When I was younger, I used to hate Pippin for his choice to take the Palantir from Gandalf and gaze into it. I thought it was stupid and impulsive and blamed him for making a huge, childish mistake that could've cost the good side everything. I neglected the nature of the Palantir in my consideration.

Re-reading the books again for the umpteenth time, I realized that when Pippin sees the Palantir in the water, he picks it up bare-handed, and it "latches on" to him and calls to him. Gandalf takes it from him with his cloak- not his bare hands- and so understands the effect it has- which is then why he's more compassionate towards Pippin than Merry is afterwards- where I feel Merry has a lot of frustration with Pippin, which is what I'd resonated with as a kid. This is also present in the movies- the connection the Palantir makes to Pippin is very neglected, and you're left to feel that it was just an impulsive and childish choice... but it's more than that.

Probably common understanding for most long-time fans, but I read the books when I was really young (like seven and eight years old) and I had really internalized a lot of anguish over the dumb childish mistake Pippin makes, and it was an interesting relief that I realized when I achieved this new understanding at age 42.