Most 'powerful' lines of Ea....

[The Barrow-Wight]

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Let's share some of the lines or passages that we consider 'powerful'...meaning sad, or strong, or meaningful or whatever. I'll start...

This is from the Valaquenta and is the last part of the description of Sauron.

... In all the deeds of Melkor the Morgoth upon Arda, in his vast works and in the deceits of his cunning, Sauron had a part, and was only less evil than his master in that for long he served another and not himself. But in after years he rose like a shadow of Morgoth and a ghost of his malice, and walked behind him on the same ruinous path down into the Void.

That last sentence is awesome!!!

The Barrow-Wight (RKittle)
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[Stronghold]

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Re: Most 'powerful' lines of Ea....

Well this one I made up but I do believe it goes well with the topic. It is also in my signature.
&quot;.....You may beat upon the walls of Minas Tirith yet ye shall not conquer them.....&quot;
Hope you all liked it. Lets see some more up here! I have a couple but I will wait a bit.
Always,
Thorin

<p align= "center"><font face= "verdana" size= "2" color= "#FF8000">You may beat on the walls of Minas Tirith yet ye shall not conquer them.
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</p></p>

[Oliphaunt]

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Re: Most 'powerful' lines of Ea....

<blockquote>Quote:<hr> &quot;And far away, as Frodo put on the Ring and claimed it for his own, even in Samath Naur, the very heart of of his Realm, the Power in Barad-Dûr was shaken, and the Tower trembled from its foundations to its proud and bitter crown. The Dark Lord was suddenly aware of of him, and his Eye piercing all shadows looked across the plain to the door that he had made; and the magnitude of his own folly was revealed to him in a blinding flash, and all the devices of his enemies were at last laid bare. Then his wrath blazed in consuming flame, but his fear rose like a vast black smoke to choke him. For now he knew his deadly peril and the thread upon wich his doom now hung.&quot;<hr></blockquote><blockquote>Quote:<hr> &quot;From all his policies and webs of fear and treachery, from all his stratagems and wars his mind shook free; and throughout his realm a tremor ran, his slaves quailed, and his armies halted, and his captains suddenly steerless, bereft of will, wavered and dispaired. For they were now forgotten. The whole mind and purpose of the Power they weilded them was now bent with overwhelming force upon the mountains. At his summons, wheeling with a rendering cry, in a last desperate race there flew, faster than the winds, the Nâzgul, the Ringwraiths, and with a storm of wings they hurled southwards to mount doom&quot;<hr></blockquote>


<marquee>'Were there any oliphaunts?' asked Sam, forgetting his fear in his eagerness for news of strange places. 'No, no oliphaunts. What are Oliphaunts' said Gollum.</marquee></p>

[The Barrow-Wight]

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Re: Most 'powerful' lines of Ea....

Excellent, Mumak! Those are definitely the culminating lines of Sauron and go hand-in-hand with the line I gave. Those two passages are so great!

The Barrow-Wight (RKittle)
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[lindil]

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Re: Most 'powerful' lines of Ea....

like sam I have always had a weakness for elves.
Pippin afterwards recalled little either of food or drink,
for his mind was filled with the light upon the elf-faces, and the sound of voices so various and so beautiful that he felt in a waking dream.


Sam never could describe in words, nor picture clearly to himself,
what he felt or thought that night, though it remained in his memory as one of the cheif events of his life...it was the singing that went to my heart, if you know what i mean.

Be of good hope!...In the morning we shall have gone ; but we will send our messages through the lands.
the Wandering companies shall know of your journey ,
and those that have power for good shall be on the watch.
I name you elf-friend; and may the stars shine upon the end of your road! Seldom have we had delight from such strangers and it is fair to hear words of the Ancient Speech from the lips of other wanderers in the world.

</p>

[Taimar]

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Re: Most 'powerful' lines of Ea....

In my opinion, the most interesting character in Tolkien`s work is Feanor. Below is one of my favourite passages:

`But Feanor spoke then, and cried bitterly:`For the less even as for the greater there is some deed that he may accomplish but once only; and in that deed his heart shall rest. It may be that I can unlock my jewels, but never again shall I make their like; and if I must break them, I shall break my heart, and I shall be slain; first of all the Eldar in Aman.`
`Not the first,` said Mandos, but they did not understand his word; and again there was silence, while Feanor brooded in the dark. It seemed to him that he was beset in a ring of enemies, and the words of Melkor returned to him, saying that the Silmarils were not safe, if the Valar would possess them. `And is he not Vala as are they,` said his thought, `and does he not understand their hearts? Yea, a thief shall reveal thieves!` Then he cried aloud:`This thing I will not do of free will. But if the Valar will constrain me, then I shall know that Melkor is indeed of their kindred.`


Look into the http://www.fortunecity.co.uk/library/classiccourt/77/Mirror of Desire.</a> </p>

[The Barrow-Wight]

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Re: Most 'powerful' lines of Ea....

More great lines, lindil and Taimar. That &quot;Not the first&quot; line is actually what inspired me to start this Topic in the first place (see 'Funniest Lines in Middle-Earth' topic).

The Barrow-Wight (RKittle)
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[Oliphaunt]

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Re: Most 'powerful' lines of Ea....

I don't get that Mandos &quot;not the first&quot; line. What does he mean and whats so funny/morbid about it?

<marquee>'Were there any oliphaunts?' asked Sam, forgetting his fear in his eagerness for news of strange places. 'No, no oliphaunts. What are Oliphaunts' said Gollum.</marquee></p>

[Mithadan]

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Re: Most 'powerful' lines of Ea....

&quot;And it was told by the Vanyar who held vigil with the Valar that when the messengers declared to Manwe the answers of Feanor to his heralds, Manwe wept and bowed his head. But at that last word of Feanor: that at the least the Noldor should do deeds to live in song for ever, he raised his head, as one that hears a voice far off, and he said: 'so shall it be! Dear-bought those songs shall be accounted, and yet be well-bought. For the price could be no other. Thus even as Eru spoke to us shall beauty not before conceived be brought into Ea, and evil yet be good to have been.'

But Mandos said: 'And yet remain evil. To me shall Feanor come soon.'&quot; (shudder)

</p>

[The Barrow-Wight]

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Re: Most 'powerful' lines of Ea....

Oliphaunt, the line 'not the first' was not funny. I was just being weird over in the 'funniest line' topic. I ended my statement by saying it was actually morbid.

Feanor was going on about escaping Valinor and something about that if they didn't allow him then he would be the first to die by the sword in Aman.

But unbeknownst to the Feanor, Melkor had already killed his father, and thus Feanor would be 'Not the first' to be slain.

That's why Mandos said this short but dark line.

Read the entire section of The Darkening of Valinor...it's got a lot of great parts.

The Barrow-Wight (RKittle)
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[Oliphaunt]

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Re: Most 'powerful' lines of Ea....

Yeah, I get it now. I wonder if Feanor had any idea what he was talking about: I sure didn't. I reread the first part of Sil, but now I'm reading &quot;The Hobbit&quot;.
<blockquote>Quote:<hr> &quot;He raised his hand, and spoke in a clear cold voice. 'Saruman, your staff is broken.' There was a crack, and the staff split asunder in Saruman's hand, and the head fell at Gandalf's feet.&quot;<hr></blockquote>

<marquee>'Were there any oliphaunts?' asked Sam, forgetting his fear in his eagerness for news of strange places. 'No, no oliphaunts. What are Oliphaunts' said Gollum.</marquee></p>

[galpsi]

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Re: Most 'powerful' lines of Ea....

Maybe it's a very obvious passage, but I have always been most moved by the very simple efforts of Sam to retain hope to the bitter end ... and beyond. To make his master's work possible. When it is done, Sam continued to hope and to speak, &quot;to keep fear away until the very last.&quot;

<blockquote>Quote:<hr> &quot;What a tale we have been in, Mr. Frodo, haven't we? I wish I could hear it told! Do you think they'll say: Now comes the story of Nine-fingered Frodo and the Ring of Doom? And then everyone will hush, like we did, when in Rivendell they told us the tale of Beren One-hand and the Great Jewel. I wish I could hear it! And I wonder how it will go on after our part.&quot;

... two small dark figures, forlorn, hand in hand upon a little hill, while the world shook under them, and gasped, and rivers of fire drew near. And even as he espied them and came swooping down, he saw them fall, worn out, or choked with fumes and heat, or stricken down by despair at last, hiding their eyes from death.<hr></blockquote>

</p>Edited by <A HREF=http://www.barrowdowns.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_profile&u=00000201>galpsi</A> at: 7/19/00 2:43:37 pm

[The Barrow-Wight]

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Re: Most 'powerful' lines of Ea....

Yes! Both Oliphaunt and Galpsi have found excellent lines from the story. There are so many - the book is one giant 'excellent line'...

Galpsi, that part at the end on Mt Doom is also a favorite of mine (from the many)...

The Barrow-Wight (RKittle)
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[Samwisethehobbit]

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Powerful lines

While we're on the subject of powerful lines, I think that one line in the Sil. when Fingolfin summoned Morgoth to single combat is cool (I don't have it in front of me, so I'll paraphrase): Fingolfin challenged him to single combat, and it says &quot;And Morgoth came.&quot;
I think that is really powerful.

</p>

[Sharkû]

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Re: Powerful lines

&quot;Thus it was in Gondolin; and amid all the bliss of that realm, while its glory lasted, a dark seed of evil was sown.&quot;

Or: &quot;But now a cry went up, passing up the wind from the south (...) Then when Fingon heard afar the great trumpet of Turgon his brother, the shadow passed and his heart uplifted, and he shouted aloud: ´Utúlie´n aure! Aiya Eldalie ar Atanári, utúlie´n aure!&quot;

Or, of course: &quot;Hail Gurthang! No lord or loyalty dost thou not know, save the hand that wieldeth thee. From no blood wilt thou shrink. Wilt thou therefore take Túrin Turambar, wilt thou slay me swiftly?&quot;



</p>

[lindil]

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Re: Powerful lines

to me the suicide of turin is the saddest part of the entire writings of tolkien.
I recently read the wanderings of hurin -the last[?] addition to that unhappy tale of extreme perseverance gone amok.


earlier he meets his wife at the stone - marking the death of their children .


...but Hurin did not look at the stone , for he knew what was written there, and his eyes had seen that he was not alone. Sitting inthe shadow of the stone was a figure bent over its knees. Some homeless wanderer broken with age it seemed , too wayworn to heed his coming; but its rags were the remnants of woman's garb. At length as Hurin stood there silent she cast back her tattered hood and lifted up her face slowly, haggard and hungry as a long hunted wolf. Grey she was, sharp-nosed with broken teeth, and with a lean hand she clawed at the cloak upon her breast. But suddenly her eyes looked into his and he knew her; for though they were wild now and full of fear, a light still gleamed in them hard to endure: the elven-light that long ago had earned her name, Edelwen, proudest of mortal women in the days of old.
'Edelwen! Edelwen!' Hurin cried; and she rose and stumbled forward, and he caught her in his arms. 'You come at last,' she said. 'I have waited too long.' 'It was a dark road. I have come as I could,' he answered.
'But you are late,' she ssaid'too late. They are lost.'
'I know , ' he said 'But thou art not.'

'Almost,' she said'I am spent utterly. I shall go with the sun. They are lost.' She clutched at his cloak. 'Little time is left, ' she said . 'If you know , tell me ! HOw did she find him?' But Hurin did not answer, and he sat beside the stone with Morwen in his arms;and they did not speak again. The sun went down and Morwen sighed and claspedhis hand andwas still; and Hurin knew she had died.
...'She was not conquered' he saidand he closed her eyes...

</p>

[dunedain lady]

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<img src="http://www.barrowdowns.com/images/posticons/onering.jpg" align=absmiddle> Re: Powerful lines

Everyone's quotes are really great. I especially like the Frodo-Sam dialogue on Mount Doom. One of my favorite lines is where they remove the blindfolds in Lothlorien and Sam (I think) says &quot;I feel as if I were inside a song&quot; Another line I like is where it says &quot;he shivered, for it came suddenly to him that it was the face of one without hope who goes in search of death&quot; or &quot;it seemed to me that I saw a white flower standing straight and proud, shapely as a lily, and yet knew it was hard, as if wrought by elf-wrights out of steel. Or was it, maybe, a frost that had turned its sap to ice, and so it stood, bitter-sweet, still fair to see, but stricken, soon to fall and die?&quot;

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all who wander are lost,
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not touched by the frost.</p>

[dogtrot]

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<img src="http://www.barrowdowns.com/images/posticons/onering.jpg" align=absmiddle> Re: Here's one we all know

A sword rang as it was drawn. &quot;Do what you will; but I will hinder it, if I may.&quot; &quot;Hinder me? Thou fool. No living man may hinder me!&quot; It seemed that Dernhelm laughed, and the clear voice was like the ring of steel. &quot;But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Eowyn I am, Eomund's daughter. You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.&quot;

Now you just know he's thinkin',&quot; a woman, I never thought about that.&quot;And then comes the doubt.Everytime I read the battle of the Pellenor Fields and come to that part I get goosebumps.


</p>

[Balin999]

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<img src="http://www.barrowdowns.com/images/posticons/onering.jpg" align=absmiddle> powerful lines

one of the lines i found most moving was this one:


Then Pippin stabbed upwards, and the written blade of Westernesse pierced through the hide and went deep into the vitals of the troll, and his black blood came gushing out. He toppled forward and came crashing down like a falling rock, burying those beneath him. Blackness and stench and crushing pain came upon Pippin, and his mind fell away into a great darkness.
'So it ends as I guessed it would,' his thought said, even as it fluttered away; and it laughed a little within him ere it fled, almost gay it seemed to be casting off at last all doubt and care and fear. And then even as it winged away into forgetfulness it heard voices, and they seemed to be crying in some forgotten world far above:
'The Eagles are coming! The Eagles are coming!'
For one moment more Pippin's thought hovered. 'Bilbo!' it said. 'But no! That came in his tale, long long ago. This is my tale, and it is ended now. Good-bye!'
And his thought fled far away and his eyes saw no more.


i really thought pippin was dead when i had read this. very sad scene.

</p>

[lindil]

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on Elves


&quot;InBeleriand King Thingol whose power is at rest,whose joy is as an air that they breathe all their days,whose thought flows in a tide untroubled from the heights to the deeps&quot;.

I just found this today , having missed it for 20+ years in the Silmarillion!
I thought it was worth digging up this buried thread to give it some light.

'The dwindling Men of the West would often sit up late into the night, and awaken early before dawn- exchanging lore and wisdom such as they possessed , so that they should not fall back into the mean and low estate of those , who never knew or more sadly still, had indeed rebelled against the Light.' Lindil is often found on posting on the Silmarillion Canon Forum at the Barrowdowns discussion board. </p>

[Orald]

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Re: on Elves

This is one of my favorite quotes, I don't know why, it just is. It is from Silm. Of the Sun and the Moon and the Hiding of Valinor.

Manwe's answer to his heralds after Feanor refused to return to Valinor and receive judgement.

&quot;So shall it be! Dear-bought those songs shall be accounted, and yet shall be well-brought. For the price could be no other. Thus even as Eru spoke to us shall beauty not before conceived be brought into Ea, and evil yet be good to have been.&quot;
But Mandos said: &quot;And yet remain evil. To me shall Feanor come soon.&quot;

</p>

[lindil]

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congrats shade !

That Mandos has a way with words.



Lindil

</p>

[Orald]

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Re: congrats shade !

And so do you.

</p>

[lindil]

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the voice of Mandos

I can almost hear James Earl Jones uttering Mandos' laconic lines of existential woe.

It never ceases to amaze me how many 'hats ' JRRT put on to write these things. If I wasn't a christian I would have to speculate on the veracity of the Muses.

lindil

</p>

[lindil]

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Galadriel and Feanor

&quot;From her earliest years she had a marvellous gift of insight into the minds ofothers, but judged them mercy and understanding, and she withheld her goodwill from none saveFeanor. In him she perceived a darkness that she hated and feared , though she did not perceive that the shadow of the same evil had fallen upon the minds of all the Noldor, and upon her own.&quot;

from UT p.230 [hb]

Mass spiritual delusion among the 'wise' even in the land of the angels.

Looking at that puts our modern situation in even scarier terms.


Lindil is often found on posting on the New Silmarillion Canon Forum at the Barrowdowns discussion board. 'The dwindling Men of the West would often sit up late into the night, and awaken early before dawn- exchanging lore and wisdom such as they possessed , so that they should not fall back into the mean and low estate of those , who never knew or more sadly still, had indeed rebelled against the Light.' </p>Edited by: <A HREF=http://www.barrowdowns.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_profile&u=00000076>lindil</A> at: 1/23/01 4:23:15 am

[doug*platypus]

"I cannot read the fiery letters," said Frodo in a quavering voice.
Frodo was alive but taken by the enemy.
"Eat Earth! Dig Deep! Drink Water! Go to Sleep! Bombadil is talking!"
"Eä!"

[Lalaith]

Two of my favorites have already been quoted here - the meeting of Hurin and Morwen by the stone, and Eowyn and the Witch King.
But I would also offer this, which always brings a tear to the eye:
Last of all Hurin stood alone. Then he cast aside his shield, and wielded an axe two-handed; and it is sung that the axe smoked in the black blood of the troll-guard of Gothmog until it withered, and each time that he slewed Hurin cried:"Aure entuluva!" 'Day shall come again!' Seventy times he uttered that cry; but they took him at last alive, by the command of Morgoth..

[Inderjit Sanghera]

"Utulie'n aure! Aiya Eldalie ar Atanatari, utulie'n aure!"

The day has com!Behold people of the Eldar and the fathers of Men, the day has come!"

Fingon, before the Nirnaeth Arnodiead.

[elven maiden Earwen]

i loved the tale of Arwen and Aragorn.
theser lines were some of the ones that made me cry

"There at tast when the mallorn-leaves were falling, but spring had not yet come, she laid herself to rest apon Cerin Amroth; and there is here green grave, untill the world is changed, and all of the days of her life are utterly forgotten by men that come after, and elenor and niphredil bloom no more east of the sea"

"Onen i-Estel Edain, u-chebin estel anim"
(I gave hope to the Dunedain, I have kept no hope for myself) smilies/frown.gif smilies/frown.gif smilies/frown.gif smilies/frown.gif smilies/frown.gif
these are just a few of those lines that were very powereful and made me cry

[Aiwendil]

So many excellent lines. Quite a few of my favorites have already been mentioned. But here are a few more:

"Then he raised up both his hands, and in one chord, deeper than the abyss, higher than the firmament, piercing as the light of the eye of Iluvatar, the music ceased."

Ainulindale


"This I say to you lord, with the eyes of death: though we part here for ever, and I shall not look on your white walls again, from me and from you a new star shall arise. Farewell!"

Huor to Turgon, Nirnaeth Arnoediad.


"Well, I'm back" - Sam Gamgee, LotR VI 9

"I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn. Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass."

Gandalf to Balrog, LotR II 5

And perhaps my favorite:

"And in that very moment, away behind in some courtyard of the City, a cock crowed. Shrill and clear he crowed, recking nothing of wizardry or war, welcoming only the morning that in the sky far above the shadows of death was coming with the dawn.

And as if in answer there came from far away another note. Horns, horns, horns. In dark Mindolluin’s sides they dimly echoed. Great horns of the North wildly blowing. Rohan had come at last."

LotR V 4

[Lalaith]

Oh yes. Rohan had come at last. I've got shivers down my spine. PJ is an idiot if he doesn't put that in *exactly* the way it's described.

[Iarwain]

My old signature:

"Unless the king should come again?" said Gandalf. "Well, my lord Steward, it is your task to keep some kingdom still against that event, which few now look to see. In that task you shall have all the aid that you are pleased to ask for. But I will say this: the rule of no realm is mine, neither of Gondor nor any other, great or small. But all worthy things that are in peril as the world now stands, those are my care. And for my part, I shall not wholly fail of my task, though Gondor should perish, if anything passes through this night that can still grow fair or bear fruit and flower again in days to come. For I also am a steward. Did you not know?" And with that he turned and strode from the hall with Pippin running at his side.
Love that quote, It's definately my favorite.


Another great one is when Denethor is standing on the pyre in his final speech. Perhaps someone would like to quote that one?

Iarwain

[Eru]

en the world is old and the Poers grow weary, then Morgoth, seeing the the gaurd sleepth, shall come back through the Door of Night out of the Timeless Void; and he shall destroy the Sun and Moon. But Earendel shall descend upon him as a white and searing flame and drive him from the airs. Then shall the Last Battle be gathered on the fields of Valinor. In that day Tulkas shall strive with Morgoth, and on his right hand shall be Fionwe, and on his left Turin Turambar, son of Hurin, coming from the halls of Mandos; and the black sword of Turin shall deal unto Morgoth his death and final end; and so shall the children of Hurin and all Men be avenged.

i love this passage.

[elven maiden Earwen]

Eru what book was that in?!?!?!?!

WOW!!!!!!

that was one of the most powerful passeges i've ever heard.

Go Turin!!! smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/biggrin.gif

[Carrûn]

Then Fingolfin beheld (as it seemed to him) the utter ruin of the NOlder, and the defeat beyond redress of all their houses; and filled with wrath and despair he mounted upon Rochallor his great horse and rode forth alone, and none might restrain him. He passed over Dor-nu-Fauglith like a wind amid the dust, and all that beheld his onset fled in amaze, thinking that Orome himself was come: for a great madness of rage was upon him, so that his eyes shone like the eyes of the Valar. Thus he came alone to Angband's gates, and he sounded his horn, and smote once more upon the brazen doors, and challenged Morgoth to come forth to single combat. And Morgoth came.

That passage, and especially the last simple sentence seem to always stand out in my mind as I read that book. Very vivid and powerful.

[the witch king]

'Who is the lord of darkness?' Then behind locked doors Sauron spoke to the king, and he lied, saying: 'it is he whose name is not now spoken; for the Valar have deceived you concerning him, putting forward the name of Eru, a phantom devised in folly of their hearts, seeking to enchain Men in servitude to themselves. For they are the oracle of this Eru, which speaks only what they will. But he that is their master shall yet prevail, and he will deliver you from this phantom; and his name is Melkor, Lord of all, Giver of Freedom, and heshall make you stronger than they.'

Then Ar-pharazon the King turned back to the worship of the dark........

Just love the wat Sauron talks about Melkor, and its kind of after theys words are spoken that Numenor choose's to rebel.

[Pallando B.C]

I second...

Frodo was alive, but taken by the enemy

[Lalaith]

I too want to know the origin of the section on Turin destroying Morgoth. That makes me feel *so* much better about poor Turin.
But what was Turin doing in the Halls of Mandos?

[Inderjit Sanghera]

The Second Prophecy of Mandos, in which Turin marches with Fionwe(Eonwe-then the son of Manwe) and Tulkas and kills Melkor with his sword, Gurthang. But,this was later (supposedly) discarded by Tolkien.

[ February 03, 2003: Message edited by: Inderjit Sanghera ]

[Aiwendil]

The Second Prophecy of Mandos is found in HoMe V. Be warned, however: its validity in the context of the later mythology is dubious.

[Eru]

Then Fingolfin beheld (as it seemed to him) the utter ruin of the NOlder, and the defeat beyond redress of all their houses; and filled with wrath and despair he mounted upon Rochallor his great horse and rode forth alone, and none might restrain him. He passed over Dor-nu-Fauglith like a wind amid the dust, and all that beheld his onset fled in amaze, thinking that Orome himself was come: for a great madness of rage was upon him, so that his eyes shone like the eyes of the Valar. Thus he came alone to Angband's gates, and he sounded his horn, and smote once more upon the brazen doors, and challenged Morgoth to come forth to single combat. And Morgoth came.

Carrun- i love this too. that whole entire part was cool.

yes, i know that passage about Turin is somewhat shaky, never-the-less, it was written, and it is a very powerful passage. i love it.

But even as the vanguard of Maidros cames upon the Orcs, Morgoth let losse his last strength, and hell was emptied. There came wolves and serpents, and there came Balrogs one thousand, and there came Glomund the Father of Dragons.

just imagine that. A huge dragon, coupled with a thousand Balrogs. you know what kinda images spring into mind? crazy!

[ February 03, 2003: Message edited by: Eru ]

[the phantom]

Here's two awesome moments from the lives of my two favorite characters, Feanor and Turin.

Turin-
But as he stood, finding himself free, and ready to sell his life dearly against imagined foes, there came a great flash of lightning above them; and in its light he looked down on Beleg's face. Then Turin stood alone stone-still and silent, staring on that dreadful death, knowing what he had done; and so terrible was his face, lit by the lightning that flickered all about them, that Gwindor cowered down upon the ground and dared not raise his eyes.

Feanor-
Then turning to the herald he cried: 'Say this to Manwe Sulimo, High King of Arda: if Feanor cannot overthrow Morgoth, at least he delays not to assail him, and sits not idle in grief. And it may be that Eru has set in me a fire greater than thou knowest. Such hurt at the least will I do to the Foe of the Valar that even the mighty in the Ring of Doom shall wonder to hear it. Yea, in the end they shall follow me. Farewell!'
In that hour the voice of Feanor grew so great and so potent that even the herald of the Valar bowed before him as one full-answered, and departed; and the Noldor were over-ruled.

[Legolas]

But Thingol perceived their hearts, and saw well that desiring the Silmaril they sought but a pretext and fair cloak for their true intent; and in his wrath and pride he gave no heed to his peril, but spoke to them in scorn, saying: 'How do ye of uncouth race dare to demand aught of me, Elu Thingol, Lord of Beleriand, whose life began by the waters of Cuiviénen years uncounted ere the fathers of the stunted people awoke?' And standing tall and proud among them he bade them with shameful words be gone unrequited out of Doriath.

Then the lust of the Dwarves was kindled to rage by the words of the King; and they rose up about him, and laid hands on him, and slew him as he stood. So died in the deep places of Menegroth Elwë Singollo, King of Doriath, who alone of all the Children of Ilúvatar was joined with one of the Ainur; and he who, alone of the Forsaken Elves, had seen the light of the Trees of Valinor, with his last sight gazed upon the Silmaril.

[...]

Upon Doriath a heavy change had fallen. Melian sat long in silence beside Thingol the King, and her thought passed back into the starlit years and to their first meeting among the nightingales of Nan Elmoth in ages past; and she knew that her parting from Thingol was the forerunner of a greater parting, and that the doom of Doriath was drawing nigh. For Melian was of the divine race of the Valar, and she was a Maia of great power and wisdom; but for love of Elwë Singollo she took upon herself the form of the Elder Children of Ilúvatar, and in that union she became bound by the chain and trammels of the flesh of Arda. In that form she bore to him Lúthien Tinúviel; and in that form she gained a power over the substance of Arda, and by the Girdle of Melian was Doriath defended through long ages from the evils without. But now Thingol lay dead, and his spirit had passed to the halls of Mandos; and with his death a change came also upon Melian. Thus it came to pass that her power was withdrawn in that time from the forests of Neldoreth and Region, and Esgalduin the enchanted river spoke with a different voice, and Doriath lay open to its enemies.

Thereafter Melian spoke to none save to Mablung only, bidding him take heed to the Silmaril, and to send word speedily to Beren and Lúthien in Ossiriand; and she vanished out of Middle-earth, and passed to the land of the Valar beyond the western sea, to muse upon her sorrows in the gardens of Lórien, whence she came, and this tale speaks of her no more

Thus it was that the host of the Naugrim crossing over Aros passed unhindered into the woods of Doriath; and none withstood them, for they were many and fierce, and the captains of the Grey-elves were cast into doubt and despair, and went hither and thither purposeless. But the Dwarves held on their way, and passed over the great bridge, and entered into Menegroth; and there befell a thing most grievous among the sorrowful deeds of the Elder Days. For there was battle in the Thousand Caves, and many Elves and Dwarves were slain; and it has not been forgotten. But the Dwarves were victorious, and the halls of Thingol were ransacked and plundered. There fell Mablung of the Heavy Hand before the doors of the treasury wherein lay the Nauglamír; and the Silmaril was taken.

[Falagar]

The Phantom-That (Fëanor) is one of my favorite lines too.
And Lalaiths too, ("Last of all Hurin stood...")

I would also like to add this:
There all that company turneded, and lo! The plain is clear and smiling in the last light as of old; but afar off as they gazed a great flare shot up against the darkened north-and that was the fall of the last tower of Gondolin, even that which had stood hard by the southern gate, and whose shadow fell oft across the walls of Tuor's house. Then sank the sun, and they saw Gondolin no more.
(from BoLT2)

[ February 03, 2003: Message edited by: Falagar ]

[lord of dor-lomin]

Here's one of my favorites, from the fifth battle...

And seeing this all the host of the Noldor was set on fire, and Fingon put on his white helm and sounded his trumpets, and all the host of Hithlum leapt forth from the hills in sudden onslaught. The light of the drawing of the swords of the Noldor was like a fire in a field of reeds; and so fell and swift was their onset that almost the designs of Morgoth went astray. Before the army that he sent westward could be strengthened it was swept away, and the banners of Fingon passed over Angfauglith and were raised before the walls of Angband. Ever in the forefront of that battle went Gwindor and the elves of Nargothrond, and even now they could not be restrained; and they burst through the Gate and slew the guards upon the very stairs of Angband, and Morgoth trembled upon his deep throne, hearing them beat upon his doors.

[Eru]

Then hope was renewedin the hearts of the Elves. And in that hour the trumpets of Maidros were heard coming coming from the East, and the banners of the Sons of Feanor and their allies came up on the flank of the Enemy. And some have said that even now the Elves might have won the day, had all been faithful; for the Orcs wavered, and their onslaught was stayed, and already some were turning in flight.

[Lindril Arvilya]

"... and Elves and Dwarves together, each with their own skill, there wrought out the visions of Melian, images of the wonder and beauty of Valinor beyond the Sea."

"The maiden whom the Valar chose from among the Maiar to guide the vessel of the Sun was named Arien, and he that steered the island of the Moon was Tilion.....Arien the maiden was mightier than he, and she was chosen because she had not feared the heats of Laurelin, and was unhurt by them, being from the beginning a spirit of fire, whom Melkor had not deceived nor drawn to his service. Too bright were the eyes of Arien for even the Eldar to look on, and leaving Valinor she forsook the form and raiment which like the Valar she had worn there,and she was as a naked flame, terrible in the fullness of her splendour."

I just love the description.... Arien is like an element, she's raw power, and she's one of those independant women it's fun to have around. smilies/biggrin.gif

[Inderjit Sanghera]

" No cloud nor mist lay there, and looking down, Luthien saw far below, as a white light starting from a green jewel, the radiance of Gondolin the fair where Turgon dwelt."

" Aure entuluva!"
"Day shall come again"-Hurin Thalion.

[lore_master]

i like the line in the silmarilian, when feanor is speaking to finglofin: "see half brother this is sharper than thy tounge, try just once more to surp me from my fathers love and maybe, it will rid the noldor of one who seeks to be master of thralls"

[the witch king]

There,peeping among the cloudwrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thort pierced him that in the end the shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.

[stefanie claeys]

for me, the most powerful lines are the ones in elvish:

A Elbereth Gilthoniel
silivren penna miriel
o menel aglar elenath
na-chaered palandiriel
o galadhremmin ennorath
Fanuilos le linnathon
nef aear, si nef aearon

[The Squatter of Amon Rûdh]

I'm surprised that no-one's mentioned this one yet. I'm quite partial to it myself:

Then Beren lay upon the ground in a swoon, as one slain at once by bliss and grief; and he fell into a sleep as it were into an abyss of shadow, and waking he was cold as stone, and his heart barren and forsaken. And wandering in mind he groped as one that is stricken with sudden blindness, and seeks with hands to grasp the vanished light. Thus he began the payment of anguish for the fate that was laid on him; and in his fate Lúthien was caught, and being immortal she shared in his mortality, and being free received his chain; and her anguish was greater than any other of the Eldalië has known.

[lindil]

The speaker is Pengolodh citing a 'saying' of Rumil:


For the tounges of the and voices of the Valar are great and stern, and yet also swift and subtle in movement, making sounds that we find hard to counterfeit; and their words are mostly rapid, like the glitter of long swords, like the rush of leaves in a great wind or the fall of stones in the mountains.

Pengolodh comments [ and I love this!]'Palinly the effect of Valarin upon Elvish ears was not pleasing'.

[ April 08, 2003: Message edited by: lindil ]

[Elf of the Wand]

Then said Rog in a great voice: "Who now shall fear the Balrogs for all their terror? See before us the accursed ones who for ages have tormented the children of the Noldoli, and who now set a fire at our backs with their shooting. Come ye of the Hammer of Wrath and we will smite them for their evil." Thereupon he lifted his mace, and its handle was long; and he made a way before him by the wrath of his onset even unto the fallen gate: but all the people of the stricken anvil ran behind like a wedge, and sparks came from their eyes for the fury of their rage. A great deed was that sally, as the Noldoli sing yet, and many of the Orcs were borne backward into the fires below; but the men of Rog leapt upon the coils of the serpents and came at those Balrogs and smote them grievously, for all they had whips of flame and claws of steel, and were in stature very great. They battered them into nought, or catching at their whips wielded these against them,that they tore them even as they had aforetime torn the Gnomes; and the number of Balrogs that perished was a marvel and dread to the hosts of Melko, fore ere that day never had any of the Balrogs been slain by the hand of Elves or Men.

[ April 08, 2003: Message edited by: Elf of the Wand ]

[Iarhen]

I love the line that is in my signature. I dont remember the exact words on FOTR, heres what Galadriel had to say in the movie (a shorter version of the original text):

"In place of a Dark Lord you will have a Queen!
Not dark but beautiufl and terrible as the dawn!
Treacherous as the sea!
Stronger than the foundations of the Earth!
All shall love me and despair"

[Adamathamariel]

Rohan had come at last

[Lady Alasse]

Seven Stars and Seven Stones and One White Tree.
Slowly his hand went to his bosom and slowly he held aloft the Phial of Galadriel. For a moment it glimmered, faint as a rising star struggling in heavy earthward mists, and then as its power waxed, and hope grew in Frodo's mind, it began to burn, and kindled to a silver flame, a minute heart of dazzeling light, as though Earendil had himself come down from the high sunset paths with the last Simaril upon his brow. " and you ring-bearer," she said, turning to Frodo. "I come to you last who are not Last in my thoughts. For you I have prepared this." She held up a small crystal phial: it glittered as she moved it, and rays of white light sprang from her hand. " In this Phial," she said," Is caught the light of Earendil's star, set amid the waters of my fountain. It will shine still brighter when night is about you. May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out. Remember Galadriel and Her Mirror!
Frodo took the Phial, and for a moment as it shone between them he saw her again standing like a queen, great and beautiful, but no longer terrible. He bowed, but found no words to say.
Tolkein is just full of beautiful Passages and Paragraphs. I can't find my simarillion at the moment or I would write some of those also.

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

"The brief glow fell upon a huge sitting figure, still and solemn as the great stone kings of Argonath. The years had gnawed it, and violent hands had maimed it. ... Suddenly, caught by the level beams, Frodo saw the old king's head: it was lying rolled away by the roadside. 'Look, Sam!' he cried, startled into speech. 'Look! The king has got a crown again!'

The eyes were hollow and the carven beard was broken, but about the high stern forehead there was a coronal of silver and gold. A trailing plant with flowers like small white stars had bound itself across the brows as if in reverence for the fallen king, and in the crevices of his stony hair the yellow stonecrop gleamed.

'they cannot conquer forever!' said Frodo."

I've mentioned this passage before, but I love it, so I thought it was worth putting here too. smilies/wink.gif
Sophia

[Ancalagon'sFire]

My personal favourite; 'Authority is not given to you, Steward of Gondor, to order the hour of your death,' answered Gandalf. 'And only the heathen kings, under the domination of the Dark Power, did thus, slaying themselves in pride and despair, murdering their kin to ease their own death.'

Another line; 'Ye have abjured Me, but ye remain Mine. I gave you life. Now it shall be shortened, and each of you in a little while shall come to Me, to learn who is your Lord: the one ye worship, or I who made him.'


Finally, although a vision, its potency is apparent; And thereupon Ulmo lifted up a mighty horn, and blew upon it a single great note, to which the roaring of the storm was but a wind-flaw upon a lake. And as he heard that note, and was encompassed by it, and filled with it, it seemed to Tuor that the coasts of Middle-earth vanished, and he surveyed all the waters of the world in a great vision: from the veins of the lands to the mouths of the rivers, and from the strands and estuaries out into the deep. The Great Sea he saw through its unquiet regions teeming with strange forms, even to its lightless depths, in which amid the everlasting darkness there echoed voices terrible to mortal ears. Its measureless plains he surveyed with the swift sight of the Valar, lying windless under the eye of Anar, or glittering under the horned Moon, or lifted in hills of wrath that broke upon the Shadowy Isles," until remote upon the edge of sight, and beyond the count of leagues, he glimpsed a mountain, rising beyond his mind's reach into a shining cloud, and at its feet a long surf glimmering. And even as he strained to hear the sound of those far waves, and to see clearer that distant light, the note ended, and he stood beneath the thunder of the storm, and lightning many-branched rent asunder the heavens above him. And Ulmo was gone, and the sea was in tumult, as the wild waves of Ossë rode against the walls of Nevrast.

Great thread smilies/smile.gif

[Bunko]

A quote that I always remember is when Gandelf is explaining to Frodo about Gollum in the shadow of the past and Frodo says that Bilbo should have killed Gollum when he had the chance "he deserves death"

Gandelf replies

"Deserves it, I dare say he does. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal outh death in judgment. For not even the very wise can see all ends. I have not much hope that Gollum can be cured before he dies, but there is a chance of it. And he is bound up with the fate of the ring, my heart tells me that he has some part to play yet, for good or ill before the end. And when it comes the pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many"

- Classic Gandelf

[Novhloke]

I like this quote, btw do you have a site with LotR quotes?

"Therefore Morgoth came, climbing slowly from his subterranean throne, and the rumour of his feet was like thunder underground. And he issued forth clad in black armour; and he stood before the king like a tower, iron-crowned and his vast shield, sable unblazoned, cast a shadow over him like a storm cloud. But Fingolfin gleamed beneath it like a star;for his mail was overlaid with silver, and his blue shield was set with crystals; and he drew his sword Ringil, and it glittered like ice, cold and gray and deadly."

"Last of all Hurin stood alone. Then he cast aside his shield, and wielded an axe two-handed; and it is sung that the axe smoked in the black blood of the troll-guard of Gothmog until it withered, and each time that he slew Hurin cried 'Aure entuluva! Day shall come again!' Seventy times he uttered that cry; but they took him at last alive..."

"Never for long had hope died in his staunch heart, and always until now he had taken some thought for their return. But the bitter truth came home to him at last: at best their provisions would take then to their goal; and when the task was done, there they would come to an end, alone, houseless, foodless in the midst of a terrible desert. There could be no return."

"Come not between the nazgul and his prey! Or he will not slay thee in thy turn. He will bare thee away to the Houses of Lamentation, beyond all darkness, where thy flesh shall be devoured and thy shriviled mind be left naked to the lidless eye."

[ April 16, 2003: Message edited by: Novhloke ]

[doug*platypus]

Powerful? You want power?!
Get out, you old Wight! Vanish in the Sunlight!
Nobody messes with Bombadil on his home turf. You wouldn't get Saruman busting out such great magic wearing yellow boots and a bright blue jacket!

[Schmendrick]

While The Silmarillion and The Unfinished Tales are full of great lines, I'd still have to say this:

"I have come," he said. "But I do not choose now to do what I came to do. I will not do this deed. The Ring is mine!"

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

smilies/smile.gif Thanks Schmendrick smilies/smile.gif I love that line too, and I always forget the obvious great ones cause I'm trying to look smart and find the subtle great ones *blushes*

Sophia

[hobbit punk]

I found the death of Feanor very tragic and I actually re-read this paragraph several times for it to sink in.

"Then his sons raised up their father and bore him back towards Mithrim. But as they drew near to Eithel Sirion and were upon the upward path to the pass over the mountains, Feanor bade them halt; for his wounds were mortal, and he knew that his hour was come. And looking out from the slopes of Ered Wethrim with his last sight he beheld far off the peaks of Thangorodim, mightiest of the towers of Middle-earth, and knew with the foreknowledge of death that no power of the Noldor would ever overthrow them; but he cursed the name of Morgoth thrice, and laid it upon his sons to hold to their oath, and to avenge their father. Then he died; but he had neither burial nor tomb, for so fiery was his spirit that as it sped his body fell to ash, and was borne away like smoke; and his likeness has never again appeared in Arda, neither has his spirit left the halls of Mandos. Thus ended the mightiest of the Noldor, of whose deeds came both their greatest renown and their most grievous woe."

All I can say is wow.

[Yavanna228]

So far, this quote is by far my favourite, as it describes feelings that are so hard to put into words.

And all the host laughed and wept, and in the midst of their merriment and tears the clear voice of the minstrel rose like silver and gold, and all men were hushed. And he sang to them, now in the Elven-tongue, now in the speech of the West, until their hearts, wounded with sweet words, overflowed, and their joy was like swords, and they passed in thought out to regions where pain and delight flow together and tears are the very wine of blessedness.
smilies/smile.gif
One more...
In western lands beneath the Sun
the flowers may rise in the Spring,
the trees may bud, the waters run,
the merry finches sing.
Or there maybe 'tis cloudless night
and swaying beeches bear
the Elven-stars as jewels white
amid their branching hair.
Though here at journey's end I lie
in darkness buried deep,
beyond all towers strong and high,
beyond all mountains steep,
above all shadows rides the Sun
and Stars forever dwell:
I will not say the Day is done,
nor bid the Stars farewell.
smilies/smile.gif Peace

[ainur]

This one always gets me. I'm surprised that in nearly 3 years of posting on this thread, no one has mentioned it:

"Frodo, Mr. Frodo!" he called. "Don't leave me here alone! It's your Sam calling. Don't go where I can't follow! Wake up, Mr. Frodo! O wake up, Frodo, me dear, me dear. Wake up!"

Then anger surged over him, and he ran about his master's body in a rage, stabbing the air, and smiting the stones, and shouting challenges. Presently he came back, and bending looked at Frodo's face, pale beneath him in the dusk. And suddenly he saw that he was in the picture that was revealed to him in the mirror of Galadriel in Lorien: Frodo with a pale face lying fast asleep under a great dark cliff. Or fast asleep he had thought then. "He's dead!" he said. "Not asleep, dead!" And as he said it, as if the words had set the venom to its work again, it seemed to him that the hue of the face grew livid green.
And then black despair came down on him, and Sam bowed to the ground, and drew his grey hood over his head, and night came into his heart, and he knew no more.

[Olorin]

I think almost everything Gandalf says is very powerful. Off the top of my head, the whole scene where he confronts Saruman.

I am not Gandalf the Grey whom you betrayed, I am Gandalf the White who has returned from death.

And then the quote that was already mentioned when Saruman's staff breakes.

Also...

Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then don't be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.

Another is...

We meet again. At the turn of the tide. A great storm os coming, but the tide has turned.

Well that's all that I can think of right now. I'll post more if I remember some.

-Olórin

[Hans Markus Rod]

"Blind you are Morgoth bauglir, and blind shall ever be, seeing only the dark. You know not what rules the hearts of Men, and if you knew you could not give it. But a fool is he who accepts what Morgoth offers. You will take first the price and then withold the promise; and I should get only death, if I told you what you ask"

Hùrin son of Galdor

[Evisse the Blue]

White was that ship and long was it a-building, and long it awaited the end of which Círdan had spoken. But when all these things were done, and the Heir of Isildur had taken up the lordship of Men, and the dominion of the West had passed to him, then it was made plain that the power of the Three Rings also was ended, and to the Firstborn the world grew old and grey. In that time the last of the Noldor set sail from the Havens and left Middle-earth for ever. And latest of all the Keepers of the Three Rings rode to the Sea, and Master Elrond took there the ship that Círdan had made ready. In the twilight of autumn it sailed out of Mithlond, until the seas of the Bent World fell away beneath it, and the winds of the round sky troubled it no more, and borne upon the high airs above the mists of the world it passed into the Ancient West, and an end was come for the Eldar of story and of song. . The End of Silmarillion. This has such a powerful finality about it. (one that LOTR lacks, IMO).

For the Dúnedain held that even mortal Men, if so blessed, might look upon other times than those of their bodies' life; and they longed ever to escape from the shadows of their exile and to see in some fashion fee light that dies not; for the sorrow of the thought of death had pursued them over the deeps of the sea. Thus it was that great mariners among them would still search the empty seas, hoping to come upon the Isle of Meneltarma, and there to see a vision of things that were. But they found it not. And those that sailed far came only to the new lands, and found them like to the old lands, and subject to death. And those that sailed furthest set but a girdle about the Earth and returned weary at last to the place of their beginning; and they said:
'All roads are now bent.'

Aragorn prophetic words at Helm's deep (shame for not putting it in the movie):
"I looked out to see the dawn", said Aragorn.
"what of the dawn?" they jeered. "we are the Uruk-hai: we do not stop fighting for night or day, for fair weather or for storm. We come to kill, by sun or moon. What of the dawn?"
"None knows what the new day shall bring him", said Aragorn. "Get you gone ere it turn to your evil."
"Get down or we will shoot you from the wall,"they cried."This is no parley. We have nothing to say.
"I have still this to say", answered Aragorn. "No enemy has yet taken the Hornburg. Depart, or not one of you will be spared. Not one will be left alive to take back tidings to the North. You do not know your peril." Light sprang in the sky. Night departed.

[Måns]

I am shocked than none of these two have yet come up but here they are, in all their glory!

"And standing at last upon a high rock he looked towards Gondolin and called in a great voice: 'Turgon, Turgon , remember the Fen of Serech! O Turgon, will you not hear in your hidden halls?' But there was no sound save the wind in the dry grasses. 'Even so they hissed in Serech at the sunset,' he said; and as he spoke the sun went down behind the mountains of Shadow, and a darkness fell aobut him, and the wind ceased, and there was silence in the waste."

Tolkien's own favourite: "Gandalf did not move. And in that very moment, away behind in some courtyard of the City, a cock crowed. Shrill and clear he crowed, recking nothign of wizardry or war, welcoming only hte morning that in the sky far above the shadows of death was coming with the dawn. And as if in answer there came from far away another note. Horns, horns, horns. In the dark Mindolluin's sides they dimly echoed. Great horns of the north wildly blowing. Rohan had come at last."

Måns, the one that hates o quote smilies/wink.gif

[Amarie of the Vanyar]

It is strange that nobody has quoted this before, as one of the more powerful poems; maybe it was too obvious smilies/wink.gif

Three Rings for the Elven kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men, doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his Dark Throne,
In the land of Mordor where the shadows lie,
One Ring to rule them all,
One Ring to find them,
One ring to bring them all,
And in the darkness bind them,
In the Land of Mordor where the shadows lie.

[Firnantoonion]

and how about the line when Fingolfin battles with morgoth? I know it not precisely, but wasn't it something like:

and seven times, Fingolfin stroke, like lightning shooting from under a dark cloud and seven times Morgoth cried out loud and each time his hosts shuddered with anguish

(or something like that smilies/wink.gif)

[Palan]

Most of the battle of Morgoth and Fingolfin has been quoted, except for these two lines, I believe, "Thus died Fingolfin, High King of the Noldor, most proud and valiant of the Elven-Kings of old. The Orcs made no boast of that duel at the gate; neither do the Elves sing of it, for their sorrow is too deep." For me, this is one of the saddest lines in all of the books.

[Imladris]

I don't know if this has been done yet, but I like it when Aragorn says that it was as if he strayed into a dream when he first saw Arwen (Appendices). It's not really "Powerful", but it is sweet and very poetic, which can be powerful in its own small way.

Imladris

[ August 13, 2003: Message edited by: Imladris ]

[The Squatter of Amon Rûdh]

I think that you might have this quotation in mind: The next day at the hour of sunset Aragorn walked alone in the woods, and his heart was high within him; and he sang, for he was full of hope and the world was fair. And suddenly even as he sang he saw a maiden walking on a greensward among the white stems of the birches; and he halted amazed, thinking that he had strayed into a dream, or else that he had received the gift of the Elf-minstrels, who can make the things of which they sing appear before the eyes of those that listen.

But it's worth continuing the narrative for these lines, which are also worthy of a place on this thread: For Aragorn had been singing a part of the Lay of Lúthien which tells of the meeting of Lúthien and Beren in the forest of Neldoreth. And behold! there Lúthien walked before his eyes in Rivendell, clad in a mantle of silver and blue, fair as the twilight in Elven-home; her dark hair strayed in a sudden wind, and her brows were bound with gems like stars.

For a moment Aragorn gazed in silence, but fearing that she would pass away and never be seen again, he called to her crying, Tinúviel, Tinúviel! even as Beren had done in the Elder Days long ago.

[Maéglin]

Gil-galad was an Elvenking,
of whom the harpers sadly sing,
The last whose realm was fair and free
between the mountains and the sea.
Gil-galad, always seemed like such an enigma to me. I mean, the son of Fingon must have been a great Elf. Strange how he didn't find a spouse to continue the lineage of the Noldorin Kings in Middle Earth. Too bad the Lay of Gil-galad was never completed by Tolkien smilies/frown.gif
And whatever happened to Aiglos the 'ice spear.' Was it lost in the end of the Second Age?

[ August 14, 2003: Message edited by: Maéglin ]

[Yavanna228]

Here are some words from the Akallabeth:
The Doom of the World, they said, One alone can change who made it. And were you so to voyage that escaping all deceits and snares you came indeed to Aman, the Blessed Realm, little would it profit you. For it is not the land of Manwe that makes its people deathless, but the Deathless that dwell therein have hallowed the land; and there you would but wither and grow weary the sooner, as moths in a light too strong and steadfast.
...
Indeed, the mind of Iluvatar concerning you is not known to the Valar, and he has not revealed all things that are to come. But this we hold to be true, that your home is not here, neither in the Land of Aman nor anywhere within the Circles of the World. And the Doom of Men, that they should depart, was at first a gift of Iluvatar. It became a grief to them only because coming under the shadow of Morgoth it seemed to them that they were surrounded by great darkness, of which they were afraid; and some grew wilful and proud and would not yield, until life was reft from them. We who bear the ever-mounting burden of the years do not clearly understand this; but if that grief has returned to trouble you, as you say, then we fear that the Shadow arises once more and grows again in your hearts. Therefore, though you be the Dunedain, fairest of Men, who escaped from the Shadow of old and fought valiantly against it, we say to you: Beware! The will of Eru may not be gainsaid; and the Valar bid you earnestly not to withhold the trust to which you are called, lest soon it become again a bond by which you are constrained. Hope rather that in the end even the least of your desires shall have fruit. The love of Arda was set in your hearts by Iluvatar, and he does not plant to no purpose. Nonetheless, many ages of Men unborn may pass ere that purpose is made known; and to you it will be revealed and not to the Valar.
Long, but good.
Peace

[Firnantoonion]

the sentence when merry sounds his horn in the scouring of the shire:

awake! awake! fear! fire! foes! awake! fear! fire! foes!

[Earendil Halfelven]

Call me a weirdo but here's my favorite line.
He drew a deep breath. "Well, I'm back," he said.
-Sam Gamgee, LoTR: RoTK, The Grey Havens

I don't know but there's just something about that being the last line of the whole trilogy.

[Morwen]

The following passage from the Tale of Aragorn and Arwen is moving:

"But let us not be overthrown at the final test, who of old renounced the Shadow and the Ring. In sorrow we must go, but not in despair. Behold! We are not bound for ever to the circles of the world, and beyond them is more than memory. Farewell!"

"Estel, Estel!" she cried, and with that even as he took her hand and kissed it, he fell into sleep. Then a great beauty was revealed in him, so that all who after came there looked on him in wonder; for they saw that the grace of his youth, and the valour of his manhood, and the wisdom and majesty of his age were blended together. And long there he lay, an image of the splendour of the Kings of Men in glory undimmed before the breaking of the world."

[Galadriel55]

About all the quotes that really shake me are put up already. I'll just add a few; I don't have the books on me right now, so I'll paraphrase:

...But the seeds of lie, planted by Morgoth, will continue to grow and bring crops...
(end of the Silmarillion)

Oh twice beloved! A Turin Turambar, turun ambarthanen! (oh Turin, Concouror of Fate, by fate concoured!)
(Nienor Niniel's words to Turin before juping into Teiglin)

Galadriel's description of what she will be if Frodo gave her the Ring, and the last sentence: "I've made my choice. I shall sail over the Sea and remain Galadriel"

Thus, I have fulfilled my oath.
(Finrod, when saving Beren, just before death)

And at that time there was no grief grated than the grief of the maia Melian
(when Melian discovers that Luthien became mortal)

I will not say, do not cry, for not all tears are for evil.
(Gandalf's last words in ME)

this one is more comic, than serious, but I like it nevertheless:
Do not ever laugh at a live dragon!
(Bilbo's thoughts after his dialogue with Smaug)



That is a lot! And I would include into my list most of the quotes that were already mentioned! To tell you the truth, I think that there is no unimportant line in any of Tolkien's books, even though some are more significant or evident than others.

[Galadriel55]

When I think about it, there is a powerful line on every other page in The Sil, and about 10 lines in each chapter in LOTR. Quite a long list that makes! :)

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

For myself, I have always been quite moved by Gandalf's remark to Frodo concerning life, death, and pity. And I have also been moved by his comments:

"Yet it is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set; uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule."

"We must walk open-eyed into that trap, with courage, but small hope for ourselves. For, my lords, it may well prove that we ourselves shall perish utterly in the black battle far from the living lands; so that even if Barad-dûr be thrown down, we shall not live to see a new age. But this, I deem, is our duty. And better so than to perish nonetheless -- as we surely shall, if we sit here -- and know as we die that no new age shall be."

And in the Silmarillion, for me it has to be Ilúvatar's statement:

"And thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined."

[Alcuin]

After the Battle of Azanulbizar, Thráin, who had lost an eye during the battle, proclaimed to the combined armies of the Seven Houses of the Dwarves, “Good! We have the victory. Khazad-dûm is ours!” The Dwarves replied,

Durin’s Heir you may be, but even with one eye you should see clearer. We fought this war for vengeance, and vengeance we have taken. But it is not sweet. If this is victory, then our hands are too small to hold it.