From an early age, many of us are taught to follow a set path in life to attain success and stability — study hard, choose 'safe' streams like engineering, get a job, buy a house, and build a family. Those who choose to deviate from this road are often looked at askance, and considered irresponsible. And yet, if no one ever took the road less travelled, there would be little innovation, few discoveries, and simply a lot less wonder and magic in life. A saying that beautifully encapsulates this is 'not all those who wander are lost', which also featured in the essay question section in the UPSC CSE mains exam this year. In what context was this line written, and what exactly does it mean? Why is it important for UPSC aspirants? We explain. Where is the quote from? This quote is from JRR Tolkien's massively popular epic fantasy series The Lord of the Rings. One of the hallmarks of great writing is that some sentences take a life of their own, and not many who use it know exactly where they come from. 'Not all those who wander are lost' is one such, featuring on T-shirts, Instagram travel posts, and even UPSC question papers. The quote is part of a letter that the wizard Gandalf writes to the hobbit Frodo, about a character then known as the ranger Strider, but who is actually the heir to the kingdom of Gondor and can help Frodo in his quest. The relevant passage in the letter goes: “All that is gold does not glitter/ Not all those who wander are lost/ The old that is strong does not wither/Deep roots are not reached by the frost.” What does the quote mean? Tolkien uses symmetry of structure and the use of contrasting characteristics to write sentences that are instantly impactful. He inverts some popular notions to give entirely new messages. By the time Tolkien was writing, “All that glitters is not gold” was already a popular saying, derived from William Shakespeare's words in The Merchant of Venice. The values of stability were also much preached, with another popular saying being “a rolling stone gathers no moss”, which means that if one keeps drifting from place to place, one will not be able to accumulate status or wealth, just like moss grows only on a stone that stays still. What Tolkien is urging is to change one's point of view, so one can see that even low-profile, plain-looking people can be as solid and valuable as “gold”, and just because one is moving about, it doesn't mean one is aimless and directionless. But why wander if you are not lost? Wandering can teach people important lessons and help them grow not just as individuals, but as more productive members of society. One can “wander” out of curiosity, and see and learn new things about the world and its many different types of people. Observing people different from one can teach one empathy, a very important trait in an increasingly divided world. Wandering essentially involves stepping out of one's comfort zone and dealing with uncertainty, and these can give one valuable tools to go through life. Encountering challenges and finding ways to deal with them on the spot can teach one self-reliance, problem-solving, and resilience, which sticking to a safe path cannot. Another poem that passionately expresses this is Ulysses, by Lord Alfred Tennyson, in which the Greek mythology hero is wistfully recalling his days of adventure. “I cannot rest from travel: I will drink/ Life to the lees/All times I have enjoy'd Greatly, have suffer'd greatly. I am become a name; For always roaming with a hungry heart/ Much have I seen and known. I am a part of all that I have met.” Here, Ulysses, now a king, is still restless and wants to drain the whole cup of life, experience great enjoyment and suffering, so he can feel fully alive. He also says he is a part of all he has met, which means our experiences broaden our horizons and make our life richer. In Europe, a 'Grand Tour', or a trip through the continent, was considered an important part of a young gentleman's education from the 17th to the early 19th century. In Indian culture too, leaving one's home to wander in search of 'gyan' and enlightenment is an old tradition, with the most famous example being that of Gautam Buddha. Why 'not all those'? So some who wander are lost? Contrary to how the sentence is often used these days on social media, Tolkein was not glorifying wandering for the sake of it. Which is why he clarifies the sentence as not all those who wander are lost. Wandering is productive only if one uses it to learn some lessons, or if it is in the quest of a definite goal. For example, a UPSC aspirant can often feel adrift, but their days in coaching institutes and hostels are being spent towards the goal of clearing the exam. If one wanders around aimlessly, with no plan, directions, or timeline in mind, it is possible one is simply frittering away one's time. Tolkien, too, in his books, highlights the dangers of wandering for no reason and with no guide. Also, a contrast is made between Gandalf, arguably a super successful wanderer, with Tom Bombadil, who has stayed in one place all his life. Later in the story, Gandalf tells Frodo that he would go talk to Bombadil. “He is a moss-gatherer, and I have been a stone doomed to rolling. But my rolling days are ending, and now we shall have much to say to one another,” Gandalf says. A possible explanation of this can be that the highly respected and feared wizard too may want to settle down, and have some “moss” — stability, rest, opportunity to collect one's thoughts and learnings — grow about him, once the purposes for which he had been wandering have been achieved.
