J. R. R. Tolkien

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

“It is plain indeed that in spite of later estrangement Hobbits are relatives of ours: far nearer to us than Elves, or even than Dwarves. Of old they spoke the languages of Men, after their own fashion, and liked and disliked much the same things as Men did. But what exactly our relationship is can no longer be discovered.”

“Myth and fairy-story must, as all art, reflect and contain in solution elements of moral and religious truth (or error), but not explicit, not in the known form of the primary 'real' world.”

“Still round the corner there may wait, A new road or a secret gate.”

“It may be the part of a friend to rebuke a friend's folly.”

“I should like to save the Shire, if I could - though there have been times when I thought the inhabitants too stupid and dull for words, and have felt that an earthquake or an invasion of dragons might be good for them.”

“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.”

“Do not meddle in the affairs of Wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger.”

“A pen is to me as a beak is to a hen.”

“Many children make up, or begin to make up, imaginary languages. I have been at it since I could write.”

“In October 1920 I went to Leeds as Reader in English Language, with a free commission to develop the linguistic side of a large and growing School of English Studies, in which no regular provision had as yet been made for the linguistic specialist.”

“A safe fairyland is untrue to all worlds.”

“Go not to the Elves for counsel, for they will say both no and yes.”

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

“I dislike Allegory - the conscious and intentional allegory - yet any attempt to explain the purport of myth or fairytale must use allegorical language.”

“Many 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.”

“You have been chosen, and you must therefore use such strength and heart and wits as you have.”

“They say it is the first step that costs the effort. I do not find it so. I am sure I could write unlimited 'first chapters'. I have indeed written many.”

“It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.”

“Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.”