J. R. R. Tolkien was a man of profound insight. His Middle-earth literature, especially after "The Hobbit," is filled with words of wisdom like few other non-scriptural books of which I'm aware. I believe that he exceeds even Shakespeare in this. Much of that wisdom is woven inextricably into the very fabric of the stories. But some, happily, is in the form of more-or-less pithy sayings; that is, descrete and (relatively) concise "nuggets" which can stand on their own. Of course, their impact is even greater in the context of the stories! :-)

Here I present my collection of such sayings culled from "The Lord of the Rings," in the order of occurance in the book. Some are original to Tolkien, as far as I can tell; others are reworkings of sayings that have been around for a long time; but even those are more elegantly stated by him, and thus may be attributable to him in the form found here.

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All page numbers refer to Houghton Mifflin's single-volume edition of 1993.

II

73

any 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 see all ends. - Gandalf

III

87

e used often to say there was only one Road; that it was like a great river: its springs were at every doorstep, and every path was its tributary. "It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door," he used to say. "You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to." - Frodo, quoting Bilbo

III

97

t is not your own Shire,' said Gildor. 'Others dwelt here before hobbits were, and others will dwell here again when hobbits are no more. The wide world is all about you: you can fence yourselves in, but you cannot for ever fence it out.

III

97

eldom give unguarded advice, for advice is a dangerous gift, even from the wise to the wise, and all courses may run ill. - Gildor Inglorion

IV

141

ome things are ill to hear when the world's in shadow. - Tom Bombadil

X

186

ll 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.
- ancient verses of prophecy translated from the Elvish by Bilbo, referring to Aragorn

I

248

on't adventures ever have an end? I suppose not. Someone else always has to carry on the story. - Bilbo

II

276

e that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom. - Gandalf

II

278

ven the most subtle spiders may leave a weak thread. - Gandalf

II

282

t is perilous to study too deeply the arts of the Enemy, for good or for ill. - Elrond

II

284

ft in lies truth is hidden. - Glorfindel

II

285

alour needs first strength, and then a weapon. - Boromir

II

286

hose who made [the three elven rings of power] did not desire strength or domination or hoarded wealth, but understanding, making, and healing, to preserve all things unstained. - Elrond

II

286-7

t is wisdom to recognize necessity, when all other courses have been weighed, though as folly it may appear to those who cling to false hope. Well, let folly be our cloak, a veil before the eyes of the Enemy! For he is very wise, and weighs all things to a nicety in the scales of this malice. But the only measure that he knows is desire, desire for power; and so he judges all hearts. Into his heart the thought will not enter that any will refuse it. - Gandalf

II

287

uch is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere. - Elrond

II

287

nly a small part is played in great deeds by any hero. - Gandalf

III

298

aithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens. - Gimli

III

298

et him not vow to walk in the dark, who has not seen the nightfall. - Elrond

VI

366

n nothing is the power of the Dark Lord more clearly shown than in the estrangement that divides all those who still oppose him. - Haldir

VI

367

he world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater. - Haldir

VIII

388

o not trouble your hearts overmuch with thought of the road tonight. Maybe the paths that you each shall tread are already laid before your feet, though you do not see them. - Galadriel

VIII

394

o not despise the lore that has come down from distant years; for oft it may chance that old wives keep in memory word of things that once were needful for the wise to know. - Celeborn

II

449

o not cast all hope away. Tomorrow is unkown. Rede oft is found at the rising of the Sun. - Legolas

II

455

II

459

ood and ill have not changed since yesteryear. - Aragorn

II

461

here are some things that it is better to begin than to refuse, even though the end may be dark. - Aragorn

IV

487

V

518

treacherous weapon is ever a danger to the hand. - Gandalf

VI

535

ews from afar is seldom sooth. - King Theoden

VI

536

he wise speak only of what they know. - Gandalf

VI

544

o crooked eyes truth may wear a wry face. - Gandalf

VII

558

ft the unbidden guest proves the best company. - Eomer

VII

563

one knows what the new day shall bring him. - Aragorn

IX

587

ne who cannot cast away a treasure at need is in fetters. - Aragorn

X

606

he treacherous are ever distrustful. - Gandalf

X

608

ne cannot be both tyrant and counsellor. - Gandalf

X

608

ften does hatred hurt itself! - Gandalf

X

609

hings will go as they will; and there is no need to hurry to meet them. - Treebeard

XI

618

ft evil will shall evil mar. - Theoden quoting an old saying of Rohan.

XI

621

 erilous to us all are the devices of an art deeper than we possess ourselves. - Gandalf

XI

622

he burned hand teaches best. After that advice about fire goes to the heart. - Gandalf to Pippin after the palantir incident

V

698

ar must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. - Faramir

V

698

etter mistrust undeserved than rash words. - Frodo

V

702

air speech may hide a foul heart. - Sam Gamgee

V

704

t is not said that evil arts were ever practised in Gondor, or that the Nameless One was ever named in honour there.... Yet even so it was Gondor that brought about its own decay, falling by degrees into dotage, and thinking that the Enemy was asleep, who was only banished not destroyed. ...[they] hungered after endless life unchanging. Kings made tombs more splendid than houses of the living, and counted old names in the rolls of their descent dearer than the names of sons. Childless lords sat in aged halls musing on heraldry; in secret chambers withered men compounded strong elixirs, or in high cold towers asked questions of the stars. - Faramir

V

709

he praise of the praiseworthy is above all rewards. - Faramir

VI

714

he servant has a claim on the master for service, even service in fear.

VII

727

here there's life there's hope, as my Gaffer used to say; and need of vittles, as he mostways used to add. - Sam

I

790

enerous deed should not be checked by cold counsel. - Gandalf

II

812

he hasty stroke goes oft astray. - Aragorn

II

816

eeds will not be less valiant because they are unpraised. - Aragorn

III

835

here will wants not, a way opens. - "Dernhelm"

IV

847

traitor may betray himself and do good that he does not intend. - Gandalf

VI

881

ope oft deceives. ... Yet twice blessed is help unlooked for. - Eomer

IX

903

is grief he will not forget; bit it will not darken his heart, it will teach him wisdom. - Aragorn, of Pippin

IX

907

t is ever so with the things that Men begin: there is a frost in Spring, or a blight in Summer, and they fail of their promise. - Gimli

IX

911

 ft hope is born, when all is forlorn. - Legolas

IX

911

 ollow what may, great deeds are not lessened in worth. - Legolas

IX

913

t is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule. - Gandalf

V

994

t needs but one foe to breed a war, not two.... And those who have not swords can still die upon them. Would you have the folk of Gondor gather you herbs only, when the Dark Lord gathers armies? - Eowyn

V

994

t is not always good to be healed in body. Nor is it always evil to die in battle, even in bitter pain. - Eowyn

VIII

1056

t is useless to meet revenge with revenge: it will heal nothing. - Frodo of the hobbits' desire to kill Saruman for enslaving them

IX

1064

've heard some beautiful names on my travels, but I suppose they're a bit too grand for daily wear and tear, as you might say. The Gaffer, he says: "Make it short, and then you won't have to cut it short before you can use it." - Sam Gamgee

IX

1067

t must often be so, Sam, when things are in danger: some one has to give them up, lose them, so that others may keep them. - Frodo

IX

1068

will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil. - Gandalf