Criticism - however valid or intellectually engaging - tends to get in the way of a writer who has anything personal to say. A tightrope walker may require practice, but if he starts a theory of equilibrium he will lose grace (and probably fall off).

And then alas! I let the matter reset, watching and waiting only, as we have too often done.

Ultimately we've only got humanity to work with. It's only clay we've got.

For we put the thought of all that we love into all that we make.

Then Elrond and Galadriel rode on; for the Third Age was over and the Days of the Rings were passed and an end was come of the story and song of those times.

Yes, they are elves," Legolas said. "and they say that you breathe so loud they could shoot you in the dark." Sam hastily covered his mouth.

You have to understand the good in things, to detect the real evil.