The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Ian McKellen: Gandalf

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Quotes 

• Galadriel : Mithrandir? Why the Halfling?

  Gandalf : I don't know. Saruman believes that it is only great power that can hold evil in check. But that is not what I have found. I've found it is the small things, everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keeps the darkness at bay. Simple acts of kindness and love. Why Bilbo Baggins? Perhaps it is because I am afraid, and he gives me courage.

• Bilbo Baggins : Good morning.

  Gandalf : What do you mean? Do you mean to wish me a good morning or do you mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not? Or perhaps you mean to say that you feel good on this particular morning. Or are you simply stating that this is a morning to be good on?

  Bilbo Baggins : All of them at once, I suppose.

• Bilbo Baggins : I have... I have never used a sword in my life.

  Gandalf : And I hope you never have to. But if you do, remember this: true courage is about knowing not when to take a life, but when to spare one.

• Gandalf : Well, why does it matter? He's back!

  Thorin Oakenshield : It matters. I want to know - why did you come back?

  Bilbo Baggins : Look, I know you doubt me, I know you always have. And you're right. I often think of Bag End. I miss my books. And my armchair. And my garden. See, that's where I belong. That's home. That's why I came back, 'cause you don't have one. A home. It was taken from you. But I will help you take it back if I can.

• Gandalf : You will have to do without pocket handkerchiefs, and a great many other things, before we reach our journey's end, Bilbo Baggins. You were born to the rolling hills and little rivers of the Shire, but home is now behind you. The world is ahead.

• Radagast : I'll draw them off.

  Gandalf : These are Gundabad wargs. They will outrun you!

  Radagast : These are Rhosgobel rabbits. I'd like to see them try.

• Balin : It's just the usual; summary of out-of-pocket expenses, time required, remuneration, funeral arrangements, so forth.

  Bilbo Baggins : Funeral arrangements?

  [reads contract] 

  Bilbo Baggins : Oh, up to but not exceeding one fourteenth total profit if any. Seems fair. Present company shall not be liable for injuries including but not limited to laceration, evisceration... incineration?

  Bofur : Oh, aye. He'll melt the flesh off your bones in the blink of an eye.

  Balin : You all right, laddie?

  Bilbo Baggins : Yeah, I'll be. Feel a bit faint

  Bofur : Think furnace, with wings.

  Bilbo Baggins : Yeah, I-I-I need air

  Bofur : Flash of light, searing pain, then poof, you're nothing more than a pile of ash.

  Bilbo Baggins : [long pause]  Nope.

  [faints] 

  Gandalf : Very helpful, Bofur.

• Gandalf : I'm looking for someone to share in an adventure.

  Bilbo Baggins : An adventure? No, I don't imagine anyone west of Bree would have much interest in adventures. Nasty, disturbing, uncomfortable things. Make you late for dinner.

• Thorin Oakenshield : Where did you go, if I may ask?

  Gandalf : To look ahead.

  Thorin Oakenshield : And what brought you back?

  Gandalf : Looking behind.

• Thorin Oakenshield : I cannot guarantee his safety.

  Gandalf : Understood.

  Thorin Oakenshield : Nor will I be responsible for his fate.

  Gandalf : Agreed.

• Gandalf : The world is not in your books and maps. It's out there.

  Bilbo Baggins : I can't just go running off into the blue! I am a Baggins of Bag End!

  Gandalf : You are also a Took. Did you know that your Great-Great-Great-Great Uncle Bullroarer Took was so large he could ride a real horse?

  Bilbo Baggins : Yes.

  Gandalf : Well he could! In the Battle of Greenfields, he charged the Goblin ranks. He swung his club so hard it knocked the Goblin King's head cleaned off and it sailed a hundred yards through the air and went down a rabbit hole. And thus the battle was won and the game of golf invented at the same time.

  Bilbo Baggins : I do believe you made that up.

  Gandalf : Well, all good stories deserve embellishment. You'll have a tale or two to tell of your own when you come back.

  Bilbo Baggins : ...Can you promise that I will come back?

  Gandalf : No. And if you do... you will not be the same.

• Bilbo Baggins : I just need to sit quietly for a moment.

  Gandalf : You've been sitting quietly for far too long!

• Dori : Mr. Gandalf, can't you do something about this deluge?

  Gandalf : It is raining, Master dwarf, and it will continue to rain until the rain is done. If you wish to change the weather of the world, you should find yourself another wizard.

  Bilbo Baggins : Are there any?

  Gandalf : What?

  Bilbo Baggins : Other wizards?

  Gandalf : There are five of us. The greatest of our order is Saruman the White. And then there are the two Blue Wizards... You know, I've quite forgotten their names.

  Bilbo Baggins : And the fifth?

  Gandalf : Well, that would be Radagast the Brown.

  Bilbo Baggins : Is he a great wizard, or is he more like you?

  Gandalf : Well, I think he is a very great wizard... in his own way. He's a gentle soul who prefers the company of animals for others. He keeps a watchful eye over the vast forest lands to the East, and a good thing too. For always evil will look to find a foothold in this world.

• [Lord Elrond arrives at Rivendell. He greets the Dwarves, speaking in Elvish] 

  Gloin : What does he say? Does he offer us insult?

  Gandalf : No Master Gloin, he's offering you food.

  [the Dwarves quickly have a quiet discussion amongst themselves] 

  Gloin : Very well then. Lead on!

• Galadriel : You carry something. It came to you from Radagast. He found it in Dol Guldur.

  Gandalf : Yes.

  Galadriel : Show it to me.

  [Gandalf takes out a package] 

  Elrond : What is that?

  Galadriel : A relic... of Mordor.

  Elrond : A Morgul-blade!

  Galadriel : Made for the Witch-king of Angmar and buried with him. When Angmar fell, the Men of the North took his body and all that he possessed and sealed it within the High Fells of Rhudaur. Deep within the rock, they buried him. In a tomb so dark, it would never come to light.

  Elrond : This is not possible. A powerful spell lies upon those tombs, they can NOT be opened.

  Saruman : What proof do we have this weapon came from Angmar's grave?

  Gandalf : I can find none.

  Saruman : Because there IS none! Let us examine what we know: A single Orc pack has dared to cross the Bruinen, a dagger from a bygone age has been found and a human sorcerer who calls himself the Necromancer has taken up residence in a ruined fortress. It's not so very much. After all, the question of this Dwarvish company, however, troubles me deeply. I'm not convinced, Gandalf. I do not feel I can condone such a quest. If they had come to me, I might have spared them from this disappointment...

  Galadriel : [while Saruman talks]  They are leaving.

  Gandalf : Yes.

  Galadriel : [smiles]  You knew.

• Gandalf : I am Gandalf, and Gandalf means me.

• Bilbo Baggins : Can I help you?

  Gandalf : That remains to be seen.

• Galadriel : The dragon has long been on your mind.

  Gandalf : This is true, my lady. Smaug owes allegiance to no one, but if he should side with the Enemy... A dragon could be used to terrible effect.

  Saruman : What enemy? Gandalf, the Enemy is defeated. Sauron is vanquished. He can never regain his full strength.

  Elrond : Gandalf, for four hundred years, we have lived in peace - a hard-won, watchful peace.

  Gandalf : Are we, are we at peace? Trolls have come down from the mountains, they are raiding villages, destroying farms. Orcs have attacked us on the road!

  Elrond : Hardly a prelude to war.

  Saruman : Always you must meddle, looking for trouble when none exist...

  Galadriel : Let him speak.

  Gandalf : There is something at work beyond the evil of Smaug. Something far more powerful. We could remain blind to it but it will not be ignoring us, that I can promise you. A sickness lies over the Greenwood. The Woodsmen who live there now call it Mirkwood and, uh, they say...

  Saruman : Well, don't stop now. Tell us what the Woodsmen say.

  Gandalf : They speak of a Necromancer living in Dol Guldur, a sorcerer who could summon the dead.

  Saruman : That's absurd. No such power exists in this world. This "Necromancer" is nothing more than a mortal man, a conjurer dabbling in black magic.

  Gandalf : And so I thought too, but Radagast had seen...

  Saruman : Radagast? Do not speak to me of Radagast the Brown. He is a foolish fellow.

  Gandalf : Well, he's odd, I'll grant you. He lives a solitary life...

  Saruman : It's not that. It's his excessive consumption of mushrooms! They've addled his brain and yellowed his teeth!

• Thorin Oakenshield : Out of the frying pan...

  Gandalf : ...and into the fire. Run. Run!

• Gandalf : Far to the east, over ranges and rivers lies a single solitary peak.

• Gandalf : When did doilies and your mother's dishes become so important to you?

• Gandalf : Here lies the Last Homely House East of the Sea.

  Thorin Oakenshield : This was your plan all along - to seek refuge with our enemy?

  Gandalf : You have no enemies here, Thorin Oakenshield. The only ill will to be found in this valley is that which you bring yourself.

  Thorin Oakenshield : You think the Elves will give our quest their blessing? They will try to stop us.

  Gandalf : Of course they will. But we have questions that need to be answered. If we are to be successful this will need to be handled with tact, and respect, and no small degree of charm, which is why you will leave the talking to me.

• Elrond : So this is your purpose, to enter the mountain?

  Thorin Oakenshield : What of it?

  Elrond : There are some who would not deem it wise.

  Gandalf : What do you mean?

  Elrond : You are not the only guardian to stand watch over Middle-Earth.

• Bilbo Baggins : I am surrounded by dwarves! What are they doing here?

  Gandalf : Oh, they're quite a merry gathering. Once you get used to them.

• Radagast : The Greenwood is sick, Gandalf. A darkness has fallen over it. Nothing grows anymore, at least nothing good. The air is fouled decay, but worst are the webs.

  Gandalf : Webs? What do you mean?

  Radagast : Spiders, Gandalf. Giant ones. Some kind of spawn of Ungoliant or I'm not a wizard. I followed their trail, they came from... Dol Guldur.

  Gandalf : Dol Guldur? But the old fortress is abandoned.

  Radagast : No, Gandalf, 'tis not. A dark power dwells in there. Such as I have never felt before. It is the shadow of an ancient horror. One that can summon the spirits of the dead. I saw him, Gandalf, from out of the darkness. A Necromancer has come!

  Necromancer : [whispers in an unknown language] 

• Gandalf : Of course I was going to tell you, I was waiting for this very chance. And really, I think you could trust that I know what I am doing.

  Elrond : Do you? That dragon has slept for 60 years. What will happen if your plan should fail? If you wake that beast...

  Gandalf : But if we succeed. If the Dwarves take back the mountain, our defenses in the East will be strengthened!

  Elrond : It is a dangerous move, Gandalf.

  Gandalf : It is also dangerous to do nothing or cut the throne of Erebor, it's Thorin's birthright. What is it you fear?

  Elrond : Have you forgotten? A strain of madness runs deep in that family. His grandfather lost his mind, his father succumbed to the same sickness. Can you swear Thorin Oakenshield will not also fall? Gandalf, these decisions do not rest with us alone. It is not up to you or me to redraw the map of Middle-earth.

• Gandalf : Does it not worry you that the last of the Dwarf-rings should simply vanish along with its bearer? Of the Seven Dwarf-rings, four were consumed by dragons, two were taken by Sauron before he fell in Mordor... the fate of the last Dwarf-ring remains unknown, the ring that was borne by Thrain.

  Saruman : Without the Ruling Ring of Power, the Seven are no value to the Enemy. To control the other Rings, he needs the One. And that Ring was lost long, long ago. It was swept out to sea by the waters of the Anduin.

• Gandalf : [counting on his fingers]  Fili, Kili... Oin, Gloin... Dwalin, Balin... Bifur, Bofur, Bombur... Dori, Nori, Ori...

  Bifur : [grunts something in Khazdul and slaps his elbow] 

  Gandalf : Yes, you're quite right, Bifur. We appear to be one dwarf short.

• [from trailer] 

  Gandalf : You asked me to find the fourteenth member of this company and I have chosen Mr. Baggins.

  Bilbo Baggins : Me? No! No no no!

  Gandalf : Hobbits can pass unseen by most if they choose, which gives us a distinct advantage.

• Gandalf : All good stories deserve embellishment.

• Gandalf : The dawn will take you all!

  William Troll : Who's that?

  Bert Troll : No idea.

  Tom Troll : Can we eat him too?

• Gandalf : Save me from the stubbornness of Dwarves. Your pride will be your downfall.

• Dori : Mr. Gandalf? A glass of red wine as requested. It's got a fruity bouquet.

  Gandalf : Ah, cheers.

• Dori : Excuse me, Mr. Gandalf?

  Gandalf : Yes?

  Dori : May I tempt you with a cup of chamomile?

  Gandalf : Oh, no, thank you, Dori. A little red wine for me, I think.

• Gandalf : Enough! If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar then a burglar he is!

• Gandalf : The Elves could help us, we could get food, rest, advice.

  Thorin Oakenshield : I do not need their advice.

  Gandalf : We have a map that we cannot read. Lord Elrond could help us.

  Thorin Oakenshield : Help? A dragon attacks Erebor. What help came from the Elves? Orcs plunder Moria, desecrate our sacred halls, the Elves looked on and did nothing! You ask me to seek out the very people who betrayed my grandfather, who betrayed my father.

  Gandalf : You are neither of them.

• Bilbo Baggins : Uh - wait, wait. Stop! Stop! We have to turn around.

  Gandalf : What on earth is the matter?

  Bilbo Baggins : I forgot my handkerchief.