True Courage Is About Knowing Not When To Take A Life But When To Spare One

The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey

[@latitude9926]

Everything Gandalf says give me goosebumps.

[@vegurion2]

"I hope you never have to" said the guy who brought this whole adventure on him 😂

[@user-qj9ho2xf7u]

I noticed it untill now, but it's actually Gandalf who saved Middle-earth. By giving that advice to Bilbo, he made it that Bilbo would spare Gollum. If Bilbo killed him, no one would know where the One Ring was, Bilbo would also turn in a Smeagol, there isn't a necessary need to destroy the Ring because no one knows where it is, Frodo would never make it into Mordor and much more. All of that, avoided by a single line. Gandalf is the real hero and he saved Middle-earth by using the small things, everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keeps the darkness at bay.

[@samueldavid3715]

Fair point - and I believe you are right

[@Tiraliass]

with that logic you could go infinitely further, like saying bilbo is the hero because he went along with the dwarves, and therefore gandalf could tell bilbo to spare a life. or heck, EVEN further, to say that j.r.r tolkien is the hero because he wrote that line for gandalf. OR EVEN FURTHER, by saying j.r.r's parents are the heroes of middle earth because they put j.r.r on this world.

[@grayfox6518]

I see where you're coming from, but Gollum is the true hero who saved Middle-earth. By losing the ring and allowing it to pass Bilbo, he ensured that Frodo would eventually herald it. Gollum also led Frodo and Sam through arguably the safest passage into Mordor. Biting off Frodo's finger saved Frodo from the corruption of the ring, and Gollum carried the immense burden of taking the ring directly into the lava, destroying the ring for good!

[@Hankblue]

To be honest I think it was already in Bilbo's nature to spare Gollum. The advice from Gandalf isn't so much a pivotal moment in Bilbo's character ark as it is literary foreshadowing.

[@YourEmperorStef]

Gandalf knew that Bilbo had the One Ring without knowing anything about what he did with Gollum. That bit and the Smeagol bit is wrong but the rest makes sense

[@user-L13]

The words that kept Gollum alive and in time led to the destruction of the ring

[@A104070]

Dunno why but this scene always brings a tear to my eye

[@jonathanwood7079]

don't worry. you're not the only one :') i would love to have a mentor like Gandalf.

[@kaizen1421]

Me Too , It's A Very Important Message Given To Us.

[@benbob4038]

Because you’re a good person.

[@aydenmarietta4906]

While people either love or hate The Hobbit films(I personally love them.) Gandalf’s advice in this stuck with me when I heard it. For me, that was a memorable moment.

[@trisblackshaw1640]

First two films weren't bad.

[@minos121]

i like them all

[@jarrad68steam36]

Gandalf is the true inspiration. Legit life lessons that hit the heart every time

[@countryboygamer.]

No matter what people say, this trilogy, as well as the Lord of the Rings trilogy will always hold special places in my heart. I grew up watching Lord of the Rings with my Dad and sister, and we saw all three hobbit movies in theaters. Those are some of my favorite memories

[@mpsaichand]

The dialogue is just splendid....Nothing can be more true than that, it becomes more beautiful and absolutely perfect, with the scene inside the cave. Where Bilbo literally spares Gollum. It's Heart Touching!

[@Remo1147]

One of the most profound quotes from Gandalf

[@Mercer13958]

True strength comes from knowing when to spare a life instead of taking one Gandalf has been a good role model for me since I was a kid his wisdom is truly a rare gift

[@tahirhassan1475]

This is a great quote, :)

[@MrSadflkja]

This tiny bit of knowledge saved Gollum's life which ended up saving all of middle earth

[@Jstrelts]

Gandalf truly made these movies special

[@silasgreaves6134]

I don't remember this line at all from the book, so I'm assuming it's one of the many small changes Peter Jackson made when adapting the novel to film (feel free to correct me). But it's such a great moment filmic wise, because it's another example of sage advice which characterizes Gandalf, foreshadows the pity Bilbo would have for Gollum, as well as the thematic role of Mercy (as a force of Good) within the overall story. Changes like these make Tolkien's work even BETTER, and I'll always love Peter Jackson's work creating both trilogies.

[@thomasshervinsky1054]

I’ve always wondered why do those words hit so hard and dig so deep into one’s heart, and then it struck me - the lines, put into a fictional character’s mouth in a fantasy world, were written by a soldier, a man who fought at the Somme and knew too damn well what does it mean to “use a sword” and “take a life”. And, I think, to “spare one” as well. The words of Gandalf are not merely a composition of words constructed shrewdly by a writer, but an uttered experience combining the wisdom of a soldier and feelings of a human being

[@StasisBringer]

Gandalf taught us alot of things and this was one of them. Wise as always

[@srihariananthalwan4610]

Gandalf’s words are already so wise and moving but the music just makes it even more emotional

[@sledge2742]

The hobbit trilogy was a masterpiece and criminally overhated for reasons I cant work out

[@minos121]

one simple reason the lord of the rings trilogy but i agree

[@sbeast64]

I really liked it overall, but it was always going to be compared to the LOTR trilogy, which is almost impossible to beat.

[@yoholup19]

It's because the Lord of the rings was so great that the hobbit couldn't best it

[@andrewofla]

I think the first Hobbit movie was a masterpiece but the last was boring, too much battle, very little story.

[@divixxx15]

Gandalf is such a legendary character.

[@ThatOneDude6009]

The pity of bilbo will rule the fate of many

[@Ghostwatchertim-_-]

I love this line

[@yurigagarin3327]

It's just true nothing less

[@smileandnodd]

Gandalf is probably the wisest character of all times.

[@bogdi131313]

Gandalf is my favorite character ever!

[@Kamina.D.Fierce]

It's true. Being able to go on knowing someone who was a threat to you yet you defeated and then allowed to keep living... Takes courage. But seriously yeah, his message is definitely good.

[@brettdavis2504]

I'm like 90% sure that in the theatrical version, this quote resonates in the background as bilbo contemplates killing gollum. If not, then I must have remembered the quote during that scene in the theaters

[@niko_dagoat]

The music in the background, AW!

[@rafikz77]

I like that they used the same music that was used when Gandalf talks TO Frodo about sparing lives in Fellowship of the Rings (the same music is played later when Bilbo spares Gollum’s life)

[@madelinegarber7860]

I love this.

[@helenkeller3363]

Having heard that quote, bilgo thinks perhaps he could be a good swordsman, not because he's deadly but because he understands peace.

[@dzaek]

everyone should have a Gandalf in them

[@GoUtes92]

“Here’s something to think about. Okay, draw swords.”

[@WhiteMageOfTheWind]

What is the song that gets played in the background when gandalf gives the "True Courage" quote?

[@flame_of_the_west8909]

Don't know the name but it's here : kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZ6Tm4doeNxrhNE Check number 17 - The breaking of the fellowship. Oh, I too find it an excellent piece of music.

[@TheDetonadoBR]

It's the shire motif

[@avrace2708]

Its Hill of Sorcery Exactly 0:11

[@Lazo1389]

❤️

[@Phlebas]

I feel this clip should be used in police training videos.

[@ZnojaviJefticYT]

WHAT A MEANING BEHIND IT, OMG

[@holzmichl9795]

Tolkien understood the English language of forms and bends as well as Shakespeare. If only everyone could use words like the master. My English is not as well but maybe you unterstand.

[@lucasblauw4394]

This scene captures the hobbit movies perfectly. A beatiful scene immediately followed by some unnecessary action

[@MiguellolTV]

if only the "courage's" police cops in america knew about true courage, we would have so many innocent alive

[@gautiersalamagne124]

The only scene that remind me lotr

[@kgunitkeese17]

Why do a majority of the best lines in the Hobbit and LOTR come from Gandalf? He’s one of the best mentors out there.

[@smc1942]

No. _Wisdom_ is knowing when not to take a life. _Courage_ is being absolutely terrified, and going on anyway. A true Hero is someone who pushed himself onward two minutes longer than everyone else. In spite of being filled with fear.

[@pushpool4114]

Taking someones life is easier. Sparing someone's life is a risky and terrifying thing to do especially in times of war, since they can always come back to hurt you.. So, if you do spare someone, it is considered courageous.

[@Mayan_88694]

No, sparing a life is courageous, because you don’t know if the person you spared will come to hurt you or not. So you are taking a leap of faith whenever you spare someone s life, sparing someone s life is the definition of courage.