Gandalf on Tom Bombadil

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

My own opinion of that quote is that it merely contrasts the difference between the "watcher", Bombadil, and the "mover", Gandalf.

The latter had a specific task to perform in Middle-earth. Bombadil, however, seems to have no obvious goals or mission, and was content to sit on the sidelines and do his own thing.

That's a very neat interpretation. Mine was always influenced by the Russian translation, where a native expression is used that has a clear connotation, no riddles. For me it was always as simple as: Gandalf travelled, Tom stayed home. In the most literal physical sense. But I like your watcher/mover and mission idea.