Sauron and Saruman?

[the phantom]

Don't try to use Bombadil as an example of the ring's power. He was completely unlike any other person or thing in the book. Gandalf was afraid that if he (Gandalf) took the ring that he'd turn into a terrible new dark lord, but the concern with old Tom taking the ring was that he'd lose it or misplace it. That doesn't sound comparable at all.

If they are comparable, then we can assume that the natural behavior of good people claiming the ring would be to lose the ring, in which case Sauron could get it back quite easily. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

if one the Wise, or now we know only Gandalf could do this, say Gandalf would take the Ring he wouldn't desire it, he would be needing it

No. No one "needs" the ring. If they think they do, then they've been corrupted. No, the wise know that absolutely no one should use it, and if they're truly wise they know that the correct path is the one they chose in LOTR, to destroy the ring.

What I'm saying is, no one would claim the ring unless the were either 1) unwise or 2) corrupt.

And since all the powerful characters (Gandalf, Elrond..) are wise, then they'd be showing signs of the ring's corruptive influence if they took it. Do you get my drift?

Gandalf would NEVER take the ring. He was dead set against it. So if he did take it, he would no longer be 'Gandalf', he would be 'Gandalf giving in to the temptation of the ring'. He would have lost a part of the battle vs the ring. And once your will and resolve start losing and giving in, its a nasty downward spiral, till only the will and resolve of the ring remain.