J. R. R. Tolkien on Memorial Day
1892–1973
← All quotes by J. R. R. Tolkien
18 quotes
Wars are not favourable to delicate pleasures.
"Your fingers would remember their old strength better, if they grasped a sword-hilt."
"Return with what speed you may, and let our swords hereafter shine together!"
"Come!" said Aragorn. "This is the hour when we draw swords together!"
They were armed with short broad-bladed swords, not with the curved scimitars usual with Orcs.
The Two Towers (1954)
The drawing of the scimitars of the Southrons was like a glitter of stars.
Some of the swords were crooked: orc-scimitars with blackened blades.
"Mayhap the Sword-that-was-Broken may still stem the tide – if the hand that wields it has inherited not an heirloom only, but the sinews of the Kings of Men."
Boromir had a long sword, in fashion like Andúril but of less lineage.
From out of the shadow a red sword leaped flaming.
Glamdring glittered white in answer.
"What other fairer way would you desire?" said Aragorn.
"A plain road, though it led through a hedge of swords," said Boromir.
"There is work for the Sword to do."
"Swords are no more use here. Go!"
Gandalf bore his staff, but girt at his side was the elven-sword Glamdring, the mate of Orcrist that lay now upon the breast of Thorin under the Lonely Mountain.
If you really come down to any large story that interests people – holds the attention for a considerable time ... human stories are practically always about one thing, aren't they? Death. The inevitability of death.
Tolkien in Oxford (1968)
War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend.
No gleam came from the blades of Sting or of Glamdring; and that was some comfort, for being the work of Elvish smiths in the Elder Days these swords shone with a cold light, if any Orcs were near at hand.
"Gil-galad died, and Elendil fell, and Narsil broke beneath him; but Sauron himself was overthrown, and Isildur cut the Ring from his hand with the hilt-shard of his father’s sword, and took it for his own."