Great Throughts Treasury

This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.

Related Quotes

J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

He led the way in under the huge branches of the trees. Old beyond guessing, they seemed. Great trailing beards of lichen hung from them, blowing and swaying in the breeze. Out of the shadows, the hobbits peeped, gazing back down the slope: little furtive figures that in the dim light looked like elf-children in the deeps of time peering out of the Wild Wood in wonder at their first Dawn.

Evolution | Future | Important | Learning | Science |

J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

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 forever beyond its reach.

Change | Kill | Organization |

J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

I know. It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't 0even be here. But we are.It's like in the great stories, Mister Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they we're. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy. How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened. But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer.

Happiness |

J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

Elves and Dragons Cabbages and potatoes are better for me and you. Don't go getting mixed up in the business of your betters, or you'll land in trouble too big for you.

Will |

J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

Hey! Come merry dol! derry dol! My darling! Light goes the weather-wind and the feathered starling. Down along under the Hill, shining in the sunlight, waiting on the doorstep for the cold starlight, there my pretty lady is, River-woman's daughter, slender as the willow-wand, clearer than the water. Old Tom Bombadil water-lilies bringing comes hopping home again. Can you hear him singing? Hey! Come merry dol! derry dol! and merry-o, Goldberry, Goldberry, merry yellow berry-o! Poor old Willow-man, you tuck your roots away! Tom's in a hurry now. Evening will follow day. Tom's going home again water lilies-bringing. Hey! Come derry dol! Can you hear me singing?

Change | Object | Receive |

J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

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

Aims | Authenticity | People |

J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

Ho! Tom Bombadil, Tom Bombadillo! By water, wood and hill, by reed and willow, by fire, sun and moon, harken now and hear us! Come, Tom Bombadil, for our need is near us!

Will |

J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

For the less even as for the greater there is some deed that he may accomplish but once only; and in that deed his heart shall rest.

Change |

J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

I am commanded to go to the land of Mordor, and therefore I shall go,' said Frodo. 'If there is only one way, then I must take it. What comes after must come.

Change |

J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

I will not say, do not weep, for not all tears are an evil. It is useless to meet revenge with revenge: it will heal nothing.

J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

Fairy tale does not deny the existence of sorrow and failure: the possibility of these is necessary to the joy of deliverance. It denies in the face of much evidence, if you will universal final defeat... giving a fleeting glimpse of Joy; Joy beyond the walls of the world, poignant as grief.

Change | System |

J. R. R. Tolkien, fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

For Isildur would not surrender it to Elrond and C¡rdan who stood by. They counselled him to cast it into the fire of Orodruin night at hand... But Isildur refused this counsel, saying: 'This I will have as weregild for my father's death, and my brother's. Was it not I that dealt the Enemy his death-blow?' And the Ring that he held seemed to him exceedingly fair to look on; and he would not suffer it to be destroyed.

Change | Kill | Organization |