J. R. R. Tolkien (1892–1973,) fully John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, was a British philologist, scholar, and author, whose fantasy adventures, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, became international best-sellers.
Born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, Tolkien was educated at King Edward VI School, Birmingham, and at Merton College, Oxford. He became a professor of Anglo-Saxon at Merton (1925–45,) and of English Language and Literature (1945–59.) His scholarly publications include an edition of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (1925) and studies on Geoffrey Chaucer (1934) and Tom Shippey’s Beowulf (1937.)
Tolkien’s interest in language and saga, as well as his fascination for the land of Faerie, stimulated him to write tales of a world of his creation—peopled by strange beings with their own carefully formed language and mythology. These include The Hobbit (1937,) an enthralling tale of the perilous journey of Bilbo Baggins to retrieve treasures from the sly dragon Smaug, and the more complex sequel, The Lord of the Rings (3 vols., 1954–55,) in which Bilbo’s nephew, Frodo, sets out to terminate a powerful but dangerous ring in Mordor, the land of darkness and evil.
Later works include The Adventure of Tom Bombadil (1962,) Smith of Wootton Major (1967,) and Smith of Wootton Major (1977.)
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in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.
—J. R. R. Tolkien
The road must be trod, but it will be very hard. And neither strength nor wisdom will carry us far upon it. This quest may be attempted by the weak with as much hope as the strong. Yet such is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere.
—J. R. R. Tolkien
I wish life was not so short, he thought. languages take such a time, and so do all the things one wants to know about.
—J. R. R. Tolkien
Topics: Language
Not all who wander are lost.
—J. R. R. Tolkien
Topics: Goals
Nearly all marriages, even happy ones, are mistakes: in the sense that almost certainly (in a more perfect world, or even with a little more care in this very imperfect one) both partners might be found more suitable mates. But the real soul-mate is the one you are actually married to.
—J. R. R. Tolkien
Topics: Marriage
It’s the job that’s never started takes longest to finish.
—J. R. R. Tolkien
Topics: Procrastination, Jobs
If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.
—J. R. R. Tolkien
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 judgment. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.
—J. R. R. Tolkien
Topics: Justice
The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater.
—J. R. R. Tolkien
Topics: Beauty
All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost.
—J. R. R. Tolkien
Topics: Travel, Originality
Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an acre of barren land; long heath, broth furze, any thing.
—J. R. R. Tolkien
Well, here at last, dear friends, on the shores of the Sea comes the end of our fellowship in Middle-earth. Go in peace! I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.
—J. R. R. Tolkien
Where did you go to, if I may ask? said Thorin to Gandalf as they rode along. “To look ahead,” said he. “And what brought you back in the nick of time?” “Looking behind,” said he.
—J. R. R. Tolkien
Topics: Foresight
Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.
—J. R. R. Tolkien
Topics: Faith, Last Words
It is useless to meet revenge with revenge. It will heal nothing.
—J. R. R. Tolkien
Topics: Forgiveness
Then the enchantment became more dreamlike, until he felt that an endless river of swelling gold and silver was flowing over him, too multitudinous for its pattern to be comprehended; it became part of the throbbing air about him, and it drenched and drowned him. Swiftly he sank under its shining weight into a deep realm of sleep.
—J. R. R. Tolkien
Farewell we call to hearth and hall! Though wind may blow and rain may fall. We must away ere the break of day. Far over wood and mountain tall.
—J. R. R. Tolkien
It’s wisdom to recognize necessity, when all other courses have been weighed, though as folly it may appear to those who cling to false hope.
—J. R. R. Tolkien
Some who have read the book, or at any rate have reviewed it, have found it boring, absurd, or contemptible; and I have no cause to complain, since I have similar opinions of their works, or of the kinds of writing that they evidently prefer.
—J. R. R. Tolkien
Topics: Authors & Writing
Still round the corner there may wait,
A new road or a secret gate.
—J. R. R. Tolkien
Topics: Growth
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