Sauron knows that Gandalf has different values than Sauron, and knows that the nature of the ring is to alter its user’s values to be more like Sauron’s than Gandalf’s. If, knowing those two things, he can’t understand why Gandalf doesn’t endorse using the ring, then he’s simply not thinking clearly.
Sauron knows that Gandalf has different values than Sauron,
Sauron is probably a cynic. He probably thinks that “Every Gandalf is really a Sauron.” That is, every do-gooder who seems to be guided only by virtuous principles is really a self-aggrandizing power-grabber trying to mask their power-grabbing behind a veil of pious slave-morality (as Nietzsche might put it). So (Sauron must figure), claiming the ring would actually be the best way for Gandalf to realize his own actual ends. But (Sauron must conclude) Gandalf must just be too stupid, or blinded by convention, or self-deluded, or something, to realize this.
Sauron knows that Gandalf has different values than Sauron, and knows that the nature of the ring is to alter its user’s values to be more like Sauron’s than Gandalf’s. If, knowing those two things, he can’t understand why Gandalf doesn’t endorse using the ring, then he’s simply not thinking clearly.
Sauron is probably a cynic. He probably thinks that “Every Gandalf is really a Sauron.” That is, every do-gooder who seems to be guided only by virtuous principles is really a self-aggrandizing power-grabber trying to mask their power-grabbing behind a veil of pious slave-morality (as Nietzsche might put it). So (Sauron must figure), claiming the ring would actually be the best way for Gandalf to realize his own actual ends. But (Sauron must conclude) Gandalf must just be too stupid, or blinded by convention, or self-deluded, or something, to realize this.