Gandalf is a character synonymous with the movie adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, and the wizard is played by the legendary Sir Ian McKellen. For a character who's appeared across all six movies, it is only natural that many of his various teachings, musings, and general pieces of dialogue have resonated and lasted in the memories of fans and audiences over the years.

Gandalf has certainly represented his class of wizards appropriately by passing his wisdom onto his others. At the same time, he has also uttered words of hope and defiance. In each case, his ability to inspire, inform, and advise others remains ever-present.

Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on February 20, 2024: The Lord of the Rings is coming back in full force with a brand-new animated feature, The War of the Rohirrim, which is set to come out later this year. The film could mark the beginning of a new age of films set in J.R.R. Tolkien's iconic fantasy world of Middle-earth, giving audiences a chance to catch up with plenty of old characters, potentially including Gandalf the Grey.

15 "The World Is Not In Your Books And Maps, It's Out There."

The World Is Not In Your Books And Maps, It's Out There."

Gandalf the Grey is the living embodiment of a hero's Call to Adventure, especially when it comes to Bilbo Baggins. Bilbo, a homebody Hobbit holed up in the Shire, has no aspirations for greater glory beyond his homeland. Gandalf, however, convinces him that there is a far greater world out there beyond the books and maps in Bilbo's study.

There is no one in Middle-earth quite so capable of sensing heroism as Gandalf. It is almost as though he can see right to the heart of a person at a single glance. Even a meek little Hobbit can find his sense of adventure with Gandalf's help.

14 "Fool Of A Took!"

"Fool Of A Took!"

Gandalf and Pippin's relationship is one of the most entertaining in The Lord of the Rings. The wizard often finds himself fed up with Peregrine Took's witless shenanigans. On several occasions, Gandalf's anger gets the better of him, causing him to whirl on Pippin and declare him a "fool of a Took!"

While Gandalf wasn't exactly wrong in his assertion regarding Pippin's wisdom — or lack thereof — he does come to think better of the young Hobbit as time goes on. As frustrated as he may get with him, Gandalf comes to see the spark of heroism in Pippin, and the two soon become rather good friends.

13 "...They Can Still Surprise You."

"You Can Learn All There Is To Know About Their Ways In A Month, And Yet After A Hundred Years They Can Still Surprise You."

There is no question Gandalf has a soft spot for Hobbits, halfling creatures mostly found in the Shire. The wizard waxes eloquent about Hobbits in The Fellowship of the Ring, commenting that it is remarkably easy to know everything about their culture and yet still be surprised by their heart and heroism.

Hobbits are incredibly straightforward creatures who enjoy the simpler things of life, especially food and fellowship. Gandalf spent many years close to Hobbits and knew them rather well. However, he always found himself surprised by the fortitude and bravery shown by some of their numbers. In a time of great kings, warriors, diligent dwarves, and whimsical Elves, it is truly remarkable that the world's greatest heroes so often turn out to be little Hobbits.

12 "I Come Back To You Now... At The Turn Of The Tide."

"I Come Back To You Now... At The Turn Of The Tide."

Gandalf was believed dead following his battle with the Balrog in the Mines of Moria, but that wasn't the end of the wizard's story. During the events of The Two Towers, Gandalf reappears to his old allies with a message of hope. The resurrected wizard claimed that his return came at the "turn of the tide," as things began shifting in favor of the light rather than the darkness.

Always the encourager, Gandalf knew exactly what his friends needed to hear to keep them in a fighting spirit for the rest of this conflict. The road had not been easy for the likes of Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas, and they had braved many dire challenges. Nevertheless, Gandalf's return sparked enough hope within these heroes to keep them strong, truly turning the tide of the war in favor of the salvation of Middle-earth.

11 "I Am Saruman. Or Rather, Saruman As He Should Have Been."

"I Am Saruman. Or Rather, Saruman As He Should Have Been."

When Gandalf returned after his supposed death, he came in a very different form than what his allies were expecting. No longer clad in grey robes and a wizard's hat, Gandalf was now arrayed in full white garb, closely resembling Saruman the White. Gandalf confirms that this resemblance was purposeful, for he planned to fulfill the responsibilities in which Saruman had failed.

Under the influence of Sauron, Saruman the White turned evil, forsaking his duties and wreaking havoc on Middle-earth. In the wake of Saruman's failure, Gandalf was called up to a higher responsibility, leading him to become everything that his predecessor was supposed to be.

10 "For Even The Very Wise Cannot See All Ends."

"For Even The Very Wise Cannot See All Ends."

Gandalf's full conversation with Frodo while in the Mines of Moria, in the Extended Edition Of The Fellowship Of The Ring, involves Gandalf reassuring Frodo. Gandalf also offers the hobbit something of a warning and a life lesson merged into one.

Aware that Gollum is spying on them, Gandalf is worried that Frodo is too quick to wish death upon the beast. His speech suggests that, despite being a wizard, he doesn't know everything. Gandalf knows he may be fighting a losing battle trying to keep Frodo and his impulses in check, but he still hopes that the hobbit will heed this warning and life lesson.

9 "I Found It Is The Small Everyday Deeds Of Ordinary Folk..."

"I Found It Is The Small Everyday Deeds Of Ordinary Folk That Keep The Darkness At Bay."

Despite the Hobbit trilogy being prequels to The Lord of the Rings, they arrived almost ten years after the release of The Return Of The King, yet still featured some familiar faces returning to reprise their roles. One such character is Galadriel, who has always had a close and trusted relationship with Gandalf.

At one point, Galadriel asks the wizard why he chose to put so much faith in Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit. Gandalf admits his own fear and explains that Bilbo, of all people, gives him hope. This moment does its job of elevating how others seemingly perceive Bilbo, even though he hasn't proven his courage at this point.

8 "You Shall Not Pass" / "Fly You Fools"

"You Shall Not Pass" / "Fly You Fools"

In The Fellowship Of The Ring, the titular group originally comprised nine characters who were tasked with taking the One Ring to Mordor to destroy it. Unfortunately, they are met with an arduous journey full of roadblocks and despair.

One of the first major disruptions to halt their journey occurs when the group passes through the Mines of Moria, as they are ambushed by orcs and are pursued by the almighty Balrog. The beast is too much to handle, but Gandalf ultimately sacrifices himself to ensure the safety of his friends. Gandalf unleashes his defiance against Balrog and urges the others to hurry out of the mines, before falling to his supposed death.

7 "There Never Was Much Hope. Just A Fool's Hope."

"There Never Was Much Hope. Just A Fool's Hope."

When Pippin asks Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King whether there is still any hope for Frodo and Sam, Gandalf's response, despite being as subtle and cryptic as ever, is quietly hopeful that they will be successful.

Gandalf saying "Just a fool's hope" is a nice homage to the pair's interaction from The Fellowship of the Ring, when Gandalf shouted at and continued to slate Pippin as "a fool of a Took." Simply in a few words, Gandalf is telling Pippin that despite the odds being stacked against them, it is always okay to be hopeful.

6 "Look To My Coming, At First Light On The Fifth Day..."

"Look To My Coming, At First Light On The Fifth Day. At Dawn, Look To The East."

While none of the battles in the realms of The Lord of the Rings were particularly pleasant, the Battle of Helm's Deep from The Two Towers was one of the grittiest. When Aragorn convinces King Theoden that they should ride out despite the hordes of orcs awaiting them, Gandalf's words ring in Aragorn's ears regarding his impending presence at dawn.

After a charge into the forces of orcs, Aragorn glances and sees Gandalf, Eomer and the Rohirrim reinforcements, who instantly change the tide of battle. Gandalf's advanced words of encouragement, despite the mysticism at the time, proved true, furthering Gandalf as a symbol of wisdom and general reassurance.

5 "True Courage Is About Knowing Not When To Take A Life..."

"True Courage Is About Knowing Not When To Take A Life, But When To Spare One"

Gandalf trying to offer his wisdom regarding when to take a life has featured in both The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, with him talking to Frodo and Bilbo, respectively. When addressing Frodo, Gandalf says "Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment."

Combined with Gandalf's advice to Bilbo, is an informative warning to the hobbits regarding how they perceive themselves and others, and how they let that influence their actions. These are two of many Gandalf quotes that live up to his "wise wizard" image, while certainly being notes to heed in the future.

4 "All We Have To Do Is Decide What To Do With The Time That Is Given To Us"

All We Have To Do Is Decide What To Do With The Time That Is Given To Us"

When Frodo tells Gandalf that he wishes he could take back everything that had happened and that the powerful One Ring had never come to him, Gandalf tells him that the decision isn't up to him. Gandalf also tells him to focus on the time he's been given in The Fellowship Of The Ring.

Gandalf essentially tells Frodo to make the most out of life, which isn't necessarily the best advice given the task ahead. Regardless, the advice suggests that Frodo should stop wasting time with worry. Rather than thinking about things out of his control, Frodo should rather put effort into what he can influence.

3 "I Will Not Say: Do Not Weep; For Not All Tears Are An Evil."

"I Will Not Say: Do Not Weep; For Not All Tears Are An Evil."

With Gandalf announcing to the hobbits that their Fellowship has officially come to an end, the hobbits begin to tear up. Gandalf tells them to embrace the tears, as it isn't always a bad thing to cry.

This is such an important statement to make, since crying is often considered a sign of weakness, especially in men. In reality, showing one's grip and embrace with their feelings should be celebrated as a strength. Nevertheless, Gandalf saying goodbye to the hobbits is the end of an era in The Return Of The King, and despite it all being an ordeal, they all became very close friends.

2 "Death Is Just Another Path – One That We All Must Take."

"Death Is Just Another Path – One That We All Must Take."

Within a movie franchise so centered on war and conflict, death is a frequent occurrence throughout The Lord of the Rings, but it doesn't mean the characters ever get used to dealing with it. When faced with the horrors of the Battle of Minas Tirith from Return Of The King, Pippin seeks reassurance from the wise wizard, Gandalf.

Gandalf's reassurance still has a terrifying and finite ring to it, but ultimately paints death to be more of a journey to the beyond rather than simply a sudden demise and end to everything. This comes after Gandalf's flirtations with death towards the end of The Fellowship of the Ring, with his experience adding more credibility and trust to his words.

1 "A Wizard Is Never Late, Frodo Baggins..."

"A Wizard Is Never Late, Frodo Baggins, Nor Is He Early. He Arrives Precisely When He Means To."

Gandalf's introduction to the franchise is a lovely moment at the start of The Fellowship Of The Ring. Gandalf arrives in The Shire with a wagon full of fireworks to help celebrate Bilbo's 111th birthday.

The exchange with Frodo has an awkward pause before the reveal that they are both joking around. Gandalf may be mysterious but he's also there for a fun visit. It's an iconic introduction to a character who very rarely gets to partake in nice and peaceful moments. Patiently bidding time, the interaction never reveals the sheer magical power that the wizard actually possesses.