[modoturan]

I also disagree with the characterization of Morgoth as a "nutcase." His goal of destroying creation was perhaps impossible, but so was Sauron's. Sauron wished to gain absolute control over the minds and wills of others, but how can he do that when those minds and wills have their source in Eru and not in him? You cannot control what you do not own. Sauron can force his slaves to obey, by threat or torture, but he can't make them want to obey. Even his own orcs occasionally attempt to oppose his will, so what's the chance that he'd be able to completely enslave Elves or Men or Dwarves? There will always be rebellion, even if only on the individual level. In this way the minds and wills of others will always be out of Sauron's grasp, and ultimately his ambition is as futile as Morgoth's.

Returning to Morgoth, I think his nihilism is, in a way, basically an extension of Sauron's mindset. Sauron wished to control. In the beginning, so did Morgoth. As Nerwen already posted:

Originally Posted by Ainulindalë

He had gone often alone into the void places seeking the Imperishable Flame; for desire grew hot within him to bring into Being things of his own, and it seemed to him that Ilúvatar took no thought for the Void, and he was impatient of its emptiness.

Originally Posted by Valaquenta

He began with the desire of the Light, but when he could not possess it for himself alone, he descended through fire and wrath into a great burning, down into the Darkness.

However, Morgoth realized what Sauron did not: that control is impossible, because the Imperishable Flame is Iluvatar's and no one else's. All the beings that Iluvatar imbued with the Flame possess a free will that is completely independent of Morgoth's own will, and thus forever outside of his control.

Now Morgoth, as we all know, had an enormous ego. He saw that other beings could defy his will, and he hated them for it. That things could exist despite him rather than because of him was insufferable; and it was from this jealousy that his hatred had its source. If he could not control, he would destroy. And in the end, of course, his lust for destruction would fulfill his original lust for power: he would control everything in existence, since he himself would be the only thing left in existence.