There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tower high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.

Summary

This quote from J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Two Towers" describes a moment when Sam sees a twinkling star amidst the darkness. The star's beauty deeply affects him, filling him with hope. He realizes that the evil Shadow he is facing is temporary and insignificant in the bigger picture. The thought pierces him like a clear and cold shaft and reminds him that light and eternal beauty exist beyond the Shadow's grasp. This quote highlights the power of hope and the transcendent nature of goodness.

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