--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Its strength, Boromir, is too great for…" description: "\"“Its strength, Boromir, is too great for anyone to wield at will, save only those who have already a great power of their own. But for them it holds an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8b/j-r-r-tolkien-204_quote_its-strength-boromir-is-too-great-for-an_1597991.jpg" --- # Its strength, Boromir, is too great for anyone to wield at… ![“Its strength, Boromir, is too great for anyone to wield at will, save only those who have already a great power of their own. But for them it holds an even deadlier peril. The very desire of it corrupts the heart. Consider Saruman. If any of the Wise should with this Ring overthrow the Lord of…” quote by J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8b/j-r-r-tolkien-204_quote_its-strength-boromir-is-too-great-for-an_1597991.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8b/j-r-r-tolkien-204_quote_its-strength-boromir-is-too-great-for-an_1597991.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8b/j-r-r-tolkien-204_quote_its-strength-boromir-is-too-great-for-an_1597991.jpg) > ““Its strength, Boromir, is too great for anyone to wield at will, save only those who have already a great power of their own. But for them it holds an even deadlier peril. The very desire of it corrupts the heart. Consider Saruman. If any of the Wise should with this Ring overthrow the Lord of Mordor, using his own arts, he would then set himself on Sauron’s throne, and yet another Dark Lord would appear. And that is another reason why the Ring should be destroyed: as long as it is in the world it will be a danger even to the Wise. For nothing is evil in the beginning.”” [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. Powerful artifacts tempt even the wise, leading to corruption and new tyrannies if misused. **In simple terms:** Great power tempts and corrupts. Key Takeaway Beware and seek destroying dangerous power. Themes corruption power responsibility Mood cautious reflective Type warning philosophical When to use this quote - political leadership - military strategy - personal ambition - organizational governance Key Concepts temptation hubris moral hazard Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can prevent power abuse? - Can destruction ever fully remove danger? A Different Perspective Even the wise can be swayed; destruction may not eliminate all threats. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hobbit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hobbit/) ## Related quotes > [“And here you will stay, Gandalf the Grey, and rest from journeys. For I am Saruman the Wise, Saruman the Ring-maker, Saruman of Many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/and-here-you-will-stay-gandalf-the-grey-and-rest-from-journeys-for-i/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [For I am Saruman the Wise, Saruman Ring-maker, Saruman of Many Colours!' 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Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [“Good morning! said Bilbo, and he meant it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/good-morning-said-bilbo-and-he-meant-it/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [“How would this do: and they all settled down and lived together happily ever after?' 'It will do well, if it ever comes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/how-would-this-do-and-they-all-settled-down-and-lived-together/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [“The morning came, pale and clammy. Frodo woke up first, and found that a tree-root had made a hole in his back, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/the-morning-came-pale-and-clammy-frodo-woke-up-first-and-found-that-a/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [“Sam: Mordor. The one place in Middle-earth we don't want to see any closer, and the one place we're trying to get to. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/sam-mordor-the-one-place-in-middle-earth-we-don-t-want-to-see-any/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) ## More by J.R.R. Tolkien > [“I will vouch for him before the seat of Denethor,' said Gandalf. 'And as for valour, that cannot be computed by stature. He has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/i-will-vouch-for-him-before-the-seat-of-denethor-said-gandalf-and-as/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [“I have chosen Mr Baggins and that ought to be enough for all of you. If I say he is a Burglar, a Burglar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/i-have-chosen-mr-baggins-and-that-ought-to-be-enough-for-all-of-you/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [“he can see through a brick wall in time (as they say in Bree). 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Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [“But the Queen Arwen said: 'A gift I will give you. For I am the daughter of Elrond. I shall not go with him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/but-the-queen-arwen-said-a-gift-i-will-give-you-for-i-am-the-daughter/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [“If you lived near the edge of Mirkwood, you would take the word of no one that you did not know as well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/if-you-lived-near-the-edge-of-mirkwood-you-would-take-the-word-of-no/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [“He was dark-haired as his mother, and promised to be like her in mood also; for he was not merry, and spoke little, though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/he-was-dark-haired-as-his-mother-and-promised-to-be-like-her-in-mood/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [“Sam: Mordor. The one place in Middle-earth we don't want to see any closer, and the one place we're trying to get to. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/sam-mordor-the-one-place-in-middle-earth-we-don-t-want-to-see-any/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [“May your beer be laid under an enchantment of surpassing excellence for seven years!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/may-your-beer-be-laid-under-an-enchantment-of-surpassing-excellence/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [“Though sword shall be rusted, And throne and crown perish With strength that men trusted And wealth that they cherish, Here grass is still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/though-sword-shall-be-rusted-and-throne-and-crown-perish-with/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [“Seguid si es vuestro deber —dijo—, yo me echaré aquí a dormir y a soñar con comida, ya que no puedo tenerla de otro…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/seguid-si-es-vuestro-deber-dijo-yo-me-echar-aqu-a-dormir-y-a-so-ar/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [“Co to mělo v kapšiškách? Nechtělo to říct, ne, milášku. Podvodníšek mrňavá. Nefér otázka. Podvádělo to první. Poruššilo to pravidla. Měli šme to žmáčknout,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/co-to-m-lo-v-kap-i-k-ch-necht-lo-to-ct-ne-mil-ku-podvodn-ek-mr-av-nef/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [“it is horrible being all alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/it-is-horrible-being-all-alone/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) [Explore all 857 J.R.R. Tolkien quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) ## More Hobbit quotes > [No one will ever write a fantasy novel better than The Hobbit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-one-will-ever-write-a-fantasy-novel-better-than-the-hobbit/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think 'The Lord of the Rings' holds perhaps a deeper place in people's hearts than 'The Hobbit' the book does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-wood/i-think-the-lord-of-the-rings-holds-perhaps-a-deeper-place-in-people/) [Elijah Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-wood/) > [Always remember, Frodo, the Ring is trying to get back to its master. It wants to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-remember-frodo-the-ring-is-trying-to-get-back-to-its-master-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hadn't grown up with 'The Hobbit;' I hadn't grown up with 'Lord of The Rings,' anything like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-hadn-t-grown-up-with-the-hobbit-i-hadn-t-grown-up-with-lord-of-the/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [“Sam: Mordor. The one place in Middle-earth we don't want to see any closer, and the one place we're trying to get to. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/sam-mordor-the-one-place-in-middle-earth-we-don-t-want-to-see-any/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [I don't even go to the grocery store anymore. I hardly do anything anymore. I'm like a hobbit in a hole. I just don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-price/i-don-t-even-go-to-the-grocery-store-anymore-i-hardly-do-anything/) [Carey Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-price/) > [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/) > [Sam, clinging to Frodo's arm, collapsed on a step in the black darkness. 'Poor old Bill!' he said in a choking voice. 'Poor old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sam-clinging-to-frodo-s-arm-collapsed-on-a-step-in-the-black-darkness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was a massive Tolkien fan. 'The Hobbit' was... my favorite book as a little girl, and the Silvan Elves were my favorite characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-was-a-massive-tolkien-fan-the-hobbit-was-my-favorite-book-as-a/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [For I am Saruman the Wise, Saruman Ring-maker, Saruman of Many Colours!' I looked then and saw that his robes, which had seemed white,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-i-am-saruman-the-wise-saruman-ring-maker-saruman-of-many-colours/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“...so when Sauron made the ring of power..." "Wait, wait, wait. Who's Sauron?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristina-fedorov/so-when-sauron-made-the-ring-of-power-wait-wait-wait-who-s-sauron/) Kristina Fedorov > [“The morning came, pale and clammy. Frodo woke up first, and found that a tree-root had made a hole in his back, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/the-morning-came-pale-and-clammy-frodo-woke-up-first-and-found-that-a/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [“How would this do: and they all settled down and lived together happily ever after?' 'It will do well, if it ever comes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/how-would-this-do-and-they-all-settled-down-and-lived-together/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [“Good morning! said Bilbo, and he meant it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/good-morning-said-bilbo-and-he-meant-it/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [“I wish it need not have happened in my time,’ said Frodo. ‘So do I,’ said Gandalf, ‘and so do all who live to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wish-it-need-not-have-happened-in-my-time-said-frodo-so-do-i-said/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 376 Hobbit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hobbit/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Its strength, Boromir, is too great for anyone to wield at will, save only those who have already a great power of their own. But for them it holds an even deadlier peril. The very desire of it corrupts the heart. Consider Saruman. If any of the Wise should with this Ring overthrow the Lord of Mordor, using his own arts, he would then set himself on Sauron’s throne, and yet another Dark Lord would appear. 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