This quote, often attributed to J.R.R Tolkien's character Gandalf from "The Lord of the Rings," emphasizes the idea that small, everyday acts of kindness and love by ordinary people are more powerful in fighting against evil than grand displays of power alone; essentially, the cumulative effect of
NOT A TOLKIEN QUOTE. Yet you keep posting it. It's good, but it's from the movies only. If you want a real quote with a similar vibe: "Yet such is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: small hands do them because they must while the eyes of the great are elsewhere."
I think it was Churchill who said, "all it takes for evil to win is for good men to do nothing." Change that to good people, and you have the directive that should have happened this month. Not enough good people did something.
You’re welcome. The supposed Tolkien quote above is also not found anywhere in the works of Tolkien. It’s from a screenplay for one of *The Hobbit* movies.
It is slower, harder to detect & quantify but it is truth, will I live long enough to see it, feel it and know it..this time? Will my grown children be old, will my g'children know only pain, suffering, division & separation? So quick can we destroy and so slowly do we bandage and heal the wounds.
Okay but Gilgalad and Elendil still lead a gigantic army of divinely blessed giga-chads up to the slopes of mount doom and fought Sauron hand to hand, dying in the process of bringing him down so that Isildur could cleave the One Ring from Sauron's hand.
The GOP loving Koch Bros. dominate the household paper market. I buy paper towels made of recycled paper by the carton and I save $ too.
#resistwithyourwallet
About 5 days ago I re-read The Hobbit and the LOTR trilogy, as well as viewing the films (I read fast). Those words struck home for me too, in light of what we all have experienced this past 3 weeks.
Man you brought tears to my eyes. I always loved that. Sam Gamgee is the man!
Gandalf told Sauraman that to break something to see how it works has lost his way.
In the kind of democracy that we have, the common person has no voice, except once every 4 years when casting a political vote during the elections
It's only the elite, the rich, and the famous that are heard. 🐈🐖🐎🦌
This is why we speak English. Not German or Japanese. Eisenhower and Churchill supported strategic bombing of German cities like Dresden. After Tokyo was incinerated, Japan needed 5 more months of war and two atomic bombs to accept unconditional surrender.
War is immoral and sometimes necessary.
I had the most frustrating day yesterday trying to say exactly this to a family member yesterday, and was heartbroken when the response was “please can we just change the subject” . I just don’t understand why more ‘decent’ people aren’t prepared to push back.
I hope so. As I live and breathe, I sure hope so. Because it looks to me like Democratic leaders are largely going radio silent. Which leaves it up to us little folks to do the job of fighting back, each in our own small way.
“Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love."
Thank you. Ive always loved this. I’ll print it out as a daily reminder. I literally experienced my first act of random kindness (since the election) the following day at Trader Joe’s in Totem Lake WA - flowers. A smile can change someone’s day let’s stand tall as the circus comes into town!
Aereon: "In normal times, evil would be fought by good. But in times like these, well, it should be fought by another kind of evil."
If you see Riddick, send him this way!
Love this sentiment—it really captures the heart of Tolkien’s work! Just a small note: this quote isn’t from The Hobbit but from the movie The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. It’s a lovely addition to the films, inspired by Tolkien’s themes of kindness and courage.
Half the world fought them to their death. Not sure what you've been reading but Nazi Germany didn't work out so well long term. We didn't bargain. We stood together and pegged them.
I meant appeasing a dictator never works and it’s why we were drawn into the war. We were an isolationist country before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Trump wants to be an isolationist.
Had a few so forgive me but no US president has appeased dictators like Trump. We're either allies or we're not. If petrol price means more to you than NATO off you pop.
Each time you do a small act it encourages someone else to do the same. On their own they have limited impact but combine them and the cumulative mass has exponentially bigger power
2) Evil with great power is in no way ever held in check by small acts of kindness and love. It can only be checked by power. That power can come from enough “small” people banding together in solidarity that they have collective power.
Not to minimize the importance of small acts of love.
Hmmm funny this came up I have a copy of The Hobbit a special edition, just took it out yesterday. A fully illustrated volume an amazing book first out in print in 1937 my nana had a copy. My bro has that original from nana I have a reprint but the special addition one.
Reminds me,I should revisit some of my favourite books.Have a great excuse,I read this one 45 years ago.I know the year because I remember getting it from the Library and not taking it back,(find me) However it led into other memories... I would never ever, thought to look for. I was in a book.
Yesterday I was at Wal-mart in Keene NH & a couple who came out just behind me found some cash on the ground, & asked all of us in front of them if it was ours. Then asked a man who had got into his car if it was his, & it was. I was delighted there are still honest folks out there with integrity!
I used to think ‘evil’ and ‘darkness’ were terms that were unrealistic and over-the-top.
Now that we have actual Bond villains in the news, I’ve re-evaluated that position.
And yet the fellowship needed a wizard to cover for them when faced with a Balrog. The truth is what Dumbledore said. That you have to keep fighting to keep evil at bay. And big and small everyone has a role to play in that fight.
Definitely. A simple smile; a sincere “hi, how are you doing?”; holding the door for someone, etc. in other words, be kind to everyone. We can disagree without being a$$holes!
My Grandad was in Holland during German occupation. He said it was ppl who refused to hide, refused to be broken, who went about their everyday &didn’t turn on each other, or turn anyone in, that kept everyone going until liberation. He moved to🇨🇦b/c of how brave &admirable 🇨🇦s were vs huge🇩🇪threat.
You, sir, are deeply transphobic and racist. Our community has been hurt by systemic racism and transphobia for centuries, and you dare call me an idiot?
Us trans PoC have a hard enough time receiving equal education. You should be ashamed of your racist transphobia
He “is” a “racist transphobe”? He died in 1973. And please back up both “racist” and “transphobe” with evidence.
FFS, it didn’t take long for this place to get as dumb as Twitter. 🙄
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be the democracy that was broken,
We shall never accept
Timeless wisdom from Tolkien. It's often the small, meaningful acts of kindness and love that create ripples of hope and light in a dark world. Let's be those ordinary folk today. 🌟❤️ #KindnessMatters #TolkienWisdom
Comments
Don't forget that part, it's important too.
[Incorrectly attributed to Tolkien. It is a line from the Hobbit movie that did not appear in the books.]”
― J.R.R. Tolkien
But love the quote!
#resistwithyourwallet
Gandalf told Sauraman that to break something to see how it works has lost his way.
And then I saw the quote was from a fantasy novel. Dang it all to heck.
Thank you for sharing, DSB!
https://youtu.be/byvkRclGfSE?...
It's only the elite, the rich, and the famous that are heard. 🐈🐖🐎🦌
I will build my village free of their hate. It is a cancer that must be removed from my and everyone's life
This is why we speak English. Not German or Japanese. Eisenhower and Churchill supported strategic bombing of German cities like Dresden. After Tokyo was incinerated, Japan needed 5 more months of war and two atomic bombs to accept unconditional surrender.
War is immoral and sometimes necessary.
“Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love."
-J.R.R. Tolkien
The Hobbit, pub. 1937
If you see Riddick, send him this way!
https://www.whatthehellareyoudoing.org/post/petition-for-writ-of-certiorari-alter-v-trump
(But that's just a story.)
(Shut up!)
There's ALWAYS hope!
But:
1) Not something Tolkien said or wrote.
Not to minimize the importance of small acts of love.
I think this map is something else it’s at the front of the book. If I could only decipher the script!!
https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Thr%C3%B3r%27s_Map
Share truth.
Share Faith.
Share love.
Now that we have actual Bond villains in the news, I’ve re-evaluated that position.
I promise that I am potty-trained.
Satan personified.
Bow down before that fatted calf!
Remove this now, please.
Us trans PoC have a hard enough time receiving equal education. You should be ashamed of your racist transphobia
FFS, it didn’t take long for this place to get as dumb as Twitter. 🙄
Tolkien poem. Changed the last two lines.
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be the democracy that was broken,
We shall never accept
There's no Gandalf coming over the hill with an army of Ents. No-one is coming to save us.
Parallels: https://open.substack.com/pub/matthewmetcalf/p/lighting-the-path-through-tyranny
Also we will offer every days reading free as well, Preamble and Foreword already up:
https://open.substack.com/pub/matthewmetcalf/p/bridges-of-hope