tolkien agreeably has illustrated that power does not necessarily equate with physical prowess and skill, as you guys above have amply said [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]. and more to this, tolkien also showed that the truest and most potent of powers consist of not just owning power, but controlling it. there is the pitfall of saruman's greed versus the triumph of gandalf's faithfulness. there is galadriel's test and her victory over her own ambition. there is the poignant, internal battle in frodo. and at all times in LOTR when some easier leap to power is cirumvented, the tides are turned to the greater good.
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pity this busy monster,manunkind, not / -progress is a comfortable disease;/ your victim (death and life safely beyond) / plays with the bigness of his littleness
---ee cummings
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