25 Best J.R.R. Tolkien Quotes To Inspire Your Next Adventure

John Ronald Reuel, J.R.R., Tolkien has inspired generations of fantasy lovers since he published his classic fiction series The Lord of the Rings and its prequelThe Hobbit in 1948 and 1932, respectively. From movies and visual media to costumes and figurines, it's hard not to become immersed in the world Tolkien created.

Middle-earth, as it is now known, has its own map, language and species of human-like creatures. His fictional world has become so commonplace today that it's almost as if it is real.

You'll still see people dressed as Gandalf on Halloween and find people debating the books' lore on Reddit. Dragons, wizards and elves are very much alive in Tolkien's world, and he brings them to life in such a convincing way that you might find yourself asking if they just may be hidden as one of the world's best kept secrets.

But the true reason why The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit have survived this long in our hearts is because Tolkien wrote in a way no other author had ever written before. He included songs and limericks, poems, sketches and more that made his storytelling come to life. He could really show his readers everything he needed to about Middle-earth and fashion dynamic characters that we all fell in love with in the process.

Even if you haven’t read the books, you can appreciate Tolkien’s attention to detail and his love for the craft.

Here are 25 of the best J.R.R. Tolkien quotes that will make you want to pick up the books again and go on another breath-taking adventure with Bilbo Baggins by your side. They are guaranteed to help you make it through another day in your Hobbit hole.

1. Embrace wanderlust.

“Not all those who wander are lost.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

2. Get to know people before judging them.

“I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

3. Take a chance on adventure.

“It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

4. Reading is your best escape plan.

“Fantasy is escapist, and that is its glory. If a soldier is imprisioned by the enemy, don't we consider it his duty to escape?. . .If we value the freedom of mind and soul, if we're partisans of liberty, then it's our plain duty to escape, and to take as many people with us as we can!” ― J.R.R. Tolkien

5. Love like no one is watching.

“And he took her in his arms and kissed her under the sunlit sky, and he cared not that they stood high upon the walls in the sight of many.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien

6. Don't mess with wizards.

“Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

7. Seek out entertainment.

“I warn you, if you bore me, I shall take my revenge.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien

8. Enjoy the world because it isn't going away.

“The wide world is all about you: you can fence yourselves in, but you cannot for ever fence it out.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

9. Fighting isn't productive.

“The world is full enough of hurts and mischances without wars to multiply them.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King

10. It's dangerous to go alone — take a buddy!

“Don't go where I can't follow!” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers

11. Have faith in yourself.

“Living by faith includes the call to something greater than cowardly self-preservation.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, J.R.R. Tolkien 4-Book Boxed Set: The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings

12. Actions speak louder than words.

“Fair speech may hide a foul heart.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers

13. Advice isn't always right.

“Advice is a dangerous gift, even from the wise to the wise, and all courses may run ill.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

14. Hobbits are real.

“I am in fact, a hobbit in all but size” ― J.R.R. Tolkien

15. Keep going. And singing.

“The road goes ever on and on.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit or There and Back Again

16. There's another adventure ahead.

“Don't adventures ever have an end? I suppose not. Someone else always has to carry on on the story.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

17. You are as old as you feel.

“I am old, Gandalf. I don't look it, but I am beginning to feel it in my heart of hearts. Well-preserved indeed! Why, I feel all thin, sort of stretched, if you know what I mean: like butter that has been scraped over too much bread. That can't be right. I need a change, or something.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

18. Keep talking to the wise.

“I was talking aloud to myself. A habit of the old: they choose the wisest person present to speak to.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers

19. Don't focus on your enemy.

“It is perilous to study too deeply the arts of the Enemy, for good or for ill.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

20. You can't bring back the dead.

“The way is shut. It was made by those who are Dead, and the Dead keep it, until the time comes. The way is shut.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King

21. Don't live in denial.

“False hopes are more dangerous than fears.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Children of Húrin

22. Know when to be quiet.

“The wise speak only of what they know.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers

23. Riddles are for grown-ups, too.

“A box without hinges, key, or lid, Yet golden treasure inside is hid.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit or There and Back Again

24. We all need a friend.

“A hunted man sometimes wearies of distrust and longs for friendship." ― J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

25. Love is the (not so) secret ingredient.

“For we put the thought of all that we love into all that we make.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

If you're searching for the best quotes and memes to share with the people you love (or just want to feel inspired yourself) ... look no further! From the sweetest love quotes, inspirational sayings, and hilarious friendship truths, we've got you covered.

Meaghan Summers is a writer who covers astrology, pop culture and relationship topics.