“But in the end it’s only a passing thing, this shadow; even darkness must pass.”

It is perilous to study too deeply the arts of the Enemy, for good or for ill.

I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend.

It is not despair, for despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt. We do not.

I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.

I come from under the hill, and under the hills and over the hills my paths led. And through the air, I am he that walks unseen.

There are no safe paths in this part of the world. Remember you are over the Edge of the Wild now, and in for all sorts of fun wherever you go.

Oft hope is born when all is forlorn.

Fair speech may hide a foul heart.

Never laugh at live dragons.

The world is full enough of hurts and mischances without wars to multiply them.

I feel thin, sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread.

I am the friend of bears and the guest of eagles. I am Ringwinner and Luckwearer; and I am Barrel-rider.

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.

Not all those who wander are lost.

False hopes are more dangerous than fears.

I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it’s very difficult to find anyone.’

Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.

From my childhood I had been intended for the clergy. This prospect hung like a dark cloud on my mind.

Darkness is dawn not yet born.

When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.

I love you as certain dark things are to be loved, in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

When I write, I write about my surroundings. Sometimes it’s light, and sometimes it gets very dark.

Sometimes when I am alone in my room in the dark, I practice smiling to myself. I do this to be kind to myself, to take good care of myself, to love myself. I know that if I cannot take care of myself, I cannot take care of anyone else.

Everyone is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody.