Top 10 Lord of the Rings Quotes for When You Need Inspiration

THE The Lord of the Rings The films have transcended generations, and for good reason. No matter who watches them, Peter Jackson's adaptation of JRR Tolkien's classic books has something for everyone. For many, the fantasy series is among the most inspiring stories ever told.

From the wise words of the wizard Gandalf to the brave hope of a Hobbit, there are countless quotable phrases to The Lord of the Rings AND The Hobbit which will provide viewers with the inspiration they need to get through the day.

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

Gandalf the Grey, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

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

When Bilbo Baggins first meets Gandalf the Grey, he is initially reluctant to join him on his next adventure to the Lonely Mountain. The Hobbit would much rather stay at home in a life of comfort and pleasure. Gandalf takes the opportunity to remind Bilbo that the world is not in his books, but outside his door.

This moment between Gandalf and Bilbo reminds viewers that life can be both dangerous and exciting. It’s certainly risky to walk out the door, but that’s the way life is lived. Some people can just shut themselves away and be perfectly content, not knowing all the adventures that await them in the big, wide world.

9 “Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.”

Lady Galadriel, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.

After their perilous journey through the Mines of Moria, the Elven Lady Galadriel meets the Fellowship of the Ring in the kingdom of Lórien. She offers each of them gifts, and in doing so, motivation to continue on with the rest of their quest. Galadriel also confirms to Frodo that even the smallest person can make a huge difference.

In a big world, a person can often feel insignificant and small. But, The Lord of the Rings reminds viewers that size and importance are not parameters for potential. One person can change the future of the world itself, for better or for worse. It is up to each person to decide what to choose.

8 “Not all who wander are lost.”

The Strider Enigma

Not all that glitters is gold, not all who wander are lost.

The original The Lord of the Rings novels include a riddle written by Bilbo Baggins about the Ranger known as Strider, who is later revealed to be Aragorn, heir to the throne of Gondor. Among other memorable lines, Bilbo's poem posits that “not all who wander are lost.”

There are many times in life when one feels as if one is wandering aimlessly. JRR Tolkien did not see this as a bad thing. Wandering does not necessarily mean that one is lost, but rather that one is exploring and admiring the beauty of the world before one is too old to do so.

7 “I've found that it's the little things. The everyday actions of ordinary people that keep the darkness at bay.”

Gandalf the Grey, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Some believe that only great power can keep evil at bay. But that is not what I have discovered. I have discovered that it is the little things. The everyday actions of ordinary people that keep the darkness at bay.

Gandalf is often questioned by his compatriots in the Hobbits trilogy, who wonder why he is wasting his time on Thorin's Company's mission and spending so much effort bringing the Hobbit Bilbo Baggins along. During a meeting with Galadriel, Elrond, and Saruman the White, Gandalf admits that he believes the world needs an ordinary person to save it, not a great hero or a mighty weapon.

Ultimately, Gandalf is right. The actions of ordinary people like Bilbo, Frodo, and Sam are exactly what saves Middle-earth. Likewise, the actions of ordinary people can make a major difference in the real world, even if they are just encouraging someone else. For Gandalf, encouragement was one of the strongest tools anyone could wield.

6 “It's the work that's never started because it takes the longest to complete.”

Samwise Gamgee, The Fellowship of the Ring

It is the work that is never started because it takes longer to complete.

While the phrase doesn't appear in the film adaptation, Samwise Gamgee does have some words of wisdom when it comes to efficiency and getting the job done. In Tolkien The Fellowship of the RingSam astutely points out that the jobs that never get started are the ones that take the longest to complete.

Sam is a really inspiring character in The Lord of the Rings for many reasons, including his ability to stick to the goal and never deviate from his purpose. It can often be so difficult to find the energy to begin an important task, but Sam says that delaying the inevitable is a fruitless endeavor.

5 “Become who you were born to be.”

Elrond, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Put the Ranger aside. Become who you were born to be.

Aragorn had a complicated relationship with the half-elf lord of Rivendell Elrond, but the two eventually found common ground in The Return of the King. During the events of the film, Elrond rides to meet Aragorn before he marches to Gondor. There, he gives him the reforged sword of Elendil and encourages him to finally become who he was born to be.

Aragorn has spent much of his life wondering if he should ever have followed his destiny and become king of Gondor. Likewise, many people spend their lives avoiding what they were always meant to be. Elrond removes such doubts, encouraging everyone to take up the mantle they have been given and become what they were meant to be all along.

4 “There is good in this world… and it's worth fighting for!”

Samwise Gamgee, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

There is good in this world, Mr. Frodo… and it is worth fighting for.

Like the story of The Lord of the Rings progresses, Middle-earth becomes increasingly dark in the shadow of Sauron. By the end of The Two TowersThings seem almost hopeless, especially for Frodo Baggins. However, his dear friend Sam encourages him with a speech, which ends by proclaiming that there is still good in the world, and that it must be protected.

In times of greatest darkness, it is most important to look to the light, find what is good, and fight for it with all your might. It is this mindset that gave the Hobbits the strength to travel to Mordor and save Middle Earth. It is this mindset that will give many people the strength to do great things, even in the face of great adversity.

3 “There is always hope.”

Aragorn, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

For the people of Rohan, things seemed hopeless as the War of the Ring dragged on. Forced to abandon their homes and take refuge in Helm's Deep, it seemed only a matter of time before Sauron's forces killed them all. As they prepared for battle, a young boy expressed his concern to Aragorn, who grabbed him by the shoulder and proclaimed that there was always hope.

This simple sentence is one of Aragorn's best quotes in The Lord of the Rings. It may sound flowery and perhaps overly optimistic, but it is true nonetheless. Even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, hope persists, if one is willing to look for it. Hope can carry one through a world of danger and peril, as it did the warriors of Rohan.

2 “I can't carry it for you… But I can carry you!”

Samwise Gamgee, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

I can't carry it for you… but I can carry you!

As Sam and Frodo climbed the steep terrain of Mount Doom, the Ring grew heavier on Frodo's neck. Eventually, he collapsed and his mission seemingly failed. However, Sam refused to let his friend fail and, in a great show of strength and fortitude, declared that he would carry Frodo the rest of the way.

Everyone would do well to find (and be) a friend like Samwise Gamgee. Someone like Sam recognizes that he cannot carry his friends' burdens for them; it is impossible to do so. However, in times of danger and trouble, a good friend can carry their companion as long as they need, even carrying them through the fires of ruin.

1 “All we have to decide is what to do with the time we're given.”

Gandalf the Grey, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

So do all who live to see these times. But it is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time we are given.

At the beginning of his adventure, Frodo Baggins has a heart to heart with the wise wizard Gandalf. Burdened by the weight of the Ring, he admits that he wishes it had never come to him and that his days had not been so dark. Gandalf knowingly confirms that anyone living in dark times wishes they had not. What really matters, the wizard says, is not the time in which one lives, but rather what one does with the time given to oneself.

These wise words serve as motivation for all people, no matter when they live or what circumstances they find themselves in. The environment around them does not matter nearly as much as one's actions. Those who live in good times must use their blessings wisely and in such a way as to build an even better world. Those who live in dark times must find a way to see the light. These words carried Frodo through the perilous adventure that preceded him and can carry many others through whatever tribulations may await them.