21 years later, this legendary line from the cinema still has the power to dare anyone who hears it.

Masterfully sculpted by JRR Tolkien’s sharp pen 70 years ago, The Lord of the Rings saga has stood the test of time, thanks in particular to the powerful maxims its characters proclaim within its pages. Rekindled in the early 2000s by Peter Jackson’s excellent adaptation, the flames of these suggestions are burning hotter than ever in the hearts of fans.

Of all the characters in this timeless epic, Gandalf the wizard probably delivers the most powerful lines (can you deliver them without the slightest mistake?).

• “What are we doing with our lives…”: Spoken 24 years ago in one of the most epic films of all time, this line still resonates in the hearts of audiences.

“All we have to decide…”

What we are interested in today sounds twice in the first part of the trilogy.

First in the Darkness of Moria, when the Fellowship of the Ring seems to have lost its way, and Frodo trusts Gandalf. The scene is significant because it is, so to speak, the last discussion between the two characters before the wizard comes face-to-face with the Balrog and is separated from Frodo by the end of the saga.

“I wish the ring had never come to me so that none of this had happened.”admits the hobbit, frustrated at the difficult task he must perform.

“Like everyone who experiences such dark times,” Gandalf then answers. “But that’s not for them to decide. We just have to decide what to do with our time.”

These very few words, very simple but endowed with extraordinary power, often resonated in the hearts of viewers to give them courage and we often want to remember when the situation in our lives sometimes makes it difficult to do so. But the answer does not stop there.

“There are other forces at work in this world…”

“There are other forces at work in this world besides the will of evil.”He continues with Frodo, evoking the omniscience of Ilúvatar, the allegory of God in Tolkien’s world, in veiled words. “Bilbo has been tasked with finding the ring, and in this case you’ve been tasked with holding it. And that’s quite refreshing.”

At the end of the film, when the community has been destroyed by an enemy army and Frodo finds himself alone on the banks of the Anduin, terrified of the terrible mission he must complete without the help of his companions, these saving words of Gandalf. He will come to his senses providentially.

We just have to decide what to do with the time we have.

Hearing the little phrase resonate in his memories, Frodo then finds the courage he lacked to continue his quest. The frightened glint that had been in his eyes suddenly turned into a fearless spark. He suddenly manages to grasp the rope in his inner darkness.

He closes the ring with his fingers, which he places in his pocket, and with a firm shoulder pushes the boat on the river waters. His journey can now continue.

What is your favorite line from The Lord of the Rings?

(Re)discover our video dedicated to Gandalf…