John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born on January 3, 1892, in Bloemfontein, South Africa, where his father worked as a bank manager. Tolkien’s father died when he was three years old, prompting his mother, Mabel, to relocate to England. They settled in the city of Birmingham, where Mabel converted to Catholicism, a decision that would not only shape Tolkien’s spiritual beliefs but also deeply influence the profound and timeless themes in his literary works.
From an early age, Tolkien developed a deep love for language and storytelling. He went on to study at Oxford and earn his degrees in English Language and Literature. During his time at Oxford, he cultivated a profound interest in mythology and fantasy, which would later serve as the foundation for his most famous works.
In 1926, Tolkien’s life took a significant turn when he met C.S. Lewis, a fellow writer and academic at Oxford University. Tolkien’s devout Catholicism had a considerable impact on Lewis, who was an atheist at the time. Through their discussions and Tolkien’s unwavering beliefs, Lewis eventually converted to Christianity, a transformation that greatly influenced his own writing and the depth of their bond.
Tolkien’s legacy includes the renowned “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, “The Hobbit”, and numerous other short stories and essays. Tolkien and Lewis remain iconic figures in the literary world, having left an indelible mark on fantasy and speculative fiction.
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” ~
“True education is a kind of never ending story — a matter of continual beginnings, of habitual fresh starts, of persistent newness.”
“The greatest adventure is what lies ahead”
“If you do not believe in a personal God, the question: ‘What is the purpose of life?’ is unaskable and unanswerable.”
“There is some good in this world, and it’s worth fighting for.”
“If you do not believe in a personal God, the question: ‘What is the purpose of life?’ is unaskable and unanswerable.”
“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”
“Deeds will not be less valiant because they are unpraised.”
“Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.”
“It is no bad thing celebrating a simple life.”
“A man that flies from his fear may find that he has only taken a short cut to meet it.”
“Deeds will not be less valiant because they are unpraised.”
“The chief purpose of life, for any of us, is to increase according to our capacity our knowledge of God by all means we have, and to be moved by it to praise and thanks.”
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
“The birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus means that one day everything sad will come untrue. “
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
“How do you move on? You move on when your heart finally understands that there is no turning back.”
“It is not the strength of the body that counts, but the strength of the spirit.”
“Living by faith includes the call to something greater than cowardly self-preservation.”
“Let the unseen days be. Today is more than enough.”