"I should like to save the Shire, if I could - though there have been times when I thought the inhabitants too stupid and dull for words, and have felt that an earthquake or an invasion of dragons might be good for them. But I don't feel like that now. I feel that as long as the Shire lies behind, safe and comfortable, I shall find wandering more bearable: I shall know that somewhere there is a firm foothold, even if my feet cannot stand there again."

carrying the world around his neck

"I see no hope of it now. But I've got to do the best I can."

areddhels:

_{Today in Middle-Earth: Frodo and Sam follow their new guide and begin the passage of the Dead Marshes. (March 1st, 3019 T.A).}

 _{At last Sam could bear it no longer. ‘What’s all this, Gollum?’ he said in a whisper.’These lights? They’re all round us now. Are we trapped? Who are they?’} 

   _{Gollum looked up. A dark water was before him, and he was crawling on the ground, this way and that, doubtful of the way. ‘Yes, they are all round us,’ he whispered. ‘The tricksy lights. Candles of corpses, yes, yes. Don’t you heed them! Don’t look! Don’t follow them! Where’s the master?’}