To write a believable world of fantasy, in which the characters, through all their endeavours and relationships, their fights and friendships, feel real and believable to the reader takes an author who understands real people in the real world. I often find inspiration about real life in the words of J R R Tolkien, including this pithy lesson from Gandalf to Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit.
Of course, the world of books and maps and learning is a wonderful one. But some things you can only truly understand by visiting, by seeing in person, by experiencing with your own senses.
Are there things you thought you knew about a place (from books and maps and films and television) that turned out to be quite different when you made it there in person?
A midnight sky with clouds of gold above the shadow of an iceberg floating by. During one of our trips to Antarctica.
More Kavey Eats Travel Quotes.
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Please leave a comment - I love hearing from you!27 Comments to "Travel Quote Tuesday | J R R Tolkien (Again)"
Most things. 🙂 The scale is generally different, either smaller or much (something very much) larger that preconceptions. And colors, too; travel tends to change your relationship with color. At least it does for me.
Yes, I know what you mean on scale, that happens a lot! Some people say the camera never lies but of course, what we choose to include and omit, the point of view we shoot from, what focal length lens we use and its impact on compression of distance… all these are the photographer’s tools in shaping what the viewer sees… Colour, I don’t know, I need to think more on this, would love to know more about your thoughts on that!!
Well, today we should probably rephrase this: “The world is not on the internet or your television set.” But the quote remains true in its sense
It’s a wonderful quote and fits to travel like a charm! I can see this fitting to many other aspects of life as well. ‘Out there’ could be a metaphor for so many things…
Yes! I agree!
Love this quote and it came at a really apt time for me. Today I am pouring over guide books and the internet to try and find where we are going. Sometimes, you just have to have the basics and let the day unfold and show you what it has to offer!
Fabulous, I love that moment where the whole world is a possibility and you narrow down, like a kid in a sweet shop!
That is one fantastic quote and totally agree. Love it 🙂
Thanks Danik!
I love books and maps, but yes, getting out there and exploring tops it all. Love J.R.R. Tolkien.
Oh me too, maps especially are just magical to me and I’ll never stop loving them but I think it’s the reminder to get out and see as well as to simply read about… and for those of us fortunate enough to be able to do so, it’s a good call!
Fabulous quote! There are so many good travel quotes out there – keep it up!
Thanks, I have collected hundreds over the years so there are many more to come in this series!
What a great quote! Yes- it seems that there are always discrepancies 🙂
It’s so much more thrilling to see it all for oneself!
Absolutely agree. It’s not on Instagram either 🙂
No, it definitely isn’t, especially given that insta is more and more known for the unrealistic lifestyles / experiences portrayed!!
I like to try and not decide what I know about a place before visiting. I’m always more impressed this way!
Fantastic quote and an incredible picture of the iceberg and the sun over the clouds. Loved it !
That is such an amazing quote and so true. My husband loves fantasy & travel, so he would really appreciate this. I think almost every destination I’ve visited is slightly different to what I had read in books or seen on tv. The experience is always different — and i love that. It means travel will never be boring!
Well now. One of the things that surprised me when I went to Russia first was that Russian isn’t much like German. But in films, there’s never been much to choose between the Hollywood German accent and the Hollywood Russian accent. It’s not a very important thing, but…
What a great quote. But like everything you read or view from someone else’s perspective, it’s always just that. You have to perceive a place for yourself before you can begin to understand what it’s all about. That pic of Antarctica is stunning! ✨
Interesting quote. Although I do also love maps and books as alas I’m never going to manage to actually visit all the places that I would like to
Clever quote. Of course, maps and books help you discover what to see, but once you’re out there, put them down and enjoy!
Lovely quote! I am a lover of reading but no amount of words can prepare you for the real thing!
Interesting quote! I never really thought about it though!
Of course there are certain expectations when you read about places before actually visiting them, but I guess I just have a way to differ between the two – one is mostly for the mind, another is mostly for the eye (I hope it makes sense – it does in Danish haha!)
Love from Louise
Oh, how true this one is! To me world is absolutely not in our mobile phones, our TV, our iPad, books and maps! World is now an emotion to me which I relate to when I meet people of various countries.