Saruman is one of the most interesting characters in The Lord of the Rings. Originally, he was one of Middle-Earth's greatest forces for good, but he later decides to ally himself with the Dark Lord Sauron, sensing the coming dominion of the Great Eye.
Portrayed by the skillful and expressive Christopher Lee, he has a lot of great quotes throughout the series, but here are some of the best.
"Always You Must Meddle, Looking For Trouble Where None Exists."
Saruman gives this disparaging Gandalf in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, referring to the other wizard's claim that a great evil is going unnoticed in Middle-Earth. It turns out int the end that, shockingly, Gandalf was right.
This quote helps establish Saruman's personality as well as foreshadow just how monumental the "trouble" he refers to would come to be.
"Go Now! Leave Sauron To Me."
After Sauron is banished from his stronghold of Dol Guldur by Elrond, Galadriel, and Saruman in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, Saruman insists that he will find and face the Dark Lord alone.
Of course, this results in Saruman ending up on Sauron's side, becoming the Necromancer's most powerful ally, in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, so this brief quote that isn't really called that much attention to is still a key moment in the film for fans of the series.
"The Hour Is Later Than You Think."
Gandalf meets with Saruman in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring to discuss plans for taking down Sauron, as he's finally found a way to destroy the Ring of Power, amidst reports of the Dark Lord's activity in Middle-Earth.
Saruman tells him it's much too late to stop Sauron, and its, having found no other option, he himself has ed with the Dark Lord.
"We Must With Him, Gandalf."
So, Gandalf learns that Saruman has turned against the peoples of Middle-Earth and allied himself with Sauron, but that's not all; Saruman insists his fellow wizard him in this, as he sees no way for anyone to escape the Dark Lord's wrath except through servitude.
Gandalf refuses the offer, which leads to a tense wizard battle between the two conflicting forces.
"You Have Elected The Way Of ... Pain!"
Saruman defeats Gandalf handily, and slowly walks up to his former friend, saying "I gave you the chance of aiding me willingly", to which the heavily wounded Gandalf can only respond with a grunt.
Raising his voice with every step, Saruman screams "but you have elected the way of ... pain!", sending Gandalf hurtling through the air and towards the inescapable roof of the castle Orthanc.
"So You Have Chosen ... Death."
In a moment that's become the largest Lord of the Rings internet meme since "One does not simply", Saruman remarks on Gandalf's final decision, self-assuredly declaring "So you have chosen... death."
"Who Now Has The Strength To Stand Against The Armies Of Isengard ... And Mordor?"
While communicating with Sauron through a Palantir in The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers, Saruman is more confident than ever, as he believes no one could defeat Sauron's army of Orcs, Men, Trolls, Wargs, Oliphaunts, and of course the Nazgul, combined with his own army of ten thousand Wild Men and Uruk-Hai.
In his mind, even the mightiest armies of Elves and Dwarves could never match the power of his.
"If I Go, Theoden Dies!"
The ace up Saruman's sleeve was Theoden - the king of Rohan, whom Saruman possessed with the help of the king's assistant, Grima Wormtongue. Gandalf confronts Saruman by speaking directly to Theoden, saying "I shall draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound." Saruman, in turn, claims he has too much power over the king to be removed without severe consequence, claiming "If I go, Theoden dies!"
However, Gandalf is eventually successful in saving Theoden, leaving Saruman with no hold over Rohan.
"A New Power Is Rising!"
In a rousing speech to his army meant to get them ready for battle, Saruman insists "victory is at hand", telling them the alliance of Sauron and Saruman is one that shall rise above all others.
He tells them to kill freely, announcing "this night the land will be stained with the blood of Rohan" with triumphant force and urging them to "leave none alive."
"You Withdraw Your Guard And I Will Tell You Where Your Doom Will Be Decided."
Gandalf makes an attempt to spare Saruman's life despite this, asking him to provide intel that could help the forces of good, to which Saruman responds almost savagely by telling him "you withdraw your guard and I will tell you where your doom will be decided."
