Gandalf var verkligen en förvaltare av medeljorden
Uppdraget som Istari skickades på var att styra de fria människorna i Middle Earth mot Sauron. Således kan de fem medlemmarna av ordern betraktas som stewards of Middle-earth, men där 4 misslyckades Gandalf lyckades. Gandalf säger detta ganska tydligt innan man säger linjen du citerar i din fråga.The rule of no realm is mine, neither of Gondor nor any other, great or small. But all worthy things that are in peril as the world now stands, these are my care. And for my part, I shall not wholly fail of my task, though Gondor should perish, if anything passes through this night that can still grow fair or bear fruit and flower again in days to come. For I also am a steward. Did you not know?
Return of the King - Book V, Chapter 1: Minas Tirith
Det framgår inte bara av denna passage men också från Istari-uppdraget att han verkligen skyddar och bryr sig om medeljorden.
Tolkien ger i sin uppsats med titeln The Istari i de oavslutade talerna en liten inblick i sitt uppdrag och varför det var att Gandalf var den enda som stannar för det:
for he dwelt in no place, and gathered to himself neither wealth nor followers, but ever went to and fro in the Westlands from Gondor to Angmar, and from Lindon to Lorien, befriending all folk in times of need.
Denna idé återfinns vidare i The Silmarillion:
But afterwards it was said among the Elves that they were messengers sent by the Lords of the West to contest the power of Sauron, if he should arise again, and to move Elves and Men and all living things of good will to valiant deeds.
Of the Ring of Power and the Third Age.
Och igen i Bilaga B till Ringenes Herre:
It was afterwards said that they came out of the Far West and were messengers sent to contest the power of Sauron, and to unite all those who had the will to resist him; but they were forbidden to match his power with power, or to seek to dominate Elves or Men by force and fear.
Appendix B: The Tale of Years