“ Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends. ”
J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring (1954). copy citation
| Author | J. R. R. Tolkien |
|---|---|
| Source | The Fellowship of the Ring |
| Topic | death mercy justice judgement |
| Date | 1954 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | Gandalf line |
| Weblink |
Meaning and analysis
Kwize Master
Gandalf and Frodo discuss about Gollum, and the fact that Bilbo, in the past, spared the vile creature when he had the opportunity to kill him. Frodo argues that Gollum becoming as bad as an Orc, he should have been eliminated, but Gandalf tries to moderate his vehemence. He thus judges that even if it is unlikely, Gollum can still change, and most importantly that even the wisest of men cannot understand all the ramifications of a situation, and that it is therefore very difficult to sentence someone to death.
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