--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Eleven king looked sternly upon…" description: "\"“The Eleven king looked sternly upon Thorin, when he was brought before him, and asked him many questions. But Thorin would only say that he was starvi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/j-r-r-tolkien-204_drink_the-eleven-king-looked-sternly-upon-thor_3122644.jpg" --- # The Eleven king looked sternly upon Thorin, when he was… ![“The Eleven king looked sternly upon Thorin, when he was brought before him, and asked him many questions. But Thorin would only say that he was starving. "Why did you and your folk three times try to attack my people at their merrymaking?" asked the king. "We did not attack them," answered Thorin…” quote by J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/j-r-r-tolkien-204_drink_the-eleven-king-looked-sternly-upon-thor_3122644.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/j-r-r-tolkien-204_drink_the-eleven-king-looked-sternly-upon-thor_3122644.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/j-r-r-tolkien-204_drink_the-eleven-king-looked-sternly-upon-thor_3122644.jpg) > ““The Eleven king looked sternly upon Thorin, when he was brought before him, and asked him many questions. But Thorin would only say that he was starving. "Why did you and your folk three times try to attack my people at their merrymaking?" asked the king. "We did not attack them," answered Thorin, "we came to beg because we were starving." "Where are your friends now, and what are they doing?" "I don't know, but I expect that they're all starving in the forest." "What were you doing in the forest?" "Looking for food and drink, because we were starving." "And what brought you into the forest at all?" asked the king angrily. At that Thorin shut his mouth and would not say another word.”” [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. Shows a dialogue where desperation leads to moral ambiguity, highlighting the conflict between survival and aggression. **In simple terms:** Desperate people may be misunderstood as aggressors. Key Takeaway Seek empathy before judgment. Themes survival misunderstanding conflict Mood somber reflective Type ethical literary When to use this quote - refugee crises - poverty relief - negotiations - community aid Key Concepts moral ambiguity human need communication Questions to Reflect On - How can we differentiate need from threat? - What responsibilities do leaders have toward the starving? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex political contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Elves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elves/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Food and drink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food-and-drink/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/) ## Related quotes > [“Thorin spoke: "Let us try the door! he said. "I must feel the wind on my face soon or die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/thorin-spoke-let-us-try-the-door-he-said-i-must-feel-the-wind-on-my/) [J. R. R. 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