David Rowe > Quotes

“Such is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere.”
― David Rowe, The Proverbs of Middle-earth

“The next step is the only step on which one should put their weight.”
― David Rowe, The Proverbs of Middle-Earth

“In all the realms of Middle-earth, Gondor is still clearly a special case. The problem with special cases is that when there is no greater good than self-preservation, all policies and tactics, however apparently immoral, become justifiable options.”
― David Rowe, The Proverbs of Middle-earth

“Gimli’s story is different. Beginning from a similarly prideful starting point, the process of change is long, slow, and far from smooth. But it is a path walked with courage. From Dwarf-only upringing to cross-cultural bridge-builder, and from obstinate and stubborn to humbly teachable, his is a journey that is completely alien to his people. Seen in this light, engaging and honouring the distrusted and unknown is in itself an act of courage, and undergoing an existential journey of self-discovery requires strength of character. Gimli never becomes less a dwarf—strength and courage are still at the heart of all he does—but he reapplies those traits in a wiser way.”
― David Rowe, The Proverbs of Middle-earth

“Curb your pride and your greed, or you will fall at the end of whatever path you take, though your hands be full of gold.”
― David Rowe, The Proverbs of Middle-earth

“Forests may grow. Woods may spread. But not Ents.”
― David Rowe, The Proverbs of Middle-earth

“It is useless to meet revenge with revenge: it will heal nothing.”
― David Rowe, The Proverbs of Middle-earth

“nolo episcopari—‘I do not want to be a bishop’—is the only true qualification for becoming one.(167”
― David Rowe, The Proverbs of Middle-earth

“Whilst providing the history books with no great figures or events, Bree outlasts the kingdoms of Númenor and Arnor combined. The Breelanders survive the ravages of the ages, living to tell the tale—and provide a place for others to tell theirs—simply through keeping their heads down and avoiding trouble. This is their wisdom.”
― David Rowe, The Proverbs of Middle-earth

“That is the highest function of fantasy: truth, insight, understanding. Those who dislike Tolkien always dislike the genre itself, scorning its ‘escapism.’ They forget that Fantasy does not only help us escape from circumstances, but also from falsehoods, self-deceptions, and narrowness of vision; from the familiarity that breeds not only contempt but also boredom with ourselves and each other. It helps us to escape into wisdom.”
― David Rowe, The Proverbs of Middle-earth

“In the words of Sophocles, wisdom ‘outweighs any wealth,’ and in order to share that wealth—to avoid the need for every individual in every generation to relearn the same lessons from scratch—a method or means to preserve and communicate is required.”
― David Rowe, The Proverbs of Middle-earth