J.R.R. Tolkien Epic Reads discussion

So this thread is for quotes from all the books. Please share that which moves you or you find powerful, something beautiful and amazing, quotes that demonstrate Tolkiens fine writing :)

From The Book of Lost Tales 1: (during the singing of the Ainur)

Then said Iluvatar: "Mighty are the Ainur, and glorious, and among them is Melko the most powerful in knowledge; but that he may know, and all the Ainur, that I am Iluvatar, those things that ye have sung and played, lo! I have caused to be — not in the musics that ye make in the heavenly regions, as a joy to me and a play unto yourselves, alone, but rather to have shape and reality even as have ye Ainur, whom I have made to share in the reality of Iluvatar myself. Maybe I shall love these things that come of my song even as I love the Ainur who are of my thought, and maybe more. Thou Melko shalt see that no theme can be played save it come in the end of Iluvatar's self, nor can any alter the music in Iluvatar's despite. He that attempts this finds himself in the end but aiding me in devising a thing of still greater grandeur and more complex wonder: — for lo! through Melko have terror as fire, and sorrow like dark waters, wrath like thunder, and evil as far from my light as the depths of the uttermost of the dark places, come into the design that I laid before you. Through him has pain and misery been made in the clash of overwhelming musics; and with confusion of sound have cruelty, and ravening, and darkness, loathly mire and all putrescence of thought or thing, foul mists and violent flame, cold without mercy, been born, and death without hope. Yet is this through him and not by him; and he shall see, and ye all likewise, and even shall those beings, who must now dwell among his evil and endure through Melko misery and sorrow, terror and wickedness, declare in the end that it reboundeth only to my great glory, and doth but make the theme more worth the hearing, Life more worth the living, and the World so much the more wonderful and marvellous, that of all the deeds of Iluvatar it shall be called his mightiest and his loveliest."

This is a good idea! Thanks for making the thread, Josh.

To be honest, I don't have any quote in my mind right now. Not because I don't think it's not memorable or I dislike it, far from it, but because I'm more pay attention into the story and the characters and place names. And since I read TS in my own language (and a little bit in English too), I'm more pay attention to how it is translated to Indonesian or whether it's suitable or have similar tone with the original language.

I think that's why I don't remember those beautiful and powerful quotes. I know which one I love, though. I'll post here but have look the book up first :)

Gosh, there are so many passages I've loved in TS ...

That's a wonderful quote, and true even in this world though unexpected.

Yep, Kushal, it's meaning is beautiful, especially, for me, Many are the strange chances of this world ...

Joshua, what is it you love about the quote you posted? Just curious what it means to you.

The meaning to me? Oh goodness, I mean it's just so packed with power and meaning in itself I don't even know where to begin.

I think for me the beginning is the power of the words coming from Illuvatar. I mean here is this one all powerful and almighty source of all things. He is Eru, The One, The Source. And his words "no theme can be played save it come in the end of Iluvatar's self, nor can any alter the music in Iluvatar's despite. He that attempts this finds himself in the end but aiding me in devising a thing of still greater grandeur and more complex wonder" and as well all will "declare in the end that it reboundeth only to my great glory."

I mean those two lines alone are full of confidence and might. The surety that He, Illuvatar is the one and only, that all reboundeth to HIS glory, whether it be sorrow or joy. The magnitude of his words truly show his great being and worth as far beyond any of us can imagine. The fear we should have before Him, we should be on our knees.

For me that's where I start, talk about some real strength in those words.

As well I love the imagery used; " terror as fire, and sorrow like dark waters, wrath like thunder, and evil as far from my light as the depths of the uttermost of the dark places." Also, "pain and misery been made in the clash of overwhelming musics; and with confusion of sound have cruelty, and ravening, and darkness, loathly mire and all putrescence of thought or thing, foul mists and violent flame, cold without mercy, been born, and death without hope." What really stands out to me is the imagery and the meaning Tolkien pulled from for this. What I mean by that is the "clash of overwhelming musics." All eastern religions have this huge focus on music and harmony and being in sync both outwardly and inwardly. At the same time, whether eastern or western, all peoples must agree that music touches the soul. That's one of those timeless truths. When you study cultures around the world, one of the most significant defining factors is their music. Music is undoubtedly an unbelievable form of expression and meaning for all peoples. And I absolutely agree it touches the soul.

So my point with that is how Tolkien worked those beliefs into the book and brought beautiful imagery and deep meaning into it, whether it be joyful or terrible.

Joshua wrote: "So my point with that is how Tolkien worked those beliefs into the book and brought beautiful imagery and deep meaning into it, whether it be joyful or terrible. ..."

I think that's an excellent point. I do love how he separates word and music here. I think that's really cool. I'm not a big fan of Illuvator as the be all end all, i.e. I've been into studying quantum mechanics and so I don't believe there is one creator who ... um ... controls/manifests/directs everything.

I think this is where we got in the discussion earlier in the book how the dwarves, or was it men?, were put to sleep until a later age because Illuvator didn't "create" them. So while I love Tolkien's imagery as well, I don't really swoon over a one be all end all god.

BUT that's what makes these discussions rich, we all bring our own perspectives and fiction is powerful because/when it speaks to us individually.

The road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.


This is my favorite poem from J.R.R. Tolkien.

I’ve always loved that too Missy. It makes me want to grab my pack and follow it to new places