--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I remember nothing about it except a…" description: "\"I remember nothing about it except a philological fact. My mother said nothing about the dragon, but pointed out that one could not say 'a green great ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df9/j-r-r-tolkien-2-1316_dragons_i-remember-nothing-about-it-except-a-phi_2977553.png" --- # I remember nothing about it except a philological fact. My… ![“I remember nothing about it except a philological fact. My mother said nothing about the dragon, but pointed out that one could not say 'a green great dragon', but had to say 'a great green dragon'. I wondered why, and still do. The fact that I remember this is possibly significant, as I do not…” quote by J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df9/j-r-r-tolkien-2-1316_dragons_i-remember-nothing-about-it-except-a-phi_2977553.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df9/j-r-r-tolkien-2-1316_dragons_i-remember-nothing-about-it-except-a-phi_2977553.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df9/j-r-r-tolkien-2-1316_dragons_i-remember-nothing-about-it-except-a-phi_2977553.png) > “I remember nothing about it except a philological fact. My mother said nothing about the dragon, but pointed out that one could not say 'a green great dragon', but had to say 'a great green dragon'. I wondered why, and still do. The fact that I remember this is possibly significant, as I do not think I ever tried to write a story again for many years, and was taken up with language.” [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A trivial linguistic detail sparked a lasting fascination with language and storytelling. **In simple terms:** Small language quirks can inspire lifelong passions. Key Takeaway Notice and explore linguistic nuances. Themes language creativity memory Mood reflective curious Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing workshops - language learning - creative writing - teaching Key Concepts linguistics storytelling Questions to Reflect On - Why do some minor details linger in memory? - How can such details fuel creative work? A Different Perspective Obsessions can distract from broader goals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dragons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragons/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“Beware. Beware. Beware of the big, green dragon that sits on your doorstep. 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Alec jabbed a finger toward him. "Mostly extinct," he said, his voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/just-because-you-said-dragon-demons-were-extinct-i-said-mostly/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Where is he?” Leo sat up, but his head felt like it was floating. They’d landed inside the compound. Something had happened on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/where-is-he-leo-sat-up-but-his-head-felt-like-it-was-floating-they-d/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“Get out,” Dragos said. The dragon was in his voice. Except for the Light Fae male, all the customers rushed for the door.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thea-harrison/get-out-dragos-said-the-dragon-was-in-his-voice-except-for-the-light/) [Thea Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thea-harrison/) > [You have nice manners for a thief and a liar," said the dragon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-have-nice-manners-for-a-thief-and-a-liar-said-the-dragon/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There was a typhoon the day you were born... It is said that a Dragon born in a storm will have a particularly tempestuous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-see/there-was-a-typhoon-the-day-you-were-born-it-is-said-that-a-dragon/) [Lisa See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-see/) > [“You – you don't really want to hear me talking about my love life, do you?" "'No' seems such a flimsy and inadequate little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fayjay/you-you-don-t-really-want-to-hear-me-talking-about-my-love-life-do/) FayJay ## More by J. R. R. Tolkien > [I never liked Hans Christian Andersen because I knew he was always getting at me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/i-never-liked-hans-christian-andersen-because-i-knew-he-was-always/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [No half-heartedness and no worldly fear must turn us aside from following the light unflinchingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/no-half-heartedness-and-no-worldly-fear-must-turn-us-aside-from/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [If you don't know where you're going, you'll wind up somewhere else. Not all those who wander are lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/if-you-don-t-know-where-you-re-going-you-ll-wind-up-somewhere-else/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [The enemy? His sense of duty was no less than yours, I deem. You wonder what his name is, where he came from. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/the-enemy-his-sense-of-duty-was-no-less-than-yours-i-deem-you-wonder/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [Much of the same sort of degraded and filthy talk can still be heard among the orc-minded; dreary and repetitive with hatred and contempt,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/much-of-the-same-sort-of-degraded-and-filthy-talk-can-still-be-heard/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [It was a hobbit hole, and that means comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/it-was-a-hobbit-hole-and-that-means-comfort/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [Adventures make one late for supper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/adventures-make-one-late-for-supper/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [The Lord of the Rings is of course a fundamentally religious and Catholic work; unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/the-lord-of-the-rings-is-of-course-a-fundamentally-religious-and/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [I have no help to send, therefore I must go myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/i-have-no-help-to-send-therefore-i-must-go-myself/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [Many are the strange chances of the world, and help oft shall come from the hands of the weak when the Wise falter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/many-are-the-strange-chances-of-the-world-and-help-oft-shall-come/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [Mind your P's and Q's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/mind-your-p-s-and-q-s/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [If you're going to have a complicated story you must work to a map; otherwise you'll never make a map of it afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/if-you-re-going-to-have-a-complicated-story-you-must-work-to-a-map/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [Outside the ring of dancing warriors with spears and axes stood wolves at a respectful distance, watching and waiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/outside-the-ring-of-dancing-warriors-with-spears-and-axes-stood/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [You have to understand the good in things, to detect the real evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/you-have-to-understand-the-good-in-things-to-detect-the-real-evil/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [The mind that thought of light, heavy, grey, yellow, still, swift, also conceived of magic that would make heavy things light and able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/the-mind-that-thought-of-light-heavy-grey-yellow-still-swift-also/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) [Explore all 252 J. R. R. Tolkien quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) ## More Dragons quotes > [“Metal makes everything magical. Just ask a unicorn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sybrina-durant/metal-makes-everything-magical-just-ask-a-unicorn/) [Sybrina Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sybrina-durant/) > [Arouse a bee and it will come at you with the force of a dragon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takeda-shingen/arouse-a-bee-and-it-will-come-at-you-with-the-force-of-a-dragon/) [Takeda Shingen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takeda-shingen/) > [Either dragons should exist completely or fail to exist at all, he felt. A dragon only half-existing was worse than the extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/either-dragons-should-exist-completely-or-fail-to-exist-at-all-he/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“If you banish the dragons, you banish the heroes...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/if-you-banish-the-dragons-you-banish-the-heroes/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > [“What do you want?" "You." His voice was soft, low. His eyes were intense and watchful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-grant/what-do-you-want-you-his-voice-was-soft-low-his-eyes-were-intense-and/) [Donna Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-grant/) > [“Unable to help herself, she traced the tat, startled by the black and red ink mixed together. But it was the dragon design itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-grant/unable-to-help-herself-she-traced-the-tat-startled-by-the-black-and/) [Donna Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-grant/) > [For fantasy is true, of course. It isn't factual, but it is true. Children know that. Adults know it too, and that is precisely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/for-fantasy-is-true-of-course-it-isn-t-factual-but-it-is-true/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [My brother believed in all sorts of mythical creatures: pixies, dragons, werewolves, honest men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/my-brother-believed-in-all-sorts-of-mythical-creatures-pixies-dragons/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fairy-tales-are-more-than-true-not-because-they-tell-us-that-dragons/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I shopped with G-Dragon a long time ago but now that we live together, I can't buy clothes with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seungri/i-shopped-with-g-dragon-a-long-time-ago-but-now-that-we-live-together/) [Seungri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seungri/) > [“Part II: Misgivings & Magic Darkness? Is it terrifying, or is it beautiful?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-vaineo/part-ii-misgivings-magic-darkness-is-it-terrifying-or-is-it-beautiful/) [J.R. Vaineo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-vaineo/) > [We started this together, Leo. Seems only right you come along. You find us a ride, you're in." "Yes!" Leo pumped his fist. \*…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/we-started-this-together-leo-seems-only-right-you-come-along-you-find/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“The dragon is a more enduring animal than the pterodactyl. I have never yet met anyone who really believed in a pterodactyl; but every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-grahame/the-dragon-is-a-more-enduring-animal-than-the-pterodactyl-i-have/) [Kenneth Grahame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-grahame/) > [“He rose up over her, intending to enter her when she suddenly sat up and shoved at his shoulders. He fell onto his back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-grant/he-rose-up-over-her-intending-to-enter-her-when-she-suddenly-sat-up/) [Donna Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-grant/) > [To have dragons one must have change; that is the first principle of dragon lore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/to-have-dragons-one-must-have-change-that-is-the-first-principle-of/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) [Browse all 1,011 Dragons quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragons/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I remember nothing about it except a philological fact. My mother said nothing about the dragon, but pointed out that one could not say 'a green great dragon', but had to say 'a great green dragon'. I wondered why, and still do. 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