The Fellowship of the Ring

by

J.R.R. Tolkien

The antagonist and titular character of The Lord of the Rings series. The tyrannical Dark Lord Sauron of Mordor gained almost infinite power in the Second Age, his mastery over Middle-earth checked only by the courage of the armies led by the High Kings Gil-Galad and Elendil in the War of the last Alliance. He has now risen to power again and desires to repossess his One Ring, as this will allow him total domination of the Free Peoples of Middle-earth. In The Fellowship of the Ring, the power-hungry Sauron is an ever-potent threat who desperately searches for Frodo using his many servants. Elrond hopes that Sauron can be defeated if seemingly insignificant figures such as hobbits can slip into Mordor to destroy the Ring; Sauron is unlikely to suspect such a move, instead anticipating that a new adversary will challenge him by wielding the exceptional power of his Ring. Although Sauron never emerges in full form in the novel, he appears as a Great Eye when Frodo views him Galadriel’s mirror. By only acting through his dreadful agents such as the Black Riders, the villainous Dark Lord remains a mysterious, distant figure who invokes terror across Middle-earth and represents pure evil.

Sauron Quotes in The Fellowship of the Ring

The The Fellowship of the Ring quotes below are all either spoken by Sauron or refer to Sauron. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Good vs. Evil Theme Icon
).
Book 1, Chapter 2 Quotes

“A mortal, Frodo, who keeps one of the Great Rings, does not die, but he does not grow or obtain more life, he merely continues, until at last every minute is a weariness. And if he often uses the Ring to make himself invisible, he fades: he becomes in the end invisible permanently, and walks in the twilight under the eye of the dark power that rules the Rings. Yes, sooner or later – later, if he is strong or well-meaning to begin with, but neither strength nor good purpose will last – sooner or later the dark power will devour him.”

“How terrifying!” said Frodo. There was another long silence. The sound of Sam Gamgee cutting the lawn came in from the garden.

Related Characters: Frodo Baggins (speaker), Gandalf the Grey (speaker), Samwise (Sam) Gamgee, Sauron, Bilbo Baggins, The Black Riders / Ringwraiths / Nazgûl
Related Symbols: The One Ring
Page Number: 46
Explanation and Analysis:

"So now, when its master was awake once more and sending out his dark thought from Mirkwood, it abandoned Gollum. Only to be picked up by the most unlikely person imaginable: Bilbo from the Shire!

Behind that there was something else at work, beyond any design of the Ring-maker. I can put it no plainer than by saying that Bilbo was meant to find the Ring, and not by its maker. In which case you also were meant to have it. And that may be an encouraging thought."

Related Characters: Gandalf the Grey (speaker), Frodo Baggins, Sauron, Bilbo Baggins, Gollum / Smeagol
Related Symbols: The One Ring
Page Number: 54-5
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 2, Chapter 10 Quotes

"We of Minas Tirith have been staunch through long years of trial. We do not desire the power of Wizard-lords, only strength to defend ourselves, strength in a just cause. And behold! in our need chance brings to light the Ring of Power. It is a gift, I say; a gift to the foes of Mordor. It is mad not to use it, to use the power of the Enemy against him. The fearless, the ruthless, these alone will achieve victory. What could not Aragorn do? Or if he refuses, why not Boromir? The Ring would give me power of Command. How I would drive the hosts of Mordor, and all men would flock to my banner!"

Related Characters: Boromir (speaker), Frodo Baggins, Gandalf the Grey, Aragorn / Strider, Sauron
Related Symbols: The One Ring
Page Number: 36
Explanation and Analysis:

The Misty Mountains were crawling like anthills: orcs were issuing out of a thousand holes. Under the boughs of Mirkwood there was deadly strife of Elves and Men and fell bests. The land of the Beornings was aflame; a cloud was over Moria; smoke rose on the borders of Lórien.

Horsemen were galloping on the grass of Rohan; wolves poured from Isengard. From the havens of Harad ships of war put out to sea; and out of the East Men were moving endlessly: swordsmen, spearmen, bowmen upon horses, chariots of chieftains and laden wains. All the power of the Dark Lord was in motion. Then turning south again he beheld Minas Tirith. Far away it seemed, and beautiful: white-walled, many towered, proud and fair upon its mountain-seat; its battlements glittered with steel, and its turrets were bright with many banners. Hope leaped in [Frodo's] heart. But against Minas Tirith was set another fortress, greater and more strong. Thither, eastward, unwilling his eye was drawn. It passed the ruined bridges of Osgiliath, the grinning gates of Minas Morgul, and the haunted Mountains, and it looked upon Gorgoroth, the valley of terror in the Land of Mordor.

Related Characters: Frodo Baggins, Sauron, Saruman the White
Related Symbols: The One Ring
Page Number: 391
Explanation and Analysis:
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Sauron Quotes in The Fellowship of the Ring

The The Fellowship of the Ring quotes below are all either spoken by Sauron or refer to Sauron. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Good vs. Evil Theme Icon
).
Book 1, Chapter 2 Quotes

“A mortal, Frodo, who keeps one of the Great Rings, does not die, but he does not grow or obtain more life, he merely continues, until at last every minute is a weariness. And if he often uses the Ring to make himself invisible, he fades: he becomes in the end invisible permanently, and walks in the twilight under the eye of the dark power that rules the Rings. Yes, sooner or later – later, if he is strong or well-meaning to begin with, but neither strength nor good purpose will last – sooner or later the dark power will devour him.”

“How terrifying!” said Frodo. There was another long silence. The sound of Sam Gamgee cutting the lawn came in from the garden.

Related Characters: Frodo Baggins (speaker), Gandalf the Grey (speaker), Samwise (Sam) Gamgee, Sauron, Bilbo Baggins, The Black Riders / Ringwraiths / Nazgûl
Related Symbols: The One Ring
Page Number: 46
Explanation and Analysis:

"So now, when its master was awake once more and sending out his dark thought from Mirkwood, it abandoned Gollum. Only to be picked up by the most unlikely person imaginable: Bilbo from the Shire!

Behind that there was something else at work, beyond any design of the Ring-maker. I can put it no plainer than by saying that Bilbo was meant to find the Ring, and not by its maker. In which case you also were meant to have it. And that may be an encouraging thought."

Related Characters: Gandalf the Grey (speaker), Frodo Baggins, Sauron, Bilbo Baggins, Gollum / Smeagol
Related Symbols: The One Ring
Page Number: 54-5
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 2, Chapter 10 Quotes

"We of Minas Tirith have been staunch through long years of trial. We do not desire the power of Wizard-lords, only strength to defend ourselves, strength in a just cause. And behold! in our need chance brings to light the Ring of Power. It is a gift, I say; a gift to the foes of Mordor. It is mad not to use it, to use the power of the Enemy against him. The fearless, the ruthless, these alone will achieve victory. What could not Aragorn do? Or if he refuses, why not Boromir? The Ring would give me power of Command. How I would drive the hosts of Mordor, and all men would flock to my banner!"

Related Characters: Boromir (speaker), Frodo Baggins, Gandalf the Grey, Aragorn / Strider, Sauron
Related Symbols: The One Ring
Page Number: 36
Explanation and Analysis:

The Misty Mountains were crawling like anthills: orcs were issuing out of a thousand holes. Under the boughs of Mirkwood there was deadly strife of Elves and Men and fell bests. The land of the Beornings was aflame; a cloud was over Moria; smoke rose on the borders of Lórien.

Horsemen were galloping on the grass of Rohan; wolves poured from Isengard. From the havens of Harad ships of war put out to sea; and out of the East Men were moving endlessly: swordsmen, spearmen, bowmen upon horses, chariots of chieftains and laden wains. All the power of the Dark Lord was in motion. Then turning south again he beheld Minas Tirith. Far away it seemed, and beautiful: white-walled, many towered, proud and fair upon its mountain-seat; its battlements glittered with steel, and its turrets were bright with many banners. Hope leaped in [Frodo's] heart. But against Minas Tirith was set another fortress, greater and more strong. Thither, eastward, unwilling his eye was drawn. It passed the ruined bridges of Osgiliath, the grinning gates of Minas Morgul, and the haunted Mountains, and it looked upon Gorgoroth, the valley of terror in the Land of Mordor.

Related Characters: Frodo Baggins, Sauron, Saruman the White
Related Symbols: The One Ring
Page Number: 391
Explanation and Analysis: