History IDidWhatIHadToDo / AnimeAndManga

* Light tries to use this to justify his murders in the finale of ''Manga/DeathNote'' after [[spoiler:Near finally proves he's Kira]], claiming that the world had to be fixed and that no one else would have the guts to keep going as long as he did. [[spoiler:Neither the SPK nor the Japanese task force buy it, and Near categorically dismisses Light's justifications, claiming that he is just another petty serial killer. This just pushes Light even further into his VillainousBreakdown]].

** Lelouch when [[spoiler:he loses control of his Geass, and makes Euphemia kill the Japanese. He then proceeds to do what he has to do--and says as much--and kills Euphemia. Then later on he pretty much tells Suzaku that as well]].

** L and [[spoiler: his successors]] frequently use morally dubious tactics against Kira.

** [[spoiler:Then there is the guy who ordered him to do it, Danzo. Who turns out to actually be a badass in his own right, though he is on the "extremist" side of WellIntentionedExtremist. He does get to lecture Sasuke on betraying Itachi's will.]]
** Also Tobirama Senju, the second Hokage, who feels no guilt regarding how he treated the Uchiha clan. [[spoiler:Which, to elaborate, was [[KeepingTheEnemyClose giving them a position of control in the Leaf's police force]]. Some time later, his [[ProperlyParanoid suspicions]] turn out to not have been completely unwarranted]].

** Mayuri has a confrontation with Yamamoto over taking a very important decision without first consulting Yamamoto and his response is that he had to do what was necessary because the problem required an immediate response and couldn't afford to be tied up by CelestialBureaucracy. [[spoiler:The decision in question was whether to kill or not, twenty-eight thousand residents of Soul Society to stabilize the cosmic balance of souls that exist to prevent the universe from breaking.]]

* Prince Forsyth of ''LightNovel/ScrappedPrincess'' invokes this when he [[spoiler:kills [[ApocalypseMaiden Pacifica]], insisting that he has no choice and that it's for the good of the people. Nonetheless, he acknowledges that Pacifica is an innocent girl who has done ''nothing'' wrong and commits suicide along with her in atonement, tearfully apologizing to her all the while]].

* This was Reinhard's excuse to Kircheis in ''Anime/LegendOfGalacticHeroes'' as to why he [[spoiler:didn't save the 2 million civilians from being nuked by the corrupt nobles. Though the real reason was that [[NecessaryEvil Oberstein]] orchestrated that the nobles actually do what they did to boost Reinhard's position]]. After this event however, he decides never to make any excuses again.

* Subverted in ''Manga/{{Bokurano}}'', Youko Machi, the one who led her classmates from the nature school to the cave, and thus getting them caught up in the deadly "game" of piloting Zearth, [[spoiler:knowing full well what would happen, since she'd gone through this before]], realizes that someone had to fight for the planet, but doesn't use that as an excuse for her actions, which she feels guilty about.

* Erwin Smith is a primary example of how successful commanders think in ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'', with all the [[HeWhoFightsMonsters unpleasant]] [[HumansAreBastards implications]] that come with it. Though he cares about his men, he is perfectly willing to sacrifice them (or himself) if doing so provides a possible victory. He uses this to justify allowing [[spoiler:a battle between two Titan Shifters]] within a major city, causing considerable destruction and loss of life in the process.

*** [[spoiler:Reiner Braun]] is also of this philosophy, as both of them [[spoiler:(and Annie) are part of the Kingdom of Marley's TykeBomb {{Child Soldier|s}} training program in which they, along with Marcel, were sent on a mission to Paradis Island in order to retrieve the Founding Titan from within its walls]]. After [[spoiler:Reiner meets up with Eren for the first time in four years, expressing remorse for his actions, Eren uses this trope ''against'' Reiner, saying [[NotSoDifferentRemark "I'm just like you"]] and that he's simply playing his role in life just as Reiner, Bertolt and Annie were playing theirs]]. He then [[spoiler:turns into his Titan form and kills Willy Tybur, the true ruler of Marley]].

* Ryo Narushima of ''Manga/{{Shamo}}'' uses this to justify killing his own parents (of all things!) in the first chapter of the manga. After that... well, let's just say he gets a little too used to this trope.

* More or less King's justification for having turned Demon Card into a criminal organization in ''Manga/RaveMaster''
* There is a ''lot'' of this from the [[WellIntentionedExtremist villains]] in ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann''. [[spoiler:Generally, it turns out that they didn't, although since the DistantFinale stops ''somewhat'' before the destruction of the universe, we're not quite sure about the last set]].
* ''Anime/{{Windaria}}'': Alan's justification for [[spoiler:flooding Lunaria to stop the war and save The Valley from being a warzone]].

*** Though, rather ironically, none of those people who think that it was disgusting realize that it was a [[spoiler:hive of Geass Users, who are Britannian assassins, who have done terrible things, murdering Shirley and a crucial role stopping the Black Rebellion amongst them. (Though that was entirely Rolo and V.V., the only ones with names)]]. They then [[spoiler:attempt to kill Lelouch]] using the same reasoning.

* Lelouch from ''Anime/CodeGeass'' when [[spoiler:he loses control of his Geass, and makes Euphemia kill the Japanese. He then proceeds to do what he has to do--and says as much--and kills Euphemia. Then later on he pretty much tells Suzaku that as well]].

* Neptune and Uranus from ''Manga/SailorMoon'' (seasons S, Stars and the [=SuperS=] TV special) consistently fail to learn from their mistakes and are willing to sacrifice lives--both innocent civilians and their own fellow soldiers--on the basis that the end (destroying the enemy) automatically justifies the means. Given that in the realm of Sailor Moon, what consistently defeats the villains is the power of unconditional love and not ruthless strategy, their failure to adjust to her strategy (which actually WORKS) marks them out for the StupidSacrifice category. Also, see the end of [=SailorStars=] for a classic example of this trope dovetailing with NiceJobBreakingItHero.

* Hughes Gouli from ''Anime/OvermanKingGainer'' belief in Exodus is so much that he states that he will do anything so that they can reach Yapan. During an attack that causes people's thoughts to be broadcast he reveals to Sara that [[spoiler:he killed Gainer's parents for being against exodus]].

*** [[spoiler:Reiner Braun]] is also of this philosophy, as both of them [[spoiler:(and Annie) are part of the Kingdom of Marley's TykeBomb {{Child Soldier|s}} training program in which they, along with Marcel, were sent on a mission to Paradis Island in order to retrieve the Founding Titan from within its walls]]. After [[spoiler:Reiner meets up with Eren for the first time in four years, expressing remorse for his actions, Eren uses this trope ''against'' Reiner, saying [[NotSoDifferent "I'm just like you"]] and that he's simply playing his role in life just as Reiner, Bertolt and Annie were playing theirs]]. He then [[spoiler:turns into his Titan form and kills Willy Tybur, the true ruler of Marley]].