And ere that day [the Halflings, Hobbits] had been held of small account by Elves and by Men, and ne

And ere that day [the Halflings, Hobbits] had been held of small account by Elves and by Men, and neither Sauron nor any of the Wise save Mithrandir had in all their counsels given thought to them. ~ The Silmarillion, Of the Rings of Power