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

> 'If thou hadst thy will what wouldst thou reserve?' said Manwë. 'Of all thy realm what dost thou hold dearest?''All have their worth,' said Yavanna, 'and each contributes to the worth of the others. But the kelvar can flee or defend themselves, whereas the olvar that grow cannot. And among these I hold trees dear. Long in the growing, swift shall they be in the felling, and unless they pay toll with fruit upon bough little mourned in their passing. So I see in my thought. Would that the trees might speak on behalf of all things that have roots, and punish those that wrong them!'

- Author: [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jrr-tolkien.md)
- Book: [The Silmarillion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jrr-tolkien/the-silmarillion.md)
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Silmarillion#Quenta_Silmarillion) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Topics: [nature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/nature.md), [trees](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/trees.md)
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/jrr-tolkien/the-silmarillion/if-thou-hadst
- JSON version (same data): https://www.leafyquotes.com/jrr-tolkien/the-silmarillion/if-thou-hadst.json

## More from this book

> Here I have found what I sought not indeed, but finding I would possess for ever. For it is above all gold and silver, and beyond all jewels. Neither rock, nor steel, nor the fires of Morgoth, nor all the powers of the Elf-kingdoms, shall keep from me the treasure that I desire. For Lúthien your daughter is the fairest of all the Children of the World.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jrr-tolkien/the-silmarillion/here-i-have.md)

Topics: [love](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/love.md), [beauty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/beauty.md)

> Love not too well the work of thy hands and the devices of thy heart; and remember that the true hope of the Noldor lieth in the West, and cometh from the Sea.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jrr-tolkien/the-silmarillion/love-not-too.md)

Topics: [hope](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/hope.md), [advice](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/advice.md)

> He that sows lies in the end shall not lack of a harvest, and soon he may rest from toil indeed while others reap and sow in his stead.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jrr-tolkien/the-silmarillion/he-that-sows.md)

Topics: [lies](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/lies.md)