system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[Star Wars Canon] What was Palpatine's ultimate goal?

Okay, so at first it was to rule the galaxy as emperor. But when he finally wipes out the Jedi, creates Darth Vader, and establishes the Empire.. What was his goal then? He doesn't live in opulence. We don't ever see him surrounded by wealth, feasts, women, anything that a supreme ruler might desire. What does he ultimately desire? Suffering? Well he could have done a far better job if he was truly sadistic. Was it peace? Can we believe that he truly wanted a united galaxy and merely decided that the Sith way was the only viable method of achieving peace? If he had successfully squashed the rebellion, what does he do next?
gpt
His ultimate goal was to unlock the full powers of the dark side with Vader in the ancient Sith shrine underneath the Jedi Temple. 

I think creating the empire and becoming emperor was a means to an end.  Palpatine rarely appeared in public after becoming emperor, he left the daily management of the empire to the Ruling Council and he spent a lot of his time meditating in the shrine.