Destroy to mock Illuvtar, and then he could replace all the peoples of middle-earth with his followers and his creation: the easterlings and the orcs. This proves Melkor (Morgoth) is smarter because he knows there will be a higher chance of a rebellion with the free peoples of middle earth. Plus, Sauron is just a maiar fallen evil while Morgoth was a vala.
Morgoth is defintely better.
I'm gonna go with Sauron, I found an interesting quote posted by a lore-master as called on one of the other forums I visit.
"Sauron was 'greater', effectively, in the Second Age than Morgoth at the end of the First. Why? Because, though he was far smaller by natural stature, he had not yet fallen so low." (Morgoth's Ring, Myths Transformed, Text VII)
Essentially Melkor was more powerful than then might of all the other Valar combined, but he distributed his power on other ventures to his "Agents" and thus became Vastly weaker. Another quote
"Only the total contained the old power of the complete Melkor; so that if 'the Morgoth' could be reached or temporarily separated from his agents, he was much more nearly controllable and on a power-level with the Valar. The Valar find they can deal with his agents (sc. armies, Balrogs, etc) piecemeal. So that they come at last to Utumno itself and find that 'the Morgoth' has no longer for the moment sufficient 'force' (in any sense) to shield himself from direct personal contact. Manwe at lasts faces Melkor again, as he has not done since he entered Arda. Both are amazed: Manwe to perceive the decrease in Melkor as a person; Melkor to perceive this also from his own point of view: he has now less personal force than Manwe, and can no longer daunt him with his gaze." (Morgoth's Ring, Myths Transformed, Text VI, Tolkien's italics)
Away from his agents the old power of Morgoth/Melkor was not sufficient enough to stand up against the other Valar even though he was once the greatest among them. Admittedly Sauron never had to stand up to the Valar, but in contrast as said he had not sunk as low as Morgoth and can be, by some percieved as greater.
Man...I hope all that made sense
Originally posted by RE: Blaxican
I can't make an accurate judgment really because I never finished The Silmarillion. However, I like Sauron's schemes more... dunno why. Morgoth always struck me as somewhat of a punk ass. Plus, he's butthurt, whereas Sauron was just evil.
Sauron almost returned to Valinor and was begging for mercy and forgiveness from the Valar, then ran away like a little girl because he was scared.