December 29, 2002
Yet another Tolkien quote
Not from The Lord of the Rings or even The Silmarillion, but from "Aldarion and Erendis" in Unfinished Tales:
"I am in too great doubt to rule. To prepare or to let be? To prepare for war, which is yet only guessed: train craftsmen and tillers in the midst of peace for bloodspilling and battle: put iron in the hands of greedy captains who will love only conquest, and count the slain as their glory? Will they say to Eru: [God - MT] At least your enemies were amongst them? Or to fold hands, while friends die unjustly: let men live in blind peace, until the ravisher is at the gate? What then will they do: match naked hands against iron and die in vain, or flee leaving the cries of women behind them? Will they say to Eru: At least I spilled no blood?
Yeah, Tolkien was simplistic about war.
Posted by Mac Thomason at December 29, 2002 05:01 AM
Comments
Tolkien was a brilliant man. And his appearance of simplicity only makes him more brilliant.
Posted by: Sean Kirby at December 29, 2002 04:34 PM
I read all Tolkien's books. Now I've seen all the movies, and the cartoon features.
Posted by: Steve Plonk at December 29, 2002 05:32 PM
Tolkien's critics and the ones arguing about the allegories are, to put it plainly, morons.
Puh-leeze. Deconstructionists? Yeah, let's ignore the author's intent and make up what WE think he meant.
Posted by: Meryl Yourish at December 30, 2002 12:56 AM
I believe that Tolkien is one of the writers who everyone should read just not to lag behind. All his books are excellent.
Posted by: Tolkien at March 17, 2004 10:43 AM
Can you imagine that Tolkien is not on my reading list for university (I study English at Salzburg)???????
I cannot, but that's the way it is. Just unwise... What some people just miss...
Posted by: Martina at February 26, 2006 07:04 AM