‘Not all who wander are lost’
‘Not all who wander are lost’
Episode 5 of Amazon’s latest series, “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” begins with an eerie tune crafted for the program. “This Wandering Day,” performed by Poppy Proudfellow (a Harfoot hobbit), wraps up with a memorable phrase from another cherished J.R.R. Tolkien song: “Not all who wander are lost.”
I’ve come across this expression on camping mugs, stickers for water bottles, and even on a spare tire cover of a Jeep Wrangler. It has been embraced as a sort of slogan for everyone who enjoys hitting the trails. Displayed on wood carvings, watercolors, and leather impressions, Etsy creators have provided the phrase with every conceivable setting.
But why? It’s wonderfully unlikely when you contemplate it. An Oxford scholar — who participated in daily communion — focusing on philology has composed something akin to an anthem for today’s aspiring bohemian wanderers. The phrase, extracted from the poem “The Riddle of Strider” in the fantasy saga “The Lord of the Rings,” has become a familiar motto for seekers of various kinds.
And therein lies the catch. The expression does not signify what numerous individuals assume it signifies. Those who embrace the saying likely believe that the phrase relates to mountaineering, trekking, and comparable desires to shed the predictability and obligations of existence. Explorers, in this idealized perspective, pursue impulsiveness and freedom.
Was Tolkien a nomad? Similar to his companion C.S. Lewis, he was recognized for enjoying lengthy strolls. Nonetheless, Lewis once characterized Tolkien by stating: “He’s a remarkable individual, but not the kind of walker we are. He doesn’t appear capable of conversing and walking simultaneously. He meanders and then halts entirely when he has something intriguing to express.” From the memories of his acquaintances and his own preference for a relaxed stride, Tolkien appears to resemble his cherished Ent, Treebeard, more than any of his other creations.
Walking holds a significant place in the Catholic tradition. St. Dominic de Guzman, who established the Order of Preachers (the Dominicans), journeyed from village to village on his mission to preach. In just the years 1218-19, he covered over 3,380 miles on foot! In contemporary times, countless pilgrims traverse the renowned Spanish pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, commonly referred to as the Camino.
However, each pilgrimage has an endpoint. Even Tolkien’s most extended casual walks eventually brought him back home. The complete last verses of the poem from which the well-known wandering line is taken illustrate this. The poem ends with: “All that is gold does not glitter; / Not all who wander are lost. / The old that is strong does not wither. / Deep roots are not reached by the frost.” Instead of serving as a tribute to aimless roaming, the poem ends by celebrating roots — signifying the foundation, the origin.
Furthermore, for Christians, each journey is guided by God and his Divine Providence. Nothing in existence escapes his extraordinary order. Philosopher Peter Kreeft discusses Tolkien’s narrative, stating, “The Lord of the Rings is brimming with divine providences.” “Indeed,” he goes on, “if there is any single religious belief that is as expansive as a continent in ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ this is it.” The multitude of unforced, organic, and persuasive providential occurrences in the story illustrates one of Tolkien’s key philosophical principles: divine providence arranges everything for the greater good.
For Tolkien, there exists no fate or destiny, only divine guidance. And this divine guidance cannot be evaded, circumvented, or defeated. His finest heroes are heroes specifically because they dedicate their hearts and lives to this larger quest, uncovering something profound, something more significant at play.
The focus of the poem as it initially appears in “The Fellowship of the Ring” is the ranger Strider. Eventually, it is disclosed that he is Aragorn, the rightful king of Gondor. To Tolkien, Strider is “gold” yet “does not glitter.” Tolkien twists the saying “All that glitters is not gold” to highlight the frequently concealed influence of providence. When he embraces the responsibilities of his destiny, Strider is recognized for who he genuinely is. His previously cold dismissal of his heritage fades, without having obliterated it.
Exactly due to his vocation, Strider is capable of transformation. And here lies the final and most crucial difference for Tolkien: that between an adventure and a quest. Adventures, as Gandalf explains to Frodo, are “there-and-back-again” scenarios. “An escapist society thrives on adventures,” notes Ralph Wood. The issue is that characters do not evolve through adventures. They come back home unchanged, merely having spent time in a different setting. A quest, conversely, as it is a calling, shapes the spirit and alters those who embrace its mission and significance.
Dismiss adventures, then, in favor of journeys. Favor destiny over aimlessness. Be explorers, but not adrift.
Father Patrick Briscoe, OP, is editor of Our Sunday Visitor. Follow him on Twitter @PatrickMaryOP.
