--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: (Referring to an obsession with Tolkien's…" description: "\"“(Referring to an obsession with Tolkien's Middle Earth): I meet a beautiful American heiress, I like her, she likes me . . . and then she turns out to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32c/s-m-stirling-11637_bible_referring-to-an-obsession-with-tolkien-s_1836064.jpg" --- # (Referring to an obsession with Tolkien's Middle Earth): I… ![“(Referring to an obsession with Tolkien's Middle Earth): I meet a beautiful American heiress, I like her, she likes me . . . and then she turns out to be a fundamentalist with a more literal interpretation of scripture than I feel comfortable with. Only our bible was written by an Oxford don about…” quote by S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32c/s-m-stirling-11637_bible_referring-to-an-obsession-with-tolkien-s_1836064.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32c/s-m-stirling-11637_bible_referring-to-an-obsession-with-tolkien-s_1836064.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32c/s-m-stirling-11637_bible_referring-to-an-obsession-with-tolkien-s_1836064.jpg) > ““(Referring to an obsession with Tolkien's Middle Earth): I meet a beautiful American heiress, I like her, she likes me . . . and then she turns out to be a fundamentalist with a more literal interpretation of scripture than I feel comfortable with. Only our bible was written by an Oxford don about sixty years ago.”” [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on meeting a woman who appears attractive but holds fundamentalist religious views, contrasting with their own more liberal scriptural perspective. **In simple terms:** A romantic encounter reveals conflicting religious beliefs. Key Takeaway Assess compatibility beyond surface attraction. Themes relationships religion cultural clash Mood reflective serious Type philosophical relational When to use this quote - dating - intercultural relationships - online dating Key Concepts fundamentalism scriptural literalism personal values Questions to Reflect On - How do you navigate faith differences in love? - Can shared values outweigh doctrinal gaps? A Different Perspective Differences may lead to deeper dialogue or conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Fundamentalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamentalist/) [Fundamentalist Literal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamentalist-literal-2312218/) [Middle earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-earth/) [Obsession Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsession-tolkien-2312217/) [Scripture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scripture/) [Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolkien/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) ## Related quotes > [“The impulse is being called reactionary now, but lovers of Middle-earth want to go there. I would myself, like a shot. For in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/the-impulse-is-being-called-reactionary-now-but-lovers-of-middle/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“I met a lot of things on the way that astonished me. Tom Bombadil I knew already; but I had never been to Bree.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tolkien/i-met-a-lot-of-things-on-the-way-that-astonished-me-tom-bombadil-i/) [Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tolkien/) > [As long as I'm dealing in honesty, I may as well admit that I have been more influenced (as a person) by my childhood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/as-long-as-i-m-dealing-in-honesty-i-may-as-well-admit-that-i-have/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) > [“I did not buy a book called Lord Foul's Bane by Stephen Donaldson, which has the temerity to compare itself, on the front cover,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-walton/i-did-not-buy-a-book-called-lord-foul-s-bane-by-stephen-donaldson/) [Jo Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-walton/) > [“And there's no sex, hardly any love stuff at all, in Middle Earth, which always made me think, yes, the world would be better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-walton/and-there-s-no-sex-hardly-any-love-stuff-at-all-in-middle-earth-which/) [Jo Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-walton/) > [I'd never heard of the 'Lord of the Rings', actually. So I went to the bookstore and there it was, three shelves of books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-astin/i-d-never-heard-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-actually-so-i-went-to-the/) [Sean Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-astin/) > [I'm trying to suggest a kind of Middle Earth, in Tolkien terms. It's a contiguous world; it's like ours but different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boorman/i-m-trying-to-suggest-a-kind-of-middle-earth-in-tolkien-terms-it-s-a/) [John Boorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boorman/) > [No one seems to wash in Middle-earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/no-one-seems-to-wash-in-middle-earth/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [ “We weren't born yesterday. We are from \[New York\]. But we are also from somewhere else. We are from Oz, from the Looking-Glass Land,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/we-weren-t-born-yesterday-we-are-from-new-york-but-we-are-also-from/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [One of the great pleasures of working in Middle Earth is you get to be another being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/one-of-the-great-pleasures-of-working-in-middle-earth-is-you-get-to/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I had this desire to see the world. I couldn't see any of it, but I saw it in my imagination, and that's why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/i-had-this-desire-to-see-the-world-i-couldn-t-see-any-of-it-but-i-saw/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [I want to live in Middle-earth, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/i-want-to-live-in-middle-earth-actually/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [They can keep their heaven. When I die, I’d sooner go to Middle Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-can-keep-their-heaven-when-i-die-i-d-sooner-go-to-middle-earth/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A lot of ideas took us to dead ends or we found the tone wasn’t just right. I think we discovered very quickly this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-boyd/a-lot-of-ideas-took-us-to-dead-ends-or-we-found-the-tone-wasn-t-just/) [Billy Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-boyd/) > [“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 S.M. Stirling > [“Myths are lies; but I believe in the power of myths the way I believe in rocks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/myths-are-lies-but-i-believe-in-the-power-of-myths-the-way-i-believe/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [Love isn't like money--the more you give away the more you get back, and the more you have to give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/love-isn-t-like-money-the-more-you-give-away-the-more-you-get-back/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [The Mackenzie had never met folk so poor in story and song and legends, and it moved him to a pity that pricked at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/the-mackenzie-had-never-met-folk-so-poor-in-story-and-song-and/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [You can learn by listening, or by getting whacked between the eyes with a two-by-four. I always found listening easier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/you-can-learn-by-listening-or-by-getting-whacked-between-the-eyes/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [“Clan custom and law held that it was the public declaration of intent and then living together that made a handfasting; the ceremonies simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/clan-custom-and-law-held-that-it-was-the-public-declaration-of-intent/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [“″He chose to come onto your land uninvited with a weapon in his hand,″ he said. ″When a man does that, he consents to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/he-chose-to-come-onto-your-land-uninvited-with-a-weapon-in-his-hand/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [“It doesn't stop being magic because you can you explain it, Father.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/it-doesn-t-stop-being-magic-because-you-can-you-explain-it-father/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [“Who dares, wins,” he muttered to himself. “Or gets royally banged about if things go south.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/who-dares-wins-he-muttered-to-himself-or-gets-royally-banged-about-if/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [“Being ignorant is truly bliss compared to being misinformed, especially if you’re aware of the depths of your own ignorance. As Mother says, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/being-ignorant-is-truly-bliss-compared-to-being-misinformed/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [“Be your own judge. But commit no trespass, remembering that where another's liberty begins your own inevitably meets its boundary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/be-your-own-judge-but-commit-no-trespass-remembering-that-where/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [“Sure it is that They have many faces. All the shapes the Divine shows us are true; and none are all the Truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/sure-it-is-that-they-have-many-faces-all-the-shapes-the-divine-shows/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [“I like you, Mike. I just wanted to know about you.” He grinned and finished building the fire. “OK, point taken, and I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/i-like-you-mike-i-just-wanted-to-know-about-you-he-grinned-and/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [“But then they were males, and therefore idiots about some things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/but-then-they-were-males-and-therefore-idiots-about-some-things/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [“ I was father to the land. I saved my people. I was... King. "By... earth," he said, more a movement of the lips…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/i-was-father-to-the-land-i-saved-my-people-i-was-king-by-earth-he/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) > [Many are the marvels of God's Creation, but none so marvelous as man. Or so cunning, for good and ill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-m-stirling/many-are-the-marvels-of-god-s-creation-but-none-so-marvelous-as-man/) [S.M. Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) [Explore all 59 S.M. Stirling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-m-stirling/) ## More Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) [Michael Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arnold/) > [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/) [Robert A. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-peterson/) > [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/) [Stephen Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-taylor/) > [O Word of God incarnate . . . It is the golden casket Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walsham-how/o-word-of-god-incarnate-it-is-the-golden-casket-where-gems-of-truth/) [Walsham How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walsham-how/) > [How can I trust that the Bible is reliable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/how-can-i-trust-that-the-bible-is-reliable/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted with be uprooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/every-plant-which-my-heavenly-father-has-not-planted-with-be-uprooted/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [Where I come from you're not raised to think on your own. It's not that you're pushed to read the Bible. The Bible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/where-i-come-from-you-re-not-raised-to-think-on-your-own-it-s-not/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? Heaven is referred to in fifty-four of the Bible's sixty-six books, and the final two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/what-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-of-heaven-heaven-is-referred-to-in/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [“While it is in one sense a result of God’s presence within us, the New Testament also describes a process involved in our “putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/while-it-is-in-one-sense-a-result-of-god-s-presence-within-us-the-new/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [The definition of a Church is crystal clear in the New Testament. We see the picture of it. They came together the first day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-definition-of-a-church-is-crystal-clear-in-the-new-testament-we/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) [Browse all 8,465 Bible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“(Referring to an obsession with Tolkien's Middle Earth): I meet a beautiful American heiress, I like her, she likes me . . . and then she turns out to be a fundamentalist with a more literal interpretation of scripture than I feel comfortable with. Only our bible was written by an Oxford don about sixty years ago.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "S.M. 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