Sauron Vs the Ring

[Raynor]

Originally Posted by Mänwë

It was I agree the Ring his life revolved around after his fall.

I disagree; after his fall, he believed the ring was lost:

Originally Posted by The Shadow of the Past, FotR

And this is the dreadful chance, Frodo. He believed that the One had perished; that the Elves had destroyed it, as should have been done. But he knows now that it has _not_ perished, that it has been found. So he is seeking it, seeking it, and all his thought is bent on it. It is his great hope and our great fear.

So Sauron believed the ring perished; after that, he merrily returned to conquering the world again, in the name of evil. Even after he learns about the existence of the ring, he peacefully continues his plans of beating the living bejesus out of Middle Earth - we don't see Sauron deflecting the bulk of his efforts towards recovering the ring or, even less, overwhelming the Shire by force, due to some fixation he has with the ring; he doesn't drop his plans, he steadily builds up his forces. He chooses stealth in his attempts to recover; the nazgul go in hiding, he conceals their actions with sideways attacks. Even when he launches his untimely offensive, it is more or less in tone with his plans of conquest. My point is that Sauron shows he is capable of pursuing his own plans, independent of the ring; others, such as the ringbearers, or even Galadriel, face an almost indomitable pressure to alter all their behaviour and life to the corruption of the ring.

[Mänwe]

Raynor,

I may use the same quote to counter your ideas that Sauron was not whole heartedly looking for the One. It is sufficient also I think to show he has a great fixation for the One.

"But he knows now that it has not perished, that it has been found. So he is seeking it, seeking it, and all his thought is bent on it." - (Book I, Chapter 2 The Shadow of the Past.) [My bold]

Yes he does not send any great force, other than the Nine, in search for it, but it is still very much part of his desire.

Secondly, and probably should have been primarily, I think you misunderstand what I mean. By his "life" I meant literally, not his peaceful ( indeed lol) plans for domination but his very existence. Should the One be destroyed then he also is undone. That is the control the One has over him, and was the weakness in its making.