The dangers of Ringmaking

[Lachwen]

I can understand why Sauron would never have even considered that his enemies might try to destroy the Ring. Sauron was nothing if not power-hungry, and the insanely power-hungry often can't even comprehend the idea of not seeking power. So, in a way, Sauron saw Gandalf, Denethor, Saruman, Aragorn, and all those who were wrapped up in the Ring mess as rivals for his power. I'm too lazy right now to find the actual quote, but at one point Gandalf explains that Sauron thinks the new Bearer would use the Ring to throw him (Sauron) down and put themselves in his place; Sauron can't even imagine that they might try to throw him down and put no one in his place. I guess he sees everyone in Middle-earth as potential mini-Saurons.

[luthien-elvenprincess]

The following quote of Gandalf's, at the White Council, tells us that even though Sauron poured much of his power into the ring...he still was very strong.

"It is not needed that the Ring should be found, for while it abides on earth and is not unmade, still the power that it holds will live, and Sauron will grow and have hope. The might of the Elves and the Elf-friends is less now than of old. Soon he will be too strong for you, even without the Great Ring; for he rules the Nine, and of the Seven he has recovered three.

But, he desired complete power and therefore wanted and needed the Ring for that.

Also from the Silmarillion:

Now the Elves made many rings; but secretly Sauron made One Ring to rule all the others, and their power was bound up with it, to be subject wholly to it and to last only so long as it too should last. And much of the strength and will of Sauron passed into that One Ring; for the power of the Elven-rings was very great, and that which should govern them must be a thing of surpassing potency...

The elves then saved only three of their rings, the most powerful: Narya, Nenya and Vilya. But they didn't use them while Sauron had the One Ring. The power of all the rings was bound up into the One Ring, and Sauron never dreamed that anyone would voluntarily give up that power. So, I am sure that he felt safe in making it. However, when the last three hold-outs (ring-bearers Gandalf, Elrond and Galadriel) all resisted the opportunity of possessing the One Ring (thus voluntarily relinguishing the power of their respective rings) the stage was set for the destroying of the One Ring. Sauron couldn't see the danger of being destroyed by the destruction of the Ring because he never even contemplated the possibility of someone giving up the power they held.