Gandalf wielded more power than he used. With as much power as he had, he also recognized the danger of abusing it. In that same vein, when he was offered the ring, he resisted the temptation of "think what good I could do with this."
He recognized that the value of goodness comes from free will and not from forcing it upon people. His main role was to inspire others to fight, of their own will, against the forces of evil. He only wielded his power when it was necessary, to meet a challenge that was beyond the scope of others.
He recognized the danger of letting others become dependent on his power. The danger to them of taking him for granted, and the danger to himself of growing an ego and becoming corrupt.
This type of character is rare in other types of wizardry stories. In the others, the wizard or sorcerer is ever willing to wield their full power at the drop of a dime, giving no heed to the dangers of which Gandalf was fully aware. |
