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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

His old life lay behind in the mists, dark adventure lay in front.

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