Sam's hand wavered. His mind was hot with wrath and the…
““Sam's hand wavered. His mind was hot with wrath and the memory of evil. I would be just to slay this treacherous, murderous creature, just and many times deserved; and also it seemed the only safe thing to do. But deep in his heart there was something that restrained him: he could not strike this thing lying in the dust, forlorn, ruinous, utterly wretched. He himself, though only for a little while, had borne the Ring, and now dimly he guessed the agony of Gollum's shrivelled mind and body, enslaved to that Ring, unable to find peace or relief ever in life again. But Sam has no words to express what he felt.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Sam struggles with vengeance versus compassion, recalling his own suffering under the Ring, and chooses mercy over killing a weakened foe.
In simple terms: Sam feels pity for the tormented creature despite his anger.
Key Takeaway
Choose compassion over revenge.
Themes
compassion
inner conflict
redemption
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- battlefield
- personal crisis
- decision making
- forgiving a
Key Concepts
empathy
moral dilemma
the Ring’s corruption
Questions to Reflect On
- What would you do when faced with a vulnerable enemy?
- How does personal suffering influence moral choices?
A Different Perspective
Mercy may not bring immediate safety or closure.