WIST Quotations

Tolkien, J.R.R. -- The Lord of the Rings, Vol. 1: The Fellowship of the Ring, Book 2, ch. 2 “The Council of Elrond” [Elrond] (1954)

Dave — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 16:13:19 +0000

The road must be trod, but it will be very hard. And neither strength nor wisdom will carry us far upon it. This quest may be attempted by the weak with as much hope as the strong. Yet such is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere.

J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973) English writer, fabulist, philologist, academic [John Ronald Reuel Tolkien]
The Lord of the Rings, Vol. 1: The Fellowship of the Ring, Book 2, ch. 2 “The Council of Elrond” [Elrond] (1954)
(Source)

Possibly the origin of the spurious "Even the smallest person can change the course of the future." This is said by Galadriel, but only in the film version, The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), screenplay by Fran Wash and Philippa Boyens.

More discussion: Not a Tolkien quote: "Even the smallest person can change the course of the future." - thetolkienist.com.

Aesop -- Fables [Aesopica], “The Lion and the Mouse” (6th C BC) [tr. Jacobs (1894)]

Dave — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 14:57:05 +0000

Little friends may prove great friends.

Aesop (620?-560? BC) Legendary Greek storyteller
Fables [Aesopica], “The Lion and the Mouse” (6th C BC) [tr. Jacobs (1894)]
(Source)

Alternate translations:

"There is no creature so much below another but that he may have it in his power to return a good office." [tr. James (1848)]
"It is possible for even a Mouse to confer benefits on a Lion" [tr. Townsend (1887)]

Forster, E. M. -- “A Book That Influenced Me,” Two Cheers for Democracy (1951)

Dave — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 16:16:05 +0000

To make us feel small in the right way is a function of art; men can only make us feel small in the wrong way.

E. M. Forster (1879-1970) English novelist, essayist, critic, librettist [Edward Morgan Forster]
“A Book That Influenced Me,” Two Cheers for Democracy (1951)
(Source)

Emerson, Ralph Waldo -- Journal (1836)

Dave — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 02:51:19 +0000

The ocean is a large drop; the drop, a small ocean.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) American essayist, lecturer, poet
Journal (1836)

Cicero, Marcus Tullius -- De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum, Book 5, ch. 58

Dave — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 00:53:56 +0000

The beginnings of all things are small.

[Omnium rerum principia parva sunt.]

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) Roman orator, statesman, philosopher
De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum, Book 5, ch. 58

Alt. trans.: "Everything has a small beginning."

Davenant, William -- Gondibert, Canto 2 (1650)

Dave — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 14:54:16 +0000

Small are the seeds fate does unheeded sow
Of slight beginnings to important ends.

William Davenant (1606-1668) English poet and playwright [a.k.a. William D'Avenant]
Gondibert, Canto 2 (1650)

Wordsworth, William -- “Lines Composed a few Miles above Tintern Abbey” (13 Jul 1798)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

That best portion of a good man’s life,
His little, nameless, unremembered acts
Of kindness and love.

William Wordsworth (1770-1850) English poet
“Lines Composed a few Miles above Tintern Abbey” (13 Jul 1798)
(Source)

Often paraphrased into a sentence, e.g., "The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love."