---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sam looked at his master with approval…"
description: "\"“Sam looked at his master with approval, but also with surprise: there was a look in his face and a tone in his voice that he had not known before. It ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9b/j-r-r-tolkien-204_kindness_sam-looked-at-his-master-with-approval-b_1082048.jpg"
---

#  Sam looked at his master with approval, but also with…

![“Sam looked at his master with approval, but also with surprise: there was a look in his face and a tone in his voice that he had not known before. It had always been a notion of his that the kindness of dear Mr. Frodo was of such a high degree that it must imply a fair measure of blindness. Of…” quote by J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9b/j-r-r-tolkien-204_kindness_sam-looked-at-his-master-with-approval-b_1082048.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9b/j-r-r-tolkien-204_kindness_sam-looked-at-his-master-with-approval-b_1082048.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9b/j-r-r-tolkien-204_kindness_sam-looked-at-his-master-with-approval-b_1082048.jpg)

> ““Sam looked at his master with approval, but also with surprise: there was a look in his face and a tone in his voice that he had not known before. It had always been a notion of his that the kindness of dear Mr. Frodo was of such a high degree that it must imply a fair measure of blindness. Of course, he also firmly held the incompatible belief that Mr. Frodo was the wisest person in the world (with the possible exception of Old Mr. Bilbo and of Gandalf).””

[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.

Sam admires Frodo’s kindness, yet is surprised by his own new perception, mixing reverence with doubt about Frodo’s wisdom.

**In simple terms:** Sam sees Frodo as kind and wise, but questions his judgment.

Key Takeaway

Balance admiration with critical thinking.

Themes

friendship leadership trust self‑awareness

Mood

contemplative thoughtful

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- team decision‑making
- mentor‑mentee relationships
- self‑reflection exercises

Key Concepts

heroic loyalty perception bias character development

Questions to Reflect On

- When should you question a trusted leader?
- How does surprise reshape perception?

A Different Perspective

Blind admiration can obscure flaws; critical assessment is needed.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Frodo Wisest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frodo-wisest-2751880/) [Hobbit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hobbit/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Kindness Dear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness-dear-2751882/) [Looked Master](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looked-master-2751881/) [Sam Looked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sam-looked-1236073/) [Wisest Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisest-person-847037/)

## Related quotes

> [Never an illness, nor the absence of grandeur, no, nothing is able to kill the best in us, that kindness, dear sir, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/never-an-illness-nor-the-absence-of-grandeur-no-nothing-is-able-to/)

[Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/)

> [Whatever dramas are going on in my life, I always find that place inside my head where I see myself as the cleanest, tallest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layne-staley/whatever-dramas-are-going-on-in-my-life-i-always-find-that-place/)

[Layne Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layne-staley/)

> [The wisest person follows three rules in life: See all, hear all but say NOTHING](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keesling-moraiji-tatenda/the-wisest-person-follows-three-rules-in-life-see-all-hear-all-but/)

[Keesling Moraiji Tatenda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keesling-moraiji-tatenda/)

> [I was talking aloud to myself. A habit of the old: they choose the wisest person present to speak to](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-talking-aloud-to-myself-a-habit-of-the-old-they-choose-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [it takes the very wisest person there is to know when to talk, and when to keep still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-stratton-porter/it-takes-the-very-wisest-person-there-is-to-know-when-to-talk-and/)

[Gene Stratton-Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-stratton-porter/)

> [It's said that a wise person learns from his mistakes. A wiser one learns from others' mistakes. But the wisest person of all learns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/it-s-said-that-a-wise-person-learns-from-his-mistakes-a-wiser-one/)

[John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/)

> [I've met the Dalai Lama briefly, but I would probably say my grandfather was the wisest person I ever met. He was my mother's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/i-ve-met-the-dalai-lama-briefly-but-i-would-probably-say-my/)

[Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/)

> [My mother is probably the wisest person I've ever known. She's not schooled, she's not well read. But she has a philosophy of life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/my-mother-is-probably-the-wisest-person-i-ve-ever-known-she-s-not/)

[Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/)

> [ He \[Jesus\] was the greatest human being who has ever lived. He was a moral genius. His ethical sense was unique. He was the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-templeton/he-jesus-was-the-greatest-human-being-who-has-ever-lived-he-was-a/)

[Charles Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-templeton/)

> [“Sam. I've got news for you. Not every childhood trauma can be healed by finding the right penis." Sam looked devastated. He opened and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tenino/sam-i-ve-got-news-for-you-not-every-childhood-trauma-can-be-healed-by/)

[Anne Tenino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tenino/)

> [“Soapy Sam looked as though he had just sat down on a favourite armchair which had gone missing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mortimer/soapy-sam-looked-as-though-he-had-just-sat-down-on-a-favourite/)

[John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mortimer/)

> [“Sam looked at me soft. And she hugged me. And I closed my eyes because I wanted to know nothing but her arms.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/sam-looked-at-me-soft-and-she-hugged-me-and-i-closed-my-eyes-because/)

[Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/)

> [“Mikhail truly liked Ansel—that much was obvious. He always found excuses to touch her, always smiled at her, always looked at her as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/mikhail-truly-liked-ansel-that-much-was-obvious-he-always-found-2/)

[Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/)

> [Sam looked at me, yellow eyes catching and holding me. "I miss being me. I miss you. All the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/sam-looked-at-me-yellow-eyes-catching-and-holding-me-i-miss-being-me/)

[Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/)

> [“Mikhail truly liked Ansel-that much was obvious. he always found excuses to touch her, always smiled at her, always looked at her as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/mikhail-truly-liked-ansel-that-much-was-obvious-he-always-found/)

[Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/)

## 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). But”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/he-can-see-through-a-brick-wall-in-time-as-they-say-in-bree-but/)

[J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/)

> [“No todos los que vagan están perdidos”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/no-todos-los-que-vagan-est-n-perdidos/)

[J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/)

> [“The consolation of fairy-stories, the joy of the happy ending; or more correctly of the good catastrophe, the sudden joyous "turn" (for there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/the-consolation-of-fairy-stories-the-joy-of-the-happy-ending-or-more/)

[J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/)

> [“Sméagol won't grub for roots and carrotses and - taters. What's taters, precious, eh, what's taters?' 'Po-ta-toes,' said Sam. 'The Gaffer's delight, and rare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/sm-agol-won-t-grub-for-roots-and-carrotses-and-taters-what-s-taters/)

[J.R.R. 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "“Sam looked at his master with approval, but also with surprise: there was a look in his face and a tone in his voice that he had not known before. It had always been a notion of his that the kindness of dear Mr. Frodo was of such a high degree that it must imply a fair measure of blindness. Of course, he also firmly held the incompatible belief that Mr. Frodo was the wisest person in the world (with the possible exception of Old Mr. Bilbo and of Gandalf).”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "J.R.R. Tolkien"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/sam-looked-at-his-master-with-approval-but-also-with-surprise-there/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Hobbit"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/sam-looked-at-his-master-with-approval-but-also-with-surprise-there/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9b/j-r-r-tolkien-204_kindness_sam-looked-at-his-master-with-approval-b_1082048.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9b/j-r-r-tolkien-204_kindness_sam-looked-at-his-master-with-approval-b_1082048.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9b/j-r-r-tolkien-204_kindness_sam-looked-at-his-master-with-approval-b_1082048.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Sam looked at his master with approval, but also with surprise: there was a look in his face and a tone in…” — J.R.R. Tolkien",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "J.R.R. Tolkien",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Sam looked at his master with...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/sam-looked-at-his-master-with-approval-but-also-with-surprise-there/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/sam-looked-at-his-master-with-approval-but-also-with-surprise-there/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
