The Best Quote From Every Lord Of The Rings Book

Published Oct 28, 2026, 7:51 PM EDT Tony Cooper is a contributing writer for ScreenRant. With a Master's degree in English and a book collection that simply refuses to stop growing, Tony is no stranger to the literary arts. During his studies he worked as a poetry & fiction editor for a literary journal in Montreal, which he now calls home. Tony is always on the look-out for the next book that piques the mind or simply sends him on an exciting journey. Sign in to your ScreenRant account As the father of modern fantasy, J.R.R. Tolkien needs little introduction. The mind that brought The Lord of the Rings to life on the page has inspired legions of subsequent authors and fantasy fans alike. And even if there are some great fantasy works that predate Tolkien's works, The Lord of the Rings remains the gold standard for fantasy literature to this day. These days, some focus has shifted from Tolkien's mainline trilogy to encompass the expanded lore in his other works. With The Rings of Power doing something of a reboot for its newest season, the Lord of the Rings universe is once again in the spotlight, along with each of Tolkien's books that have been released before and after his passing. A reading through each of these books reveals some thought-provoking and sage words from Tolkien. As an Oxford professor, language expert, and history enthusiast, Tolkien offers some true words of wisdom in his pages. Reading through his children's tale in The Hobbit and his extraneous histories and romances (completed posthumously by his son, Christopher Tolkien) shine a light on some of Tolkien's most sound quotations. Perusing the pages of these, alongside the titanic Lord of the Rings books, prove to be as inspiring and relevant today as they were when Tolkien first inked the words onto his books. 10 "If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." The Hobbit Starting off this list is a proper life lesson from Tolkien's first published novel in what would become his best-known world. This quote is genuine and wholesome enough on its surface, and provides a solid entry point into Tolkien's broader philosophy of humility and enjoying the smaller comforts of everyday life. Indeed, if we all did value these things more, we could see the shared humanity we all share with a little more clarity, or so the logic goes. But what makes this line all the more striking is who delivers it. The line is spoken by Thorin Oakenshield, the leader of the band of dwarves who reclaimed the Lonely Mountain and its hoards of wealth. Thorin discovered for himself the corrupting power of gold and jewels, and at last only met the true wisdom of this quote when it was too late for him. Thorin learned the very lesson he preaches, making its words all the more moving. 9 "It's the job that's never started as takes longest to finish." The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Samwise Gamgee is a fan-favorite character for a variety of reasons, but chief among them is his down-to-earth and practical nature. Indeed, the humble gardener represents the quintessential qualities of "hobbit-ness," including a love for plants and hearty food, but also including loyalty and kinship. Even Tolkien himself had reverence for Sam, using him as a stand-in for the batmen of the First World War whom Tolkien (who was an officer) greatly admired and respected. It is this kind of practicality that shines through in this quote. The Fellowship of the Ring (as well as the other two Lord of the Rings books) is replete with memorable quotes, so it's incredibly difficult to choose just one per book. But in researching these lines, this quote, found near the journey's beginning, continually shone through some of the loftier lines found later. As well, as an antidote for procrastination, it was certainly the most relevant. 8 "I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I only love that which they defend." The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers If Boromir is the strong warrior of the warrior/poet dichotomy, then Faramir is unequivocally the poet. Here, Faramir, the last remaining son of Gondor's stewardship, highlights his own wisdom as it relates to war and glory. In only a few words, he reveals how admiration is often misplaced, or is at least placed onto the wrong things. And while sharp swords and glorious warriors are impressive, it is things like family, children, and freedom that make them actually valuable and meaningful. This is not the only instance of Tolkien's anti-war attitudes that appear in his works. Tolkien saw firsthand the horrors of large-scale warfare, and sought in his post-war years to belabor the point that war is not a glorious event to be pursued. It is perhaps this key aspect that separates his works from those of the Anglo-Saxon and Norse traditions that inspired his writings, thrusting them into modernity while still retaining the feeling of mythology. 7 "Of hope is born when all is forlorn." The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King A lot of the time, Legolas lets his bow do the talking. But every now and then, he concisely speaks some of the wisest lines in all of Tolkien's oeuvre. The third installment of The Lord of the Rings is oftentimes at once bleak and hopeful. This is the book where the remnants of the fellowship encounter their darkest moments, yet it is in this darkness that hope for the new day becomes first visible. This same sentiment is displayed by Sam when, in Mordor, he remembers the stars shining above the caustic smoke of Mount Doom, signifying the beauty that can once again be seen once this great evil has been vanquished. After all, in a place of total darkness, even the slightest bit of light is perceived. However, for this entry, it was clear that Legolas summed up the M.O. of this book and one of the themes of Tolkien's trilogy. Tolkien, like many others, saw his times as very uncertain, but he pushes forth the lesson that it is in these very same hopeless environments when the first seeds of hope emerge. It's a somewhat counterintuitive line, but one that seeps with truth and, of course, hope. 6 "Love not too well the work of thy hands and the devices of thy heart." The Silmarillion This famously-dense, distant prequel to The Lord of the Rings is the first of Tolkien's works that really blend historical and narrative modes to tell its story. But that doesn't mean that there's no room for some beautiful insights all the same. While The Silmarillion mostly centers around the eponymous magical jewels coveted by the best and worst of Middle Earth, Tolkien makes sure to inject his prose with this interesting and somewhat Stoic line. In it, he reminds one to see beyond oneself and warns against self-aggrandizement. This is in line with his general proclivity towards humility, but what's interesting is that he keeps a balanced stance here. Essentially, value your works and your feelings, but keep them in perspective. 5 "Fear both the heat and the cold of your heart, and try to have patience, if you can." Unfinished Tales Not all wisdom needs to be delivered in high-faluting language. In fact, some of Tolkien's wisest lines are delivered in economical prose, which is pretty rich for an author known for his elaborate, flowery language. This quote is just one example of Tolkien opting for fairly unassuming language to relate a valuable lesson. Once again, Tolkien values the balancing of one's emotions. He understands that an unfeeling person is just as maladjusted as someone whose feelings rule them completely. It's not the lack of passion, then, that's the goal. Rather, it's the tempering of passion within oneself, allowing one to feel without going off the proverbial deep end. 4 "A man that flies from his fear may find that he has only taken a short cut to meet it." The Children of Húrin Parents, friends, and teachers all over the world have advised against avoiding your fears for about as long as parents, friends, and teachers have existed. "Face your fear" is one way of summarizing this quote, but the line goes so much deeper than that. The second half, that one will have to encounter the experience they avoided whether they like it or not, is the part containing arguably the most vital lesson. Anyone can fall guilty of putting off tasks they dread doing. This doesn't have to be "fear" in the common meaning of the word, it can be as simple as delivering bad news to a friend, breaking up with a romantic partner, or any other regular-life event where avoiding your responsibility may simply make your situation worse. 3 "And here I have found what I sought not indeed, but finding I would possess for ever." Beren and Lúthien Writing about love gets a bad rap these days. Yes, it can be cliche. Yes, it has been done countless times already. But there's a good reason it is a cliche that is done so often: it is one of the most powerful and valuable things we can experience in our brief time on earth. This notion was not lost on Tolkien, whose epic narrative of the two lovers Beren and Lúthien purport. In this tale, Beren must prove to Thingol that he is worthy of Lúthien's love, and in making his case delivers this beautiful commentary on what love is to him. Beyond the value of gold and treasures, Beren has come to realize that it is his love for Lúthien that is, to sound very trite, the real treasure. Beyond this, though, he also expounds on the eternality of their love. Readers of The Lord of the Rings will surely appreciate this notion, as their love is reflected eons later in the romance of Aragorn and Arwen, proving Beren right all those years later. 2 "For heart that is pitiless counteth not the power that pity hath." The Fall of Gondolin The concept of pity is touched on in several instances over Tolkien's works. Famously, Gandalf and Frodo have a conversation about the value of pity while discussing Bilbo's decision not to kill Gollum years prior. Gandalf wisely remarks that Bilbo's act of pity may yet prove crucial in the unfolding of events surrounding the One Ring. He is right, of course. But this is not the only instance where the ideas of pity/compassion are mused upon. While The Fall of Gondolin reads much like a history, it still pontificates on the notion of pity as it relates to perspective. Importantly, Tolkien notes the shortcomings of the person who cannot feel pity. Pity has a strange position among our feelings, as it can be easy to take advantage of people who feel compassion for others. But it is this perceived weakness by some that Tolkien views as a strength, emphasizing the fact that pitiless people simply can't comprehend the strength of those who find a unified cause in others. 1 "Middle-earth could not be saved from 'the residue of evil' that Morgoth had left behind him save by a union of all peoples who were in their way and in their measure opposed to him." The Fall of Númenor The most recent of Tolkien's posthumous releases, The Fall of Númenor falls more into the category of a history than a through-line narrative fiction. With that said, this style of writing leaves plenty of room for resonances relating to Tolkien's other works, and nowhere is this more evident than in the quote above. Galadriel is one of the oldest Lord of the Rings characters, and is famously gifted with prophecy. This quote is an insight gained by her upon witnessing the evil influences of Morgoth upon Númenor. But beyond that, it also foreshadows the way in which the ultimate evil of Sauron would be defeated millenia later. Galadriel essentially predicts the formation of the fellowship to finally vanquish the great darkness that has taken hold in Middle Earth. However, beyond simply stating that different peoples would have to come together to defeat evil, this line showcases the true strength that unity has. It is not merely the fact that all peoples would have to oppose evil; but instead the fact that they are all aligned in this opposition that really rings as significant. It is a lesson in unity that Galadriel may have remembered, and one that is still worth remembering today. Movie(s) The Lord of the Rings (1978), The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim TV Show(s) The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Video Game(s) The Lord of the Rings Online (dupe), Middle-Earth: Shadow of War, The Lord Of The Rings: Gollum, The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria First Film The Lord of the Rings (1978) Cast Norman Bird, Anthony Daniels, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Sean Bean, Ian Holm, Andy Serkis, Brad Dourif, Karl Urban, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, James Nesbitt, Ken Stott, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Morfydd Clark, Mike Wood, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Charlie Vickers, Markella Kavenagh, Megan Richards, Sara Zwangobani, Daniel Weyman, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Lenny Henry, Brian Cox, Shaun Dooley, Miranda Otto, Bilal Hasna, Benjamin Wainwright, Luke Pasqualino, Christopher Guard, William Squire, Michael Scholes, John Hurt Created by J.R.R. Tolkien