Frodo Quote by J.R.R. Tolkien
““Saruman rose to his feet, and stared at Frodo. There was a strange look in his eyes of mingled wonder and respect and hatred. 'You have grown, Halfling,' he said. 'Yes, you have grown very much. You are wise, and cruel. you have robbed my revenge of sweetness, and now I must go hence in bitterness, in debt to your mercy. I hate it and you! Well, I go and I will trouble you no more. But do not expect me to wish you health and long life. You will have neither. But that is not my doing. I merely foretell.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, 1955
Saruman acknowledges Frodo’s growth, mixing respect with hatred, and predicts doom while refusing goodwill.
In simple terms: Saruman respects Frodo’s power but curses him.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that power can breed both admiration and resentment.
Themes
power
respect
resentment
prophecy
Mood
tense
foreboding
Type
literary
dialogue
When to use this quote
- leadership
- conflict
- personal growth
- betrayal
Key Concepts
pride
revenge
fate
Questions to Reflect On
- Can admiration become a weapon?
- How does power change relationships?
A Different Perspective
Saruman’s curse may be self‑fulfilling, limiting Frodo’s agency.
![“I wrote a letter to the magazine [Time magazine] pointing out that [Richard] Corliss's comparison of Christopher Lee's Saruman to Osama Bin Laden, and the vastly outnumbered defenders of Helm's Deep united against the Orcs to the "Coalition of the Willing" fighting the good fight against Muslim…” quote by Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/022/viggo-mortensen-1554_around-the-world_i-wrote-a-letter-to-the-magazine-time-ma_2416080.jpg)
