J. R. R. Tolkien Quotes & Sayings (Page 2)

“It's the job that's never started as takes longest to finish.”

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

“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.”

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

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

“A safe fairyland is untrue to all worlds.”

“Short cuts make long delays.”

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

“Middle English is an exciting field - almost uncharted, I begin to think, because as soon as one turns detailed personal attention on to any little corner of it, the received notions and ideas seem to crumple up and fall to pieces - as far as language goes, at any rate.”

“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.”