: : : Then again, the ability to resist the influence could have been tied to Sauron's strength. At the time of The Hobbit, Sauron was regaining his strength, and had not reach his full power.

: : :
: : : : Bilbo never had his will tested to the degree that Frodo did, he was never tempted to use the Ring in such critical situations. We have no basis to judge how he'd have handled the stresses and temptations that Frodo (and Sam) faced.

: : : A critical situation depends on a person's point of view. I'm sure there were situations that Bilbo believed were indeed critical. That aside, I have long held the theory that knowledge of the ring's true nature played a great part in temptation and tests of will. Bilbo did not know the true nature of the ring at the time of The Hobbit, neither did Gandalf. At the time of Elrond's council in Rivendell, Gandalf knows the true nature. He refuses to bear the ring because he would be tempted. This brings up an interesting question. Would Boromir have tried to take the ring from Frodo, if he had not known the ring's true nature?

: : actually, Bilbo never stood the temptation. he used the ring constantly, even to avoid some merely unpleasent situations.

: But, on the other hand, he gives it up (to Frodo) without the amount of persuation one would expect from somebody that has had it so long and used it so often.

: Actually, I've always thought that about that. It seems that he gives it up too easily...

: Any thoughts?
actually yes. some:
a. Gandalf had to frighten him in order to make him give up on the ring. and when it's Bilbo's will vr. Ganalf's will, it isn't much of a contest
b. Most of the time he used it was in the shire, which is as far away from Mordor as you can get,without going to Valinor, both geographicly, and... in another way that i can't exactly define. It's probably harder to be currapted under the bright sun, then in the darkness.
c. he was "naive", both about the nature of the ring, and in spirit - Bilbo never wanted power and fame to himself.