You’ve seen it on inspirational posters, tattooed on arms, and shared countless times on social media: the quote “Little by little one travels far,” attributed to J.R.R. Tolkien.
But is this actually a Tolkien quote? Many fans search for its source in The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit without success.
This blog post will trace the true origins of this popular saying, examine how it became linked to Tolkien, and reveal its actual source. By the end, you’ll know exactly where this quote comes from and why it’s been misattributed for years.
Is “Little by Little One Travels far” Really a Tolkien Quote?
Many people believe J.R.R. Tolkien wrote, Little by little one travels far. It sounds like something he might say; wise, simple, and fitting for Middle-earth. You’ll find it on mugs, shirts, and posters with his name attached.
But here’s the truth: the quote doesn’t appear in The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, or any of Tolkien’s letters or essays.
Fans and scholars have searched thoroughly it’s just not there.
So why the mix-up? The quote feels Tolkien-esque. It echoes real lines like “Not all those who wander are lost.”
And the misattribution took off around 2002, during the Lord of the Rings movie boom, when interest in Tolkien’s words surged.
Where Does the Quote Actually Come From?
The popular quote’s true origin isn’t in Tolkien’s books but likely comes from a traditional Spanish proverb with similar versions existing worldwide.
Ancient Wisdom in New Words
The saying “Little by little one travels far” has roots much older than Tolkien’s works. It stems from ancient wisdom found across many cultures. The concept appears in various forms throughout history, often teaching patience and persistence.
Spanish Origins Revealed
The most direct source is the Spanish proverb “Poco a poco se va lejos.” This translates to “Little by little, one goes a long way.” Spanish language instructors often teach this saying to students. The Academia Mexicana de la Lengua even lists it as a traditional Mexican saying.
First English Appearances
The earliest English translations of this Spanish proverb appeared online around 2002. Interestingly, this coincides with the release of the first Lord of the Rings film. Language learning websites were among the first to publish the phrase in English.
Global Variations
Similar sayings exist in many languages. The Chinese have “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Italian wisdom offers “Piano piano si va lontano” with nearly identical meaning. These parallel sayings show how universal this concept is across human cultures.
Academic References
Professor Gordon Harrison, who co-wrote “Learning Spanish” with Hayward Keniston, taught this saying to his students at Macalester College. They noted that once heard, this phrase is rarely forgotten because it captures a universal truth about progress.
Literary Cousins
While not exactly the same, similar ideas appear in many works. Aesop’s fable “The Tortoise and the Hare” teaches that slow and steady wins the race. This matches the spirit of our quote perfectly, even without the same words.
Why it Feels Tolkien-esque: Thematic Parallels
It’s easy to see why “Little by little one travels far” is often linked to Tolkien. His stories are filled with long, difficult travel paths, where characters grow through steady effort like Frodo and Sam’s trek to Mount Doom, one small step at a time.
Tolkien often explored themes of patience and time. When Gandalf says, “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us,” he captures the same slow, purposeful progress.
The quote also feels like Tolkien. His style was full of simple, powerful lines like “Not all those who wander are lost” that carry deep meaning in a few words.
Even Tolkien’s writing process reflects this idea. He built Middle-earth slowly, over decades, embodying the very message of the quote. So while the words may not be his, the spirit behind them certainly is.
Some Other Commonly Misattributed Quotes
1. Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.
Misattributed to: Hippocrates
Truth: There is no direct evidence that Hippocrates ever said or wrote this. It’s widely thought to have been popularized by 19th-century thinkers like John Wesley.
2. Be the change you wish to see in the world.
Misattributed to: Mahatma Gandhi
Truth: Gandhi’s actual quote is a bit different: “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change.” The common version comes from paraphrasing.
3. Let them eat cake.
Misattributed to: Marie Antoinette
Truth: There’s no historical record of Marie Antoinette ever saying this. It’s likely a fabrication to symbolize her supposed ignorance of the plight of the poor.
4. The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
Misattributed to: Franklin D. Roosevelt
Truth: Roosevelt said this, but the actual quote is from his inaugural speech in 1933 and wasn’t the simple phrase people often use.
5. All men are created equal.
Misattributed to: Thomas Jefferson
Truth: This phrase is in Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence, but its origins are traced back to Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke.
6. Well-behaved women seldom make history.
Misattributed to: Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
Truth: While Ulrich coined the phrase in her 1976 article, the idea itself isn’t new. It’s an adaptation of a similar sentiment in feminist writings.
7. The unexamined life is not worth living.
Misattributed to: Socrates
Truth: Socrates is often credited with this quote, but it comes from Plato’s Apology, where Socrates refers to the “unexamined life” in a discussion with his accusers.
8. Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Misattributed to: Lord Acton
Truth: While Lord Acton wrote something similar in a letter, the actual phrase came from a different part of his letter, which focused on the need for limitations on power.
9. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
Misattributed to: Benjamin Franklin
Truth: This popular saying has no clear origin linked to Franklin. It’s more likely from folk wisdom and is first recorded in print in the 17th century.
10. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
Misattributed to: Edmund Burke
Truth: While Burke is often credited, the closest verifiable source is from the 19th century, and some suggest the quote’s origin may be misattributed altogether.
11. This, too, shall pass.
Misattributed to: Persian Sages or King Solomon
Truth: The phrase has been found in many cultures, but it can’t be traced back to one specific source. The origin is more folklore than verifiable ancient wisdom.
12. An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.
Misattributed to: Mahatma Gandhi
Truth: While it embodies Gandhi’s teachings, there’s no evidence he ever said this specific phrase.
13. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
Misattributed to: Martin Luther King Jr.
Truth: This quote is from King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail, but it’s sometimes misquoted as “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” without its full context.
14. Not all those who wander are lost.
Misattributed to: J.R.R. Tolkien
Truth: This is from Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, but is often misquoted or shortened from its original form, “Not all those who wander are lost, and they do not all know the paths they walk.”
15. A Journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step
Misattributed to: Lao Tzu
Truth: While this is often attributed to Lao Tzu, the actual phrase comes from a Taoist text, but its precise origin is unclear.
To Conclude
Now we know that “Little by little one travels far” isn’t Tolkien’s creation but a translation of a Spanish proverb.
The quote’s origin from Spanish saying to misattributed Tolkien wisdom shows how easily information transforms in our connected world.
Next time you see this quote, perhaps share its true story. Or look up authentic Tolkien wisdom; his actual words are just as inspiring.
