Happy Birthday, J.R.R. Tolkien!
If there was ever a literary character I truly relate to, it might just be Bilbo Baggins. We quite enjoy a good meal—or several. We’re not always that best at “peopling.” And we find comfort in our home and routine.
And just like Bilbo, it doesn’t actually take all that much of a push to get me out the door and into adventure.
With J.R.R. Tolkien’s prolific Middle-earth books, which include the Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit (plus several world-expanding works), also came generations of readers who thought that maybe they were ready for an adventure, too.
In honor of Tolkien’s birthday (he was born Jan. 3, 1892), I’ve compiled a few of his quotes about travel and adventure. I’ve even made fancy graphics for each because I’m feeling extra crafty today.
(Side note: You may notice the absence of one popular phrase, “Little by little, one travels far” in the list. This quote doesn’t appear to actually be from Tolkien, in spite of repeated misquotation. I’ve done my best to avoid such pitfalls in my short list below, but let me know if I’ve done J.R.R. wrong!)
(Side side note: All of the quotes are from the books rather than the movies.)
A Walking Song
Still round the corner there may wait
A new road or a secret gate,
And though we pass them by today,
Tomorrow we may come this way
And take the hidden paths that run
Towards the Moon or to the Sun.
Sung by the hobbits in The Fellowship of the Ring while they walk through the shire—a place of familiarity and comfort—this song verse reminds me of this past year. Re-focusing my efforts on the micro-exploration of my own city, I happened upon hidden nooks and crannies in the same neighborhoods I’d previously thought I’d explored to death.
Lush community gardens, pocket parks, historic architecture, abandoned railroad tracks —what is there to discover when you finally choose to turn down a new path?
An Accursed Place
“I don’t like anything here at all.” said Frodo, “step or stone, breath or bone. Earth, air and water all seem accursed. But so our path is laid.”
Okay, this one (spoken by Frodo in The Two Towers) is somewhat a joke, but still, who hasn’t run into trouble while traveling? Whether it’s a hostel with bedbugs, an excruciatingly delayed flight, or six days straight of rain during your beach vacation, sometimes things just don’t go as planned. But, as Samwise (who really is wise) reminds his BFF, no one wants to hear about a vacation that goes perfectly well.
What tales do I tell most from my travels?
Iceland: “Did I ever tell you that our bus fell into a stream?”
Israel: “Did I ever tell you how we accidentally caused half of a hotel to evacuate?”
Italy: “Did I ever tell you about throwing up on the Rome metro?”
Peru: “Did I ever tell you about the time I had a panic attack while riding in a colectivo on the edge of a cliff?”
The Road Goes Ever On
The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can…
Another song from The Fellowship of the Ring, “The Road Goes Ever On” is a reprisal of a song from The Hobbit (see below). Both versions are sung by Bilbo, my heart of hearts.
What travel enthusiast hasn’t felt the pull of the road? Also concisely expressed in the film series when Bilbo says, “I think I’m quite ready for another adventure,” these quotes express what travelers already know: there’s always one more adventure to be had. Always more to do and more to see. Even as we traveled through Peru last January, we were already making a list of things to do next time we visited.
But, at the opposite end, we have this passage, which comes toward the end of Bilbo’s adventuring in The Hobbit:
Roads go ever ever on
Under cloud and under star,
Yet feet that wandering have gone
Turn at last to home afar.
When feet grow weary and funds run out, when our hearts begin to ache for what is Home, many travelers are just as happy to return whence they came as they were to leave. There’s little more joyful to me than returning home to my meowing cat, creaky mattress, and never-the-right-temperature apartment after a few days away.
Not All Those Who Wander…
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost…
How can we have a list of travel-inspiring Tolkien quotes without this Pinterest favorite? Written about Strider/Aragorn in The Fellowship of the Ring, a traveler’s life may not always be the prettiest (no matter what travel blogs insist), but those who choose it do it because they love it.
Another way of saying the first line is to not judge a book by its cover. While this (in my interpretation) refers to what we learn in the Lord of the Rings trilogy [spoiler alert], that Aragorn is destined to be king in spite of his appearances, I would apply this to travel destinations, too. Every place is an opportunity for new experiences and growth. Even if somewhere isn’t high on your priority, if you have the opportunity to go, then do it!
Honorable Mention
“‘It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door,’ he used to say. ‘You step into the Road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.” — Frodo, quoting Bilbo, The Fellowship of the Ring.
Heed the advice of those who went before you and mind your feet when you go.
The Wrap-Up
I’m watching the extended cut of The Fellowship of the Ring as I speak…er, type…and am thinking about how it’s probably time I re-read these books. In fact, this post aligned well with my resolution for 2021: to read more. Let me know what your new year resolutions are in the comments!
I hope this blog post found everyone well and that all those who celebrated holidays over the last few months had wonderful ones.
Until next time, Mel
The Scaredy-Cat's Guide to Travel 
Love this! The road goes ever on and on has always been a favorite. You are going to have to tell me the story of how you evacuated half a hotel and what happened to the other half? Just asking—-lol.
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