I was selling buttons at the door!

The world is changing: I feel it in the water, I feel it in the earth, and I smell it in the air.

My mind does not change with the rising and setting of a few suns

I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done so since I grew old and wary enough to detect its presence. I much prefer history – true or feigned– with its varied...

And suddenly first one and then another began to sing as they played, deep-throated singing of the dwarves in the deep places of their ancient homes; and this is like a fragment of their song,...

But it is said: Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger. The choice is yours: to go or wait.”And it is also said,’ answered Frodo: ‘Go...

Bilbo Baggins was standing at his door after breakfast smoking an enormous long wooden pipe that reached nearly down to his woolly toes (neatly brushed)—Gandalf came by.

Húrin soon marked that Túrin did not wear the knife, and he asked him whether his warning had made him fear it. Then Túrin answered: ‘No; but I gave the knife to Sador the woodwright.’...

All have their worth and each contributes to the worth of the others.

But I am the real Strider, fortunately. I am Aragorn son of Arathorn; and if by life or death I can save you, I will.

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...

She should not die, so young and beautiful. At least, she should not die alone.

From the Gate of Kings the North Wind rides, and past the roaring falls;And clear and cold about the tower its loud horn calls.’What news from the North, O mighty wind, do you bring to...

Fantasy is escapist, and that is its glory. If a soldier is imprisioned by the enemy, don’t we consider it his duty to escape?. . .If we value the freedom of mind and soul, if...

Frodo raised his head, and then stood up. Despair had not left him, but the weakness had passed. He even smiled grimly, feeling now as clearly as a moment before he had felt the opposite,...

A man that flies from his fear may find that he has only taken a short cut to meet it.

Although now long estranged,Man is not wholly lost nor wholly changed.Dis-graced he may be, yet is not de-throned,and keeps the rags of lordship once he owned:Man, Sub-creator, the refracted Lightthrough whom is splintered from a...

Trente chevaux sur une colline rouge; D’abord ils m chonnent,Puis ils frappent leur marque,Ensuite ils restent immobiles.(Les dents)

Against delay. Against the way that seems easier. Against refusal of the burden that is laid on me. Against – well, if it must be said, against trust in the strength and truth of Men.