Frodo and Cincinnatus: Heroes of Humility and Service Beyond Glory
Yesterday when I wrote Leading Like Frodo: Frodo’s Quiet Withdrawal considering Frodo’s completion of the quest and fading from the public’s eye, I couldn’t help but think about Cincinnatus. Cincinnatus did not want to lead for power, but to serve. He always returned to the farm after saving Rome twice. At the conclusion of all his service Cincinnatus just wanted to go back to his farm, where he milked his own cows and branded his own calves. He exemplified civic virtue. Cincinnatus accepted authority only when necessary and relinquished it promptly afterward. His leadership exemplified selfless service to the republic, emphasizing that true heroism involves duty without seeking personal glory.
Frodo Baggins, from J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, was a humble hobbit tasked with the enormous responsibility of carrying the One Ring to Mount Doom to destroy it. Frodo was persistent, brave, resilient, and humble. He embodied the virtue of service, willingly bearing a burden for the greater good. Frodo’s journey highlighted themes of sacrifice, perseverance, and humility. Despite the fame and power associated with the Ring, he remained modest and committed to his mission for the sake of others.
Both Frodo and Cincinnatus are archetypes of humble service and sacrifice. Frodo’s journey reflected individual perseverance in the face of great evil, while Cincinnatus’s story underscores civic responsibility and humility in leadership. Neither sought power or recognition; instead, they accepted their burdens out of duty and prioritized the common good. Their stories remind us that genuine heroism often resides in quiet dedication, perseverance through hardship, and humility. Frodo and Cincinnatus had values essential for a just and resilient society.
Leading Like Frodo: Frodo’s Quiet Withdrawal
In my reading of J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Return of the King yesterday, I came across a passage that I have never seen analyzed or discussed by Tolkien scholars. After having been told by the narrator that Frodo had resigned the office of Deputy Mayor at the Free Fair that Midsummer and given up his other civic duties in Hobbiton and the Shire, we are told by the narrator that, “Frodo dropped quietly out of all the doings of the Shire, and Sam was pained to notice how little honour he had in his own country. Few people knew or wanted to know about his deeds and adventures; their admiration and respect were given mostly to Mr. Meriadoc and Mr. Peregrin and (if Sam had known it) to himself. Also in the autumn there appeared a shadow of old troubles” (p. 152). This has always been an interesting subject to me; how people leave position of great responsibility and public respect.
Frodo’s quiet withdrawal from public life and his ultimately leaving his homeland reflected how acts of heroism or significant deeds may go unnoticed or unappreciated by one’s own community. It is also clear that Frodo was not seeking glory. Sam’s feelings of pain about all this stem from the realization that true nobility and worth are not always acknowledged publicly, especially in one’s own country. Instead, admiration tends to be directed toward more visible or socially prominent figures like Meriadoc and Peregrin, and even himself indirectly.
The mention of the “shadow of old troubles” in the autumn suggested that despite their successes, lingering challenges and darker times still cast a pall over the Shire, reminding us that the scars of past struggles and ongoing difficulties remain even after moments of heroism. Overall, the passage emphasized the value of humility, the often quiet nature of true heroism, and the persistence of trouble even after major conflicts have ended.
From Frodo’s experience, we can learn that even those who carry great responsibility may need time and space to heal. Honor isn’t solely about fulfilling external duties but also about recognizing one’s limits and caring for oneself so that one can ultimately contribute meaningfully. This part of The Return of the King made me consider that true integrity involves compassion towards oneself and understanding that sometimes stepping back is necessary for long-term strength and moral clarity.
Keeping Our Oaths
Throughout The Lord of the Rings, J. R. R. Tolkien emphasized the importance of honor, loyalty, and integrity when it comes to keeping one’s oaths. Through Gimli, we see a character that understands oaths, bonds, and promises. I like to call this walking the talk. I’ve written about this before in Walk The Talk! There is an incredible exchange between Gimli and Elrond that goes like this: “Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens,” said Gimli. “Maybe,” said Elrond, “but let him not vow to walk in the dark, who has not seen the nightfall.” “Yet sworn word may strengthen quaking heart,” said Gimli. “Or break it,” said Elrond. “Look not too far ahead!” Gimli is vowing to walk the talk.
Gimli’s unwavering commitment to his promises, through his oaths to his companions, illustrates that true bravery involves steadfastness and trustworthiness. Tolkien used Gimli’s character to show that upholding our oaths and promises is essential for maintaining personal integrity and fostering genuine bonds of friendship, trust, and respect. Do we do what we say we are going to do? It doesn’t seem people take this as serious as in the past. We need to get back to honoring our commitments. Always!
For example, I am excited to be going to lunch with a mentor from early in my career next week. What if the day before I get another opportunity and I decide to call my former mentor and cancel? This would not only disappoint him, it would be breaking an oath and be disrespectful. I realize things come up, but we need to do what we say we are going to do. In order to be trusted, we must walk the talk. Breaking a promise, commitment, or oath is a very serious thing and contaminates our relationships; eating away at trust.
Ultimately, Tolkien, through The Lord of the Rings, brilliantly suggested that keeping one’s vows reflects moral strength and contributes to the larger good, reinforcing the idea that honor is a vital virtue in both individual character and collective unity.
From Knowledge To Wisdom
In The Battle for Middle-earth: Tolkien’s Divine Design in The Lord of the Rings, Fleming Rutledge told us that, “The emphasis on understanding in Elrond’s second triad is especially notable. As we have already suggested in the Prologue, there is no instrument available to us greater than that of understanding—differentiated from Knowledge, which in Saruman’s context has a morally neutralized, harder sound” (p. 150). This is referring to Tolkien’s work in The Lord of the Rings. It is important for us, particularly in education, to remember this important distinction between understanding and knowledge. They are not synonymous.
In his works, Tolkien often portrayed knowledge as the accumulation of facts, lore, and history. These are the things we learn about the world or a subject. Understanding, on the other hand, involves perceiving the deeper meaning, context, and connections behind those facts. Understanding involves grasping the meaning, significance, and connections between pieces of knowledge. When we understand something, we can explain it in your own words, see how it relates to other concepts, and apply it to new situations.
In The Lord of the Rings,characters like Gandalf possess a wealth of knowledge about Middle-earth’s history, languages, and magic. However, it’s their understanding, like Gandalf’s grasp of the true nature of power and mercy, that guides their actions. Similarly, characters like Frodo gain understanding through experience, which helps them comprehend complex themes like sacrifice and friendship beyond mere facts.
Tolkien gives us the best examples of how knowledge is about “what is,” while understanding is about “why it matters” and “how it fits into the bigger picture.” This distinction highlights the importance of wisdom and insight, which go beyond simply knowing facts, to truly grasp the essence of life and moral choices.
Leading With Crazy Ideas
In an episode of Chicago PD I watched the other night, Sergeant Trudy Platt (Amy Morton) told Detective Kim Burgess (Marina Squerciati) that, “Some of the best decisions we ever make start out as crazy.” The phrase caught my ear and reminded me that taking risks or thinking outside the box can lead to remarkable outcomes. I’ve written about crazy ideas before in The Devil’s Advocate.
“For an idea that does not first seem insane, there is no hope.”
~ Albert Einstein
Often, innovative ideas or bold choices might seem irrational or unconventional at first, but they have the potential to result in great success or personal growth. It encourages us to embrace our instincts and not dismiss ideas solely because they seem unusual initially, emphasizing that stepping outside our comfort zones can lead to positive transformations.
Big Picture Versus Up Close
While watching an old episode of NCIS last night, the ever insightful protagonist, LeRoy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) made the comment to NCIS Special Agent Eleanor Bishop (Emily Wickersham) that she should, “Forget the big picture, look at everything up close.” This is an interesting thought and a takeoff of the famous quote from Chuck Palahniuk’s novel, Lullaby (2002), that says, “The trick to forgetting the big picture is to look at everything up close.” This really got me to thinking that this advice could be taken two different two different ways with both ways of looking at it being right.
In the context of the television show, Gibbs was advising Bishop to pay attention to the here and now and not worry so much about the big picture. In other words, be where our feet are. Whereas, in the case of Palahniuk’s comment, it was meant that if we spend all our time looking too closely, we will forget the big picture.
This is all quite the conundrum for me to think about. Palahniuk’s work highlighted how focusing on small, immediate details can distract us from broader concerns or truths. In the context of his writing, it often serves as a commentary on modern society’s tendency to obsess over trivialities, thereby losing sight of more significant issues or realities. Palahniuk frequently explored themes of perception, control, and societal obsession, using this idea to emphasize how individual preoccupations can obscure larger, more meaningful perspectives.
I believe this is one of those times where we have to hold both ways of thinking as right and balance them according to context. There are times where we need to stay focused on the big picture and others when we need to be in the moment and looking at everything close up.
Leading With LEGOS
I am doing some leadership development right now using LEGO® bricks as the through-line. It always amazes me that the same things that we learned as kids playing with LEGOS apply as adults and leaders. Designing intricate LEGO models requires planning. Leaders can learn to set clear goals and visualize long-term success before executing initiatives. We also need to remember, however, that Just like LEGOS can be assembled in countless ways, as effective leaders we should encourage innovation, adaptability, and creative problem-solving within their teams. I always remind groups I am working with that the finished product does not always have to look like the picture in the instructions.
This all becomes a question of what is the worst thing that can happen. We know that strong foundations are essential. So if we focus on establishing solid core values and structures that hold everything together, we should be able to experiment, learn, and build. The risk of being wrong sometimes overpowers us, keeping us from taking risks that might turn into incredible innovations or outcomes. Which leads me to another connection to LEGOS: the quality of a LEGO creation relies on our ability to imagine.
The more people we have using their imagination, the better. Combining different Lego pieces to create complex structures highlights the importance of teamwork. Leaders should foster collaboration, recognizing that diverse contributions lead to better outcomes. Have you ever noticed that, while working with LEGOS is fun by yourself, it is really fun when working with others?
Finally, building with LEGOS often requires patience and careful attention to detail. Leaders can draw inspiration to stay persistent through challenges and setbacks.
Curating Authenticity
I believe in being authentic and not a curated image. This can become a bit paradoxical or hypocritical because we all do some curation of our own image by intentionally managing how we present ourselves to others, both online and in-person. This can involve choosing specific words, attire, behaviors, and even social media content that reflect the persona we want to project. We often highlight our strengths, achievements, or certain values, while downplaying or omitting aspects that might be considered less appealing.
This curation becomes problematic when it starts to distort or hide our true self to the point where we’re not being authentic. This can lead to a disconnect between how we present ourself and who we really are, which might cause feelings of inauthenticity or even anxiety over maintaining that curated image.
It’s better to be genuine and true to ourself rather than putting on a superficial or overly polished version of who we are. It encourages embracing our real qualities, imperfections, and quirks instead of creating a carefully crafted appearance that might not fully represent our true self. This approach fosters honesty, trust, and deeper connections with others.
Being Willing To Fail Or Lose
In another episode of, House I was watching last night, the protagonist Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) told a doctor competing for a fellowship who was obsessed with playing the game and always winning that, “If you’re going to work for me you have to be willing to fail or lose.” We talk a lot about it being okay to fail forward but this was a pretty straightforward way of looking at it. It really made me think about how we can use failure to solve complex problems. The character of Dr. House often encouraged stepping back from obsession with success and instead embracing risk, learning from mistakes, and being open to different approaches.
This reminded me that fixation on winning or achieving perfection might sometimes prevent genuine growth or innovative thinking. It’s a way of emphasizing resilience and adaptability over rigidly always chasing the win or success. In the context of the show, House wanted his team members to understand that they might face situations where things don’t go perfectly, and that’s okay. We are reminded that what matters is a willingness to take risks, learn from mistakes, and not be paralyzed by fear of failure. It’s a mindset that encourages resilience, innovation, and growth, even when the stakes are high.
Our Shadow and Our Shine
In his September 1st poem in Diary of an Old Soul, George MacDonald said, “We are a shadow and a shining, we!” I love the metaphors of shadows and shining. He was highlighting the dual nature of our human existence. The “shadow” symbolizes our mortal, imperfect, and finite aspects. Shadows also represent things we repress, our limitations and struggles. The “shining” represents our divine, eternal, and luminous essence. Our true spiritual nature, potential, and where we excel is where we shine.
On September 1st, in that poem, MacDonald was encouraging us to recognize both sides of ourselves. We need to embrace the transient, imperfect parts, and the enduring, radiant spirit within ourselves. It’s an invitation to embrace our flaws while also acknowledging our inherent light and goodness, fostering humility and hope on our spiritual journeys.
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