Lovely Words

It’s time to bring back the quotes! As I said, last month, I am going to bring a few quotes once a month that mean a lot to me. This month is for J. R. R. Tolkien, I doubt the man needs any introduction. I started reading Tolkien when I was fourteen and fell in love with the writing. I am happy to say that I am still in love with all his works.

I loved Lord of the Rings in the first reading, I remember being glued to the huge book. I had a second-hand copy of the book, the cover was worn out and the pages were yellowed, I didn’t mind in the least. It never bothered me. I don’t have that book with me now because time never stops for anyone and that book was already stretched to the limit. Still, I have two newer editions, one of them is the fiftieth anniversary edition and it’s gorgeous.

Anyway! What I wanted to tell you guys was that his words worked wonders on me and I will forever be enchanted by his works. Tolkien might have seen the very worst of humanity in his time (during the war) but the fact is, he always wrote with an optimistic view, I think. Even when everything was falling apart in his story, he would ask the reader to heed the voice that said, “Don’t give up just yet, there might be hope at the end of your struggles.”

These are the few quotes of his that I absolutely will not forget in my lifetime.

Still round a corner there may wait, a new road or a secret gate.

(What a lovely way of giving hope, don’t you think? I need those things in life to remind me that there are better things ahead, I tend to look at the bad things and want to give up on things. I have become better but the itchy feeling of wanting to give up never really goes away, you know?)

If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.

(I don’t think we, as humans, have managed that feat yet but Thorin’s words brought tears to my eyes the first time I read them and it still resonates with me. Better words could not have been spoken.)

Short cuts make long delays.

(I don’t think I need to say anything here, it’s a lesson I have learned well. There are no short cuts in life, if you think you have found one, you are probably wrong or worse.)

If you really want to know what Middle-earth is based on, it’s my wonder and delight in the earth as it is, particularly the natural earth.

(His genuine love for the earth and all things related to the environment made him, to me, a hero. A person who appreciates the earth and understands the consequences of advancing science will always have a place in my heart. I am all for science, personally, but the thing is, advanced technology or science creates more problems than gives solutions. It’s a debate-worthy topic and I won’t bore you with this.)

Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.

(Short and direct and absolutely blunt. I love it and I have often been faithless in life when it came to some things. However I learned from them and try not to make the same mistake twice.)

All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.

(There were times in my life where this quote came in a little too handy for my comfort. I wouldn’t list out the times but one memorable time was when my mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer.)

Courage is found in unlikely places.

(This quote applies to everyone really. I don’t think I can express in words what it means to me.)

The wide world is all about you: you can fence yourselves in, but you cannot forever fence it out.

(It is something I tend to try all the time and fail, I try to keep myself away from the very real problems at life but the funny thing about life? The problems are never really away. Oh well. I am still learning not to hide. It’s so hard!)

All 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.

(I often feel that while this is a seriously good quote, people have only used part of it and wasted away the meaning of its entirety. It’s something of a pet peeve of mine. I used to really love this quote but the weird use of some of it has brought it far down the list. I know, I know, I am being silly but I can’t help it!)

That’s it for now. Have you read Tolkien? Do you love his works? What about the quotes I have included? I know that there are a lot of more of them when it comes to Tolkien but I chose the ones I love. Are there any different ones that you love? If so, please, share them with me in the comments!