An Inherent Feature of the Forces of Evil in LOTR

There are two excellent examples in LOTR of a specific feature that I think all corrupt or evil persons seem to possess, or are likely to possess. It is the tendency of a person to assume that all other people think in the same terms he does. One who is corrupt or evil in some manner, will assume that his ends and goals are shared by all, and that his way of viewing the world is everyone else's way of viewing the world. I cannot seem to find a word for this tendency. Such words as 'conceit' and 'intolerant' come to mind, but these are merely qualities that a person with this tendency possesses. These words do not pick out the quality or tendency in question.

My first example is Sauron, the great enemy. Of him Gandalf says, "That we should wish to cast him down and have no one in his place is not a thought that occurs to his mind. That we should try to destroy the Ring itself has not yet entered into his darkest dream" (486). Sauron, being so absorbed in his desire for power and control, and so arrogant and prideful in his great power, makes the foolish error of assuming that all those who oppose him want what he wants, namely, power and control. Sauron assumes that his opponents want these things and that their opposition of him is their primary motivation for doing so! 

Yet he could not more wrong. The opponents of Sauron in Middle-earth do not resist him out of a desire to usurp his dark throne and rule over Middle-earth. No, they resist him because he is evil, and because the Good must be pursued and must conquer over evil, and because Middle-earth is a place of great beauty and Goodness that must be healed and preserved. By making the mistake of assuming that his opposition opposes him only to take his power, Sauron ultimately shows his weakness, for it is only by his attention being turned away to Minas Tirith that Frodo and Sam can enter Morder to destroy the Ring. Had Sauron been more wise and not made his foolish assumption, he would have watched his own lands more closely for those who might attempt to destroy the Ring. 

My next example is the wizard Saruman. He also makes the same mistake as Sauron. When Orthanc has been conquered by the ents and Gandalf commands Saruman to hand over the key to the tower and his staff, to be returned later if he merits it, Saruman replies, "Later! Yes, when you also have the Keys to Barad-dur itself [Sauron's tower], I suppose; and the crowns of the seven kings, and the rods of the Five Wizards, and have purchased yourself a pair of boots many sizes larger than those that you wear now" (569). Saurman betrays the same foolish assumption, that those who oppose him wish to take his place. But of course, Gandalf wishes no such thing. He only commands that Saruman hand over the keys and his staff for the sake of the Good, for the sake of things being in their proper order- for Saruman's lust for power was not his to take and so constituted a form of disorder- not for the sake of acquiring more power. 

What is it, then, about acquiring power and control over others, and becoming corrupted by evil, that lends itself to this foolish tendency? Maybe it is nothing intrinsic to becoming evil itself. I suppose Sauron could have been who he was in essence, but have had enough wisdom to realize that his ends are not shared by all. But, perhaps such wisdom would be beyond his reach, for his pride was great, and those who are proud often make foolish mistakes. 

Source:

Tolkien. The Lord of the Rings. Harper Collins, 1991.