Let's bring this to the real world- do you personally believe the Ring would master you?
Oh sure, most people's first reaction is to exclaim "Yes, of course!" because you've been taught to say so. Gandalf, Elrond, Galadriel, and all those other smart people said the Ring would master everyone, and the story revolves around the undefeatable and unconquerable Ring. It's just accepted as fact. But really, who did the Ring conquer? Answer- two little hobbits. Some of you may want to toss in Isildur, but he died so quickly after swiping it. Do we really know what would've happened to him?
Do we know for an absolute fact that the Ring would turn Gandalf into a Dark Lord? He said it, but if you've read LOTR you know that Gandalf was not always right. Had he done experiments with the Ring? Had he tested it on other wizards and watched them turn into Dark Lords? No, of course not.
The whole "The Ring corrupts everyone" thing is not an absolute total unquestionable fact within Middle Earth.
Now seriously, I want you to imagine in real life- if someone had a shoe and claimed that the evil that dwelt in it would overcome your mind and will would you really believe it? Let's say you knew it had overthrown the minds of a couple of your friends. Even then, would you really believe that the shoe could master YOU?
If your answer is "yes", then I guess you're just not like me. I remember talking in another thread about how I identified with Boromir, because like him I would not have believed that the Ring could conquer me. I am who I am. No piece of jewelry can change me. Give the Ring to me, and I'll harness it's power and kick Sauron's behind!
Personally, I think it takes a very very rare person to believe that he doesn't have the strength of will to conquer a small piece of metal. Evidently I don't have that type of wisdom, and certainly not that much humility. Lucky for the good guys in LOTR, there were several of these rare weirdo individuals running around.
Now to Saruman- who does he strike you as? A confident-borderline-arrogant Boromir/Phantom type person, or a humble Gandalf/Frodo sort of chap? (btw, if it matters yours truly came up as "Saruman" on a LOTR personality test a while back
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