The Lord of the Rings crafts a rich history, backstory, and even the languages that make up the foundation of Middle-earth and its many legends — and the best Gimli quotes show why the Fellowship’s dwarf may be the funniest character from Gondor to the Undyling Lands. Gimli, son of Glóin (John Rhys-Davis) quickly became a fan favorite. As a member of the Fellowship of the Ring, Gimli was tasked with aiding Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) in his quest to destroy the One Ring, which was forged by the mysterious and powerful Dark Lord Sauron.
Like all the characters, Gimli’s path diverged greatly from Frodo’s within the story, leading to some incredible experiences that resulted in the best Gimli quotes. The film gave many of the funniest Lord of the Rings quotes to Gimli. These lines neither detract nor spoil the importance of the character, or what he brought to the story. The amazing performance of John Rhys-Davies helped bring out the conviction, believability, and (most importantly) hilarity of each of the best Gimli quotes, all of which are sure to stand the test of time for years to come.
The Council of Elrond (Hugo Weaving) was one of the most iconic and powerful scenes of the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy, especially for fans who grew up reading, and re-reading, Tolkien’s novels. In the scene, the Fellowship of the Ring swears themselves to Frodo and the journey of the Ring. Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) gets the ball rolling by swearing, “If by my life or death I can protect you, I will. You have my sword.” Legolas (Orlando Bloom) continues with, “And you have my bow.”
Not to be left out, Gimli finishes with this unforgettable quote, rounding out the moment. The quote stands out thanks to Gimli’s enthusiasm. Unlike Aragorn and Legolas, who pledge themselves to the Fellowship in a sombre and serious fashion, Gimli seems genuinely thrilled to be able to wield his weapon in the name of good.
Dwarves are notoriously difficult, especially when they are forced to work with Elves. On the flip-side, they were often discriminated against because of their size, not to mention the stereotypes they face revolving around greed and selfishness. None of these elements helped when Gimli attempted to bring his opinion to the table. This classic Gimli quote shows how his stubborn personality is based around that. When the Fellowship first started out, the wise wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellan) had them taking the long way around to avoid the Mines of Moria but Gimli suggests going there anyway.
Maybe if Gandalf knew that arguing with Gimli could possibly work, then much would have been different. This quote may seem somewhat petty on the surface, but it’s all part of Gimli’s charm. While his companions Aragorn and Legolas rarely show any emotion response to anything that isn’t directly pertaining to their quest, Gimli seems just as invested in the social dynamics of the Fellowship as he does their journey to Mordor.
In the world that Tolkien created for The Lord of the Rings, Moria is considered one of the wonders of Middle-earth. Also known as Khazad-dûm, Moria runs under and through the Misty Mountains and was once the greatest Dwarven city in all of Middle-earth. Gimli knows much of Moria’s history — the amazing ancient city founded by Dwarves, which he shares with Legolas.
He evokes a vivid image with this memorable Gimli quote, but that is immediately soured by the nightmare reality of a city overrun by vile Orcs, as well as an ominous creature of “shadow and flame.” Gilmi’s description, and the gleam in his eye when he gives this, isn’t only a funny moment but helps viewers to fully comprehend his sense of loss. Moria wasn’t always run-down ruins but was, in Gimli’s lifetime, a thriving Dwarven metropolis. It also once again shows how Gimli doesn’t let the gravity of the Fellowship’s journey dampen his excitement for a hearty meal and good time.
If there’s one thing Gimli has no doubts about, it’s his skill at killing Orcs. Tragically, the Moria that Gimli remembers is not the Moria that exists when the Fellowship pays a visit. The Dwarves within were either killed or driven out of Moria by Orcs and the fearsome, terrifying Balrog. Gimli, understandably, is devestated by this, but it only strengthens his resolve to fell as many of Saruon’s minions as possible.
When the Goblins start breaking down the doors to get to the Fellowship, Gimli readies himself for battle and steels his resolve with this powerful quote. Long after Sauron’s forces were defeated, Durin VII led the Dwarves back to Moria where they all sealed themselves into the tunnels, so they could not lose their ancient city again. There the Dwarves remained, “until the world grew old and the Dwarves failed and the days of Durin’s race were ended.”
This particular Gimli quote is one of the funniest in the entirety of Lord of the Rings. During The Fellowship of the Ring, the company was set upon both by Orcs and the fearsome Balrog in the depths of Moria. Whilst running for their lives, Aragorn helps Hobbit Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) cross a gap by tossing him to the other side. He then prepares to do the same to Gimli, who immediately bristles at the insinuation.
He protests with this great Gimli quote before making the leap without any assistance and nearly plummeting to his doom as a result. If not for Legolas grabbing him by the beard, it would have been the end. Hilariously, Gimli shouts “Not the beard!” before being pulled to safety. It’s a moment that’s then called back to in The Two Towers, making it even funnier on subsequent viewings.
Gimli is known for thinking he’s somewhat more of a warrior than he may actually be. It’s this overinflated self-assuredness which makes him so endearing, though he’s been shown more than once to be not quite as capable as his ego leads him to believe (though he’s by no means incompetent). While he is a brave and valiant fighter, he’s clearly out of his league when it comes to facing down Elves.
This is apparent when he hears about Galadriel (Cate Blanchett), an “Elf witch of terrible power.” After believing the rumor that all who look upon Galadriel “fall under her spell and are never seen again,” Gimli says, “Well, here’s one Dwarf she won’t ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox!” A second later, he finds himself face-to-face with an Elf’s drawn arrow. It’s timed perfectly.
It’s mentioned several times that Dwarves and Elves view eachother with suspicion at best, and open disdain at worst. However, this particular line from Gimli is one of the few times audiences get a glimpse of it directly. When Gimli is speaking with Haldir (Craig Parker), the exchange is somewhat tense. Haldir states that the Elves “have not had dealings with the Dwarves since the dark days,” which prompts Gimli to respond, “And you know what this Dwarf says to that? Ishkhaqwi ai durugnul!” Roughly translated, the insulting quote means “I spit on your grave.”
A frustrated Aragorn replies, “That was not so courteous.” This Gimli quote was one of the most prominent examples in Peter Jackson’s movies of the bitter relations between Dwarves and Elves, and it’s not made any better by the actions of Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) and his Dwarven company so many years before the events of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
This Gimli quote comes from The Fellowship of the Ring when the Fellowship sets sail down the river from Lórien and leaves the Elves behind. Gimli and Legolas are in the boats together, and Gimli says to Legolas, “I have been dealt a wound beyond all healing, for I have looked the last upon that which was fairest. Henceforth I will call nothing fair unless it be her gift to me.”
When Legolas asks what Galadriel’s gift was, Gimli answers, “I asked for one hair from her golden head. She gave me three,” which is one of the most beautiful and touching Lord of the Rings quotes. It’s made particularly funny when considering Gimli’s earlier insistence that Galadriel, who he’d previously referred to as an Elven witch, wouldn’t ensnare him. All Gimli had to do was look at Galadriel to be enraptured by her — with no magic required.
Racing across open tundra for days on end isn’t ideal for a Dwarf, and Gimli knew it. When Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) were taken captive by Saruman’s (Christopher Lee) fearsome Uruk-hai warriors, it was up to Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli to pursue them before they had a chance to make it back to Isengard. The Uruk-hai were physically exceptional and capable of covering vast ground at high speed.
In order to catch up, the three would have to pull out all the stops, even if it meant Gimli might drop dead on the spot at any moment. This Gimli quote may seem eloquent, but he’s clearly exhausted, and the audience can really feel that through his words. It’s another quote that’s even funnier when paired with one of Gimli’s other memorable lines, when he explains that Dwarves are “natural sprinters, very dangerous over short distances,” and that his athleticism is “wasted on cross-country.”