Proverbs of Middle Earth

On Vows

"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.
 

Leaving Lothlorien

The Fellowship remained in Lorien for a month, though they were not aware of the passing of time.  Unsurprisingly, the decision to leave had to be taken for them, although the Lord & Lady did present the opportunity to remain, if any so desired.

Whether they stay or go, none can be sure of peace.
CELEBORN

Maybe the paths that you each shall tread
are already laid before your feet,
though you do not see them.
GALADRIEL

The final gift-giving and farewell scene is heavy with poignancy as the Fellowship collectively realise that they are now fated to head away from stainless beauty and restful peace, and towards the dark, the dangerous, and the unknown.

Since words naturally lack at such a solemn time, the appearance of several proverbs - though this time of consolation and advice, not of wisdom and debate - lends added weight to the brevity.

Memory is not what the heart desires.
GIMLI

Alas for us all!  And for all that walk the world these after-days.
For such is the way of it: to find and lose,
as it seems to those whose boat is on the running stream.
LEGOLAS

On and From the Dwarves

As a race, there appears to be some kind of existential insecurity about the Dwarves.  Throughout the quest of Erebor and, through Gimli (and to some small degree, Gloin) in the War of the Ring, they appear brash and boastful, proud to the point of conceit, and guilty of constantly showing off or seeking conflict in an attempt to appear impressive.
 

To use a comparison, it is almost as if they are the younger (or illegitimate) child of a great house, eternally in the shadow of greater siblings, and falling into the trap of brazenly trumpeting the most meagre of their triumphs to any who will listen in search of approval or praise.  Additionally, they go out of the way to point out the perceived weaknesses of their siblings, to cut them down to size.

The legs of Men will lag on a rough road,
while a Dwarf goes on, be the burden twice his own weight.
GIMLI

A plague on Dwarves and their stiff necks!
LEGOLAS

The gradual humbling of the stiff-necked Gimli over the course of the Quest is one of the most subtle and least observed character transformations in the story.  Interestingly, it is he alone whose character  is illustrated by proverbs spoken (as it were) by the Narrator.

Stone-hard are the Dwarves in labour or journey.

Dwarves make light of burden.

It is significant that, of the proverbs that Gimli uses, little or no wisdom is actually displayed.  Most are intended either to outline the greatnesses of the Naugrim or to do down other races (with the exception of Hobbits, who threaten his status little).  As such, the combined wisdom of the Dwarves is presented as being little more than (as the Scots would say) "Wha's like us?"

On the Hunt

After the successive disasters of losing Boromir, the kidnap of Merry & Pippin, and the absconding of Frodo with Sam, the Fellowship's remaining three are for a time lost in a mire of self-condemnation and despair.  They do not know what course of action to choose - or indeed, as Gimli says, if there even is a right choice - and their leader keeps repeating that 'all he has done has gone amiss'.

It is in such circumstances that the Three Hunters - and particularly Legolas and Aragorn - fall back on received wisdom to keep them moving.  The proverbs they quote are nearly all straightforward and practical, aimed to advise while protecting them from depression and self-defeat.

Let us first do what we must do.
LEGOLAS

When the great fall, the less must lead.
ARAGORN

There are some things that it is better to begin than to refuse,
even though the end may be dark.
ARAGORN

Endure the East Wind, but do not ask it for tidings.
ARAGORN

Having dealt with and mourned Boromir, and set out upon the hopeless pursuit of Merry & Pippin's captors, these proverbs become an encouragement (ie. reminding the Three that they are indeed equipped for their difficult task) and a source of hope that all is not lost.

Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall.
ARAGORN

Where sight fails the earth may bring us rumour.
ARAGORN

Keen are the eyes of the elves.
ARAGORN

Rede oft is found at the rising of the Sun.
LEGOLAS

Gimli's Brush with Humility

As has been previously noted, Gimli seems almost pathologically incapable of accepting his own weakness or the strength of any who are not of his race.  His pride is chronic, and his attitude typically dismissive.

Men need many words before deeds.
GIMLI

Strange are the ways of Men.
GIMLI

Doubtless the good stonework is the older
and was wrought in the first building.
It is ever so with the things that Men begin:
there is a frost in Spring, or a blight in Summer,
and they fail of their promise.
GIMLI

Yet, by following Aragorn on the Paths of the Dead, Gimli reached a point of humbling.  "Here is a thing unheard of!" he declared, "An Elf will go underground and a Dwarf dare not!"  And now, recounting to Merry and Pippin the terror of the Paths of the Dead, it seems that this humility has stayed with him.

I was put to shame: Gimli Gloin's son,
who had deemed himself more tough then Men,
and hardier under earth than any Elf.

GIMLI

On the Limits of Hobbits

The Ring is destroyed and the Dark Tower broken; the Shadow is passed.  There is nothing left to debate except when next to eat.

 

At last, the members of the Fellowship have the chance to get reacquainted, to tell their stories, and to marvel at how much they (or Merry and Pippin at least) have grown.

Mortals cannot go drinking ent-draughts
and expect no more to come of them than a pot of beer.
GIMLI

There is a lot to catch up on, though Sam plainly can't get his head around it, and it is clear that the breaking of the Fellowship, though grievous, worked to great good.

One can't be everywhere at once.
SAM