Quips & Quotes

Over the past 10 years, three times I have read Lord of the Rings and written lessons we can learn, chapter by chapter.  By now I have a good grasp of the lessons that repeat in the story and how one could apply those lessons to life.  Now I want to take a moment to highlight particular quotes that a community might often reference, if they took LotR as a religious/ethical guide.  I'll add some thoughts below each one.

"You are beset with dangers, Gimli son of Gloin, for you are dangerous yourself." - Gandalf

• The crossout is there to show the original, but in practice this would be replaced by the person you are speaking to.  This would be used as encouragement when somebody feels overwhelmed.  I would also add that one is threatened only when one is threatening - we ignore ants but not wasps.  If someone is taking you seriously, it is only proof you are someone worth taking seriously.

"Even Gollum may have something yet to do." - Frodo

• A reminder that all things have their place - a spin on "God works in mysterious ways."

‘I shan’t call it the end, till we’ve cleared up the mess, And that’ll take a lot of time and work." - Sam

• A reminder that defeating evil isn't all there is too it - we need to re-establish good.  This quote prepares us for the dull toil of the good life.

"If we all got angry together..." - Robin, one of the Shirriffs

• Again, the crossout is there to show the original, but in practice this would be replaced by some other emotion or action, though anger would be appropriate in a lot of places.  This quote happens during the Scouring of the Shire, and would be used when one feels some change that people are slowly accepting but that nobody likes.  It reminds the power of collective action.  It would also reinforce the importance of community.

"You won’t rescue Lotho, or the Shire, just by being shocked and sad." - Merry

• The reverse of the previous two quotes.  Feelings may drive us to action, but they are not enough.  Also see how this quote is about you, rather than we.  Collective action is the source of power.

"It would not stop with that!" - Galadriel

• I saved the best for last.  I've written pages on this quote and I believe I could write a whole book on it.  Galadriel says this after she is offered the Ring, and Sam tells her she would use its power to punish the bad people.  It's a reminder that power, once unleashed, is not easily bottled back up.  Whenever a sweeping proposal is made, this quote would be referred to in order to dampen the enthusiasm.  Power, whether revenge or justice or retribution or mercy or coercion or love must be kept on a tight leash to be used responsibly.

Well it's not like writing the Red Book!

• A little quip when something seems hard.  Perhaps something to break the ice at a tense moment in a meeting.

There are many more, maybe I'll add more and periodically repost this, but these are the ones that stuck out to me.

Well, until next time!