The one ring of power sits before us on a pedestal; around it stand a dozen folks of all races. I believe that whoever grabs the ring first becomes invincible, all powerful. If I believe we cannot make a deal, that someone is about to grab it, then I have to ask myself whether I would weld such power better than whoever I guess will grab it if I do not. If I think I'd do a better job, yes, I grab it. And I'd accept that others might consider that an act of war against them; thinking that way they may well kill me before I get to the ring.

With the ring, the first thing I do then is think very very carefully about what to do next. Most likely the first task is who to get advice from. And then I listen to that advice.

Yes this is a very dramatic story, one which we are therefore biased to overestimate its likelihood.

I don't recall where exactly, but I'm pretty sure I've already admitted that I'd "grab the ring" before on this blog in the last month.