The recent release of a new teaser trailer for Amazon’s sprawling epic series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has raised expectations for the new series to a fever pitch, as many fans of Tolkien and his work relish the opportunity to return to Middle-earth. At the same time, the imminent release of this new adaptation of the professor’s work also calls to mind Peter Jackson’s grand trilogy, released twenty years ago, as well as its numerous characters.
Of all of the many great figures that appear, arguably Gandalf has some of the best quotes, as the users of Ranker have helpfully pointed out.
Note: Ranker lists are live and continue to accrue votes, so some rankings may have changed after this publishing.
An Ominous History
“They Have Taken The Bridge And The Second Hall. We Have Barred The Gates, But Cannot Hold Them For Long. The Ground Shakes... Drums. Drums In The Deep. We Cannot Get Out. A Shadow Moves In The Dark... We Cannot Get Out... They Are Coming.”
One of the things that makes The Lord of the Rings so appealing is its rich history and detailed mythology. Here, Gandalf is reading from a book left behind by the Dwarves of Moria during their failed attempt to reclaim it from the Orcs.
The way that Gandalf delivers the lines acts to create an aura of fear for the Fellowship, as they realize that these mines might not be as empty as they’d hoped. What’s more, this quote also helps to show just how vast the history of Middle-earth really is.
A Tragic Epitaph
“‘Here Lies Balin, Son Of Fundin, Lord Of Moria.’ He Is Dead Then. It's As I Feared.”
Balin is arguably one of the best dwarves in Tolkien’s world, full of kindness and generosity. It is thus much more devastating to find that he has been long dead by the time The Lord of the Rings begins.
There is, moreover, such a somber tone in Gandalf’s voice that it’s impossible not to feel his sadness, as he comes to realize that one of his companions from the events of The Hobbit has perished here, in this place far from home. It’s a reminder of how heavy a burden the past often is.
Looking Out For His Friend
Gandalf The Grey: “I Think You've Had That Ring Quite Long Enough.” Bilbo: “You Want It For Yourself!” Gandalf The Grey: “Bilbo Bagins! Do Not Take Me For Some Conjurer Of Cheap Tricks! I Am Not Trying To Rob You! I'm Trying To Help You. All Your Long Years, We Have Been Friends. Trust Me, As You Once Did. Let It Go.” Bilbo: “You're Right, Gandalf. The Ring Must Go To Frodo. Well, It's Late, The Road Is Long.” Gandalf The Grey: “Bilbo. The Ring Is Still In Your Pocket.” Bilbo: “Oh, Yes... Of Course.”
The relationship between Bilbo and Gandalf is one of the most important in the movies, and it’s clear that Gandalf truly does care for the hobbit and is always looking out for him. That’s what makes this quote so powerful and so disturbing, because it’s clear that Gandalf recognizes the pernicious influence the One Ring has already begun to have on Bilbo.
However, he doesn’t let this stand in the way of continuing to look out for his best interests, even when, under the compulsion of the Ring, Bilbo overwhelmingly rejects it.
Words To Live By
“Keep It Secret. Keep It Safe.”
Just as he looks after Bilbo, Gandalf has a similar soft spot for Frodo, particularly once he comes into custody of the One Ring. There is such an intensity in the way that Ian McKellen delivers this particular line, and he makes it clear just how frantic Gandalf has become now that he suspects that the One Ring is something more sinister than just a trinket Bilbo found in the Misty Mountains.
It’s a well-executed piece of foreshadowing, demonstrating how the story is about to turn much darker.
Old Friends
Frodo: “To Tell You The Truth, Bilbo's Been A Bit Odd Lately. I Mean...More Than Usual. He's Taking To Locking Himself In His Study. He Spends Hours And Hours Poring Over Old Maps When He Thinks I'm Not Looking. He's Up To Something. All Right, Then, Keep Your Secrets. But I Know You Have Something To Do With It.” Gandalf The Grey: “Goodness Gracious Me! Frodo: Before You Came Along, We Bagginses Were Very Well Thought Of.” Gandalf The Grey: “Indeed?” Frodo: “Never Had Any Adventures Or Did Anything Unexpected.” Gandalf The Grey: “If You're Referring To The Incident With The Dragon, I Was Barely Involved. All I Did Was Give Your Uncle A Little Nudge Out Of The Door.” Frodo: “Whatever You Did, You’ve Been Officially Labeled A 'disturber Of The Peace.'” Gandalf The Grey: “Oh, Really?” Frodo: “Gandalf, I'm Glad You're Back.” Gandalf The Grey: “So Am I, Dear Boy! So Am I.”
The early scenes of The Fellowship of the Ring are some of the most light-hearted in the movie, as Gandalf returns to the Shire. In this conversation with Frodo, he makes it clear why he is such a beloved character.
He responds to Frodo’s gentle chiding with a wry wit of his own. Beneath it all, however, it’s clear that these two people really do care very much for one another and that each brings something important and valuable to their relationship.
A Fearsome Danger
Boromir: “What Is This New Devilry?” Gandalf The Grey: “A Balrog... A Demon Of The Ancient World. This Foe Is Beyond Any Of You. Run!!!”
Many formidable creatures appear in The Lord of the Rings, but few beings are as powerful and terrifying as the Balrog. Gandalf, more than any of the other members of the Fellowship, knows just what this entails, as this quote makes abundantly clear.
However, it’s a testament to Gandalf’s strength as a character that he recognizes something very important: that he is the only one who has even the barest chance against it. It is one of those moments where he shows his bravery and essentially good nature, in that he is unwilling to put them in danger.
A Short Fuse
Gandalf The Grey: “Confound It All, Samwise Gamgee! Have You Been Eavesdropping?!” Sam: “I Ain't Been Droppin' No Eaves Sir, Honest. I Was Just Cutting The Grass Under The Window There, If You'll Follow Me.” Gandalf The Grey: “A Little Late For Trimming The Verge, Don't You Think?” Sam: “I Heard Raised Voices–” Gandalf The Grey: “What Did You Hear?! Speak!” Sam: “N-Nothing Important! That Is, I Heard A Good Deal About A Ring And Dark Lord And Something About The End Of The World, But... Please, Mr. Gandalf, Sir, Don't Hurt Me. Don't Turn Me Into Anything... Unnatural.” Gandalf The Grey: “No... Perhaps Not. I've Thought Of A Better Use For You.”
Though Sam might be one of the most likable characters in The Lord of the Rings, he still has an ability to get himself into trouble, particularly when it comes to Gandalf. In this quote, Gandalf manages to be both very sinister and very funny at the same time.
Though he could easily have reprimanded Samwise in more stringent terms, he reveals that he knows exactly the use that the nosy gardener can be put to. He seems to know, even at this early stage, just how vital Sam will be to Frodo’s quest to destroy the One Ring.
He Doesn’t Suffer Fools Gladly
Gandalf The Grey: “I Once Knew Every Spell In All The Tongues Of Orcs” Pippin: “What Are You Going To Do, Then?” Gandalf The Grey: “Knock Your Head Against These Doors, Peregrin Took! And If That Does Not Shatter Them, And I Am Allowed A Little Peace From Foolish Questions, I Will Try To Find The Opening Words.”
Pippin is one of the best hobbits of The Lord of the Rings, even if he does have a tendency to speak before he thinks. In this case, he asks Gandalf a sensible question, even if it’s one the wizard doesn’t want to hear. Though he seems to speak harshly to the young member of the Fellowship, there’s still something endearingly curmudgeonly about Gandalf’s delivery of the line.
He might seem quite fierce on the outside, but it’s still clear that he has a great deal of fondness for all of the hobbits, even when they are irritating.
Foolish Took
“Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next Time, and rid us of your stupidity!”
There are few Gandalf quotes that are quite as humorous as this one, in which he sharply rebukes Pippin for being foolish enough to send a skeleton crashing down into an open well in Moria.
Once again, it’s clear that Gandalf is very angry but, at the same time, he has more patience with the foolish Took than others (including Saruman) would have done in the same circumstance. As always, Gandalf can never quite bring himself to be truly angry with hobbits, despite their silly behavior.
The Greatest Sacrifice
“Fly, You Fools!”
There are many reasons why Gandalf should be seen as one of the bravest characters in The Lord of the Rings, but his decision to face off against the Balrog, and his subsequent injunction for the rest of the Fellowship to flee, is one of the most notable. It’s an achingly poignant moment, as one can see from the look in Gandalf’s eyes that he knows he’s doomed.
Even in this moment, however, he never loses sight of his commitment to see to the well-being of the other members of the Fellowship.