# Quote — J. R. R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion

> From splendour he fell through arrogance to contempt for all things save himself, a spirit wasteful and pitiless. Understanding he turned to subtlety in perverting to his own will all that he would use, until he became a liar without shame. He began with the desire of Light, but when he could not possess it for himself alone, he descended through fire and wrath into a great burning, down into Darkness. And darkness he used most in his evil works upon Arda, and filled it with fear for all living things.

- Author: [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-r-r-tolkien.md)
- Book: [The Silmarillion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-r-r-tolkien/the-silmarillion.md)
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Silmarillion#Valaquenta) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-r-r-tolkien/the-silmarillion/from-splendour-he-fell

## More from this book

> And an end was come for the Eldar of story and of song.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-r-r-tolkien/the-silmarillion/and-an-end.md)

> Sauron gathered into his hands all the remaining Rings of Power; and he dealt them out to the other peoples of Middle-earth, hoping thus to bring under his sway all those that desired secret power beyond the measure of their kind. Seven Rings he gave to the Dwarves; but to Men he gave nine, for Men proved in this matter as in others the readiest to his will.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-r-r-tolkien/the-silmarillion/sauron-gathered-into.md)

> Though this people used still their own speech, their kings and lords knew and spoke also the Elven tongue, which they had learned in the days of their alliance, and thus they held converse still with the Eldar, whether of Eressëa or of the west-lands of Middle-earth.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-r-r-tolkien/the-silmarillion/though-this-people.md)