“History,” sniffed Menegilda, “seems to serve as the bulk of the lad’s studies.”
Bilbo shrugged. “Those who refuse to study history are often doomed to repeat past mistakes that might well have been avoided.”
“But why so much focus on Elves, Men, and Dwarves? What do Big Folk have to do with us Hobbits?”
“Do you truly think that if those around us find themselves caught in a war that we will go unscathed? Let there be at least one Hobbit of sense who is familiar with patterns of history who can advise the rest if the worst should come.”