Content Warning: The following article contains spoilers for the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
The recently concluded first season of The Rings of Power has left fans with some burning questions, which likely won’t be answered until its highly anticipated second season. In the meantime, fans are probably revisiting the award-winning Lord of the Rings trilogy, which introduced iconic heroes like Frodo and Gandalf, as well as legendary villains like Sauron and Saruman.
Saruman says several unforgettable lines over the course of the trilogy, some of which perfectly sum up his character. The best ones often capture his personality, motivations, and major actions in the trilogy. As viewers revisit or discover the movies for the first time, it’s the ideal time to look back at the quotes that reflect Saruman’s character.
“I Gave You The Chance Of Aiding Me Willingly.”
Saruman and Gandalf once shared similar values and allies, as the two Wizards were sent to do good as emissaries of the Valar. It soon becomes clear in the first movie that Saruman and Gandalf are now rivals, as the White Wizard has been corrupted by Sauron and the One Ring.
In fact, his certainty in his decision and callousness in the way he treats Gandalf is easy to see when he berates the Wizard for not “aiding” him “willingly.” He goes as far as to warn him that he has “elected the way of pain” before hurling him atop the Orthanc in a show of power and cruelty.
“Against The Power Of Mordor There Can Be No Victory.”
Saruman allies himself with who he believes to be the most powerful character in LotR, as he’s convinced that the only way to survive in the future is to be on Sauron’s side. This is apparent in the way he tries to persuade Gandalf to join him by explaining that “there can be no victory” against Mordor.
He even mocks the idea of Gandalf’s hope in “a Hobbit” that “could contend with the will of Sauron.” The lines highlight his certainty in the side he chooses, while also hinting at Saruman’s tendency to undermine anything and anyone who doesn’t have absolute power.
“We Have Only To Remove Those Who Oppose Us.”
He may be an antagonist, but there’s no denying that Saruman is cunning and strategic. He seemingly doesn’t get specific orders from Sauron, just commands about his goal. So when “orders from Mordor” arrive, Saruman plans to “drive the machinery of war with the sword and the spear and the iron fist of the Orc.”
His complex plot to “remove those who oppose” them does end up providing Sauron with a formidable army. It proves that the Wizard is incredibly intelligent, even if he is, unfortunately, using his talents for the wrong side.
“Save Your Pity And Your Mercy – I Have No Use For It!”
Despite witnessing the fall of Isengard and knowing that he has lost, Saruman refuses to concede or even admit defeat when confronted by Gandalf and his allies. The kindhearted Gandalf even offers for his life to “be spared” if he would just “come down” from the Orthanc.
The prideful and egoistic Wizard could never abandon his ego, though, as he even manages to insult Gandalf’s companions and says he doesn’t need their “pity” and “mercy.” It’s a foolish final choice he makes that leads to his gruesome demise.
“Your Love Of The Halfings’ Leaf Has Clearly Slowed Your Mind.”
One of Saruman’s most iconic quotes is said during his initial conversation with Gandalf, who is recounting what he has learned about the Ring. Gandalf remarks on how he couldn’t believe it was in the Shire all along, which prompts Saruman’s rude response about how he “did not have the wit to see it.”
He pushes the insult further by accusing Gandalf’s “love of the halflings’ leaf” as having “slowed” his “mind.” It’s an excellent example of how condescending Saruman can be – he always thinks he’s better than his peers. Plus, it’s not hard to imagine him believing he would have sensed the Ring was there much earlier.
“Rip Them All Down.”
Not every Wizard is a good friend of nature like Gandalf, it seems, as Saruman doesn’t care to ruin part of the Forest of Fangorn for the war. His callousness about the Ents and trees when he commands his servants to “rip them all down” doesn’t come without consequences.
It’s a line that reflects just how far gone Saruman is thanks to his service to Sauron. He likely wouldn’t have dared to touch the forest knowing about the Ents had he not been so obsessed with building an army for the Dark Lord of Mordor.
“You Do Not Know Pain, You Do Not Know Fear.”
Saruman creates the Uruk-hai by breeding Orcs and Men to create a stronger being worthy of Mordor’s army. He sees them more as tools than anything else, which is obvious in how he riles them up to go after the Fellowship by reminding them that they “do not know pain” nor “fear.”
His “fighting Uruk-hai” is emblematic of the kind of horrific things Saruman is capable of while in service to Sauron. He’ll raze forests, create terrifying monsters, and destroy anyone in his way. This kind of boundless evil from him and his Master is part of what makes them such effective antagonists.
“The World Is Changing.”
Like Gandalf, Saruman is a Maiar sent by the Valar to promote peace and order in Middle-earth. Saruman has lost sight of his original purpose during the events of the trilogy, though, declaring that “the world is changing” and that “a new order will rise” (one that includes him by Sauron’s side).
His terrifying speech about how “the old world will burn in the fires of industry” emphasize how drastically Saruman has deviated from what used to be a respectable and noble Wizard. The longer he’s under Saruman’s service, the more he believes in twisted visions of a dark future.
“Too Long Have These Peasants Stood Against You.”
Saruman’s first showcase of Sauron’s wrath happens on the outskirts of Rohan where a small village is attacked and its citizens killed. Saruman declares with a hint of pride that “these peasants” have “stood against” Sauron for “too long.”
The fact that he calls Rohan’s citizens’ “peasants” is indicative of his inflated ego, as he sees Men as inferior and expendable beings who should be removed from Middle-earth. The very Men he’s supposed to be helping become the casualties in Sauron’s brutal war in LotR.
“So You Have Chosen Death.”
When Gandalf escapes the Orthanc thanks to Gwaihir’s help, Saruman realizes that his pleas for his old friend to side with him and Sauron are now useless. He declares that Gandalf has “chosen death,” which is among the most memorable lines from the trilogy.
Some fans may interpret this as a sense of lingering sadness in Saruman, who is disappointed by his old friend’s refusal to join him. It can also easily align with Saruman’s more ruthless side, as he’s quick to seal Gandalf’s fate, genuinely believing that he would be vanquished by Sauron’s army.