J. R. R. Tolkien Quotes

We have the wolf by the ears, and we can neither hold him, nor safely let him go. Justice is in one scale, and self-preservation in the other.

I escaped the Thunder, and fell into the Lightning.

While I see many hoof marks going in, I see none coming out. It is easier to get into the enemy's toils than out again.

What did I tell you, Mr. Pippin?' said Sam, sheathing his sword. 'Wolves won't get him. That was an eye-opener, and no mistake! Nearly singed the hair off my head!

A burnt dog dreads the fire.

It’s like having to make a choice: a blessing or a curse. The one thing you can’t do is choose neither.

Those who deny the science or choose excuses over action are playing with fire.

Liberty is to faction what air is to fire.

A spark could be enough to set them ablaze.

Great waves, and blaze with fire like them.In beauty, but do not condemn,The seamen who embark and fail,But only those who will not sail.

In such a strait the wisest may well be perplexed and the boldest staggered.

Everything that's born has to die, which means our lives are like skyscrapers. The smoke rises at different speeds, but they're all on fire, and we're all trapped.

Often think of the worst-case scenario, the "Eaten By Wolves" factor.

As a brave man goes into fire or flood or pestilence to save a human life, so a generous mind follows after truth and love, and is not frightened from the pursuit by danger or toil or obloquy.

Fire, if neglected, will soon gain strength.

My chauffer once told me that I would feel better in the morning, but when I woke up the two of us were still on a tiny island surrounded by man-eating crocodiles, and, as I'm sure you can understand, I didn't feel any better about it.

Play with me and you play with fire.

We've got a bad fire let's get out . . . We're burning up.

You are never freer than in that moment when you decide to expose yourself to sniper fire.

Flame is very near to smoke.

What happened?" he demanded. "I heard an explosion!" "Yeah.That was me. I set the boat alight." "What?" "I set fire to the boat." "But we're on the boat!" "I know.

I was taught that candles are like house cats - domesticated versions of something wild and dangerous. There's no way to know how much of that killer instinct lurks in the darkness. I used to think the house-burning paranoia was the result of some upper-middle-class fear regarding the potential destruction of a half-million-dollar Westchester house the size of a matchbox. But then I realized the fear stemmed from something far less complex: we're not used to fire. Candles are a staple of the Judaic existence and, like many suburban residents before us, we're pretty bad Jews.

in a way it doesn't matter whether you open doors or close them, you still end up in a box.

I daren't come and drink," said Jill. Then you will die of thirst," said the Lion. Oh dear!" said Jill, coming another step nearer."I suppose I must go and look for another stream then." There is no other stream," said the Lion.

A burnt child dreads the fire.