Bilbo's quote: compliment or insult? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Ithaeliel · 07-22-2002, 09:06 PM

That quote is the most mind-boggling thing I've heard in the english language since... since I learned my first words!!! I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve... now take out "less than half of" and it's a bit more understandable. "I like you half as well as you deserve" clearly comes out to, "I don't like you as much as I should." See, when you hack a sentence into bits, it's easier to comprehend. I have to agree with BW, I think he was putting himself down for not getting to know his fellow hobbits better. Remember, he also said, "Eleventy-one years is far too short a time to live among such admirable hobbits," preceding the other quote. Therefore, to paraphrase his speech, he would have simply said, "I wish that I could get to know all of you better before I have to leave." I think that the quote we are discussing was off the top of his head, however, and even he might have confused himself for a moment. Perhaps that's why he left straightaway after he said it, with only a word or two between.

Well, I just did a good sentence structure analysis! Oh joy! I am ready for school! I hope that about sums it up.

[ July 22, 2002: Message edited by: Ithaeliel ]

07-22-2002, 09:06 PM	#8
Ithaeliel Cornus Caliga Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Five-hundred-twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes from here Posts: 710	That quote is the most mind-boggling thing I've heard in the english language since... since I learned my first words!!! I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve... now take out "less than half of" and it's a bit more understandable. "I like you half as well as you deserve" clearly comes out to, "I don't like you as much as I should." See, when you hack a sentence into bits, it's easier to comprehend. I have to agree with BW, I think he was putting himself down for not getting to know his fellow hobbits better. Remember, he also said, "Eleventy-one years is far too short a time to live among such admirable hobbits," preceding the other quote. Therefore, to paraphrase his speech, he would have simply said, "I wish that I could get to know all of you better before I have to leave." I think that the quote we are discussing was off the top of his head, however, and even he might have confused himself for a moment. Perhaps that's why he left straightaway after he said it, with only a word or two between. Well, I just did a good sentence structure analysis! Oh joy! I am ready for school! I hope that about sums it up. [ July 22, 2002: Message edited by: Ithaeliel ] __________________ That best portion of a good man's life, His little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love. .................William Wordsworth