Det här svarade i kapitlet om ringen om ringen Elrondrons , under en diskussion mellan Glóin, Elrond och Glorfindel (med min betoning):
'But what then would happen, if the Ruling Ring were destroyed as you counsel?' asked Glóin.
'We know not for certain,' answered Elrond sadly. 'Some hope that the Three Rings, which Sauron has never touched, would then become free, and their rulers might heal the hurts of the world that he has wrought. But maybe when the One has gone, the Three will fail, and many fair things will fade and be forgotten. That is my belief.'
'Yet all the Elves are willing to endure this chance,' said Glorfindel 'if by it the power of Sauron may be broken, and the fear of his dominion be taken away for ever.'
Detta bekräftas av Galadriels ord till Frodo senare i kapitlet Galadriels Mirror (igen med min betoning):
The love of the Elves for their land and their works is deeper than the deeps of the Sea, and their regret is undying and cannot ever wholly be assuaged. Yet they will cast all away rather than submit to Sauron: for they know him now.
Älvenes motiv är därför att uppnå förstörelsen av Saurons makt, och förlust av kraften hos sina egna ringar är en kompromiss som är acceptabel för dem i utbyte mot det.
Relevant för detta är Elronds ord någon annanstans i The Council of Elrond , där de diskuterar möjligheten att använda Ring mot Sauron:
If any of the Wise should with this Ring overthrow the Lord of Mordor, using his own arts, he would then set himself on Sauron's throne, and yet another Dark Lord would appear. And that is another reason why the Ring should be destroyed: as long as it is in the world it will be a danger even to the Wise. For nothing is evil in the beginning. Even Sauron was not so. I fear to take the Ring to hide it. I will not take the Ring to wield it.
Detta framhäver att i slutet var det enda realistiska alternativet att förstöra ringen.