How does a reluctant hobbit forge a hero’s heart?
J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit follows Bilbo Baggins, a comfort-loving hobbit from Bag-End, thrust into a perilous quest by the wizard Gandalf and thirteen dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield. From trolls and goblins to the dragon Smaug’s lair, Bilbo’s journey transforms him, uncovering courage and cunning beneath his Tookish spark.
This collection presents 44 unique quotes, organized by Bilbo’s arc—reluctance, growth, heroism, and return—capturing Tolkien’s lush prose and timeless themes of adventure, friendship, and self-discovery.
Heads up! Check the note at the end about the specific edition used and why page numbers might vary.
Reluctance: A Hobbit’s Comfortable Start
Bilbo clings to the cozy predictability of Bag-End, wary of adventures that disrupt his quiet life.
“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: The Narrator), Theme: Home, Comfort, Page 3
“This is a story of how a Baggins had an adventure, and found himself doing and saying things altogether unexpected.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: The Narrator), Theme: Adventure, Transformation, Page 4
“Good Morning!” said Bilbo, and he meant it. The sun was shining, and the grass was very green. But Gandalf looked at him from under long bushy eyebrows that stuck out further than the brim of his shady hat. ‘What do you mean?’ he said. ‘Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?’ ‘All of them at once,’ said Bilbo…”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Characters: Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf), Theme: Wit, Interaction, Pages 5-6
“I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it’s very difficult to find anyone.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: Gandalf), Theme: Adventure, Recruitment, Page 6
“We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner!”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: Bilbo Baggins), Theme: Reluctance, Comfort, Page 6
“Sorry! I don’t want any adventures, thank you. Not today. Good morning! But please come to tea—any time you like! Why not tomorrow? Good bye!”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: Bilbo Baggins), Theme: Reluctance, Politeness, Page 7
“This was the most awkward Wednesday he ever remembered.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: The Narrator), Theme: Disruption, Chaos, Page 11
“Far over the misty mountains cold To dungeons deep and caverns old We must away ere break of day To seek the pale enchanted gold…”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: The Dwarves singing), Theme: Quest, Longing, Pages 14-16
“Then something Tookish woke up inside him, and he wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and explore the caves, and wear a sword instead of a walking-stick.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: The Narrator), Theme: Inner Conflict, Adventure, Page 16
“May the hair on his toes never fall out!”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: Thorin), Theme: Blessing, Humor, Page 17
“If you have ever seen a dragon in a pinch, you will realize that this was only poetical exaggeration applied to any hobbit, even to Old Took’s great-grand-uncle Bullroarer…”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: The Narrator), Theme: Myth, Humor, Page 18
Bilbo’s cozy world unravels as Gandalf and the dwarves ignite a spark of adventure in his Tookish heart.
Growth: Facing the Wild
Bilbo ventures beyond The Shire, grappling with dangers that test his courage and cunning.
“Trolls simply detest the very sight of dwarves (uncooked).”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: The Narrator), Theme: Humor, Conflict, Page 36
“Where did you go to, if I may ask?’ said Thorin to Gandalf as they rode along. ‘To look ahead,’ said he. ‘And what brought you back in the nick of time?’ ‘Looking behind,’ said he.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Characters: Thorin and Gandalf), Theme: Wisdom, Timing, Page 42
“Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars, not if you care for such things.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: The Narrator), Theme: Beauty, Wonder, Page 47
“Now it is a strange thing, but things that are good to have and days that are good to spend are soon told about, and not much to listen to; while things that are uncomfortable, palpitating, and even gruesome, may make a good tale, and take a deal of telling anyway.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: The Narrator), Theme: Storytelling, Adventure, Page 48
“There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something. You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: The Narrator), Theme: Exploration, Discovery, Page 55
“Why, O why did I ever leave my hobbit-hole?” said poor Mr. Baggins, bumping up and down on Bombur’s back.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: Bilbo Baggins), Theme: Regret, Hardship, Page 63
“Go back? No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: Bilbo Baggins), Theme: Courage, Resolve, Page 66
“Voiceless it cries, Wingless flutters, Toothless bites, Mouthless mutters.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: Gollum), Theme: Riddles, Wit, Page 70
“It cannot be seen, cannot be felt, Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt, It lies behind stars and under hills, And empty holes it fills, It comes first and follows after, Ends life, kills laughter.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: Gollum), Theme: Riddles, Darkness, Page 71
“A box without hinges, key, or lid, Yet golden treasure inside is hid.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: Bilbo Baggins), Theme: Riddles, Cleverness, Page 71
“Alive without breath, As cold as death; Never thirsty, ever drinking, All in mail never clinking.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: Gollum), Theme: Riddles, Mystery, Page 72
“Is it nice, my preciousss? Is it juicy? Is it scrumptiously crunchable?”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: Gollum), Theme: Greed, Threat, Page 72
“This thing all things devours: Birds, beasts, trees, flowers; Gnaws iron, bites steel; Grinds hard stones to meal; Slays king, ruins town, And beats high mountain down.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: Gollum), Theme: Riddles, Time, Page 73
“Thief, thief, thief! Baggins! We hates it, we hates it, we hates it forever!”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: Gollum), Theme: Anger, Betrayal, Page 82
“Escaping goblins to be caught by wolves!” he said, and it became a proverb, though we now say ‘out of the frying-pan into the fire’ in the same sort of uncomfortable situations.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: Bilbo Baggins), Theme: Peril, Proverbs, Page 92
“Farewell,” they cried, “Wherever you fare till your eyries receive you at the journey’s end!” That is the polite thing to say among eagles. “May the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks,” answered Gandalf, who knew the correct reply.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Characters: The Eagles and Gandalf), Theme: Blessing, Farewell, Page 106
Through riddles and rescues, Bilbo’s courage grows, forging a burglar’s mettle in the wild.
Heroism: Rising to the Challenge
Bilbo embraces his role, facing Smaug and defying danger to protect his companions.
“It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: The Narrator), Theme: Caution, Danger, Page 109
“There are no safe paths in this part of the world. Remember you are over the Edge of the Wild now, and in for all sorts of fun wherever you go.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: Gandalf to Bilbo), Theme: Adventure, Risk, Page 129
“The King beneath the mountains, The King of carven stone, The lord of silver fountains Shall come into his own!…”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: Singing Elves), Theme: Prophecy, Hope, Page 182
“It was at this point that Bilbo stopped. Going on from there was the bravest thing he ever did. The tremendous things that happened afterward were as nothing compared to it.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: The Narrator about Bilbo), Theme: Courage, Turning Point, Page 197
“You have nice manners for a thief and a liar,” said the dragon.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: Smaug), Theme: Wit, Confrontation, Page 204
“I come from under the hill, and under the hills and over the hills my paths led. And through the air, I am he that walks unseen. I am the clue-finder, the web-cutter, the stinging fly…”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: Bilbo to Smaug), Theme: Identity, Riddles, Page 204
“No dragon can resist the fascination of riddling talk and of wasting time trying to understand it.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: The Narrator), Theme: Strategy, Weakness, Page 205
“My armour is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death!”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: Smaug), Theme: Power, Fear, Page 207
“Never laugh at live dragons, Bilbo you fool!”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: Bilbo’s Thoughts), Theme: Caution, Regret, Page 209
“While there’s life there’s hope.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: Bilbo), Theme: Optimism, Resilience, Page 214
“I may be a burglar…but I’m an honest one, I hope, more or less.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: Bilbo), Theme: Integrity, Identity, Page 248
“If you don’t like my burglar, please don’t damage him.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: Gandalf), Theme: Defense, Loyalty, Page 251
Bilbo’s wit and bravery shine, proving his worth as a burglar and a hero against mighty foes.
Return: Homeward Bound
Bilbo returns to The Shire, forever changed, embracing a quieter life with newfound wisdom.
“There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: Thorin), Theme: Wisdom, Growth, Page 263
“Farewell! O Gandalf! May you ever appear where you are most needed and least expected!”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: Beorn), Theme: Farewell, Respect, Page 267
“So comes snow after fire, and even dragons have their endings.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: Bilbo), Theme: Change, Closure, Page 268
“Roads go ever ever on, Over rock and under tree, By caves where never sun has shone, By streams that never find the sea…”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Character: Bilbo), Theme: Journey, Homecoming, Page 273
“Then the prophecies of the old songs have turned out to be true, after a fashion!” said Bilbo. ‘Of course!’ said Gandalf. ‘And why should not they prove true? Surely you don’t disbelieve the prophecies, because you had a hand in bringing them about yourself? You don’t really suppose, do you, that all your adventures and escapes were managed by mere luck, just for your sole benefit? You are a very fine person, Mr. Baggins, and I am very fond of you; but you are only quite a little fellow in a wide world after all!’ ‘Thank goodness!’ said Bilbo laughing, and handed him the tobacco-jar.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, (Characters: Bilbo and Gandalf), Theme: Destiny, Humility, Page 276
Bilbo’s return to Bag-End seals his transformation, blending Tookish courage with Baggins contentment.
Conclusion: A Hobbit’s Timeless Tale
These 44 quotes etch Bilbo Baggins’s enduring journey in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. From the cozy comfort of Bag-End to the fiery perils of Smaug’s lair, Bilbo’s arc—reluctance, growth, heroism, and return—reveals the courage within the smallest of souls. Tolkien’s prose sings of adventure, friendship, and the quiet wisdom of home, making this tale a beacon for all who wander.
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A Note on Page Numbers & Edition:
We meticulously gathered these quotes from the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Anniversary Edition (September 18, 2012), ISBN-13: 978-0547928227. Like Bilbo’s winding paths, page numbers may shift across editions! Always cross-check with your copy to anchor your citations.
Jeremy Mortis, founder of Ageless Investing, applies a rigorous analytical approach (the AAM framework) to distill timeless wisdom and contextualized quotes from classic literature, saving you time while deepening understanding. Learn more about Jeremy’s unique background and methodology on his author bio page.