J.R.R. Tolkien

I am a Christian, and I believe in the power of good over evil.

Evil is not new. It is as old as the world itself.

I much prefer the words 'sub-creation' to 'creation' where humans are concerned.

I have been a linguist all my life, and I love languages.

The Lord of the Rings is of course a fundamentally religious and Catholic work; unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision.

I am not a fan of technology. I prefer the old ways.

I regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.

I love the trees more than I love the people.

All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost.

I have found that it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.

Fantasy is escapist, and that is its glory. If a man is in prison, he will escape if he can and go home. If he cannot escape, he will think and talk about escape. If he cannot do that, he will think and talk about other things, but they will not be prison-things.

May your beer be ample and your days be merry.

I am not a kind of 'vegetarian' who is opposed to the eating of meat per se. I just happen to like the taste of vegetables better.

The most improper things are always done in the most proper places.

I am a hobbit. I like my food, my comfort, and my peace, and I don't like adventures. Not that I'm against adventures, mind you. I just prefer them to be in books.

The world is not in your books and maps. It's out there.

It simply isn't an adventure worth telling if there aren't any dragons.

Where there's a will there's a way, or where there's a whip there's a way, as we say in the Shire.

Hobbits are an unobtrusive but very ancient people, more numerous formerly than they are today; for they love peace and quiet and good tilled earth: a well-ordered and well-farmed countryside was their favourite haunt.

There are no safe paths in this part of the world. Remember that you are in the Wild, and in the Wild there are many perils.