Quotes by J.R.R. Tolkien

They made for his noise far quicker than he had expected. They were frightfully angry. Quite apart from the stones no spider has ever like being called Attercop, and Tomnoddy of course, is insulting to anybody.

the most improper job of any man, even saints (who at any rate were at least unwilling to take it on), is bossing other men. Not one in a million is fit for it, and least of all those who seek the opportunity.

We have had enough of the old men and the money-counters! And people further off took up the cry: Up Bowman, and down with the moneybags,

As the light upon the leaves of trees, as the voice of clear waters, as the stars above the mists of the world, such was her glory and her loveliness; and in her face was a shining light.

The sons of Dior and Nimloth were Elured and Elurin; and a daughter also was born to them, and she was named Elwing, which is Star-spray, for she was born on a night of stars, whose light glittered in the spray of the waterfall of Lanthir Lamath beside her fathers house.

Nightingales sang about her wherever she went.

Their faces were as a rule good-natured rather than beautiful.

He has led us in here against our fears, but he will lead us out again, at whatever cost to himself.

He did not falter, as long as there was a path that led toward his goal.

A good vocabulary is not acquired by reading books written according to some notion of the vocabulary of ones age group. It comes from reading books above one.

He willed that the hearts of Men should seek beyond the world and should find no rest therein; but they should have a virtue to shape their life, amid the powers and chances of the world, beyond the Music of the Ainur, which is as fate to all things else.

...as young and as ancient as Spring....

...and all the stars flowered in the sky.

[Hobbits] love peace and quiet and a good tilled earth.

It is said by the Eldar that in water there lives yet the echo of the Music of the Ainur more than in any substance that is in this Earth; and many of the Children of Ilúvatar hearken still unsated to the voices of the Sea, and yet know not for what they listen.

In this Music [the singing of the angels in harmony] the World was begun; for Iluvatar made visible the song of the Ainur,and they beheld it as a light in the darkness.

Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger.

All your words are but to say: you are a woman, and your part is in the house. But when the men have died in battle and honour, you have leave to be burned in the house, for the men will need it no more. But I am of the House of Erol and not a serving-woman. I can ride and wield blade, and I do not fear either pain or death.

I want to be a healer, and love all things that grow and are not barren.

His rage passes description - the sort of rage that is only seen when rich folk that have more than they can enjoy suddenly lose something that they have long had but have never before used or wanted.