The Wisdom of Gandalf: A Journey Through the Wisest Quotes

The Archetype of Wisdom

Gandalf (Ian McKellen) is a source of guidance, counsel, and knowledge for the Fellowship in The Lord of the Rings, making for a lot of wise Gandalf quotes. The wizard who guides Frodo (Elijah Wood) on his journey as well as Bilbo (Martin Freeman) before him in The Hobbit. In many ways, he exemplifies the archetype of the wizard character, and he is great at dispensing wisdom. While Gandalf is also extremely powerful, as one of the few Istari in Middle-earth, his intelligence is one of his greatest strengths. Many of Gandalf's quotes are still enshrined in pop culture today, decades after the original movies were released, and his wisest are always worth remembering.

Ian McKellen as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

The best Gandalf quotes are often the ones that display his immense wisdom. Throughout both the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies, Gandalf is an invaluable source of information and guidance. However, many of the wisest things that he says are simple phrases that can be applied to everyday life. Ian McKellen gave such gravitas and charm to the role that it's almost impossible to imagine anyone else in the role, and any actor that takes it on in the future will have big robes to fill.

Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins and Ian McKellen as Gandalf in The Hobbit Battle of the Five Armies

The Essence of Gandalf's Wisdom

Gandalf is someone who has a lot more insight into life and death than the average Hobbit or human in The Lord of the Rings. As an Istari, he has an extremely long life similar to the Elves. When Frodo expresses disgust over Gollum (Andy Serkis) and wishes for his death, Gandalf offers these words of advice. While wishing that evil people weren’t around anymore might be normal, Gandalf reminds Frodo that it’s not anyone's place to deal out death and that how the way things work together, in the end, can’t always be seen.

Gandalf looking to talk to Frodo in the Mines of Moria in The Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring

One of the wisest Gandalf quotes only makes it into the extended version of The Return of the King, but it's a moment that's worth highlighting for its relevance to some of the key themes seen in that film. As Gandalf and Pippin (Billy Boyd) walk away from their disheartening first meeting with Denethor (John Noble), Gandalf explains to Pippin how the line of kings had failed and how Gondor had gone into a state of decline. Though he would never have listened to them, Denethor needed these words most of all, his treatment of Faramir (David Wenham) directly echoing Gandalf's assessment of the rot lying at the heart of the world of Men.

Gandalf and Pippin speaking to Denethor in the Lord of the Rings Return of the King

Despite facing many dangers in his journeys over the course of The Lord of the Rings movies, Gandalf is not one to kill even his enemies without thought. He further establishes this belief during a significant moment when Gandalf hands Bilbo his iconic sword, Sting, an iconic fictional weapon that Frodo would inherit in The Lord of the Rings. The Gandalf quote from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is profoundly wise advice, but it also has an interesting connection to the plot, as this is the part of the story in which Bilbo meets and then spares the life of the character Gollum. Taking pity on Gollum as Frodo would also do, Bilbo's decision not to kill Gollum sets in motion the acts that ultimately destroy both Gollum and the Ring of Power in the fires of Mount Doom many years later in the events of The Return of the King.

Gandalf talking to Bilbo outside the troll horde in The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey

The Impact of Gandalf's Words

While the best Gandalf quotes are often quite serious, he can also be rather funny. Gandalf has a lighter side and a good sense of humor that comes out fairly often. This is especially true when he is talking to Hobbits. When the Fellowship gets lost in Moria, Gandalf finds their way through using a less-than-scientific method. Despite his great intelligence and relying on that intellect to steer him in the right direction, Gandalf is also willing to admit he is not perfect and that sometimes his choices are based on little more than gut feeling and instinct.

Bilbo and Gandalf share a smoke in the Shire in Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring

In The Hobbit, especially in the books, Gandalf is less serious than he is in The Lord of the Rings. This is because the overall situation in Middle-earth gets much worse as the story goes on, but when he meets Bilbo he’s in rather good spirits. Bilbo is a rare Hobbit who loves both comfort and adventure, and Gandalf encourages him to experience the world. This wise Gandalf quote is also a good reminder for fans of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit to go out and enjoy things in the real world.

Gandalf talking to Galadriel in The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey

The Lord of the Rings series deals with many heavy themes, such as war and death. When Pippin, someone who is quite young and very sheltered, is exposed to the horrors of death and war in Gondor, he’s understandably scared. Gandalf manages to provide him with some comfort by reminding him that death is an inevitability that shouldn't be feared, and is the next path everyone in the world goes on once their time is over. Gandalf shares his wisdom about the afterlife, and it's powerful enough to provide Pippin with some courage during those frightening moments.

Gandalf saying Death is just another path in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King