Being over 2000 years old may mean you have a lot of grey hair, but it also means you have a wealth of life experience and the wisdom that comes with it. In The Lord of the Rings, Gandalf’s life takes place on a different scale than the other creatures of Middle Earth, allowing him to bear witness to the changing tides of the ages.
Given everything he’s been through and the amount of knowledge he’s collected over the years, the members of the Fellowship often defer to him for counsel. Always one to deliver, Gandalf never hesitates to offer tidbits of wisdom to his companions, whether he’s musing on the punctuality of wizards or reflecting on the nature of life itself. We’ve added a few more quotes to our list that showcase Gandalf’s collective wisdom with stunning clarity.
“There is only one Lord of the Ring. Only one who can bend it to his will. And he does not share power!”
Gandalf remained rational at a time when Saruman the White had fallen victim to his own selfish ambitions. Realizing that an alliance with Mordor might spare him from a fate worse than death, Saruman became Sauron’s willing puppet, while simultaneously hatching a scheme of his own.
Speculation remains as to whether Saruman would have remained subject to Sauron, or sought to destroy him with the power of the One Ring, but one thing is for certain - Saruman’s partnering with the Dark Lord would have proven fruitless in the end.
“Even The Very Wise Cannot See All Ends.”
Philosophers routinely debate the premise of going back in time to remove certain people who were destined to become evil dictators and mass murderers, with many arguing that the moral thing to do would be to remove them from their environment and bring them up in a more positive and constructive one.
Frodo makes a similar argument when he surmises that much of their troubles might have been avoided had Bilbo murdered Gollum so many years before. Gandalf quickly reminds him that even the wisest among us cannot see how such an event would play out, or the part that villains might play in future events. Rather than submit to conjecture, we as humans should deal with things as they are - not how we wish them to be.
“Understand, Frodo - I would use this Ring from a desire to do good, but through me… it would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine!”
As a Maiar, Gandalf was gifted with powers far beyond that of a normal citizen of Middle Earth, but even he was quick to realize his own limits. The power of the One Ring was great enough to corrupt even him, just as it had corrupted many who came before.
When Gandalf acknowledged that Sauron’s forces would begin seeking out the Ring from within the confines of the Shire, Frodo panicked and attempted to give it to him, which immediately triggered Gandalf’s latent selfishness and dark desires. Realizing what was happening, he quickly snapped “Don’t tempt me, Frodo! I dare not take it, even to keep it safe!” He would then utter the above quote to give Frodo an explanation of just how dangerous a weapon the Ring truly was.
“You must trust yourself. Trust your own strength.”
As the ill-fated journey of the Fellowship of the Ring that set out from Rivendell approaches Moria, Gandalf already begins to see the fractures that will lead to its breakup.
Here, he warns Frodo of the Ring’s dark influence on the group and reminds him of one of the most important lessons from the trilogy. The fate of the Ring is tied to Frodo and it will only be destroyed through him. Gandalf knows this and wisely implores Frodo to trust his own courage and resolve to see the job done, which he’s eventually forced to do when Boromir inevitably betrays the Fellowship and the heroes must splinter off.
“Bilbo Baggins! Do not take me for some conjurer of cheap tricks! I am not trying to rob you! I’m trying to help you.”
When Gandalf witnessed Bilbo Baggins disappear before his very eyes, he suspected that mischievous magic might have been at work. Realizing the potential dangers of wielding many of the world’s magic rings, he attempted to persuade Bilbo to give up his, altogether.
Bilbo immediately became spiteful and aggressive, turning on his friend in a wholly uncharacteristic fashion. Realizing that there was more to this ring than met the eye, Gandalf struck fear into Bilbo to make him back down by uttering this quote in an intimidating fashion, which was enough to snap him back to reality.
“I do not ask for pardon, Master Elrond, for the Black Speech of Mordor may yet be heard in every corner of the West!”
At the original secret council in Rivendell, a select few would get to see the One Ring revealed in all of its majestic, yet menacing presence. Boromir of Gondor immediately fancied the ring, giving an impassioned speech as he inched ever closer to it.
Realizing that temptation was already striking at the hearts of men, Gandalf erupted from his seat with a magical presence, while quoting the One Ring’s inscription in the language of Mordor, itself. It was enough to severely disturb everyone present, giving Gandalf an opportunity to utter this quote and remind everyone what the ring truly represented.
“All We Have To Do Is Decide What To Do With The Time That Is Given To Us.”
Gandalf is no more sage-like than he is in his short conversation with Frodo in the Mines of Moria. This is the last time that the two will really speak before the end of the trilogy, so it’s good that he imparts so much wisdom to the Ringbearer before they’re separated for the rest of the journey to Mordor.
Gandalf, unlike, Saruman, keeps his humility throughout the story and this unforgettable quote shows that the wise wizard understands that even he cannot control the ultimate fate of the world. Whether they be wizards or Hobbits, the best that anyone can do is what they can when they can.
“If In Doubt, Meriadoc, Always Follow Your Nose!”
This is just good sense. In Gandalf’s case, he was using his sense of smell to find his way out of the Mines of Moria, following the scent of fresh air to the surface.
Although most probably don’t have a strong enough sense of smell to sniff their way out of a labyrinth, even mere mortals are capable of trusting in their senses and instinctive judgment.
“True courage is knowing not when to take a life, but when to spare one.”
Gandalf offers this observation on courage to Bilbo after giving him Sting in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, it’s generally wise advice to give to anyone, not just someone at the beginning of a very dangerous quest. But it has an extra layer of importance in that particular chapter in the story.
Near the end of the movie, in the Goblin tunnels of the Misty Mountains, Bilbo has found the One Ring and can now disappear at will, giving him the opportunity to kill Gollum with Sting and escape. It would be so easy for Bilbo to do but pity stays his hand. This act of compassion ultimately leads to the destruction of the Ring and the saving of all of Middle Earth, as it’s Gollum who leads Frodo into Mordor and forces the Ring over the edge and back into the flames.
“Death Is Just Another Path - One That We All Must Take.”
By the time that he offers these kind words to Pippin during the Battle of Minas Tirith, Gandalf has already died himself in a sense, or as much as Gandalf can die, having shed the name of Gandalf the Grey and returned as Gandalf the White.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy often views death as another great journey, either metaphorically or literally in some cases. The wisdom shown here is a simple observation on the inevitability of death but has a powerful impact thanks in no small part to the emotional performance of Ian McKellen.
“The World Is Not In Your Books And Maps. It Is Out There.”
Gandalf says these words to Bilbo Baggins as he implores him to join the Dwarves at the beginning of their quest to retake Erebor at the beginning of the Hobbit trilogy. He doesn’t sugarcoat the danger the lies ahead for him but the wizard is ultimately quite correct in his belief that the journey will change Bilbo for the better.
Though heartbreaking and frightening in many instances, Bilbo learns so much about the world and himself through his adventure and the wise words remind fans of how the fantasy series can inspire real action and adventure in people’s lives.
“There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides the will of evil.”
Gandalf reminds fairly candid about his actual mission in Middle Earth and even the wisest of all the characters freely admit that neither they nor anyone else understands the wizard’s full purpose in the events. It’s possible that even Gandalf himself doesn’t understand it either and his wisdom often represents some of the most profound meditations on faith seen throughout the story.
Here, in the Mines of Moria, he reminds Frodo that though evil may be powerful, the forces of good also have their own grand schemes and exercise their own great powers, whether they be coming from tall and mighty wizards or from small Shirefolk.
“It Is The Small Things, Everyday Deeds Of Ordinary Folk That Keeps The Darkness At Bay. Simple Acts Of Love And Kindness.”
Although heroes certainly deserve acknowledgment for their great deeds, a good deal of the credit belongs to the people they deemed worth fighting for. The great people of history were not born in a vacuum.
They were shaped by the societies they were raised in, inspired by the people who surrounded them. Most of the Hobbits of the Shire may not have had a direct hand in vanquishing Sauron, but it was their goodness that Frodo crossed Middle Earth to protect.
“Do Not Be Too Eager To Deal Out Death In Judgment.”
This quote is an important one, as it speaks directly to humanity’s basest of instincts - namely aggression.
Rather than agree with Frodo’s emerging hatred of Gollum for the predicament he finds himself in, Gandalf was quick to point out that murder is not the answer. To give in to rage and vengeance, even due to perceived injustice, can send anyone down the same path as those they believe are transgressors.
“I will not say do not weep, for not all tears are an evil.”
Gandalf knew the power of emotions, and the role they play in life. When the threat of Sauron had passed, Gandalf realized his task on Middle Earth was complete and set out to join the Elves on the journey to the Undying Lands. The parting was bittersweet, as his bond with the Hobbits had become strengthened throughout the ordeals the Fellowship faced.
This quote encourages the embracing of an emotion that many human beings feel shame for expressing when they have no reason to. Being moved to tears is an acknowledgment of the pain we all face at key moments in our lives, and that realization can help us cope with them accordingly.
