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Transferring examples from Hannibal Lecture. Will do more later.
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* Mao of ''CodeGeass'' can use his mind-reading powers to pull this off, looking into his victim's subconscious to find out exactly what buttons he can push.
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* In ''CodeGeass'', Mao of ''CodeGeass'' can use [[spoiler: uses a HannibalLecture * and* his mind-reading Geass-induced psychic powers to pull perform MoreThanMindControl on Shirley Fenette. She's so badly damaged that Lelouch must erase himself from her memories via Geass.]]
** Mao tries thisoff, looking again [[spoiler:to avoid arrest by Suzaku a couple episodes later, [[MindRape violating his sanity]] by reading his mind and taunting him with such knowledge. With Shirley's MoreThanMindControl and Nunnally's hostage situation still fresh in his mind and Mao's visor knocked off by Suzaku prior to the MindRape, Lelouch had a clear shot to Geass Mao into a FateWorseThanDeath.]]
--->'''Mao''': So that's how you justify it in retrospect? You're nothing but a spoiled brat!
--->'''Lelouch''': ''Mao!'' * activates Geass*
--->'''Mao''': SHIT!
--->'''Lelouch''': '''''[[spoiler:NEVER SPEAK AGAIN!]]'''''
* In ''{{Anime/Monster}}'', this is one of Johan Liebert's specialities. He actually drives people to suicide with it.
* ''[[Anime/{{Persona 4}} Persona 4: The Animation]]'' has quite a few of these. The Shadows do this to their hosts, but Shadow Mitsuo gives one to Yu [[spoiler: inside the LotusEaterMachine]]:
-->'''Shadow Mitsuo:''' You have no bonds. Friendship is an illusion. You are empty.
* ''FullmetalAlchemist'' has #66, [[spoiler:Barry The Chopper]], make 14 year old Alphonse Elric question his own existence with one of these by telling him that Ed might have faked Al's memories and that Alphonse Elric NEVER existed. How he gets out of his funk varies between the versions:
** In the first anime, it takes Alphonse an entire episode which involves a pep talk from Scar and Ed telling what him what he really meant to say to him to snap him out of it.
** In the manga and Brotherhood, it's only after Winry [[WrenchWhack hits Al with a wrench]] and points out that no one would sacrifice an arm for a fake brother that Al figures out that he's the real Al.
** Then we got Envy, master of this. [[spoiler:Until Mustang and Ed [[ShutUpHannibal return]] [[TalkingTheMonsterToDeath the favor]].]]
** And Solf J. Kimblee. He actually delivers a Hannibal Lecture with a rare ''positive'' benefit - during the Ishbalan genocide, both Roy and Riza were telling themselves that they really didn't have any choice but to take part in war crimes. Kimblee utterly shreds those ideas apart ("When you shoot a man, do you not feel even the slightest bit of pride for a job well done?"), forcing them to take responsibility and realize that they're NotSoDifferent. The end result is Roy and Riza plotting to take down the military government to prevent such a genocide from ever happening again.
*** What's interesting is that Kimblee is a very smart psychopath with a flair for messing with people's heads and an apparent gift for considering himself the rational one in any given collision of philosophies. And he also comes out in the same speech with gem lines like:
--->'''Kimblee:''' Don't avert your eyes from death. Look forward. Look the people you're killing in the face. And don't forget them. Don't forget. Don't forget. [[http://haven-reader.net/index.php?mode=view&series=Fullmetal+Alchemist&chapter=Chapter+060&page=8&next=true They won't forget you either.]]
--->'''Kimblee:''' (later on [[spoiler:while fighting Alphonse, he questions why Alphonse doesn't simply use the Philosopher's Stone to get his original body back, and following Al's response?]]) I see. So if you can discover an exception to the rule, you can effectively rewrite the laws of nature as we understand them. Is that how it's supposed to go? Because there is another possibility you know... you '''don't''' get get your bodies back and you '''don't''' save everyone. That could certainly happen.
** Pride later gives Edward one during their brief fight. It didn't [[ShutUpHannibal end]] [[CurbStompBattle well]] for Pride though.
** Father deals [[http://video.adultswim.com/fullmetal-alchemist-brotherhood/hohenheims-struggle.html a rather vicious one]] in the RecapEpisode of ''Brotherhood'', which has a healthy dose of MindScrew.
** In the first anime, episode #49, Dante attempts this on Edward by stating that the law of equivalancy is 'a lie meant to comfort the oppressed and make children do their lessons'. She seems very determined to prove her point , even going so far as threatening to kill a helpless infant to demonstrate to him that even the most strenuous efforts (in this case, the infant crying for help) can get you nothing in return.
*** The truly impressive thing about this is that Dante basically takes the idea of EquivalentExchange and deconstructs it, revealing that while impressive and accurate in theory, the law of EquivalentExchange is very flawed, especially when one attempts to apply it outside of Alchemy. While someone may put in everything they've got to achieve something, what they receive will not always be of equal value to what has been given. Ed rejects this view instead of letting it get to him.
** When Ed confronts Tucker on how the latter could [[spoiler: use his own wife and daughter for his chimera experiments]], Tuckers claims it was for [[NotSoDifferent the same reasons that Ed and Al dabbled in human transmutation to resurrect their mother.]]
* Pain from ''{{Naruto}}'' gets in on this and uses it on Naruto. [[spoiler:It works.]]
** Of course, [[spoiler:it didn't convince Naruto to give up, but instead he decides to try and prevent the [[FreudianExcuse conditions]] which causes [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans someone]] [[WellIntentionedExtremist like Pain]] to exist]]. Before that Pain gave one to Tsunade about the big villages not caring if they hurt the smaller ones. She's not convinced and claims that even the big villages suffer. Not to be outdone, [[spoiler:Pain's response was to ''crush'' the village]].
** Let's not forget the one [[ArrogantKungFuGuy Neji]] gives to [[ShrinkingViolet Hinata]] during the chuunin exams, causing her to pretty much have a breakdown on the spot. It took Naruto to snap her out of it. Not that it helped her much, because in the ensuing fight he delivers [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown such a beatdown]] that she almost gets killed.
*** Verbally, Hinata still gets the last word in when she tells Neji that he's the one hopelessly fighting fate and not her.
** Naruto received one from Kabuto back in Part I too. Naruto's response was to [[ShutUpHannibal drive a Rasengan into hisvictim's subconscious stomach]].
** Naruto also receives one of these from [[spoiler:Yami Naruto]] in chapter 493. We don't see the end of it, but it's enough, combined with an inability tofind defeat his opponent in combat, to make Naruto start to seriously doubt his own morality. Naruto seems really vulnerable to these, doesn't he?
*** This particular lecture verges on MindRape due to the fact [[spoiler:that Yami Naruto was a manifestation of all of Naruto's personal insecurities. He'd never had an answer for these doubts before but had ignored them; Yami force Naruto to face them]].
** The Kyuubi attempted this a few times with Naruto in Shippuden, but each time [[spoiler:was interrupted by, in order of appearance, Sasuke, Minato, and finally by Naruto himself, [[ShutUpHannibal who shut it up accordingly]]]].
* AntiHero Saito Hajime from ''RurouniKenshin'' can do this to any villain in sight, (or anyone who just rubs him the wrong way) and he barely has to pause his beatdowns to give his lectures. Watsuki, (the mangaka who created ''Kenshin''), bemoaned the fact that evil characters he created with the intention of being {{Terminator}}-[[ImplacableMan like]] and tough fights for Saito were inevitably broken down into pieces and looked like weaklings after they actually fought Saito.
** The granddaddy of Saito's lectures comes against Usui, where he delivers no less than three during their DuelToTheDeath. The final one is given with a dying Usui is pinned to the wall by Satio's sword and Saito proceeds to give him a classic TheReasonYouSuckSpeech.
** As AntiHero to Kenshin's TheHero, the one that comes closest to being an actual HannibalLecture is his first one, against Kenshin: the Rurouni, past master at TalkingTheMonsterToDeath, starts in on Saitou...and gets ''owned''. [[LetsYouAndHimFight So]] [[TheRival they]] [[DuelToTheDeath duel]].
** He may be a master at it, but he's not above receiving as well: Right before Sano goes to Kyoto, they fight. Again, Saito wins but at the very end of the fight, after Saito call him a chick, he gets something like this:
-->"I may be a chick right now, but I bet you and Kenshin were not that strong in the beginning"
* In ''{{Bleach}}'', during TheReveal, Aizen delivers a several chapter long lecture to Ichigo, completely paralyzing him. Until Komamura attacks Aizen in a rage at his betrayal.
** Aizen's response: cut off Komamura, then continue, until everyone shows up. But by then, he already finished all he said.
** Repeated again during the Fake Karakura Town arc with not one, not two, but several, to the Vizards (making Hiyori [[HalfTheManHeUsedToBe Half The Woman She Used To Be]]) for the entire chapter, several pages long for Ichigo before Komamura pulls a ShutUpHannibal, then giving more lectures to everyone else, especially Hitsugaya, while crossing swords with them (ends when they became so enraged they all fall), then another one to Yamamoto (forcing the old man to sacrifice himself), before CONTINUING his lecture toward Ichigo. Face it, Aizen's Hannibal lecture can only end either when he finishes, or when you get killed while trying to shut him up.
** Aizen's not the only one. In chapter 404, we got ''Gin'' of all people giving Ichigo yet another lecture, including the line, "I thought you were better than that, but you're still a child." Many probably felt that that issue needed to be addressed by now (He's what, 15-16?) Better yet, he then proceeds to attack with [[spoiler: another Shinso power]] before Ichigo can reply.
* In an inversion, it's ''[[TheHero Amuro]]'' giving one to [[BigBad Char]] during the events of CharsCounterattack, waxing on about how philosophers and idealists with plans to change the world become disillusioned when things don't change as quickly as they'd like them to. It, along with [[CurbStompBattle the fight that followed it]] were meant to be the final nails in the rivalry between the two by showing Amuro had surpassed Char in nearly every way.
** Another inversion is in HokutoNoKen, where Fudoh delivers one to Raoh so crushing that it [[VillainDecay destroys his confidence for the rest of the series]]. Also probably the only HannibalLecture that doubles as a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming. Blame Raoh for explicitly telling Fudoh beforehand that he was using Fudoh a tune-up fight so that Raoh could work the fear outexactly what buttons of his system, vaccination-style. Like Fudoh wasn't going to take advantage of that overconfidence?
* ''{{Durarara}}'': Izaya delivers one to Kida in the third arc.
* In chapter 74 of ''SoulEater'' the Envy Chapter of the Book of Eibon delivers a harsh one to [[spoiler: Maka]]. It's enough to reduce her to tears.
* This seems to be a popular tactic among demons in general in ''ChronoCrusade'', but particularly with the BigBad, Aion. Two notable examples are in the manga, when two demons corner Chrono in a dark warehouse and proceed to rattle off a list of his crimes, and in the anime with Aion's first appearance, where hecan push.lectures ''everyone'' as a supernatural fog rolls in.
* [[ArrogantKungFuGuy Chang Wufei]] delivers a long attempt in ''GundamWing: [[TheMovie Endless Waltz]]'', trying to convince [[TheStoic Heero]] that their attempts to bring peace were pointless, as war is simply an ingrained part of human nature. Heero's response is part WorldOfCardboardSpeech ("Believe in the era we live in!") and part ContemplateOurNavels ("How many more people must we kill? How many more times must I kill that girl and her dog?").
** Mao tries this
--->'''Mao''': So that's how you justify it in retrospect? You're nothing but a spoiled brat!
--->'''Lelouch''': ''Mao!'' * activates Geass*
--->'''Mao''': SHIT!
--->'''Lelouch''': '''''[[spoiler:NEVER SPEAK AGAIN!]]'''''
* In ''{{Anime/Monster}}'', this is one of Johan Liebert's specialities. He actually drives people to suicide with it.
* ''[[Anime/{{Persona 4}} Persona 4: The Animation]]'' has quite a few of these. The Shadows do this to their hosts, but Shadow Mitsuo gives one to Yu [[spoiler: inside the LotusEaterMachine]]:
-->'''Shadow Mitsuo:''' You have no bonds. Friendship is an illusion. You are empty.
* ''FullmetalAlchemist'' has #66, [[spoiler:Barry The Chopper]], make 14 year old Alphonse Elric question his own existence with one of these by telling him that Ed might have faked Al's memories and that Alphonse Elric NEVER existed. How he gets out of his funk varies between the versions:
** In the first anime, it takes Alphonse an entire episode which involves a pep talk from Scar and Ed telling what him what he really meant to say to him to snap him out of it.
** In the manga and Brotherhood, it's only after Winry [[WrenchWhack hits Al with a wrench]] and points out that no one would sacrifice an arm for a fake brother that Al figures out that he's the real Al.
** Then we got Envy, master of this. [[spoiler:Until Mustang and Ed [[ShutUpHannibal return]] [[TalkingTheMonsterToDeath the favor]].]]
** And Solf J. Kimblee. He actually delivers a Hannibal Lecture with a rare ''positive'' benefit - during the Ishbalan genocide, both Roy and Riza were telling themselves that they really didn't have any choice but to take part in war crimes. Kimblee utterly shreds those ideas apart ("When you shoot a man, do you not feel even the slightest bit of pride for a job well done?"), forcing them to take responsibility and realize that they're NotSoDifferent. The end result is Roy and Riza plotting to take down the military government to prevent such a genocide from ever happening again.
*** What's interesting is that Kimblee is a very smart psychopath with a flair for messing with people's heads and an apparent gift for considering himself the rational one in any given collision of philosophies. And he also comes out in the same speech with gem lines like:
--->'''Kimblee:''' Don't avert your eyes from death. Look forward. Look the people you're killing in the face. And don't forget them. Don't forget. Don't forget. [[http://haven-reader.net/index.php?mode=view&series=Fullmetal+Alchemist&chapter=Chapter+060&page=8&next=true They won't forget you either.]]
--->'''Kimblee:''' (later on [[spoiler:while fighting Alphonse, he questions why Alphonse doesn't simply use the Philosopher's Stone to get his original body back, and following Al's response?]]) I see. So if you can discover an exception to the rule, you can effectively rewrite the laws of nature as we understand them. Is that how it's supposed to go? Because there is another possibility you know... you '''don't''' get get your bodies back and you '''don't''' save everyone. That could certainly happen.
** Pride later gives Edward one during their brief fight. It didn't [[ShutUpHannibal end]] [[CurbStompBattle well]] for Pride though.
** Father deals [[http://video.adultswim.com/fullmetal-alchemist-brotherhood/hohenheims-struggle.html a rather vicious one]] in the RecapEpisode of ''Brotherhood'', which has a healthy dose of MindScrew.
** In the first anime, episode #49, Dante attempts this on Edward by stating that the law of equivalancy is 'a lie meant to comfort the oppressed and make children do their lessons'. She seems very determined to prove her point , even going so far as threatening to kill a helpless infant to demonstrate to him that even the most strenuous efforts (in this case, the infant crying for help) can get you nothing in return.
*** The truly impressive thing about this is that Dante basically takes the idea of EquivalentExchange and deconstructs it, revealing that while impressive and accurate in theory, the law of EquivalentExchange is very flawed, especially when one attempts to apply it outside of Alchemy. While someone may put in everything they've got to achieve something, what they receive will not always be of equal value to what has been given. Ed rejects this view instead of letting it get to him.
** When Ed confronts Tucker on how the latter could [[spoiler: use his own wife and daughter for his chimera experiments]], Tuckers claims it was for [[NotSoDifferent the same reasons that Ed and Al dabbled in human transmutation to resurrect their mother.]]
* Pain from ''{{Naruto}}'' gets in on this and uses it on Naruto. [[spoiler:It works.]]
** Of course, [[spoiler:it didn't convince Naruto to give up, but instead he decides to try and prevent the [[FreudianExcuse conditions]] which causes [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans someone]] [[WellIntentionedExtremist like Pain]] to exist]]. Before that Pain gave one to Tsunade about the big villages not caring if they hurt the smaller ones. She's not convinced and claims that even the big villages suffer. Not to be outdone, [[spoiler:Pain's response was to ''crush'' the village]].
** Let's not forget the one [[ArrogantKungFuGuy Neji]] gives to [[ShrinkingViolet Hinata]] during the chuunin exams, causing her to pretty much have a breakdown on the spot. It took Naruto to snap her out of it. Not that it helped her much, because in the ensuing fight he delivers [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown such a beatdown]] that she almost gets killed.
*** Verbally, Hinata still gets the last word in when she tells Neji that he's the one hopelessly fighting fate and not her.
** Naruto received one from Kabuto back in Part I too. Naruto's response was to [[ShutUpHannibal drive a Rasengan into his
** Naruto also receives one of these from [[spoiler:Yami Naruto]] in chapter 493. We don't see the end of it, but it's enough, combined with an inability to
*** This particular lecture verges on MindRape due to the fact [[spoiler:that Yami Naruto was a manifestation of all of Naruto's personal insecurities. He'd never had an answer for these doubts before but had ignored them; Yami force Naruto to face them]].
** The Kyuubi attempted this a few times with Naruto in Shippuden, but each time [[spoiler:was interrupted by, in order of appearance, Sasuke, Minato, and finally by Naruto himself, [[ShutUpHannibal who shut it up accordingly]]]].
* AntiHero Saito Hajime from ''RurouniKenshin'' can do this to any villain in sight, (or anyone who just rubs him the wrong way) and he barely has to pause his beatdowns to give his lectures. Watsuki, (the mangaka who created ''Kenshin''), bemoaned the fact that evil characters he created with the intention of being {{Terminator}}-[[ImplacableMan like]] and tough fights for Saito were inevitably broken down into pieces and looked like weaklings after they actually fought Saito.
** The granddaddy of Saito's lectures comes against Usui, where he delivers no less than three during their DuelToTheDeath. The final one is given with a dying Usui is pinned to the wall by Satio's sword and Saito proceeds to give him a classic TheReasonYouSuckSpeech.
** As AntiHero to Kenshin's TheHero, the one that comes closest to being an actual HannibalLecture is his first one, against Kenshin: the Rurouni, past master at TalkingTheMonsterToDeath, starts in on Saitou...and gets ''owned''. [[LetsYouAndHimFight So]] [[TheRival they]] [[DuelToTheDeath duel]].
** He may be a master at it, but he's not above receiving as well: Right before Sano goes to Kyoto, they fight. Again, Saito wins but at the very end of the fight, after Saito call him a chick, he gets something like this:
-->"I may be a chick right now, but I bet you and Kenshin were not that strong in the beginning"
* In ''{{Bleach}}'', during TheReveal, Aizen delivers a several chapter long lecture to Ichigo, completely paralyzing him. Until Komamura attacks Aizen in a rage at his betrayal.
** Aizen's response: cut off Komamura, then continue, until everyone shows up. But by then, he already finished all he said.
** Repeated again during the Fake Karakura Town arc with not one, not two, but several, to the Vizards (making Hiyori [[HalfTheManHeUsedToBe Half The Woman She Used To Be]]) for the entire chapter, several pages long for Ichigo before Komamura pulls a ShutUpHannibal, then giving more lectures to everyone else, especially Hitsugaya, while crossing swords with them (ends when they became so enraged they all fall), then another one to Yamamoto (forcing the old man to sacrifice himself), before CONTINUING his lecture toward Ichigo. Face it, Aizen's Hannibal lecture can only end either when he finishes, or when you get killed while trying to shut him up.
** Aizen's not the only one. In chapter 404, we got ''Gin'' of all people giving Ichigo yet another lecture, including the line, "I thought you were better than that, but you're still a child." Many probably felt that that issue needed to be addressed by now (He's what, 15-16?) Better yet, he then proceeds to attack with [[spoiler: another Shinso power]] before Ichigo can reply.
* In an inversion, it's ''[[TheHero Amuro]]'' giving one to [[BigBad Char]] during the events of CharsCounterattack, waxing on about how philosophers and idealists with plans to change the world become disillusioned when things don't change as quickly as they'd like them to. It, along with [[CurbStompBattle the fight that followed it]] were meant to be the final nails in the rivalry between the two by showing Amuro had surpassed Char in nearly every way.
** Another inversion is in HokutoNoKen, where Fudoh delivers one to Raoh so crushing that it [[VillainDecay destroys his confidence for the rest of the series]]. Also probably the only HannibalLecture that doubles as a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming. Blame Raoh for explicitly telling Fudoh beforehand that he was using Fudoh a tune-up fight so that Raoh could work the fear out
* ''{{Durarara}}'': Izaya delivers one to Kida in the third arc.
* In chapter 74 of ''SoulEater'' the Envy Chapter of the Book of Eibon delivers a harsh one to [[spoiler: Maka]]. It's enough to reduce her to tears.
* This seems to be a popular tactic among demons in general in ''ChronoCrusade'', but particularly with the BigBad, Aion. Two notable examples are in the manga, when two demons corner Chrono in a dark warehouse and proceed to rattle off a list of his crimes, and in the anime with Aion's first appearance, where he
* [[ArrogantKungFuGuy Chang Wufei]] delivers a long attempt in ''GundamWing: [[TheMovie Endless Waltz]]'', trying to convince [[TheStoic Heero]] that their attempts to bring peace were pointless, as war is simply an ingrained part of human nature. Heero's response is part WorldOfCardboardSpeech ("Believe in the era we live in!") and part ContemplateOurNavels ("How many more people must we kill? How many more times must I kill that girl and her dog?").
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* Pretty much every one of {{Batman}}'s enemies has tried the HannibalLecture. As an action hero, he's immune, but some writers have played it as the villain being right. In [[BatmanTheAnimatedSeries the animated series]], TheJoker, master manipulator that he is, convinces a meek psychoanalyst named Harlene Quinzel to go crazy and fall in love with him; she becomes Harley Quinn. During the [[{{Montages}} montage]] {{flashback}} that gives this backstory, they even trade places -- he in the chair, she on the couch -- in several of the analysis scenes.
** In the one shot comic ''Mad Love'' as well as the episode of BatmanTheAnimatedSeries based on it, Batman does this to the Joker, manipulating him into [[spoiler:freeing him from Harley Quinn's otherwise inescapable trap]] then taunting him about [[spoiler:how she'd come closer to killing him than the Joker had ever managed.]]
** Joker also gives Batman one in ''TheKillingJoke,'' in which his plot is to drive Commissioner Gordon insane the same way he was. When Batman shows up to stop him, Joker gives him a long speech about how Batman is just as crazy as Joker is, and how the world is too hopelessly absurd for anyone to stay sane in. Batman powers through it, and, noting that Gordon was not driven mad, says that maybe Joker was the only one who couldn't take it. However, at the end, it becomes clear that Batman finds at least some truth in Joker's notion that they were both insane or, at least, absurd beings.
** Neatly subverted in Brian Azzarello's ''{{Joker}}'' graphic novel, in which the Joker tries this on Batman - only to have Batman not only demolish it, but turn it into a devastating taunt right back ''with just three words'':
--->'''Joker''': Uhh, God you disgust me. You have no charm at all, just... obviousness. Dumb, dull. Disappointing. Obvious. Shame on you. Obvious... and everybody knows. You wear your shame like a badge, because you don't have the balls to actually pin one on. Yes, just look at you. Desperate to be feared, you want to be perceived as a monster, dressed in black. And yet... you leave that little window. A glimpse at the perfection underneath. Obvious - the chiseled good looks, not the jaw, the mouth of a monster... ''why'' do you let it be seen? Tell me ''why''.\\
'''Batman''': [[spoiler: To ''mock'' you.]]
* In the "Elseworlds" (out-of-continuity) comic from DC, ''SupermanRedSon'', where Superman's pod landed in the Soviet Union instead of the United States, Lex Luthor does this to Superman [[MagnificentBastard with one sentence. Written down. And tucked into Lois Luthor (nee Lane)'s coat pocket]]. Stalingrad, which was shrunk and put in a "bottle" instead of Kandor, haunts Superman. Luthor, the president of the US, [[spoiler:takes advantage of this fact by questioning Superman's "perfect" totalitarian rule of most of Earth, with the single written sentence, "Why don't you just put the whole world in a bottle, Superman?" He has Lois put the note in her pocket and, when his [[XanatosRoulette plan finally spurs Superman to come to the White House personally]], she is to ask Superman to use his X-ray vision to read the note.]] Superman very nearly breaks down in despair.
* A recent issue of ''Comicbook/{{Superman}}'' features a supervillain, Atlas, attempting to deliver such a lecture to ''Krypto the Superdog'', after having delivered an almighty smackdown to Superman and caused him to temporarily withdraw, leaving Krypto the only one left to make a stand. Unfortunately for Atlas it doesn't work, for the same reason that it probably wouldn't work if you tried to verbally undermine a dog's sense of self-confidence with a HannibalLecture in real life.
* In ''Eternals'' (or at least the NeilGaiman revival), there is a character whose power is the ability to know just what to say to make a certain person break. When he first discovers this power, he manages to make a cop attempting to keep him in an embassy for questioning pass out with just a few words.
-->'''Druig:''' Yes. Tell me, is it the '''SLIME''' of the tentacles that upsets you, or the way they twine bonelessly, the faceless snaking of them... Does it remind you of the way your brother forced a rubber toy into your infant mouth, '''CHOKING''' you, the wet, the...
-->'''Lady Cop:''' * faints*
-->'''Druig:''' ''Interesting.''
* More than one villain has tried this on ThePunisher. Emphasis on ''[[ShutUpHannibal tried]]''.
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* Archer in the visual novel FateStayNight ''hammers'' Shirou. And considering [[spoiler: Archer IS Shirou from the future]], he knows ''exactly'' how to reduce him to complete HeroicBSOD.
---> "You need to become a hero. That is your only emotion, and it's not even your own. You knew. Yes, but you kept that from yourself. I remember, it's not that you felt [[SurvivorGuilt guilty]] for being the SoleSurvivor. You just admired your Kiritsugu; he looked so happy when he saved you. But you went too far. It would have been fine to admire him. But he left you a curse. I don't even need to say it. That is everything for you. Your ideal is borrowed. You are only imitating what Kiritsugu wanted, what Kiritsugu thought was right. A superhero? Don't make me laugh. Over and over you said you wished to help people, but that's not even your wish. It's conceited to think you could help anyone! That's right! You admired his desire to save people because it was beautiful! But none of that feeling was your own! What else can you call that but hypocrisy!? Driven by your need to help someone, you don't notice how wrong you are! But it's all fake. You can't save anything. You don't even know what you wanted to save in the first place! That ideal is a failure. It's all fantasy. If you can only live holding on to that, drown in your ideals."
---> [[ShutUpHannibal "....Shut up."]]
** The worst part about Archer's speech is that, unlike the modified version above, halfway through it [[spoiler: he starts to talk about himself, using "I" instead of "you."]]
---> "You need to become a hero. That is your only emotion, and it's not even your own. You knew. Yes, but you kept that from yourself. I remember, it's not that you felt [[SurvivorGuilt guilty]] for being the SoleSurvivor. You just admired your Kiritsugu; he looked so happy when he saved you. But you went too far. It would have been fine to admire him. But he left you a curse. I don't even need to say it. That is everything for you. Your ideal is borrowed. You are only imitating what Kiritsugu wanted, what Kiritsugu thought was right. A superhero? Don't make me laugh. Over and over you said you wished to help people, but that's not even your wish. It's conceited to think you could help anyone! That's right! You admired his desire to save people because it was beautiful! But none of that feeling was your own! What else can you call that but hypocrisy!? Driven by your need to help someone, you don't notice how wrong you are! But it's all fake. You can't save anything. You don't even know what you wanted to save in the first place! That ideal is a failure. It's all fantasy. If you can only live holding on to that, drown in your ideals."
---> [[ShutUpHannibal "....Shut up."]]
** The worst part about Archer's speech is that, unlike the modified version above, halfway through it [[spoiler: he starts to talk about himself, using "I" instead of "you."]]
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* Slade from WesternAnimation/TeenTitans is a master at this trope. Especially when Robin is the victim.
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* Slade from WesternAnimation/TeenTitans ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' is a master at this trope. Especially when Robin is the victim.
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*Slade from WesternAnimation/TeenTitans is a master at this trope. Especially when Robin is the victim.
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This is often achieved by something similar to TheReasonYouSuckSpeech, telling the other character how pathetic they are or perhaps how guilty of something terrible, perhaps NotSoDifferent from someone unpalatable, but there are other ways of breaking someone down by talking. You could for example instead deconstruct the world, other characters, or their relationship with the victim. The important part is that they can't deny your words, at least not in the heat of the moment, and you gain a psychological advantage over them. Results when successful range from the mere chance of getting to smirk in a satisfied way for rattling someone in an otherwise superior position; to bringing about a BreakTheCutie, HeroicBSOD, VillainousBreakDown or even FaceHeelTurn or MoreThanMindControl situation. The most extreme form would be MindRape by just talking, but be wary of automatically calling ''every'' instance of Breaking Them by Talking that.
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This is often achieved by something similar to a kind of TheReasonYouSuckSpeech, telling the other character how pathetic they are or perhaps how guilty of something terrible, perhaps NotSoDifferent from someone unpalatable, but there are other ways of breaking someone down by talking. You could for example instead deconstruct the world, other characters, or their relationship with the victim. The important part is that they can't deny your words, at least not in the heat of the moment, and you gain a psychological advantage over them. Results when successful range from the mere chance of getting to smirk in a satisfied way for rattling someone in an otherwise superior position; to bringing about a BreakTheCutie, HeroicBSOD, VillainousBreakDown or even FaceHeelTurn or MoreThanMindControl situation. The most extreme form would be MindRape by just talking, but be wary of automatically calling ''every'' instance of Breaking Them by Talking that.
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Changed line(s) 5,6 (click to see context) from:
This is often achieved by a kind of TheReasonYouSuckSpeech, telling the other character how pathetic they are or perhaps how guilty of something terrible, perhaps NotSoDifferent from someone unpalatable, but there are other ways of breaking someone down by talking. You could for example instead deconstruct the world, other characters, or their relationship with the victim. The important part is that they can't deny your words, at least not in the heat of the moment, and you gain a psychological advantage over them. Results when successful range from the mere chance of getting to smirk in a satisfied way for rattling someone in an otherwise superior position; to bringing about a BreakTheCutie, HeroicBSOD, VillainousBreakDown or even FaceHeelTurn or MoreThanMindControl situation. The most extreme form would be MindRape by just talking, but be wary of automatically calling ''every'' instance of Breaking Them by Talking that.
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This is often achieved by a kind of something similar to TheReasonYouSuckSpeech, telling the other character how pathetic they are or perhaps how guilty of something terrible, perhaps NotSoDifferent from someone unpalatable, but there are other ways of breaking someone down by talking. You could for example instead deconstruct the world, other characters, or their relationship with the victim. The important part is that they can't deny your words, at least not in the heat of the moment, and you gain a psychological advantage over them. Results when successful range from the mere chance of getting to smirk in a satisfied way for rattling someone in an otherwise superior position; to bringing about a BreakTheCutie, HeroicBSOD, VillainousBreakDown or even FaceHeelTurn or MoreThanMindControl situation. The most extreme form would be MindRape by just talking, but be wary of automatically calling ''every'' instance of Breaking Them by Talking that.
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* ''KungFuPanda2'': Lord Shen, when Po confronts him in the foundry and demands to know what he knows about his past. Shen uses short hurtful claims in the lines of "You parents abandoned you" to distract Po and gain the upper hand between attacks.
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* ''KungFuPanda2'': ''Film/KungFuPanda2'': Lord Shen, when Po confronts him in the foundry and demands to know what he knows about his past. Shen uses short hurtful claims in the lines of "You parents abandoned you" to distract Po and gain the upper hand between attacks.
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* Mao of ''CodeGeass'' can use his mind-reading powers to pull this off, looking into his victim's subconscious to find out exactly what buttons he can push.
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The professor had worked with the CIA in developing a test that tested pilots' wills, preventing them from possibly being brainwashed if captured. He decided to "fine tune" his technique using students as test subjects, but really the guy was a sadist who got off on this sort of thing. WNYC's Radio Lab covered this story in one of their pieces titled "Oops", you can hear it [[http://www.wnyc.org/flashplayer/player.html#/play/%2Fstream%2Fxspf%2F155556 here starting at 4:20]].
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The professor had worked with the CIA in developing a test that tested pilots' wills, preventing them from possibly being brainwashed if captured. He decided to "fine tune" his technique using students as test subjects, but really the guy was a sadist who got off on this sort of thing. WNYC's Radio Lab covered this story in one of their pieces titled "Oops", "Oops"; you can hear it [[http://www.wnyc.org/flashplayer/player.html#/play/%2Fstream%2Fxspf%2F155556 here starting at 4:20]].
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* In ''Webcomic/{{xkcd}}'', during the first meeting of Black Hat Guy and his girlfriend. [[http://xkcd.com/374/ Here]] and [[http://xkcd.com/377/ here.]]
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* In ''Webcomic/{{xkcd}}'', during ''Webcomic/{{xkcd}}'':
** During the first meeting of Black Hat Guy and his girlfriend. [[http://xkcd.com/374/ Here]] and [[http://xkcd.com/377/ here.]]
** And [[http://xkcd.com/1027/ later]], by the same character, when someone tries "negging: you belittle chicks to undermine their self-confidence so they'll be more vulnerable and seek your approval" on her. [[AltText Son, don't try to play 'make you feel bad' with the Michael Jordan of making you feel bad.]]
** During the first meeting of Black Hat Guy and his girlfriend. [[http://xkcd.com/374/ Here]] and [[http://xkcd.com/377/ here.]]
** And [[http://xkcd.com/1027/ later]], by the same character, when someone tries "negging: you belittle chicks to undermine their self-confidence so they'll be more vulnerable and seek your approval" on her. [[AltText Son, don't try to play 'make you feel bad' with the Michael Jordan of making you feel bad.]]
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[[/folder]]
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----
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* ''KungFuPanda2'': Lord Shen, when Po confronts him in the foundry and demands to know what he knows about his past. Shen uses short hurtful claims in the lines of "You parents abandoned you." to distract Po and gain the upper hand before attacking.
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* ''KungFuPanda2'': Lord Shen, when Po confronts him in the foundry and demands to know what he knows about his past. Shen uses short hurtful claims in the lines of "You parents abandoned you." you" to distract Po and gain the upper hand before attacking.between attacks.
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* ''KungFuPanda2'': Lord Shen, when Po confronts him in the foundry and demands to know what he knows about his past. Shen uses short hurtful claims in the lines of "You parents abandoned you." to distract Po and gain the upper hand before attacking.
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* Fate, TheWoobie of ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'', received one of these from [[BigBad Jail Scaglietti]] of ''{{StrikerS}}'', who mentioned how [[ActionMom her adopting children]] that became ChildSoldiers that love her made her no different from [[MadScientist Jail himself]] or from her EvilMatriarch of a mother. Thankfully, [[YouAreNotAlone her children snapped her out of it by declaring how they're the ones who chose their path and that all Fate did was raise them to be strong-willed enough to do so]]. [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Fate proceeds to kick ass all over Jail and his Numbers]]. [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome To the tune of Nana Mizuki's "Pray," no less]].
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* Fate, TheWoobie of ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'', received one of these from [[BigBad Jail Scaglietti]] of ''{{StrikerS}}'', ''{{Anime/StrikerS}}'', who mentioned how [[ActionMom her adopting children]] that became ChildSoldiers that love her made her no different from [[MadScientist Jail himself]] or from her EvilMatriarch of a mother. Thankfully, [[YouAreNotAlone her children snapped her out of it by declaring how they're the ones who chose their path and that all Fate did was raise them to be strong-willed enough to do so]]. [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Fate proceeds to kick ass all over Jail and his Numbers]]. [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome To the tune of Nana Mizuki's "Pray," no less]].
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* Fate, TheWoobie of ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'', received one of this from [[BigBad Jail Scaglietti]], who mentioned how [[ActionMom her adopting children]] that became ChildSoldiers that love her made her no different from [[MadScientist Jail himself]] or from her EvilMatriarch of a mother. Thankfully, [[YouAreNotAlone her children snapped her out of it by declaring how they're the ones who chose their path and that all Fate did was raise them to be strong-willed enough to do so]]. [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Fate proceeds to kick ass all over Jail and his Numbers]]. [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome To the tune of Nana Mizuki's "Pray," no less]].
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* Fate, TheWoobie of ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'', received one of this these from [[BigBad Jail Scaglietti]], Scaglietti]] of ''{{StrikerS}}'', who mentioned how [[ActionMom her adopting children]] that became ChildSoldiers that love her made her no different from [[MadScientist Jail himself]] or from her EvilMatriarch of a mother. Thankfully, [[YouAreNotAlone her children snapped her out of it by declaring how they're the ones who chose their path and that all Fate did was raise them to be strong-willed enough to do so]]. [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Fate proceeds to kick ass all over Jail and his Numbers]]. [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome To the tune of Nana Mizuki's "Pray," no less]].
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* Fate, TheWoobie of ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'', received one of this from [[BigBad Jail Scaglietti]], who mentioned how [[ActionMom her adopting children]] that became ChildSoldiers that love her made her no different from [[MadScientist Jail himself]] or from her EvilMatriarch of a mother. Thankfully, [[YouAreNotAlone her children snapped her out of it by declaring how they're the ones who chose their path and that all Fate did was raise them to be strong-willed enough to do so]]. [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Fate proceeds to kick ass all over Jail and his Numbers]]. [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome To the tune of Nana Mizuki's "Pray," no less]].
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-->'''Mal''': "[[ShutUpHannibal Aw, hell. I'm a fan of all seven]]. [''headbutt''] [[PreAsskickingOneLiner But right now, I'm gonna have to go with wrath!]]"
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-->'''Mal''': "[[ShutUpHannibal Aw, hell. I'm a fan of all seven]]. " [''headbutt''] [[PreAsskickingOneLiner "[[PreAsskickingOneLiner But right now, I'm gonna have to go with wrath!]]"
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-->'''Goku:''' Your power level is decreasing with every blow. You're not even a challenge to me anymore. It wouldn't be fair for me to keep fighting you. I'm satisfied now. Your pride has been torn to shreds. You've challenged and lost to a fighter who is superior to you...and to make it worse, [[IronicEcho "he was just a monkey", right?]]
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-->'''Goku:''' Your power level is decreasing with every blow. You're not even a challenge to me anymore. It wouldn't be fair for me to keep fighting you. I'm satisfied now. Your pride has been torn to shreds. You've challenged and lost to a fighter who is superior to you...and to make it worse, [[IronicEcho "he was just a monkey", monkey," right?]]
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-->'''Goku:''' It would be meaningless to fight you now; you're too scared and ashamed. Live with the shock. Keep it bottled up inside of you...silently.
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-->'''Goku:''' It would be meaningless to fight you now; you're too scared and ashamed. [[CruelMercy Live with the shock. Keep it bottled up inside of you...silently.]]
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* ''TheDarkKnight'': Besides of delivering some {{Hannibal Lecture}}s, TheJoker also makes a nihilistic speech to the scarred, disillusioned and currently helpless Harvey Dent about how chaotic the world is that convinces Dent to do a FaceHeelTurn.
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* ''TheDarkKnight'': Besides of delivering some {{Hannibal Lecture}}s, TheJoker also makes a nihilistic speech to the scarred, disillusioned and currently helpless Harvey Dent about how chaotic the world is that convinces Dent to do a FaceHeelTurn.FaceHeelTurn and become [[spoiler:Two-Face]].
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** He delivers another one in the third movie as he watches Neo struggling to get back up after a royal thrashing - except Neo is barely listening to him and it just shows how ''Smith's'' mental state is crumbling.
-->'''Smith''': Why, Mr. Anderson? Why, why? Why do it? Why, why get up? Why keep fighting? Do you believe you're fighting for something, for more than your survival? Can you tell me what it is? Do you even know? Is it freedom, or truth, perhaps peace, could it be for love? Illusions, Mr. Anderson, vagaries of perception! Temporary constructs of a feeble human intellect trying desperately to justify an existence without meaning or purpose! And all of it as artificial as the Matrix itself! Although, only a human mind could invent something as insipid as love! You must see it, Mr. Anderson, you must know it by now; you can't win, it's pointless to keep fighting! [[EvilCannotComprehendGood Why, Mr. Anderson, why, why do you persist?]]
-->'''Smith''': Why, Mr. Anderson? Why, why? Why do it? Why, why get up? Why keep fighting? Do you believe you're fighting for something, for more than your survival? Can you tell me what it is? Do you even know? Is it freedom, or truth, perhaps peace, could it be for love? Illusions, Mr. Anderson, vagaries of perception! Temporary constructs of a feeble human intellect trying desperately to justify an existence without meaning or purpose! And all of it as artificial as the Matrix itself! Although, only a human mind could invent something as insipid as love! You must see it, Mr. Anderson, you must know it by now; you can't win, it's pointless to keep fighting! [[EvilCannotComprehendGood Why, Mr. Anderson, why, why do you persist?]]
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** He delivers another one in the third movie as he watches Neo struggling to get back up after a royal thrashing - except Neo is barely listening to him and it just shows how ''Smith's'' mental state [[VillainousBreakdown is crumbling.
crumbling]].
-->'''Smith''': Why, Mr. Anderson? Why, why? Why do it? Why, why get up? Why keep fighting? Do you believe you're fighting for something, for more than your survival? Can you tell me what it is? Do you even know? Is it freedom, or truth, perhaps peace, could it be for love? Illusions, Mr. Anderson, vagaries of perception! Temporary constructs of a feeble human intellect trying desperately to justify an existence without meaning or purpose! And all of it as artificial as the Matrix itself! Although, only a human mind could invent something as insipid as love! You must see it, Mr. Anderson, you must know it by now; you can't win, it's pointless to keep fighting! [[EvilCannotComprehendGood Why, Mr. Anderson,why, why why? Why do you persist?]]persist?!]]
-->'''Smith''': Why, Mr. Anderson? Why, why? Why do it? Why, why get up? Why keep fighting? Do you believe you're fighting for something, for more than your survival? Can you tell me what it is? Do you even know? Is it freedom, or truth, perhaps peace, could it be for love? Illusions, Mr. Anderson, vagaries of perception! Temporary constructs of a feeble human intellect trying desperately to justify an existence without meaning or purpose! And all of it as artificial as the Matrix itself! Although, only a human mind could invent something as insipid as love! You must see it, Mr. Anderson, you must know it by now; you can't win, it's pointless to keep fighting! [[EvilCannotComprehendGood Why, Mr. Anderson,
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-->'''Mal''': "[[ShutUpHannibal Aw, hell. I'm a fan of all seven]]"
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-->'''Mal''': "[[ShutUpHannibal Aw, hell. I'm a fan of all seven]]"seven]]. [''headbutt''] [[PreAsskickingOneLiner But right now, I'm gonna have to go with wrath!]]"
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* ShawnMichaels was a regular recipient of these speeches, particularly in the later parts of his career once he turned perma-face, but he usually interrupted them with [[ShutUpHannibal Sweet Chin Music]]. Occasionally, after knocking his lecturer out cold, he'd deliver his own over their unconscious (or at last stunned) body. He was particularly fond of doing this to ChrisJericho.\\
\\
Back in his heel days, he used to hand them out himself like party favors. Even as a face, he'd break them out occasionally, and he's the one guy pretty much ever who could get away with throwing them at TheUndertaker.
\\
Back in his heel days, he used to hand them out himself like party favors. Even as a face, he'd break them out occasionally, and he's the one guy pretty much ever who could get away with throwing them at TheUndertaker.
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* ShawnMichaels was a regular recipient of these speeches, particularly in the later parts of his career once he turned perma-face, but he usually interrupted them with [[ShutUpHannibal Sweet Chin Music]]. Occasionally, after knocking his lecturer out cold, he'd deliver his own over their unconscious (or at last stunned) body. He was particularly fond of doing this to ChrisJericho.\\
\\
ChrisJericho.
** Back in his heel days, he used to hand them out himself like party favors. Even as a face, he'd break them out occasionally, and he's the one guy pretty much ever who could get away with throwing them at TheUndertaker.
\\
** Back in his heel days, he used to hand them out himself like party favors. Even as a face, he'd break them out occasionally, and he's the one guy pretty much ever who could get away with throwing them at TheUndertaker.
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ymmv can not have examples, only their subitems can
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** Neo responds with a ShutUpHannibal that is either [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome brilliant]] or idiotic, [[YourMileageMayVary depending on the viewer.]]
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** Neo responds with a ShutUpHannibal that is either [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome brilliant]] or idiotic, [[YourMileageMayVary depending on the viewer.]]ShutUpHannibal.
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* Before the final battle in ''NeverwinterNights: Hordes of the Underdark'', BigBad [[spoiler: Mephistopheles]] does this to [[spoiler: each of your party members in turn]], turning them to his side unless you can be even more persuasive.
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* Before the final battle in ''NeverwinterNights: Hordes of the Underdark'', BigBad [[spoiler: Mephistopheles]] does this to [[spoiler: each of your party members in turn]], turning them to his side unless you can be even more persuasive.talk them back out of it.
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* Before the final battle in ''NeverwinterNights: Shadows of the Underdark'', BigBad [[spoiler: Mephistopheles]] does this to [[spoiler: each of your party members in turn]], turning them to his side unless you can be even more persuasive.
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* Before the final battle in ''NeverwinterNights: Shadows Hordes of the Underdark'', BigBad [[spoiler: Mephistopheles]] does this to [[spoiler: each of your party members in turn]], turning them to his side unless you can be even more persuasive.
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* Before the final battle in ''NeverwinterNights: Shadows of the Underdark'', BigBad [[spoiler: Mephistopheles]] does this to [[spoiler: each of your party members in turn]], turning them to his side unless you can be even more persuasive.
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* ''MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': In "The Return of Harmony", the especially vicious FauxAffablyEvil villain Discord corrupts each of the main ponies to keep them from using the Elements of Harmony that they represent against him. Ultimately he just brainwashes each of them with magic (aside from Twilight Sparkle), but he also takes the trouble to break each down before that, usually by talking. In Applejack's case, he manipulates her to doubt the value of honesty (her element) by showing her a terrible "[[SelfFulfillingProphecy truth]]" that she can't accept, before turning her into a liar. For Pinkie Pie (laughter), he makes her think her friends laugh ''at'' her all the time, before turning her unhappy and hostile. Fluttershy (kindness) is the only one on whom his speech doesn't work, because she's too trusting, and accepting of her own flaws... So he just zaps her into being cruel anyway.
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* ''MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': In "The Return of Harmony", the especially vicious FauxAffablyEvil villain Discord corrupts each of the main ponies to keep them from using the Elements of Harmony that they represent against him. Ultimately he just brainwashes each of them with magic (aside from Twilight Sparkle), but he also takes the trouble to break each down before that, usually by talking. In Applejack's case, he manipulates her to doubt the value of honesty (her element) by showing her a terrible "[[SelfFulfillingProphecy truth]]" that she can't accept, before turning her into a liar. For Pinkie Pie (laughter), he makes her think her friends laugh ''at'' her all the time, before turning her unhappy and hostile. Fluttershy (kindness) is the only one on whom his speech doesn't work, because she's too trusting, and accepting of her own flaws... So he just zaps her into being cruel anyway.
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* A [[HeroicSociopath "good"]] version appears in ''[[http://www.darthsanddroids.net/episodes/0192.html Darths and Droids]]'', though it is used by one protagonist convincing another to [[WhyDontYaJustShootHim destroy the Trade Federation ship]].
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* A [[HeroicSociopath "good"]] version appears in ''[[http://www.darthsanddroids.net/episodes/0192.html Darths and Droids]]'', this]]'' ''Webcomic/DarthsAndDroids'', though it is used by one protagonist convincing another to [[WhyDontYaJustShootHim destroy the Trade Federation ship]].
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* ''SluggyFreelance'':
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* ''SluggyFreelance'':''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'':
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* In ''{{xkcd}}'', during the first meeting of Black Hat Guy and his girlfriend. [[http://xkcd.com/374/ Here]] and [[http://xkcd.com/377/ here.]]
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* In ''{{xkcd}}'', ''Webcomic/{{xkcd}}'', during the first meeting of Black Hat Guy and his girlfriend. [[http://xkcd.com/374/ Here]] and [[http://xkcd.com/377/ here.]]
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* On the (very) few occasions when the Dark Powers of {{Ravenloft}} have apparently communicated directly to anyone, it's been to do this to a potential darklord, delivered in familiar voices. Strahd heard the voices of Tatyana and Sergei taunting him, while Azalin heard the voices of his son and his mentor in wizardry.
* ''{{The World of Darkness}}'' sourcebook ''Slasher'' (which deals with [[SlasherMovies exactly what you think it does]]) has this as a talent of the Genius Undertaking and its natural progression, the Maniac. The Genius has the ability to instinctively profile anyone and learn what facts they'd ''hate'' to have revealed. The Maniac uses this knowledge to ''always'' have advantage over a certain target, and, with time, to convert the target to his point of view (a la [[{{Saw}} Jigsaw]]).
* ''{{The World of Darkness}}'' sourcebook ''Slasher'' (which deals with [[SlasherMovies exactly what you think it does]]) has this as a talent of the Genius Undertaking and its natural progression, the Maniac. The Genius has the ability to instinctively profile anyone and learn what facts they'd ''hate'' to have revealed. The Maniac uses this knowledge to ''always'' have advantage over a certain target, and, with time, to convert the target to his point of view (a la [[{{Saw}} Jigsaw]]).
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* On the (very) few occasions when the Dark Powers of {{Ravenloft}} TabletopGame/{{Ravenloft}} have apparently communicated directly to anyone, it's been to do this to a potential darklord, delivered in familiar voices. Strahd heard the voices of Tatyana and Sergei taunting him, while Azalin heard the voices of his son and his mentor in wizardry.
*''{{The ''TabletopGame/{{New World of Darkness}}'' sourcebook ''Slasher'' (which deals with [[SlasherMovies exactly what you think it does]]) has this as a talent of the Genius Undertaking and its natural progression, the Maniac. The Genius has the ability to instinctively profile anyone and learn what facts they'd ''hate'' to have revealed. The Maniac uses this knowledge to ''always'' have advantage over a certain target, and, with time, to convert the target to his point of view (a la [[{{Saw}} Jigsaw]]).
*
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* ''Flim/TheDarkKnight'': Besides of delivering some {{Hannibal Lecture}}s, TheJoker also makes a nihilistic speech to the scarred, disillusioned and currently helpless Harvey Dent about how chaotic the world is that convinces Dent to do a FaceHeelTurn.
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* ''Flim/TheDarkKnight'': ''TheDarkKnight'': Besides of delivering some {{Hannibal Lecture}}s, TheJoker also makes a nihilistic speech to the scarred, disillusioned and currently helpless Harvey Dent about how chaotic the world is that convinces Dent to do a FaceHeelTurn.
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* ''Flim/TheDarkKnight'': Besides of delivering some {{Hannibal Lecture}}s, TheJoker also makes a nihilistic speech to the scarred, disillusioned and currently helpless Harvey Dent about how chaotic the world is that convinces Dent to do a FaceHeelTurn.
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Changed line(s) 93 (click to see context) from:
-->[[spoiler:'''Right-Eye:''']] Wait...that's it, isn't it? It's all about whose fault it is... If I kill Xykon now, then it was all a waste. You ordered goblins to their deaths believing in the Plan- so if we abandon it now, then you were wrong. You let them die for nothing. You're willing to throw good lives after bad so that you don't have to admit that we were wrong to work with Xykon in the first place, much less help him cheat death.
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-->[[spoiler:'''Right-Eye:''']] Wait...that's it, isn't it? It's all about whose fault it is... If I kill Xykon now, then it was all a waste. You ordered goblins to their deaths believing in the Plan- so if we abandon it now, then you were wrong. You let them die for nothing. You're willing to [[SunkCostFallacy throw good lives after bad bad]] so that you don't have to admit that we were wrong to work with Xykon in the first place, much less help him cheat death.
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When one character gives a talk to another that does or is meant to somehow break down the recipient or gain a psychological advantage over them by claiming uncomfortable things that they can't deny.
Obviously, this is easier to pull off from a relative position of power, such as when you have just defeated someone, or when [[PerpSweating interrogating a prisoner]]. But it goes both ways, and it's even more impressive when someone manages to turn the tables on someone who was in a superior position. When this is done by one being interrogated, and only then, it's the HannibalLecture. Naturally, in between these cases there is the one where both parties start out on an equal footing.
This is often achieved by a kind of TheReasonYouSuckSpeech, telling the other character how pathetic they are or perhaps how guilty of something terrible, perhaps NotSoDifferent from someone unpalatable, but there are other ways of breaking someone down by talking. You could for example instead deconstruct the world, other characters, or their relationship with the victim. The important part is that they can't deny your words, at least not in the heat of the moment, and you gain a psychological advantage over them. Results when successful range from the mere chance of getting to smirk in a satisfied way for rattling someone in an otherwise superior position; to bringing about a BreakTheCutie, HeroicBSOD, VillainousBreakDown or even FaceHeelTurn or MoreThanMindControl situation. The most extreme form would be MindRape by just talking, but be wary of automatically calling ''every'' instance of Breaking Them by Talking that.
As stated above, there is frequent overlap with TheReasonYouSuckSpeech, but the concepts are not the same. TheReasonYouSuckSpeech is about what you say, this is about what you do by saying it. You can tell someone they suck without breaking them down or even intending to do so, particularly if you're just annoyed, and you can break someone down without telling them why they suck.
The distilled version of this is the ArmorPiercingQuestion. If the declarations used as a weapon come from simple clues, this is a form of SherlockScan. Can be done as part of EvilGloating. ShutUpHannibal is a way of countering this trope. The opposite effect is done by a WorldOfCardboardSpeech, when the hero tells about ''his own'' flaws and how they don't matter now. The reverse or "good counterpart" is the KirkSummation or TalkingTheMonsterToDeath. HannibalLecture is a specific subtrope.
See also: ToThePain, TalkingYourWayOut, JustBetweenYouAndMe, AndThenWhat, VerbalJudo.
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!!Examples:
[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* In ''DragonBallZ'', Goku of all people manages to do this to [[CompleteMonster Frieza]] during their battle on Namek. After having ascended to the level of a Super Saiyan and smacking around the now fully-powered Big Bad, he abruptly decides that their battle is done. When a shocked Frieza demands to know what he means by that, Goku's response makes the killer of the Saiyan race and former #1 fighter in the universe (at least at the time) go through a mini-breakdown:
-->'''Goku:''' Your power level is decreasing with every blow. You're not even a challenge to me anymore. It wouldn't be fair for me to keep fighting you. I'm satisfied now. Your pride has been torn to shreds. You've challenged and lost to a fighter who is superior to you...and to make it worse, [[IronicEcho "he was just a monkey", right?]]
-->* Frieza is seething in anger, shocked and enraged at Goku's words*
-->'''Goku:''' It would be meaningless to fight you now; you're too scared and ashamed. Live with the shock. Keep it bottled up inside of you...silently.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:ComicBooks]]
* The Marvel Comics character Karnak has refined his powers to the point where he can do this. At first his power was just sensing the weak point in objects so he (or his stronger ally Gorgon) can smash it. Now he find personality flaws and verbally destroy an opponent.
* Emma Frost of the ''{{Comicbook/X-Men}}'' is incredibly good at this. A great example of this can be found when after finding Kimura sneaking around the X-Mansion getting ready to kill X-23, Emma goes up to her and says...
-->'''Emma:''' Do you ever wonder why you take such pleasure from abusing a little girl who can't hurt you, let alone defeat you? No, I thought not. You'll notice that you cannot move. I've shut down all your motor control so you can listen while I ''enlighten'' you. You are a bully, plain and simple. A product of your past. Being kicked around your whole life by an alcoholic father and an uncaring mother at home, only to find the same waiting for you from your peers in the schoolyard, day in and day out. You were born into a life you did not deserve... a life no child deserves... Someone needs to fill the role of victim and you played that part for so many... until your grandmother came to your rescue. But sadly she came too late. All the hope and good you held onto was beaten out of you long ago. After your grandmother's heart attack, you found your way to the Facility to the men that could give you what you wanted so badly... Revenge. A hollow prize, but one you begged for and once you'd gotten the best of those who wronged you, you became the very person you hated and feared growing up. And X-23 played the role of your victim. Like you, Laura didn't deserve that horrible life. No child does, remember? But you didn't care. Even though you know all too well the pain she suffered, you enjoyed inflicting it. You still enjoy it. That's why you're a bully.
-->'''Kimura:''' Why are you telling me this?
-->'''Emma:''' Because today you go back to being the victim. [[MindRape It's a shame that the people that perfected your body didn't do enough to safeguard your mind...]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Film]]
* ''{{Collateral}}'' is basically one long speech like this by assassin Vincent to his hostage Max [[spoiler:which backfires epically towards the end]].
* RichardNixon attempts to do this to his interviewer in ''[[FrostNixon Frost/Nixon]]'' with a late night phone call, but as his drunken ramblings progress, all his NotSoDifferent lines only end up revealing how broken and full of self-loathing he is. Frost doesn't even need to say ShutUpHannibal -- he now knows that all he needs to do is corner Nixon and the man will destroy himself.
* Agent Smith ''TheMatrix'' films.
** His speech to Morpheus in the first movie is the most memorable:
-->'''Smith''': I'd like to share a revelation during my time here. It came to me when I tried to classify your species. I realized that you're not actually mammals. Every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with the surrounding environment but you humans do not. You move to an area and you multiply and multiply until every natural resource is consumed. The only way you can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. Do you know what it is? A virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet. You are a plague, and we are the cure.
** He delivers another one in the third movie as he watches Neo struggling to get back up after a royal thrashing - except Neo is barely listening to him and it just shows how ''Smith's'' mental state is crumbling.
-->'''Smith''': Why, Mr. Anderson? Why, why? Why do it? Why, why get up? Why keep fighting? Do you believe you're fighting for something, for more than your survival? Can you tell me what it is? Do you even know? Is it freedom, or truth, perhaps peace, could it be for love? Illusions, Mr. Anderson, vagaries of perception! Temporary constructs of a feeble human intellect trying desperately to justify an existence without meaning or purpose! And all of it as artificial as the Matrix itself! Although, only a human mind could invent something as insipid as love! You must see it, Mr. Anderson, you must know it by now; you can't win, it's pointless to keep fighting! [[EvilCannotComprehendGood Why, Mr. Anderson, why, why do you persist?]]
** Neo responds with a ShutUpHannibal that is either [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome brilliant]] or idiotic, [[YourMileageMayVary depending on the viewer.]]
-->'''Neo''': Because I choose to.
* In ''Film/{{Serenity}}'' (the ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' film), The Operative likes to do this to people he is about to kill, crossing it with TheReasonYouSuckSpeech by explaining to people what their 'sin' is. This goes poorly when he tries it on [[[TheDeterminator Mal Reynolds]]
-->'''Operative''': "Do you know what your sin is, Malcolm Reynolds?"
-->'''Mal''': "[[ShutUpHannibal Aw, hell. I'm a fan of all seven]]"
* ''StarWars'':
** In the end of ''TheEmpireStrikesBack'', Darth Vader tells Luke Skywalker [[spoiler: that he is Luke's father, but you already knew that]], which is enough to cause a HeroicBSOD, but his subsequent attempt to [[WeCanRuleTogether persuade him to join him]] fails.
** In ''ReturnOfTheJedi'', Emperor Palpatine focuses his full powers of charm and scheming to break and [[FaceHeelTurn turn]] Luke. Luke is in the throne room along with Palpatine and Vader while the Rebel Alliance and all his friends are about to be destroyed, all, it turns out, according to [[{{Chessmaster}} Palpatine's]] [[BatmanGambit plans]]. Palpatine's expositing this eventually drives Luke into attacking the unarmed emperor (as intended), only to be stopped by Vader, and soon Vader's speaking of his sister finally drives Luke into an UnstoppableRage that almost pushes him to the DarkSide. However, he has a moment of clarity just before killing Vader, and rejects the ObviouslyEvil Palpatine's offer to become his new apprentice.
* ''Sisterhood'' series by FernMichaels: In the book ''Under The Radar'', the Prophet Harold Evanrod tries to tell his followers of the pedophile polygamist sect Heaven On Earth, "You see, this is the Devil at work! I told you the people on the outside would try to drive us away from our homes and our religion because they don't understand it. They will be forever damned, and there will be no salvation for any of them. I want you all to be strong because we will prevail." However, the Vigilantes give an effective ShutUpHannibal response to that.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Professional Wrestling ]]
* ShawnMichaels was a regular recipient of these speeches, particularly in the later parts of his career once he turned perma-face, but he usually interrupted them with [[ShutUpHannibal Sweet Chin Music]]. Occasionally, after knocking his lecturer out cold, he'd deliver his own over their unconscious (or at last stunned) body. He was particularly fond of doing this to ChrisJericho.\\
\\
Back in his heel days, he used to hand them out himself like party favors. Even as a face, he'd break them out occasionally, and he's the one guy pretty much ever who could get away with throwing them at TheUndertaker.
* Vin Gerard performed a number of these on Shane Storm -- playing off Storm's betrayal of the technicos by selling out the counter to the Chikara Special (a Chikara MoralEventHorizon if there ever was one) and then twisting his world on its axis as Vin thanked him for it. Ended with Storm 'transforming' into the rudo STIGMA, dropping the colour from his outfits, the bright mullet becoming a black mohawk and joining with Vin Gerard and Colin Delaney to become the [=UnStable=].
** Then inverted when Vin tries the same thing on Jigsaw, who had removed his mask elsewhere and hadn't been seen in Chikara for a year. Vin said that he'd never seen the boys in the back as angry at anyone as they were at Jigsaw ("No matter what I did, ''I'' never had to buy a ticket!") and there was no way to get back on their good side - Jigsaw might as well join the [=UnStable=]. Jigsaw responded with superkicks.
* ChrisJericho. Back in 2008 and early 2009 when everyone took his heel character completely seriously, Jericho would do this weekly. They rarely worked, but they were awesome.
* CMPunk in his Straight Edge persona. He is so awesome that he can actually give these while he's in the middle of a match.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: TabletopGames ]]
* On the (very) few occasions when the Dark Powers of {{Ravenloft}} have apparently communicated directly to anyone, it's been to do this to a potential darklord, delivered in familiar voices. Strahd heard the voices of Tatyana and Sergei taunting him, while Azalin heard the voices of his son and his mentor in wizardry.
* ''{{The World of Darkness}}'' sourcebook ''Slasher'' (which deals with [[SlasherMovies exactly what you think it does]]) has this as a talent of the Genius Undertaking and its natural progression, the Maniac. The Genius has the ability to instinctively profile anyone and learn what facts they'd ''hate'' to have revealed. The Maniac uses this knowledge to ''always'' have advantage over a certain target, and, with time, to convert the target to his point of view (a la [[{{Saw}} Jigsaw]]).
[[/folder]]
[[folder:VideoGames]]
* ''BaldursGate'':
** In the sequence of mysterious dreams in the first game, the sinister presence lurking behind the {{player character}}'s soul makes itself known and tries to bend them to its will, sometimes in words but just as often in images. The last dream ends with the equivalent of a WorldOfCardboardSpeech, where the protagonist recognises they can control their own fate.
** In ''BG II: Shadows of Amn'', there is a similar but less focused sequence of dreams where [[spoiler: something that looks like the BigBad]] lectures you.
-->"Why do you stand for this!? Why do you submit to the flesh when death is bred in your bones?"
** Turns out though that it isn't quite what it seems. By the point the lecturer is replaced by [[spoiler:your sister]] you'll have figured out the origin though...
--->"What does an eternity of nothingness matter when you can defeat all your opponents as easily as one... two... three... four... FIVE!"
** In ''BG II: Throne of Bhaal'', this is done by some wraiths to both the protagonist and their possible love interest by taking the forms of their lost loved ones and making hurtful accusations. It's a ploy to make the victims break down and become easy prey.
* ''PlanescapeTorment'':
** Ravel, a mid-way adversary, confronts any and all characters in the party with a (de)moralizing tirade about how their particular history of suffering, self-deception, and misdeeds have shaped them, noting that in the end it was these things that led them to follow the lead character on his quest, so ensnared in circumstances that the choice never truly was their own. Though she is promptly defeated after this, the things she alludes to usually cast the pasts of both the [=NPCs=] and the PlayerCharacter in a new (and usually less pretty) light.
** The [[PlayerCharacter Nameless One]] himself can use the technique on the resident KnightTemplar, which convinces him to pass on as there's nothing worth holding on to in his unlife any longer.
* In ''WorldOfWarcraft'', as you progress through the questline to create Shadowmourne, a legendary weapon to match the [[BigBad The Lich King's]] own, he whispers to you about how you and he both harvest souls for your own ends, he too once sought a weapon of great power, how he commands powers beyond you, et cetera.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Webcomics]]
* A [[HeroicSociopath "good"]] version appears in ''[[http://www.darthsanddroids.net/episodes/0192.html Darths and Droids]]'', though it is used by one protagonist convincing another to [[WhyDontYaJustShootHim destroy the Trade Federation ship]].
* ''Webcomic/OrderOfTheStick'':
** Redcloak telling Miko how she's just as unnatural as an undead creature [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0372.html here]]. It doesn't work, though, since almost nothing can get through her conviction that she's always in the right.
** Xykon, often, just after having handed his opponents their asses. Also to Roy in trying to make Roy accept a mulligan, but Roy [[ShutUpHannibal throws it right back in his face]] with a WorldOfCardboardSpeech. [[spoiler:Xykon kills him for it.]]
** [[spoiler:Right-Eye]] gives one to Redcloak in ''StartOfDarkness'', when the latter claims to have spent his life on The Plan.
-->[[spoiler:'''Right-Eye:''' "Brother,]] you may have had a life''time'', but you haven't had a ''life'' since the day you put on that cloak. Life is about growing -- growing older, growing wiser, growing closer to your loved ones. [[ImmortalImmaturity But you, you're frozen in time. You're the same angry kid who took that artifact off of your master's corpse that day]].
-->'''Redcloak:''' Oh, so now you've gained some insight on the universe by letting your body and mind deteriorate?
-->[[spoiler:'''Right-Eye:''']] YES! When you're faced with your own mortality, you have no choice but to consider what's best for the next generation. And this deal with Xykon is killing our spirit as fast as it's killing our bodies. You don't know what it is you're trying to better, because you don't know what it's like not to serve an undead overlord, or a petty spiteful god.
-->'''Redcloak:''' ...What did you just say to me?
-->[[spoiler:'''Right-Eye:''']] Come on. You have to realize that the Dark One doen't care about us. Why else would he let you throw goblin lives away on this plan?
-->'''Redcloak:''' Throw away lives? How dare you?! Every goblin that has died since I've been high priest has been to further The Plan! Their deaths were a ncessary sacrifice! They were NOT my fault!
-->[[spoiler:'''Right-Eye:''']] Wait...that's it, isn't it? It's all about whose fault it is... If I kill Xykon now, then it was all a waste. You ordered goblins to their deaths believing in the Plan- so if we abandon it now, then you were wrong. You let them die for nothing. You're willing to throw good lives after bad so that you don't have to admit that we were wrong to work with Xykon in the first place, much less help him cheat death.
* ''SaturdayMorningBreakfastCereal'': [[{{Peanuts}} Lucy finally lets Charlie Brown kick the ball...]] [[http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=2058 and then tells him just what the implications are.]]
* ''SluggyFreelance'':
** In "Oceans Unmoving", Bun-bun does this to Calix [[YouFightLikeACow while duelling]] (and beating) him, explaining to him how he doomed his own people by encouraging them to mutiny on a high-tech ship they were subsequently unable to steer. Also {{lampshaded}}:
--> '''Bun-bun''': When we first shanghaied you, I thought I saw something in you that I liked. Now that I have the opportunity to crush your soul, I like you even more.
** In "A Time for Healing", the zombie Jane gives Gwynn a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech at least bordering on this about how annoying and shallow she finds her and how someone like her couldn't use real magic. Unfortunately for Jane, her last taunts makes Gwynn angry enough that she's finally able to show that yes, she does have access to about a hundred times more powerful magic than Jane does.
** In "bROKEN", Bun-bun traps Oasis in a sauna and, after berating her for stupidity, starts verbally tormenting her with images of her "beloved" with another woman. It ends up almost as badly for him as in Jane's case.
* In ''{{xkcd}}'', during the first meeting of Black Hat Guy and his girlfriend. [[http://xkcd.com/374/ Here]] and [[http://xkcd.com/377/ here.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:WesternAnimation]]
* In the ''FamilyGuy'' episode "Seahorse Seashell Party", Meg finally breaks down and points out all of their hypocritical acts of ganing up on her and puting her down making her feel awful, and how they raised her specifically for that purpose. Her Lecture is harsh enough to send Lois into tears, and then makes all of the members of the family turn onto one another, ending with Peter crying and fleeing upstairs where Lois goes to look for him. \\
\\
When Meg's alone with Brian, Brian congratulates her on finally standing up for herself and he is proud of her. However Meg, upset, mentions how after she pointed out all of their faults they turned on each other "like a pack of wolves". She then comes to the conclusion that she is the part that holds the family together by having each family member blame her and thus are able keep peace with each other, and while not a pleasant purpose it is still her purpose and she must embrace it. Brian congratulates Meg on her nobility and self-sacrifice, telling her that she is stronger and a better person than anyone else in the family. Meg than finds Peter crying in a closet, where he states he doesn't "deserve no better than living with the shoes". After the rest of the familiy enters, Meg says that she was just taking out her frustration on them and they didn't deserve it, and are in fact a great family. After they all put down Meg, they calm down and end up hugging.
* ''JusticeLeague'':
** In the episode "A Better World", the MirrorUniverse President Lex Luthor uses one of these on his version of Superman. It partially succeeds. Superman does indeed break down as a result...[[KillItWithFire just not in the way Luthor wanted]].
** In the same episode, Batman also pulls one of these...[[spoiler:on ''himself''.]]
**** And he won. When you think about it, [[spoiler:Lord!Batman]] manages to win the first one ([[spoiler:"We created a world where no eight year old boy will ever lose his parents... because of some punk with a gun."]]) and Batman does this later while driving in the Batmobile ([[spoiler:"They'd love it here, Mom and Dad. They would be so proud of you."]]).\\
\\
The commentary states that the scene was created by one half of the production team debating the other from Batman's point of view. And to actually keep the viewer in the dark, neither [[spoiler:Batman]] nor [[spoiler:Lord!Batman faced the audience while talking, thus allowing a one sided conversation that either Batman could have been winning until the reveal.]]
** In the ''JusticeLeagueUnlimited'' episode "Divided We Fall", several of the robotic {{evil knockoff}}s created by [[spoiler:[[FanNickname Brainithor]] (Lex Luthor merged with Brainiac)]] use this technique. It works against {{Superman}} due to his fears of being NotSoDifferent from his AlternateUniverse EvilCounterpart, but Evil Flash has what might be the least successful attempt in history:
-->'''Evil Flash''': [[IdiotHero Slacker]]! [[TheFool Child]]! [[FunPersonified Clown!]] We have no place here among the world's greatest heroes!
-->'''{{Flash}}''': Says you! I've got a seat at the big conference table. I'm gonna paint my logo on it! ''[punches through Evil Flash's chest]''
* ''MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': In "The Return of Harmony", the especially vicious FauxAffablyEvil villain Discord corrupts each of the main ponies to keep them from using the Elements of Harmony that they represent against him. Ultimately he just brainwashes each of them with magic (aside from Twilight Sparkle), but he also takes the trouble to break each down before that, usually by talking. In Applejack's case, he manipulates her to doubt the value of honesty (her element) by showing her a terrible "[[SelfFulfillingProphecy truth]]" that she can't accept, before turning her into a liar. For Pinkie Pie (laughter), he makes her think her friends laugh ''at'' her all the time, before turning her unhappy and hostile. Fluttershy (kindness) is the only one on whom his speech doesn't work, because she's too trusting, and accepting of her own flaws... So he just zaps her into being cruel anyway.
--> '''Discord''': Well, it must be so upsetting to know how weak and helpless they think you are.
--> '''Fluttershy''': Not at all! I ''am'' weak and helpless, and I appreciate their understanding.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: RealLife]]
* A series of independent experiments carried out by a sadist Harvard psychology professor in the 1960s could be counted as an extreme (and, as it turned out, extremely unfortunate) real-life example of Breaking Them by Talking. University students were instructed to write an essay summarizing their personal philosophy on life and underlying principles, then went into a room expecting to debate philosophy with a fellow student. They instead faced an interrogation by a far more experienced opponent, whose sole purpose was to attack and ridicule their beliefs at length. Since one of the main goals of the experiment was to induce stress and upset the subject as much as possible, it's not surprising that many students came out feeling traumatized. One of them eventually went completely over the edge (for this reason or some other) and became the Unabomber.\\
\\
The professor had worked with the CIA in developing a test that tested pilots' wills, preventing them from possibly being brainwashed if captured. He decided to "fine tune" his technique using students as test subjects, but really the guy was a sadist who got off on this sort of thing. WNYC's Radio Lab covered this story in one of their pieces titled "Oops", you can hear it [[http://www.wnyc.org/flashplayer/player.html#/play/%2Fstream%2Fxspf%2F155556 here starting at 4:20]].
[[/folder]]
Obviously, this is easier to pull off from a relative position of power, such as when you have just defeated someone, or when [[PerpSweating interrogating a prisoner]]. But it goes both ways, and it's even more impressive when someone manages to turn the tables on someone who was in a superior position. When this is done by one being interrogated, and only then, it's the HannibalLecture. Naturally, in between these cases there is the one where both parties start out on an equal footing.
This is often achieved by a kind of TheReasonYouSuckSpeech, telling the other character how pathetic they are or perhaps how guilty of something terrible, perhaps NotSoDifferent from someone unpalatable, but there are other ways of breaking someone down by talking. You could for example instead deconstruct the world, other characters, or their relationship with the victim. The important part is that they can't deny your words, at least not in the heat of the moment, and you gain a psychological advantage over them. Results when successful range from the mere chance of getting to smirk in a satisfied way for rattling someone in an otherwise superior position; to bringing about a BreakTheCutie, HeroicBSOD, VillainousBreakDown or even FaceHeelTurn or MoreThanMindControl situation. The most extreme form would be MindRape by just talking, but be wary of automatically calling ''every'' instance of Breaking Them by Talking that.
As stated above, there is frequent overlap with TheReasonYouSuckSpeech, but the concepts are not the same. TheReasonYouSuckSpeech is about what you say, this is about what you do by saying it. You can tell someone they suck without breaking them down or even intending to do so, particularly if you're just annoyed, and you can break someone down without telling them why they suck.
The distilled version of this is the ArmorPiercingQuestion. If the declarations used as a weapon come from simple clues, this is a form of SherlockScan. Can be done as part of EvilGloating. ShutUpHannibal is a way of countering this trope. The opposite effect is done by a WorldOfCardboardSpeech, when the hero tells about ''his own'' flaws and how they don't matter now. The reverse or "good counterpart" is the KirkSummation or TalkingTheMonsterToDeath. HannibalLecture is a specific subtrope.
See also: ToThePain, TalkingYourWayOut, JustBetweenYouAndMe, AndThenWhat, VerbalJudo.
----
!!Examples:
[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* In ''DragonBallZ'', Goku of all people manages to do this to [[CompleteMonster Frieza]] during their battle on Namek. After having ascended to the level of a Super Saiyan and smacking around the now fully-powered Big Bad, he abruptly decides that their battle is done. When a shocked Frieza demands to know what he means by that, Goku's response makes the killer of the Saiyan race and former #1 fighter in the universe (at least at the time) go through a mini-breakdown:
-->'''Goku:''' Your power level is decreasing with every blow. You're not even a challenge to me anymore. It wouldn't be fair for me to keep fighting you. I'm satisfied now. Your pride has been torn to shreds. You've challenged and lost to a fighter who is superior to you...and to make it worse, [[IronicEcho "he was just a monkey", right?]]
-->* Frieza is seething in anger, shocked and enraged at Goku's words*
-->'''Goku:''' It would be meaningless to fight you now; you're too scared and ashamed. Live with the shock. Keep it bottled up inside of you...silently.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:ComicBooks]]
* The Marvel Comics character Karnak has refined his powers to the point where he can do this. At first his power was just sensing the weak point in objects so he (or his stronger ally Gorgon) can smash it. Now he find personality flaws and verbally destroy an opponent.
* Emma Frost of the ''{{Comicbook/X-Men}}'' is incredibly good at this. A great example of this can be found when after finding Kimura sneaking around the X-Mansion getting ready to kill X-23, Emma goes up to her and says...
-->'''Emma:''' Do you ever wonder why you take such pleasure from abusing a little girl who can't hurt you, let alone defeat you? No, I thought not. You'll notice that you cannot move. I've shut down all your motor control so you can listen while I ''enlighten'' you. You are a bully, plain and simple. A product of your past. Being kicked around your whole life by an alcoholic father and an uncaring mother at home, only to find the same waiting for you from your peers in the schoolyard, day in and day out. You were born into a life you did not deserve... a life no child deserves... Someone needs to fill the role of victim and you played that part for so many... until your grandmother came to your rescue. But sadly she came too late. All the hope and good you held onto was beaten out of you long ago. After your grandmother's heart attack, you found your way to the Facility to the men that could give you what you wanted so badly... Revenge. A hollow prize, but one you begged for and once you'd gotten the best of those who wronged you, you became the very person you hated and feared growing up. And X-23 played the role of your victim. Like you, Laura didn't deserve that horrible life. No child does, remember? But you didn't care. Even though you know all too well the pain she suffered, you enjoyed inflicting it. You still enjoy it. That's why you're a bully.
-->'''Kimura:''' Why are you telling me this?
-->'''Emma:''' Because today you go back to being the victim. [[MindRape It's a shame that the people that perfected your body didn't do enough to safeguard your mind...]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Film]]
* ''{{Collateral}}'' is basically one long speech like this by assassin Vincent to his hostage Max [[spoiler:which backfires epically towards the end]].
* RichardNixon attempts to do this to his interviewer in ''[[FrostNixon Frost/Nixon]]'' with a late night phone call, but as his drunken ramblings progress, all his NotSoDifferent lines only end up revealing how broken and full of self-loathing he is. Frost doesn't even need to say ShutUpHannibal -- he now knows that all he needs to do is corner Nixon and the man will destroy himself.
* Agent Smith ''TheMatrix'' films.
** His speech to Morpheus in the first movie is the most memorable:
-->'''Smith''': I'd like to share a revelation during my time here. It came to me when I tried to classify your species. I realized that you're not actually mammals. Every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with the surrounding environment but you humans do not. You move to an area and you multiply and multiply until every natural resource is consumed. The only way you can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. Do you know what it is? A virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet. You are a plague, and we are the cure.
** He delivers another one in the third movie as he watches Neo struggling to get back up after a royal thrashing - except Neo is barely listening to him and it just shows how ''Smith's'' mental state is crumbling.
-->'''Smith''': Why, Mr. Anderson? Why, why? Why do it? Why, why get up? Why keep fighting? Do you believe you're fighting for something, for more than your survival? Can you tell me what it is? Do you even know? Is it freedom, or truth, perhaps peace, could it be for love? Illusions, Mr. Anderson, vagaries of perception! Temporary constructs of a feeble human intellect trying desperately to justify an existence without meaning or purpose! And all of it as artificial as the Matrix itself! Although, only a human mind could invent something as insipid as love! You must see it, Mr. Anderson, you must know it by now; you can't win, it's pointless to keep fighting! [[EvilCannotComprehendGood Why, Mr. Anderson, why, why do you persist?]]
** Neo responds with a ShutUpHannibal that is either [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome brilliant]] or idiotic, [[YourMileageMayVary depending on the viewer.]]
-->'''Neo''': Because I choose to.
* In ''Film/{{Serenity}}'' (the ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' film), The Operative likes to do this to people he is about to kill, crossing it with TheReasonYouSuckSpeech by explaining to people what their 'sin' is. This goes poorly when he tries it on [[[TheDeterminator Mal Reynolds]]
-->'''Operative''': "Do you know what your sin is, Malcolm Reynolds?"
-->'''Mal''': "[[ShutUpHannibal Aw, hell. I'm a fan of all seven]]"
* ''StarWars'':
** In the end of ''TheEmpireStrikesBack'', Darth Vader tells Luke Skywalker [[spoiler: that he is Luke's father, but you already knew that]], which is enough to cause a HeroicBSOD, but his subsequent attempt to [[WeCanRuleTogether persuade him to join him]] fails.
** In ''ReturnOfTheJedi'', Emperor Palpatine focuses his full powers of charm and scheming to break and [[FaceHeelTurn turn]] Luke. Luke is in the throne room along with Palpatine and Vader while the Rebel Alliance and all his friends are about to be destroyed, all, it turns out, according to [[{{Chessmaster}} Palpatine's]] [[BatmanGambit plans]]. Palpatine's expositing this eventually drives Luke into attacking the unarmed emperor (as intended), only to be stopped by Vader, and soon Vader's speaking of his sister finally drives Luke into an UnstoppableRage that almost pushes him to the DarkSide. However, he has a moment of clarity just before killing Vader, and rejects the ObviouslyEvil Palpatine's offer to become his new apprentice.
* ''Sisterhood'' series by FernMichaels: In the book ''Under The Radar'', the Prophet Harold Evanrod tries to tell his followers of the pedophile polygamist sect Heaven On Earth, "You see, this is the Devil at work! I told you the people on the outside would try to drive us away from our homes and our religion because they don't understand it. They will be forever damned, and there will be no salvation for any of them. I want you all to be strong because we will prevail." However, the Vigilantes give an effective ShutUpHannibal response to that.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Professional Wrestling ]]
* ShawnMichaels was a regular recipient of these speeches, particularly in the later parts of his career once he turned perma-face, but he usually interrupted them with [[ShutUpHannibal Sweet Chin Music]]. Occasionally, after knocking his lecturer out cold, he'd deliver his own over their unconscious (or at last stunned) body. He was particularly fond of doing this to ChrisJericho.\\
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Back in his heel days, he used to hand them out himself like party favors. Even as a face, he'd break them out occasionally, and he's the one guy pretty much ever who could get away with throwing them at TheUndertaker.
* Vin Gerard performed a number of these on Shane Storm -- playing off Storm's betrayal of the technicos by selling out the counter to the Chikara Special (a Chikara MoralEventHorizon if there ever was one) and then twisting his world on its axis as Vin thanked him for it. Ended with Storm 'transforming' into the rudo STIGMA, dropping the colour from his outfits, the bright mullet becoming a black mohawk and joining with Vin Gerard and Colin Delaney to become the [=UnStable=].
** Then inverted when Vin tries the same thing on Jigsaw, who had removed his mask elsewhere and hadn't been seen in Chikara for a year. Vin said that he'd never seen the boys in the back as angry at anyone as they were at Jigsaw ("No matter what I did, ''I'' never had to buy a ticket!") and there was no way to get back on their good side - Jigsaw might as well join the [=UnStable=]. Jigsaw responded with superkicks.
* ChrisJericho. Back in 2008 and early 2009 when everyone took his heel character completely seriously, Jericho would do this weekly. They rarely worked, but they were awesome.
* CMPunk in his Straight Edge persona. He is so awesome that he can actually give these while he's in the middle of a match.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: TabletopGames ]]
* On the (very) few occasions when the Dark Powers of {{Ravenloft}} have apparently communicated directly to anyone, it's been to do this to a potential darklord, delivered in familiar voices. Strahd heard the voices of Tatyana and Sergei taunting him, while Azalin heard the voices of his son and his mentor in wizardry.
* ''{{The World of Darkness}}'' sourcebook ''Slasher'' (which deals with [[SlasherMovies exactly what you think it does]]) has this as a talent of the Genius Undertaking and its natural progression, the Maniac. The Genius has the ability to instinctively profile anyone and learn what facts they'd ''hate'' to have revealed. The Maniac uses this knowledge to ''always'' have advantage over a certain target, and, with time, to convert the target to his point of view (a la [[{{Saw}} Jigsaw]]).
[[/folder]]
[[folder:VideoGames]]
* ''BaldursGate'':
** In the sequence of mysterious dreams in the first game, the sinister presence lurking behind the {{player character}}'s soul makes itself known and tries to bend them to its will, sometimes in words but just as often in images. The last dream ends with the equivalent of a WorldOfCardboardSpeech, where the protagonist recognises they can control their own fate.
** In ''BG II: Shadows of Amn'', there is a similar but less focused sequence of dreams where [[spoiler: something that looks like the BigBad]] lectures you.
-->"Why do you stand for this!? Why do you submit to the flesh when death is bred in your bones?"
** Turns out though that it isn't quite what it seems. By the point the lecturer is replaced by [[spoiler:your sister]] you'll have figured out the origin though...
--->"What does an eternity of nothingness matter when you can defeat all your opponents as easily as one... two... three... four... FIVE!"
** In ''BG II: Throne of Bhaal'', this is done by some wraiths to both the protagonist and their possible love interest by taking the forms of their lost loved ones and making hurtful accusations. It's a ploy to make the victims break down and become easy prey.
* ''PlanescapeTorment'':
** Ravel, a mid-way adversary, confronts any and all characters in the party with a (de)moralizing tirade about how their particular history of suffering, self-deception, and misdeeds have shaped them, noting that in the end it was these things that led them to follow the lead character on his quest, so ensnared in circumstances that the choice never truly was their own. Though she is promptly defeated after this, the things she alludes to usually cast the pasts of both the [=NPCs=] and the PlayerCharacter in a new (and usually less pretty) light.
** The [[PlayerCharacter Nameless One]] himself can use the technique on the resident KnightTemplar, which convinces him to pass on as there's nothing worth holding on to in his unlife any longer.
* In ''WorldOfWarcraft'', as you progress through the questline to create Shadowmourne, a legendary weapon to match the [[BigBad The Lich King's]] own, he whispers to you about how you and he both harvest souls for your own ends, he too once sought a weapon of great power, how he commands powers beyond you, et cetera.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Webcomics]]
* A [[HeroicSociopath "good"]] version appears in ''[[http://www.darthsanddroids.net/episodes/0192.html Darths and Droids]]'', though it is used by one protagonist convincing another to [[WhyDontYaJustShootHim destroy the Trade Federation ship]].
* ''Webcomic/OrderOfTheStick'':
** Redcloak telling Miko how she's just as unnatural as an undead creature [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0372.html here]]. It doesn't work, though, since almost nothing can get through her conviction that she's always in the right.
** Xykon, often, just after having handed his opponents their asses. Also to Roy in trying to make Roy accept a mulligan, but Roy [[ShutUpHannibal throws it right back in his face]] with a WorldOfCardboardSpeech. [[spoiler:Xykon kills him for it.]]
** [[spoiler:Right-Eye]] gives one to Redcloak in ''StartOfDarkness'', when the latter claims to have spent his life on The Plan.
-->[[spoiler:'''Right-Eye:''' "Brother,]] you may have had a life''time'', but you haven't had a ''life'' since the day you put on that cloak. Life is about growing -- growing older, growing wiser, growing closer to your loved ones. [[ImmortalImmaturity But you, you're frozen in time. You're the same angry kid who took that artifact off of your master's corpse that day]].
-->'''Redcloak:''' Oh, so now you've gained some insight on the universe by letting your body and mind deteriorate?
-->[[spoiler:'''Right-Eye:''']] YES! When you're faced with your own mortality, you have no choice but to consider what's best for the next generation. And this deal with Xykon is killing our spirit as fast as it's killing our bodies. You don't know what it is you're trying to better, because you don't know what it's like not to serve an undead overlord, or a petty spiteful god.
-->'''Redcloak:''' ...What did you just say to me?
-->[[spoiler:'''Right-Eye:''']] Come on. You have to realize that the Dark One doen't care about us. Why else would he let you throw goblin lives away on this plan?
-->'''Redcloak:''' Throw away lives? How dare you?! Every goblin that has died since I've been high priest has been to further The Plan! Their deaths were a ncessary sacrifice! They were NOT my fault!
-->[[spoiler:'''Right-Eye:''']] Wait...that's it, isn't it? It's all about whose fault it is... If I kill Xykon now, then it was all a waste. You ordered goblins to their deaths believing in the Plan- so if we abandon it now, then you were wrong. You let them die for nothing. You're willing to throw good lives after bad so that you don't have to admit that we were wrong to work with Xykon in the first place, much less help him cheat death.
* ''SaturdayMorningBreakfastCereal'': [[{{Peanuts}} Lucy finally lets Charlie Brown kick the ball...]] [[http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=2058 and then tells him just what the implications are.]]
* ''SluggyFreelance'':
** In "Oceans Unmoving", Bun-bun does this to Calix [[YouFightLikeACow while duelling]] (and beating) him, explaining to him how he doomed his own people by encouraging them to mutiny on a high-tech ship they were subsequently unable to steer. Also {{lampshaded}}:
--> '''Bun-bun''': When we first shanghaied you, I thought I saw something in you that I liked. Now that I have the opportunity to crush your soul, I like you even more.
** In "A Time for Healing", the zombie Jane gives Gwynn a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech at least bordering on this about how annoying and shallow she finds her and how someone like her couldn't use real magic. Unfortunately for Jane, her last taunts makes Gwynn angry enough that she's finally able to show that yes, she does have access to about a hundred times more powerful magic than Jane does.
** In "bROKEN", Bun-bun traps Oasis in a sauna and, after berating her for stupidity, starts verbally tormenting her with images of her "beloved" with another woman. It ends up almost as badly for him as in Jane's case.
* In ''{{xkcd}}'', during the first meeting of Black Hat Guy and his girlfriend. [[http://xkcd.com/374/ Here]] and [[http://xkcd.com/377/ here.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:WesternAnimation]]
* In the ''FamilyGuy'' episode "Seahorse Seashell Party", Meg finally breaks down and points out all of their hypocritical acts of ganing up on her and puting her down making her feel awful, and how they raised her specifically for that purpose. Her Lecture is harsh enough to send Lois into tears, and then makes all of the members of the family turn onto one another, ending with Peter crying and fleeing upstairs where Lois goes to look for him. \\
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When Meg's alone with Brian, Brian congratulates her on finally standing up for herself and he is proud of her. However Meg, upset, mentions how after she pointed out all of their faults they turned on each other "like a pack of wolves". She then comes to the conclusion that she is the part that holds the family together by having each family member blame her and thus are able keep peace with each other, and while not a pleasant purpose it is still her purpose and she must embrace it. Brian congratulates Meg on her nobility and self-sacrifice, telling her that she is stronger and a better person than anyone else in the family. Meg than finds Peter crying in a closet, where he states he doesn't "deserve no better than living with the shoes". After the rest of the familiy enters, Meg says that she was just taking out her frustration on them and they didn't deserve it, and are in fact a great family. After they all put down Meg, they calm down and end up hugging.
* ''JusticeLeague'':
** In the episode "A Better World", the MirrorUniverse President Lex Luthor uses one of these on his version of Superman. It partially succeeds. Superman does indeed break down as a result...[[KillItWithFire just not in the way Luthor wanted]].
** In the same episode, Batman also pulls one of these...[[spoiler:on ''himself''.]]
**** And he won. When you think about it, [[spoiler:Lord!Batman]] manages to win the first one ([[spoiler:"We created a world where no eight year old boy will ever lose his parents... because of some punk with a gun."]]) and Batman does this later while driving in the Batmobile ([[spoiler:"They'd love it here, Mom and Dad. They would be so proud of you."]]).\\
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The commentary states that the scene was created by one half of the production team debating the other from Batman's point of view. And to actually keep the viewer in the dark, neither [[spoiler:Batman]] nor [[spoiler:Lord!Batman faced the audience while talking, thus allowing a one sided conversation that either Batman could have been winning until the reveal.]]
** In the ''JusticeLeagueUnlimited'' episode "Divided We Fall", several of the robotic {{evil knockoff}}s created by [[spoiler:[[FanNickname Brainithor]] (Lex Luthor merged with Brainiac)]] use this technique. It works against {{Superman}} due to his fears of being NotSoDifferent from his AlternateUniverse EvilCounterpart, but Evil Flash has what might be the least successful attempt in history:
-->'''Evil Flash''': [[IdiotHero Slacker]]! [[TheFool Child]]! [[FunPersonified Clown!]] We have no place here among the world's greatest heroes!
-->'''{{Flash}}''': Says you! I've got a seat at the big conference table. I'm gonna paint my logo on it! ''[punches through Evil Flash's chest]''
* ''MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': In "The Return of Harmony", the especially vicious FauxAffablyEvil villain Discord corrupts each of the main ponies to keep them from using the Elements of Harmony that they represent against him. Ultimately he just brainwashes each of them with magic (aside from Twilight Sparkle), but he also takes the trouble to break each down before that, usually by talking. In Applejack's case, he manipulates her to doubt the value of honesty (her element) by showing her a terrible "[[SelfFulfillingProphecy truth]]" that she can't accept, before turning her into a liar. For Pinkie Pie (laughter), he makes her think her friends laugh ''at'' her all the time, before turning her unhappy and hostile. Fluttershy (kindness) is the only one on whom his speech doesn't work, because she's too trusting, and accepting of her own flaws... So he just zaps her into being cruel anyway.
--> '''Discord''': Well, it must be so upsetting to know how weak and helpless they think you are.
--> '''Fluttershy''': Not at all! I ''am'' weak and helpless, and I appreciate their understanding.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: RealLife]]
* A series of independent experiments carried out by a sadist Harvard psychology professor in the 1960s could be counted as an extreme (and, as it turned out, extremely unfortunate) real-life example of Breaking Them by Talking. University students were instructed to write an essay summarizing their personal philosophy on life and underlying principles, then went into a room expecting to debate philosophy with a fellow student. They instead faced an interrogation by a far more experienced opponent, whose sole purpose was to attack and ridicule their beliefs at length. Since one of the main goals of the experiment was to induce stress and upset the subject as much as possible, it's not surprising that many students came out feeling traumatized. One of them eventually went completely over the edge (for this reason or some other) and became the Unabomber.\\
\\
The professor had worked with the CIA in developing a test that tested pilots' wills, preventing them from possibly being brainwashed if captured. He decided to "fine tune" his technique using students as test subjects, but really the guy was a sadist who got off on this sort of thing. WNYC's Radio Lab covered this story in one of their pieces titled "Oops", you can hear it [[http://www.wnyc.org/flashplayer/player.html#/play/%2Fstream%2Fxspf%2F155556 here starting at 4:20]].
[[/folder]]
