The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King was a hugely successful movie in many ways. Not only did it win 11 Oscars, it was also a huge hit with fans across the world. These movies were very influential in pop culture and have had an impact on movies and the fantasy genre ever since they were made. While it’s been over two decades since The Return of the King came out, there are still many generations of fans who love it. There are still many quotes from the film that are quoted often on the internet.
Here are the ten best quotes from The Return of the King.
10. “CERTAINTY OF DEATH. SMALL CHANCE OF SUCCESS. WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?”
Gimli is definitely a fan-favorite character even if he’s not the main character in the franchise. As the only dwarf in the Fellowship, his humor and more gruff ways made many fans have fallen in love with him. Gimli says this hilarious line after the group lead by Aragorn and Gandalf decide to go to the Black Gate of Mordor to try and distract Sauron. While they realize this might lead to all of their deaths, they are willing to do whatever it takes to give Frodo and Sam a fighting chance.
9. “FOR FRODO.”
The Return of the King has many emotional moments. These movies are often dark, but they are also about the bonds of friendship and loyalty. When Aragorn says this line before charging into battle at the Black Gate, it’s quite the emotional line. All of the rest of the Fellowship that is there with him are clearly impacted by what he says, and they charge forth after him. They clearly all want to do everything they can to try and help Frodo finish his quest to destroy the One Ring.
8. “HAVE YOU LEARNED NOTHING OF THE STUBBORNNESS OF DWARVES?”
There are many close friendships in the Lord of the Rings series, and these stories are largely about their importance in the midst of horrible things like death and war. When Aragorn tries to slip away to the Paths of the Dead by himself, Gimli and Aragorn are waiting for him. While Aragorn tries to tell them he has to do this part of his journey alone, they aren’t having it. Legolas says this somewhat funny but endearing line to let Aragorn know they have no intention of letting him slip away.
7. “IT’S OVER. IT’S DONE.”
This is maybe one of the most often-quoted lines from the series because it’s short, sweet, and to the point. This line has been used in many internet memes and reaction images. While it’s being used on the internet for humor, the actual moment is quite serious. Frodo says this line after the Ring has been destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom. It’s clear that he is extremely relieved, and this moment is the culmination of what the entire series was working towards.
6. “IT IS NOT THIS DAY!”
This line comes from the end of Aragorn’s most powerful speech from the entire film series. Before the armies charged onto the Pelennor Fields to face Sauron’s army, they are scared and no the odds aren’t in their favor at all. Aragorn rallies them to battle by saying, “A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day.” This is an incredibly rousing and inspiring speech, and it’s an iconic moment from the film.
5. “HERE AT LAST…COMES THE END OF OUR FELLOWSHIP. I WILL NOT SAY DO NOT WEEP FOR NOT ALL TEARS ARE AN EVIL.”
While in many ways The Return of the King is a triumphant ending and the war is technically won, it’s also bittersweet. The ending of the movie reinforces the idea that war is brutal and that things are never quite the same. When Gandalf and Frodo are about to leave Middle-Earth for the Grey Havens, Sam, Merry, and Pippin are understandably quite devastated. Gandalf reminds them, and us as the audience, grief is a part of life and that it’s okay to cry.
4. “I CAN’T CARRY IT FOR YOU, BUT I CAN CARRY YOU.”
This is another extremely powerful and emotional moment from the movie. The friendship between Frodo and Sam is one of the core emotional aspects of these movies, and it’s clear that Sam’s loyalty to Frodo is a big part of why he’s able to make it so far.
When Frodo can no longer go on as they climb Mount Doom, Sam finds it within himself to carry Frodo.
3. “I AM NO MAN.”
There aren’t all that many female characters in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but the movies do attempt to give them more of a role than they have in the books. However, this iconic line is one right from the books, and it shows Eowyn’s bravery. This is a moment that many people find extremely inspiring, and it was a triumphant moment to see Eowyn be the one to kill the Witch-King.
2. “I’M GLAD TO BE WITH YOU, SAMWISE GAMGEE. HERE, AT THE END OF ALL THINGS.”
After the Ring is destroyed, Sam and Frodo are on the slopes of Mount Doom as it erupts. The lava is flowing around them, and they have no way to escape. It looks as if they will die there, and they’ve clearly come to accept it to some degree.
When Frodo says this to Sam, it’s another extremely heartbreaking moment that speaks to the depth of their bond.
1. “MY FRIENDS. YOU BOW TO NO ONE.”
During Aragorn’s coronation as King, the four Hobbits who were part of the Fellowship begin to bow to him as he marks his way through the crowd. However, Aragorn being the goodhearted and wise person he recognizes that they have no need to bow to him. He graciously instead bows to them and everyone in the crowd follows suit. This is another powerful moment from the film.
