Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) from The Lord of the Rings is one of the most endearing characters from the franchise. While he might not be the experienced warrior or chosen one in the story, he is really one of the biggest heroes. He’s loyal, caring, gentle, and giving, and his strength of spirit is a big reason why Frodo (Elijah Wood) is able to make it all the way to Mount Doom. He’s also a very relatable character with his love of gardening and food. Sam has some of the most heartbreaking and heartwarming quotes in the entire trilogy.
Sam is the heart of the whole story and is debated by some to be the actual main character, so it’s no wonder that a large share of the trilogy’s best quotes goes to him. Sean Astin’s performance perfectly captures the simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking nature of the character, prompting both tears of joy and tears of sadness from fans over the years. The best Samwise Gamgee quotes from the Lord of the Rings trilogy go hand in hand with the most memorable moments from the movies.
15 “If I Take One More Step… It’ll Be The Farthest Away From Home I’ve Ever Been.”
Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
As Frodo and Sam both set out from the Shire and head to meet Gandalf (Ian McKellen) in Brie, they pass their first milestone. It may seem like nothing compared to all that the two see and do together throughout the trilogy, but it’s still a huge moment for Sam as he stands at the edge of a crop in a field and thinks about how this is the farthest he’s been away from home.
The courage of Hobbits isn’t shown so much in battle but rather in how they simply leave the comfort of their homes to go on the adventure in the first place and this Samwise Gamgee quote shows just how life-changing the journey is for them. Sam is by many metrics, the bravest character in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
14 “I’m Coming, Mr. Frodo.”
Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Sam’s loyalty to Frodo is one of the defining features of his character. Although he’s not a Hobbit that’s shown any real interest in the adventure of leaving the Shire, he is willing to do so to help Frodo. This Samwise Gamgee quote is what he says when he first joined up with Frodo as he’s preparing to leave and shows his earnestness. While he might not have ever seen his life going this way, he’s all in because he knows that his friend needs him.
13 “Don’t Turn Me Into Anything…Unnatural.”
Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
While many of Sam’s best quotes are extremely heartwarming or poignant, he also has some pretty hilarious lines. He says this line to Gandalf when Gandalf catches him eavesdropping under the window while Gandalf talks to Frodo about the One Ring. He’s clearly worried about Gandalf using his wizard powers on him, and the way he says this line is quite adorable, as Sam has very little knowledge of the world outside the Shire.
12 “It’s Like In The Great Stories, Mr. Frodo. The Ones That Really Mattered…”
Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
This monologue is one of Sam’s most quoted moments from the movies. He is talking to Frodo about the importance of stories, a common theme in the series, and how the best stories were about overcoming darkness. The quote continues, “And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end…because how could the end be happy?… But, in the end, it’s only a passing thing…this shadow. Even darkness must pass.” This stirring speech he gives to Frodo is also inspiring to many fans who see it as a call to overcome and push through dark, difficult times in life.
11 “Po-Tay-Toes. Boil ‘Em, Mash ‘Em, Stick ‘Em In A Stew.”
Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
This is another one of Sam’s more hilarious lines. He says this during The Two Towers while Frodo and Sam are journeying with Gollum (Andy Serkis) as their guide. Sam mistrusts Gollum from the start and with good reason. Plus, he often gets annoyed with him and how creepy he is. This line is quite lighthearted though, and it’s also easy to quote. This is also a line that shows how important Sam’s ties to domestic things such as home and the Shire are to the story and to Frodo on his dark journey.
10 “I Can’t Carry It For You, But I Can Carry You.”
Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
This is quite a beautiful and emotional line that Sam says to Frodo during their climb up to Mount Doom. Frodo is clearly suffering from the weight of the ring, and he’s physically unable to climb anymore. While Sam can’t lift the burden of the ring from him, he gathers his strength and carries Frodo up the mountain instead. This goes to show just how strong Sam is and how far his loyalty extends. It’s an extremely heroic moment and one of the many standout moments of Sam and Frodo’s friendship.
9 “Let Him Go! Or I’ll ‘Ave You, Longshanks!”
Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Sam says this quote to Aragorn when he meets him for the first time in Brie as he thinks Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) is out to harm Frodo. Nothing could be further from the truth as Aragorn was just trying to protect Frodo by taking him somewhere private, not to mention that Sam would have no chance against Aragorn in a fight, so it’s a very funny and sweet moment when Sam fearlessly bursts into the room and growls this line.
8 “Bye-Bye, Bill.”
Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
All of the Hobbits are innocent characters who learn a lot about the darkness of the wider world throughout the trilogy, but Sam is perhaps the purest of heart. While the Fellowship waits for Gandalf to open the door into Moria, Aragorn sets Bill the pony free as they can’t take him in with them. It’s the right thing to do, and Aragorn reassures Sam that Bill knows his way home, but it’s still a very sweetly sad moment watching Sam whisper his private goodbye to Bill under his breath. It almost seems like he’s on the verge of tears letting go of this one comforting thing on their hard journey that’s only about to get much, much harder.
7 “I Wonder If People Will Ever Say, “Let’s Hear About Frodo And The Ring.”
Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
This is another one of Sam’s monologues about the importance of stories. He is talking to Frodo as they walk through the woods in The Two Towers about their own adventure being turned into a story. He continues on to talk about how young children will someday talk about Frodo as a courageous hero. This monologue is clearly one that causes Frodo to feel bittersweet, but it’s important because it shows the optimism and hope that Sam is able to provide, even when Frodo can’t feel it.
6 “Do You Remember The Taste Of Strawberries?”
Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
This quote comes from what Sam says to Frodo after the One Ring has been destroyed, and Mount Doom is erupting all around them. It looks like the end is near, and Frodo talks about only seeing and feeling darkness. Sam very emotionally tries to remind him of the good things in the world. He tells him about the Shire and asks him to remember it. He says, “It’s be spring soon, and the orchards will be in blossom…and, they’ll be sowing the summer barley in the lower fields…and eating the first of the strawberries and cream.” His bright outlook persists even surrounded by molten lava, and that’s quite commendable.
5 “…And That’s For My Old Gaffer!”
Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Sam says this quote as he heroically fights a group of Orcs to find and free Frodo after he was taken in the aftermath of their encounter with Shelob. Fearlessly yelling out that he’s fighting for Frodo and the Shire, Sam finishes the final Orc with a triumphant shoutout to his “old gaffer”, one of the colloquial British terms that find their way into the Hobbits’ lexicon. Sam is never a warrior and his bravery here makes it one of his finest moments in the trilogy.
4 “Don’t You Leave Him, Samwise Gamgee. And, I Don’t Mean To.”
Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
This is another emotional and heart-touching Samwise Gamgee quote that he says to Frodo. He says this line at the end of The Fellowship of the Ring when Frodo is trying to leave the Fellowship and continue the rest of his journey alone. Sam is devastated that Frodo tries to leave him behind too, and he talks about a promise he made to Gandalf that he wouldn’t leave Frodo. It’s clear that he takes this promise very seriously and it’s a tear-jerking moment.
3 “Mr. Frodo’s Not Going Anywhere Without Me.”
Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Sam’s devotion to Frodo is so unwavering throughout the entire trilogy, from the very beginning to the very end, that it’s hard for fans to not feel a little heartbroken by the way that it all ends up. This early declaration of fealty given to his friend as he interjects at the secret council meeting in Rivendell is a heartwarming quote in some ways. But, taking into account all the pain that they both endure before ultimately having to part ways as Frodo heads for the Grey Havens, it’s really quite heartbreaking too.
2 “There’s Some Good In This World, Mr. Frodo, And It’s Worth Fighting For.”
Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
This is the last line that Sam says to Frodo during his monologue from The Two Towers. Here he reminds Frodo that they are on this journey for a good reason and that they have to keep fighting because of the good in the world. This is also a rather inspiring Samwise Gamgee quote that can be used to remind anyone of the importance of fighting for good and enjoying the good things in life even when things seem hopeless.
1 “Well… I’m Back.”
Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
This is one of the most heart-aching Samwise Gamgee quotes for fans as they’re the last words spoken in the entire trilogy. Sam says them to his family as he embraces them outside his home before going inside, and the screen fades to black for the last time. The fact that Sam concludes the story reinforces the idea that he’s the real hero of the trilogy and the ending that he and the other Hobbits receive flies in the face of what many believe to be the archetypal structure of hero fantasies.
At the end of the story, the Hobbits are acknowledged for their courage, but they’re not kings. They don’t get medals or positions of great power and wealth. Sam’s reward is a quiet life with his family, and he’ll carry the scars of his time in the War of the Ring for the rest of his life. It remains one of the most beautiful and well-earned endings in the history of movies.
