# Quote — J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

> 'What a pity that Bilbo did not stab that vile creature, when he had a chance!'
>
> 'Pity? It was Pity that stayed his hand. Pity, and Mercy: not to strike without need. And he has been well rewarded, Frodo. Be sure that he took so little hurt from the evil, and escaped in the end, because he began his ownership of the Ring so. With Pity.'

- Author: [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-r-r-tolkien.md)
- Book: [The Fellowship of the Ring](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-r-r-tolkien/the-fellowship-of-the-ring.md)
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Fellowship_of_the_Ring#The_Shadow_of_the_Past) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-r-r-tolkien/the-fellowship-of-the-ring/what-a-pity

## More from this book

> We must take a hard road, a road unforeseen. There lies our hope, if hope it be. To walk into peril – to Mordor. We must send the Ring to the Fire.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-r-r-tolkien/the-fellowship-of-the-ring/we-must-take.md)

> It is perilous to study too deeply the arts of the Enemy, for good or for ill. But such falls and betrayals, alas, have happened before.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-r-r-tolkien/the-fellowship-of-the-ring/it-is-perilous.md)

> 'Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens,' said Gimli.
>
> 'Maybe,' said Elrond, 'but let him not vow to walk in the dark, who has not seen the nightfall.'
>
> 'Yet sworn word may strengthen quaking heart,' said Gimli.
>
> 'Or break it,' said Elrond.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-r-r-tolkien/the-fellowship-of-the-ring/faithless-is-he-that.md)