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

Rikae · 11-02-2006, 03:03 PM

Yes, but it isn't necessarily a compliment.

"I don't know half of you half as well as well as I should like" implies that he would like to know half of them better, but also that he wouldn't like to know the other half better - perhaps he feels he knows them too well already!
Likewise:
"I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve"
on one hand means the "less than half" deserve to be liked better than he likes them, but also means "more than half" don't - he likes them exactly as much, or more, than they deserve!

11-02-2006, 03:03 PM	#30
Rikae Mellifluous Maia Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: A glade open to the stars, deep in Nan Elmoth Posts: 3,489	Yes, but it isn't necessarily a compliment. "I don't know half of you half as well as well as I should like" implies that he would like to know half of them better, but also that he wouldn't like to know the other half better - perhaps he feels he knows them too well already! Likewise: "I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve" on one hand means the "less than half" deserve to be liked better than he likes them, but also means "more than half" don't - he likes them exactly as much, or more, than they deserve!