Memorable quotes for
The Lord of the Rings (1978) More at IMDbPro »

Gandalf: One ring to rule them all; one ring to find them. One ring to keep them all, and in the darkness bind them!

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Sam: Woah, Sam Gamgee, your legs are too short, so use your head!
[thinking]
Sam: Nim, nim, nim, nim, nim... the boats!

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[after Gandalf opens the door to Moria]
Legolas: So all you had to do was say friend... and enter.
Gilmi: Those were happier times...

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Sam: Straight stairs, winding stairs what comes after that?
Gollum: We shall see, oh yes... We shall see.

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[Frodo gasps and lunges after the ring after Gandalf has tossed it into the lit fireplace]
Gandalf: [restraining Frodo] Wait. Do you desire it so much already?
Frodo Baggins: [lying] No, but, but why ruin it?
Gandalf: Because it is altogether *evil*. It will corrupt and destroy anyone who wears it, until he passes into the world of shadows under the power of Sauron, the Dark Lord of Mordor.
Frodo Baggins: [distraught] Not Bilbo!
Gandalf: [pointing] *You* are the one who has the Ring now.

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Frodo Baggins: I wish it need not happen in my time.
Gandalf: So do I.

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[a crow abruptly caws and takes off into the sky]
Frodo Baggins: Because of Gollum! Oh, Gandalf... what am I to do? What a pity that Bilbo didn't kill that vile creature when he had the chance.
Gandalf: Yes, it was pity. Pity and mercy.

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[on what to do with the Ring]
Frodo Baggins: [brightly] I'll give it to you, Gandalf!
[Gandalf looks horrified]
Frodo Baggins: You're wise and powerful! Will you not...
Gandalf: [anguished] No! Do not tempt me! I would wish to turn it to good, and it cannot be used so! Meaning to be kind, I would become as terrible as the Dark Lord himself. Do not tempt me!
[sighing]
Gandalf: I shall have need of such strength so soon.

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[Gandalf has caught Sam spying]
Sam: Oh, Mr. Frodo, sir! Don't let him hurt me, sir! Don't let him turn me into something unnatural!

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Pippin: [after Gandalf has read the dwarves' book in moria]
[panicked]
Pippin: Gandalf, I don't want to stay here!
Gandalf: [soothingly] We're going now, Pippin.

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Gollum: My Precious. My Precious.

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Aragorn: [as Boromir's funeral boat floats away] Either we take the last boat and follow Frodo, or we follow the orcs on foot.
Legolas: Pippin and Merry may be dead by now, we don't know.
Aragorn: We cannot forsake them... the fate of the ringbearer is my hands no longer, the company of the Ring has played it's part.
Aragorn: We follow the orcs!

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