--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: there was a very old-looking dwarf on the…" description: "\"“there was a very old-looking dwarf on the step with a white beard and a scarlet hood; and he too hopped inside as soon as the door was open, just as i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/j-r-r-tolkien-204_door-open_there-was-a-very-old-looking-dwarf-on-th_390584.jpg" --- # there was a very old-looking dwarf on the step with a… ![“there was a very old-looking dwarf on the step with a white beard and a scarlet hood; and he too hopped inside as soon as the door was open, just as if he had been invited. “I see they have begun to arrive already,” he said when he caught sight of” quote by J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/j-r-r-tolkien-204_door-open_there-was-a-very-old-looking-dwarf-on-th_390584.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/j-r-r-tolkien-204_door-open_there-was-a-very-old-looking-dwarf-on-th_390584.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/j-r-r-tolkien-204_door-open_there-was-a-very-old-looking-dwarf-on-th_390584.jpg) > ““there was a very old-looking dwarf on the step with a white beard and a scarlet hood; and he too hopped inside as soon as the door was open, just as if he had been invited. “I see they have begun to arrive already,” he said when he caught sight of”” [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. An elderly dwarf arrives promptly, indicating the unexpected yet timely presence of allies in a quest. **In simple terms:** Old dwarf shows up quickly. Key Takeaway Expect help to arrive when needed. Themes adventure unexpected allies timing Mood curious anticipatory Type literary narrative When to use this quote - quest planning - team building - narrative pacing - character introduction - worldbuilding Key Concepts fantasy journey hospitality Questions to Reflect On - How does an unexpected ally change your plan? - What does the dwarf represent? A Different Perspective The dwarf’s arrival may be symbolic, not literal, limiting practical relevance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“I feel rather drab and shy for a few minutes. But then I remember that I am old and nobody is looking at me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/i-feel-rather-drab-and-shy-for-a-few-minutes-but-then-i-remember-that/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [He who wants to do good knocks at the gate: he who loves finds the door open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/he-who-wants-to-do-good-knocks-at-the-gate-he-who-loves-finds-the/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“In oneself lies the whole world and if you know how to look and learn, the door is there and the key is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/in-oneself-lies-the-whole-world-and-if-you-know-how-to-look-and-learn/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Leave my door open just a crack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owl-city/leave-my-door-open-just-a-crack/) [Owl City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owl-city/) > [I know, everywhere I go, I have the door open because I am a great footballer and a great person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-adebayor/i-know-everywhere-i-go-i-have-the-door-open-because-i-am-a-great/) [Emmanuel Adebayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-adebayor/) > [I climb out of bed and tip toe to my door. I open and all the lights are off and the house is dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade/i-climb-out-of-bed-and-tip-toe-to-my-door-i-open-and-all-the-lights/) [Jade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade/) > [“Rumi tells us that moment we accept what troubles we’ve been given, the door will open.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/rumi-tells-us-that-moment-we-accept-what-troubles-we-ve-been-given/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [“There came the sound of dragging footsteps. Near they came, nearer. Then a voice rattled the window. "It is dark," said the voice. "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-came-the-sound-of-dragging-footsteps-near-they-came-nearer-then/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I was hoping you’d leave the back door open for me, I said as he turned around to bend over and pick up his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-was-hoping-you-d-leave-the-back-door-open-for-me-i-said-as-he/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I DON'T CHASE AFTER ANYONE IF YOU WANNA WALK OUT MY LIFE THEN I'LL HOLD THE FUCKING DOOR OPEN FOR YOU..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-chase-after-anyone-if-you-wanna-walk-out-my-life-then-i-ll/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I noticed that she left her office door open, too.So she could keep an eye on me, no doubt, in case I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/i-noticed-that-she-left-her-office-door-open-too-so-she-could-keep-an/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [U want 2 COME IN my lyf,the door is open.You want 2 GET OUT of my lyf,the door is open. Just 1 request though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ms-paradeez/u-want-2-come-in-my-lyf-the-door-is-open-you-want-2-get-out-of-my-lyf/) Ms Paradeez > [“So you’re going to ask Ress and Brullo to just leave a back door open so you can sneak in?” “Don’t be so simpleminded.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/so-you-re-going-to-ask-ress-and-brullo-to-just-leave-a-back-door-open/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [I do not chase after anyone if you wanna walk out my life then I will hold the fu\*\*\*\*g door open for you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/i-do-not-chase-after-anyone-if-you-wanna-walk-out-my-life-then-i-will/) [Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/) > [When one door closes another doesn't just open, you can either open the same door or open a different one...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-one-door-closes-another-doesn-t-just-open-you-can-either-open/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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 Door Open quotes > [When one door closes another doesn't just open, you can either open the same door or open a different one...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-one-door-closes-another-doesn-t-just-open-you-can-either-open/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I do not chase after anyone if you wanna walk out my life then I will hold the fu\*\*\*\*g door open for you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/i-do-not-chase-after-anyone-if-you-wanna-walk-out-my-life-then-i-will/) [Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/) > [“So you’re going to ask Ress and Brullo to just leave a back door open so you can sneak in?” “Don’t be so simpleminded.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/so-you-re-going-to-ask-ress-and-brullo-to-just-leave-a-back-door-open/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [U want 2 COME IN my lyf,the door is open.You want 2 GET OUT of my lyf,the door is open. Just 1 request though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ms-paradeez/u-want-2-come-in-my-lyf-the-door-is-open-you-want-2-get-out-of-my-lyf/) Ms Paradeez > [“I noticed that she left her office door open, too.So she could keep an eye on me, no doubt, in case I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/i-noticed-that-she-left-her-office-door-open-too-so-she-could-keep-an/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [I DON'T CHASE AFTER ANYONE IF YOU WANNA WALK OUT MY LIFE THEN I'LL HOLD THE FUCKING DOOR OPEN FOR YOU..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-chase-after-anyone-if-you-wanna-walk-out-my-life-then-i-ll/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I was hoping you’d leave the back door open for me, I said as he turned around to bend over and pick up his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-was-hoping-you-d-leave-the-back-door-open-for-me-i-said-as-he/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“There came the sound of dragging footsteps. Near they came, nearer. Then a voice rattled the window. "It is dark," said the voice. "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-came-the-sound-of-dragging-footsteps-near-they-came-nearer-then/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Rumi tells us that moment we accept what troubles we’ve been given, the door will open.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/rumi-tells-us-that-moment-we-accept-what-troubles-we-ve-been-given/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [I climb out of bed and tip toe to my door. I open and all the lights are off and the house is dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade/i-climb-out-of-bed-and-tip-toe-to-my-door-i-open-and-all-the-lights/) [Jade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade/) > [I know, everywhere I go, I have the door open because I am a great footballer and a great person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-adebayor/i-know-everywhere-i-go-i-have-the-door-open-because-i-am-a-great/) [Emmanuel Adebayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-adebayor/) > [Leave my door open just a crack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owl-city/leave-my-door-open-just-a-crack/) [Owl City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owl-city/) > [“In oneself lies the whole world and if you know how to look and learn, the door is there and the key is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/in-oneself-lies-the-whole-world-and-if-you-know-how-to-look-and-learn/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [He who wants to do good knocks at the gate: he who loves finds the door open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/he-who-wants-to-do-good-knocks-at-the-gate-he-who-loves-finds-the/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door and open it, stop waiting around for someone to give it to you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilica-haridat/if-opportunity-doesn-t-knock-build-a-door-and-open-it-stop-waiting/) Tilica Haridat Browse all 226 Door Open quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“there was a very old-looking dwarf on the step with a white beard and a scarlet hood; and he too hopped inside as soon as the door was open, just as if he had been invited. “I see they have begun to arrive already,” he said when he caught sight of”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J.R.R. Tolkien" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/there-was-a-very-old-looking-dwarf-on-the-step-with-a-white-beard-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Door Open" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/there-was-a-very-old-looking-dwarf-on-the-step-with-a-white-beard-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/j-r-r-tolkien-204_door-open_there-was-a-very-old-looking-dwarf-on-th_390584.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/j-r-r-tolkien-204_door-open_there-was-a-very-old-looking-dwarf-on-th_390584.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/j-r-r-tolkien-204_door-open_there-was-a-very-old-looking-dwarf-on-th_390584.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“there was a very old-looking dwarf on the step with a white beard and a scarlet hood; and he too hopped…” — 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": "“there was a very old-looking dwarf...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/there-was-a-very-old-looking-dwarf-on-the-step-with-a-white-beard-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/there-was-a-very-old-looking-dwarf-on-the-step-with-a-white-beard-and/#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 } } ] } ```