History Main / InItForLife

->''"Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children. I shall wear no crowns and win no glory. I shall live and die at my post..."''
-->-- Beginning of the '''Oath of the Night's Watch''', ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''

Most commitments and endeavors are temporary, by nature or design. High school typically takes four years, advanced degrees between two and ten, exploring an unknown region of space might be [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries a five-year mission]], democratically-elected representatives typically have term limits, and so on. These things are temporary.

Some things do not have such limits. In fact, some commitments, endeavors, or sentences are explicitly designed to be lifelong. Other times, something that is ostensibly temporary will be extended or renewed in perpetuity, rendering it ''de facto'' lifelong. The person who winds up in such a position, therefore, is In It For Life. Note, however, that some things intended to be lifelong commitments (such as marriage) don't always wind up this way, with people managing to end their commitment early.

By definition, the UrExample is ''life'' itself, which is also the only example which can be universally applied to living things.

Subtropes: LongerThanLifeSentence, PresidentForLife, RegentForLife, ResignationsNotAccepted, SuicideMission.

Compare MandatoryUnretirement.

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!!Examples

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* Franchise/GreenLantern: Red Lanterns can never quit. To avoid people leaving his Lantern Corp, Atrocitus designed the Red Rings so that taking them off would be fatal. Only the healing power of a Blue Lantern can prevent this.
* In the ''Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}'' crossover ''ComicBook/RedDaughterOfKrypton'' Supergirl becomes a Red Lantern. In "Red Lanterns #30" -properly titled "Forever"- she finds out that she'll be a Red Lantern forever (and, predictably, she isn't happy about it).
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[[folder: Film]]
* The Creator/EddieMurphy / Creator/MartinLawrence {{dramedy}} ''Film/{{Life 1999}}'' is about a friendship forged between two men serving life sentences in prison.
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[[folder: Literature]]
* ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'': "Once a king or queen in Narnia, always a king or queen in Narnia." Important because it is not unknown for children from Earth to be taken to Narnia, installed as king or queen, returned to Earth, and then [[NarniaTime be returned to Narnia years, decades, or centuries later]] at which time a new ruler may be in place.
* ''Literature/TheReynardCycle'': When you become a Calvarian blood-guard, you are considered one until you are dead. [[TheSpartanWay Of course, you may die before you get that far.]]
* In ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'', service as a maester, in the Night's Watch, Kingsguard, and several religious orders is lifelong. The Night's Watch' traditional funeral rites end, "Now his watch is ended."
* In ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'', service as an Aes Sedai (female magic-user) is intended to be lifelong. When the new Amyrlin Seat (a cross between TheArchmage and a female Pope) breaks tradition by demoting an Aes Sedai to Accepted (apprentice), it causes a major scandal. Even when it's discovered that [[spoiler: the RestrainingBolt that is a major part of their identity as Aes Sedai shortens their lifespan by several hundred years]], there is a significant faction that would rather die as Aes Sedai than "retire" [[spoiler: and have their lifespan restored]].
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[[folder: Music]]
* In Music/PoetsOfTheFall's "[[https://youtu.be/xfvtPTvuFTA Drama for Life]]," while the singer thrills to his BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind, embracing his inner creative impulse and embarking on a risky adventure, he acknowledges its not without tradeoffs, admitting he's "sentenced to [[TitleDrop drama for life]]."
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[[folder: Other Sites]]
* The D-class of the ''Wiki/SCPFoundation'' are used as grunt labor and guinea pigs, taken from death row or third-world prisoners (and in times of shortage, from the general populace) for a promise of a shorter sentence, and are traditionally executed at the end of the month. A life sentence doesn't necessarily imply a ''long'' sentence.
** Some entries and stories on the site imply that there are other sources for D-class as well, such as cloning. Yet others imply that the monthly executions are a just a front, and that D-class are mind-wiped or otherwise reset before taking up new (but usually still inconceivably horrible) roles for the next month.
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[[folder: Tabletop Games]]
* In the Pacesetter Games version of ''Chill'', all [=PCs=] are required to be members of [[AncientOrderOfProtectors S.A.V.E.]]. This is enforced by stating that any member of S.A.V.E who is kicked out for breaking the rules will be killed by supernatural monsters within the week, with no way to avoid death.
* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'':
** SpaceMarines serve until they die or they are too grievously wounded, at which point they may be put inside a Dreadnought to continue serving pretty much eternally.
** Penal legions are pretty much this, since the idea is to redeem yourself of a particularly hideous crime by going on the most dangerous or suicidal missions.
** Fire Caste warriors either serve until death or face trials every four years of service to go up a rank, at which point they can become advisors.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'': Dwarf Slayers are individual dwarfs who have dedicated themselves to dying in battle against a particular enemy (Troll Slayers, Dragon Slayers, Demon Slayers etc.) to atone for some past dishonor. The most successful ones are technically the biggest failures, since they're bad at the "dying in battle" part.
* The "In For Life" flaw in ''Mechwarrior'' (the tabletop roleplaying game, not [[VideoGame/MechWarrior the video game of the same name]]). You're part of an organization for good or for ill. Normally, this most often applies to organized criminal groups like TheMafia, {{Yakuza}}, or TheTriadsAndTheTongs. It can also apply to things such as elite government organizations, ''especially'' all forms of SecretPolice.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Theater]]
* In ''Theatre/WestSideStory'', "when you're a Jet you're a Jet all the way, from your first cigarette 'til your last dying day."
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[[folder: Video Games]]
* In ''Franchise/MassEffect'', there's "no such thing as a former [[TheOrder Spectre]]". The closest you can get is Shepard in ''Mass Effect 2'', as the game starts with them ''dying'' and then coming BackFromTheDead. You get to choose whether you have your status reinstated or not...until the third game, when it's reinstated anyway.
* Likewise, in ''Franchise/DragonAge'', there is no such thing as a former [[ImpartialPurposeDrivenFaction Grey Warden]], as the Taint they voluntarily expose themselves to during their Joining ritual is incurable. There ''is'' a single known example of a Grey Warden being completely freed from the Taint--[[spoiler:Grand Enchanter Fiona]]--but she was the only success of a centuries-long research by an inhuman intelligence that is yet to be replicated.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Real Life]]
* Common for many gangs and other criminal organizations, usually expressed by the phrase "blood in, blood out". You get in either through a BloodOath and/or by [[IfYoureSoEvilEatThisKitten committing a violent crime]], but you only get out by dying. For examples, see ResignationsNotAccepted.
* Marriage is traditionally this in most cultures. As it is currently practiced in modern Western society, it is averted roughly as often as played straight. Most people still keep the "until death do you part" bit in their vows, although FridgeLogic sets in if one or both spouses have one or more living ex-husbands or -wives. If a couple persists in marriage due to the lifelong commitment involved despite being miserable, it's an AwfulWeddedLife.
* [[SemperFi "Once a Marine, always a Marine."]] Largely symbolic as they are not (usually) literally expected to serve for life. Military commitments in general are typically relatively short, with service terms between two and six years being common. While many folks proceed to get out of the military and get another job or go to school, some folks will "re-up", possibly with the intent of serving until they reach retirement age, such folks being known as "Careerists" or "Lifers".
* Most royalty and nobility are this way, with "Dowager" added to the honorific of a widow whose title derives from a deceased husband and whose effective authority has passed to an heir (e.g. "Dowager Countess").
* Many [[TakingTheVeil religious orders]], such as the Catholic priesthood, are for life. While there is provision in Canon law for popes to resign, it is very rare, making the papacy functionally this. It was most recently {{averted}} by Pope Benedict XVI, the first living pope to step down in centuries. Similarly, once baptized Catholic, ''always'' Catholic, at least in the eyes of the Church -- no matter what the "fallen sheep" in question might have to say about it. Said "fallen sheep" could convert to Buddhism, abandon organized religion altogether, or turn outright atheist, but as far as the Church as concerned, they're still Catholic.
* Life imprisonment is a common punishment for severe crimes such as murder, especially in jurisdictions that lack the death penalty. ''See also:'' LongerThanLifeSentence.
[[/folder]]

* In ''Franchise/MassEffect'', there's "no such thing as a former [[TheOrder Spectre]]".

* Common for many gangs and other criminal organizations, usually expressed by the phrase "blood in, blood out". You get in either through a BloodOath and/or by committing a violent crime, but you only get out by dying. For examples, see ResignationsNotAccepted.

* Common for many gangs and other criminal organizations. For examples, see ResignationsNotAccepted.

* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40K'':

* The 1999 Creator/EddieMurphy / Creator/MartinLawrence {{dramedy}} ''Film/{{Life}}'' is about a friendship forged between two men serving life sentences in prison.

* In Music/PoetsOfTheFall's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_8wYwvlmBE Drama for Life]]," while the singer thrills to his BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind, embracing his inner creative impulse and embarking on a risky adventure, he acknowledges its not without tradeoffs, admitting he's "sentenced to [[TitleDrop drama for life]]."

* The D-class of the ''Wiki/SCPFoundation'' are used as grunt labor and guinea pigs, taken from death row or third-world prisoners (and in times of shortage, from the general populace) for a promise of a shorter sentence, and are executed at the end of the month. A life sentence doesn't necessarily imply a ''long'' sentence.

* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40K'': SpaceMarines serve until they die or they are too grievously wounded, at which point they may be put inside a Dreadnought to continue serving pretty much eternally.

* Likewise, in ''Franchise/DragonAge'', there is no such thing as a former [[ImpartialPurposeDrivenFactions Grey Warden]], as the Taint they voluntarily expose themselves to during their Joining ritual is incurable. There ''is'' a single known example of a Grey Warden being completely freed from the Taint--[[spoiler:Grand Enchanter Fiona]]--but she was the only success of a centuries-long research by an inhuman intelligence that is yet to be replicated.

* In ''Franchise/MassEffect'', there's "no such thing as a former [[TheOrder Spectre]]".

* Common for many gangs and other criminal organizations. For examples, see ResignationsNotAccepted.

* Most royalty and nobility are this way, with "Dowager" added to the honorific of a widow whose title derives from a deceased husband and whose effective authority has passed to an heir (i.e. "Dowager Countess").

* Many [[TakingTheVeil religious orders]], such as the Catholic priesthood, are for life. While there is provision in Canon law for popes to resign, it is very rare, making the papacy functionally this. It was most recently {{averted}} by Pope Benedict XVI, the first living pope to step down in centuries.

* Many [[TakingTheVeil religious orders]], and the Catholic priesthood, are For Life. The papacy is, in theory, not this, but usually in practice; it was averted by Pope Benedict XVI, the first living pope to step down in centuries.

* Many religious orders, such as the Catholic priesthood, are For Life. The papacy is ''supposed'' to be this; it was averted by Pope Benedict XVI, the first living pope to step down in centuries.

* In ''VideoGame/MassEffect'', there's "no such thing as a former [[TheOrder Spectre]]".

* ''Literature/TheReynardCycle'': Once you are called a Calvarian blood-guard, you are considered one until you are dead. [[TheSpartanWay Of course, you may die before you even get that far.]]

* In ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'', service as a maester, in the Night's Watch, Kingsguard, and several religious orders is lifelong. The Night's Watch' traditional funeral rites end, "Now his watch is ended."

* [[SemperFi "Once a Marine, always a Marine."]] Largely symbolic as they are not (usually) literally expected to serve for life.
** Military commitments in general are typically relatively short, with service terms between two and six years being common. While many folks proceed to get out of the military and get another job or go to school, some folks will "re-up", possibly with the intent of serving until they reach retirement age, such folks being known as "Careerists" or "Lifers".

* In ''Theater/WestSideStory'', "when you're a Jet you're a Jet all the way, from your first cigarette 'til your last dying day."

* The D-class of the ''Wiki/SCPFoundation'' are used as grunt labor and guinea pigs, taken from death row or third-world prisoners (and sometimes from the general populace) for a promise of a shorter sentence, and are executed at the end of the month. A life sentence doesn't necessarily imply a ''long'' sentence.

Some things do not have such limits. In fact, some commitments, endeavors, or sentences are explicitly designed to be lifelong. Other times, something that is ostensibly temporary will be extended or renewed in perpetuity, rendering it ''de facto'' lifelong. The person who has wound up in such a position, therefore, is In It For Life. Note, however, that some things intended to be lifelong commitments (such as marriage) don't always wind up this way, with people managing to end their commitment early.