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Gollum said nothing to them, until he had drunk deeply and…

“Gollum said nothing to them, until he had drunk deeply and washed himself in the stream. Then he came up to them, licking his lips. ‘Better now,’ he said. ‘Are we rested? Ready to go on? Nice hobbits, they sleep beautifully. Trust Sméagol now? Very, very good.” quote by J.R.R. Tolkien
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““Gollum said nothing to them, until he had drunk deeply and washed himself in the stream. Then he came up to them, licking his lips. ‘Better now,’ he said. ‘Are we rested? Ready to go on? Nice hobbits, they sleep beautifully. Trust Sméagol now? Very, very good.””

J.R.R. Tolkien

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Gollum, after drinking and washing, pretends to be refreshed, but his words hint at lingering doubt and hidden motives.

In simple terms: Gollum’s false calm masks inner uncertainty.

Key Takeaway

Beware of superficial reassurance.

Themes

trust deception inner conflict

Mood

cautious analytical

Type

literary character

When to use this quote

  • negotiations
  • team leadership
  • conflict resolution

Key Concepts

appearance vs reality self-awareness vigilance

Questions to Reflect On

  • What signs reveal true intentions?
  • How do you verify trustworthiness?
A Different Perspective

Surface calm can hide ulterior motives.

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