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Alas, not me, lord!" she said. "Shadow lies on me still. Look not to me for healing! I am a shieldmaiden and my hand is ungentle.
J. R. R. Tolkien
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The speaker acknowledges their pain and lack of gentleness, asserting their strength as a warrior.

In this quote, the speaker expresses a vulnerable yet powerful declaration of their identity as a shieldmaiden, emphasizing the burden of their past and the darkness that still affects them. It reflects the complexity of strength and healing, indicating that while one may be a fierce warrior, they also carry emotional scars that cannot easily be healed by others.

Themes

CourageStrengthVulnerabilityIdentityHealing

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about overcoming adversity, one might quote this to illustrate personal struggles.

More from J. R. R. Tolkien

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What did I tell you, Mr. Pippin?' said Sam, sheathing his sword. 'Wolves won't get him. That was an eye-opener, and no mistake! Nearly singed the hair off my head!
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Under the Mountain dark and tall The King has come unto his hall! His foe is dead, the Worm of Dread, And ever so his foes shall fall. The sword is sharp, the spear is long, The arrow swift, the Gate is strong; The heart is bold that looks on gold; The dwarves no more shall suffer wrong. The dwarves of yore made mighty spells, While hammers fells like ringing bells In places deep, where dark things sleep, In hollow halls beneath the fells. -from The Hobbit (Dwarves Battle Song)
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The chief purpose of life, for any of us, is to increase according to our capacity our knowledge of God by all means we have, and to be moved by it to praise and thanks.
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Alive without breath, As cold as death; Never thirsty, ever drinking, All in mail never clinking.
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