--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Though sword shall be rusted, And throne…" description: "\"“Though sword shall be rusted, And throne and crown perish With strength that men trusted And wealth that they cherish, Here grass is still growing, An..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e4/j-r-r-tolkien-204_sword_though-sword-shall-be-rusted-and-throne_50425.jpg" --- # Though sword shall be rusted, And throne and crown perish… ![“Though sword shall be rusted, And throne and crown perish With strength that men trusted And wealth that they cherish, Here grass is still growing, And leaves are yet swinging, The white water flowing,” quote by J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e4/j-r-r-tolkien-204_sword_though-sword-shall-be-rusted-and-throne_50425.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e4/j-r-r-tolkien-204_sword_though-sword-shall-be-rusted-and-throne_50425.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e4/j-r-r-tolkien-204_sword_though-sword-shall-be-rusted-and-throne_50425.jpg) > ““Though sword shall be rusted, And throne and crown perish With strength that men trusted And wealth that they cherish, Here grass is still growing, And leaves are yet swinging, The white water flowing,”” [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. Even when power and riches decay, nature endures and continues its cycles. **In simple terms:** Nature outlasts human constructs. Key Takeaway Impermanence of authority vs. continuity of nature. Themes impermanence nature transience power legacy Mood reflective melancholic Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - post‑empire reflection - environmental contemplation - historical analysis Key Concepts mortality renewal Practical Applications - philosophical essay - creative writing Questions to Reflect On - What does the persistence of nature suggest about human ambition? - How might this view reshape our relationship with power? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Men Trusted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-trusted-720430/) [Rusted Throne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rusted-throne-720428/) [Shall Rusted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shall-rusted-720429/) [Sword](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sword/) [Sword Shall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sword-shall-720427/) [Water Flowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water-flowing/) [White water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-water/) ## Related quotes > [The dragon is withered, His bones are now crumbled; His armour is shivered, His splendour is humbled! 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Still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-atkinson/the-troops-also-edged-toward-that-timeless-state-common-to-veteran/) [Rick Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-atkinson/) > [I have no fear that the result of our experiment will be that men may be trusted to govern themselves without a master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-have-no-fear-that-the-result-of-our-experiment-will-be-that-men-may/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“I am that is, my sword shall wield for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/i-am-that-is-my-sword-shall-wield-for-me/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [“Like the Bible say - he who liveth by the sword...shall be stucketh.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-sanford/like-the-bible-say-he-who-liveth-by-the-sword-shall-be-stucketh/) [Fred Sanford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-sanford/) > [“Now, said Sir Ector to Arthur, I understand ye must be king of this land. Wherefore I, said Arthur, and for what cause? Sir,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-thomas-mallory/now-said-sir-ector-to-arthur-i-understand-ye-must-be-king-of-this/) [Sir Thomas Mallory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-thomas-mallory/) > [My sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage, and my courage and skill to him that can get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/my-sword-i-give-to-him-that-shall-succeed-me-in-my-pilgrimage-and-my/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [“the meek who shall inherit the earth; for those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-meek-who-shall-inherit-the-earth-for-those-who-take-up-the-sword/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## 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/) > [“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/) > [“on his brow sat wisdom, and in his hand was strength.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/on-his-brow-sat-wisdom-and-in-his-hand-was-strength/) [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 Sword quotes > [“The truth is heavier than a sword.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naiyem-chowdhury-rony/the-truth-is-heavier-than-a-sword/) [Naiyem Chowdhury Rony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naiyem-chowdhury-rony/) > [“If the pen is mightier than the sword, then what is the laptop? A light saber or a life saver?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-the-pen-is-mightier-than-the-sword-then-what-is-the-laptop-a-light/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“But I saw the pair of them, along with everyone else. Hard to miss. Him towering like a raggedy scarecrow in that flapping black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-kushner/but-i-saw-the-pair-of-them-along-with-everyone-else-hard-to-miss-him/) [Ellen Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-kushner/) > [I find it rude to laugh at a man with a sword.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/i-find-it-rude-to-laugh-at-a-man-with-a-sword/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“His pen spoke more to her than he ever did”. In the war of words, some are unwritten and some are unspoken.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishikant/his-pen-spoke-more-to-her-than-he-ever-did-in-the-war-of-words-some/) [Nishikant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishikant/) > [“Logic. It could get you every time, but he preferred to cut it down with a sword.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-illene/logic-it-could-get-you-every-time-but-he-preferred-to-cut-it-down/) [Susan Illene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-illene/) > [Technology is, of course, a double edged sword. Fire can cook our food but also burn us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-silva/technology-is-of-course-a-double-edged-sword-fire-can-cook-our-food/) [Jason Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-silva/) > [A sword by itself does not slay; it is merely the weapon used by the slayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/a-sword-by-itself-does-not-slay-it-is-merely-the-weapon-used-by-the/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [“In Japanese swordsmanship, it is not uncommon to speak of a unity of mind, body, and sword.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-e-davey/in-japanese-swordsmanship-it-is-not-uncommon-to-speak-of-a-unity-of/) [H.E. Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-e-davey/) > [I couldn't pick up a sword and go fight anyone, let me put it that way. It's choreography and it's acting. The best sword…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolaj-coster-waldau/i-couldn-t-pick-up-a-sword-and-go-fight-anyone-let-me-put-it-that-way/) [Nikolaj Coster-Waldau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolaj-coster-waldau/) > [I'm useless with a sword in real life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradley-west/i-m-useless-with-a-sword-in-real-life/) [John Bradley-West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradley-west/) > [“Inscribed on it was a verse from the Quatrains of Omar Khayyam, the eleventh-century Persian mystic. Reading the words aloud I prepared for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahir-shah/inscribed-on-it-was-a-verse-from-the-quatrains-of-omar-khayyam-the/) [Tahir Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahir-shah/) > [“The pen is truly mightier than the sword. Unless you're holding a pen and the other guy's holding a sword.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-besseling/the-pen-is-truly-mightier-than-the-sword-unless-you-re-holding-a-pen/) [Dave Besseling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-besseling/) > [“In the words of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant: “There never was a time when, in my opinion, some way could not be found to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-g-moore/in-the-words-of-gen-ulysses-s-grant-there-never-was-a-time-when-in-my/) [Harold G. 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