History Main / RightMakesMight

But you can always count on the Hero to win. Why? Because Right Makes Might, and the hero was right.

This is obviously intended to be AnAesop on how JusticeWillPrevail, but to quite a many people, coupling violence with righteousness seems like a rather... BrokenAesop way to present it. In these cases, the implication that Right Makes Might comes off as an equivalence, which is most likely not what the writers intended. Often, the writers will make the opponent KickTheDog by fighting like a {{Heel}}, which will result in either the hero winning anyway through brute force, or the enemy's KarmicDeath. Other time's they'll make an opponent want [[DisproportionateRetribution revenge rather than justice]], taking away from whatever righteousness their cause had. That being said, it's still a slightly more acceptable philosophy than inverse: MightMakesRight.

This trope can be more or less {{justified|Trope}} by the story showing just ''why'' the Right philosophy is better (even for winning in combat) in the end. One possibility is that the good guys rely on character-building virtues like dedication and teamwork while the villains bluster and bully their way through life, leaving the latter unready to face a real test. If nothing else, the ''belief'' the RightMakesMight could [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve make it happen]] for the heroes and demoralize the villains.

Very prevalent in {{shounen}} anime series, but really, this has been used to deliver morals throughout history. It was even assumed in unenlightened times in Western civilization to ''work in real life'', on the logic that God would help the proper victor; the practice of letting this scenario play out was known as "TrialByCombat". Nowadays in media, emotional choices trump logical ones (see StrawVulcan).

Though usually done with a hero and somebody darker, it can also be done in a ALighterShadeOfGrey or ALighterShadeOfBlack scenario, to show that, while their ideas and worldviews might still be rather flawed, the winning side at least has a better understanding of how the world should be or at least got more points right than the enemy. [[note]] While a ALighterShadeOfBlack villain might not exactly believe in the powers of truth, justice and honor, he might still be a firm believer in PragmaticVillainy and consider StupidEvil behaviour of his opponent [[EvenEvilHasStandards pathetic and disgusting.]][[/note]]

Not to be confused with MightMakesRight, which tends to work better in real life.

* AbrahamLincoln, the original TropeNamer used this phrase in his 1860 speech at the Cooper Union in New York. After an hour and a half arguing that the logical extension of the founding father's actions was to outlaw the spread of slavery, he enters an impassioned climax that at his own suggestion was written in capital letters in the newspapers. "LET US HAVE FAITH THAT RIGHT MAKES MIGHT, AND IN THAT FAITH, LET US, TO THE END, DARE TO DO OUR DUTY AS WE UNDERSTAND IT." While the phrase might have been used before, it's almost certain that it had received very few standing ovations before this time.

* In ''EarthBound'', [[spoiler:one of your party members has a Prayer ability that sometimes has random, minor effects on a battle, but it's also the only thing that's strong enough to defeat the final boss.]]
* In ''PlanescapeTorment'', the character Vhailor embodies this trope. A "Mercykiller" who died long before the beginning of the game, he is now held together solely by his burning hunger for justice, and it is stated that his strength is equivalent to the degree of injustice that he's facing at the time - [[spoiler: as can be seen if you choose him to resurrect at the final battle, where he'll gain ludicrous stat bonuses and utterly trample the final boss.]]

* Many ''StarWars'' stories turn out this way. Usually the light side of TheForce is just better... because it is. Even if you are allowed to create the end yourself, you can be sure, that somewhere after this particular incident good will win anyway ('cause both ''KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' took place before the prequels, where the good guys were in charge... more or less).

** This is arguably a JustifiedTrope, in that the Dark Side canonically grants more raw power, but is toxic and self-destructive in the long run.
* The ''KingdomHearts'' series is built on this trope and ThePowerOfFriendship.

* In Tamora Pierce's TortallUniverse, this is a common belief. The most notable example would be in the end of the second book of the Alanna series, "In The Hand of The Goddess". Alanna has evidence that the King's uncle is out for the throne; since she's a newly made knight, nobody really believes her. She's challenged to a duel, saying the winner will show who's the right one. While she wins by a mix of luck and genuine talent, its also because she is favoured by the Goddess.
** In a short-story, this also seems to be the belief of an [[FantasyCounterPartCulture African-like tribe]]; when settling a dispute about a broken marriage vow, they feel the gods will let whoever was right win. In this case, the young girl who faught the older man won because she ''really'' had been practicing hard.
** Subverted and mocked in the Protector of the Small books, when a now-deceased officer in the [[BadassArmy King's Own]] claimed that one Tortallan horseman was the equal of ten northern savages.

If the defeated party acknowledges the wrong of his/her/their ways, this may also include DefeatMeansFriendship. If the meaning of the battle is supposed to be particularly obvious, the characters will actually engage in a WorldOfCardBoardSpeech or ReasonYouSuckSpeech before or [[TalkingIsAFreeAction during]] the battle, explaining their particular beliefs, the lessons they've learned and why they have faith that they will carry them through this battle successfully.

* Used all the way to [[DeadHorseTrope death]] in ''DigimonAdventure'' and ''DigimonAdventure02''. The Chosen Children "wielded" various virtues (yes, as in Wielder of Courage, Wielder of Friendship, Wielder of Purity, etc.). Their {{Mons}} got bigger when the kids developed positive character traits. This is fairly blatant RightMakesMight.

* A key element of TengenToppaGurrenLagann: Spiral Power is based on the ability of organic life to adapt to and ultimately overcome adversity. Though any strong emotion can produce it, more Spiral Power can be derived from [[ThePowerOfLove Love]], [[ThePowerOfFriendship Friendship]], and [[PapaWolf Protective]] [[MamaBear Instinct]] than mere UnstoppableRage.

* [[SympatheticInspectorAntagonist L]] of ''Manga/DeathNote'' seems to believe this, with lines like, "JusticeWillPrevail!" and, "Let's show him that the good guys always win." [[LightIsNotGood Light]], on the other hand, believes the opposite - making this one interesting aspect of their clash of ideals.

[[folder: Tabletop Games]]
* The source of the powers wielded by the [[AmazonBrigade Sisters]] [[ChurchMilitant of]] [[KillItWithFire Battle]] in the ''[[{{Warhammer40000}} Warhammer 40,000]]'' universe is never explained. All the other races' powers, whether they see them as religious, arcane or psychic in origin, actually ultimately derive from [[HyperspaceIsAScaryPlace the Warp]], which is anathema to the Sisters' religion. They're either unknowing {{hypocrite}}s, or get their power from another source altogether.

[[folder: Video Games]]

* In ''EarthBound'', [[spoiler: one of your party members has a Prayer ability that sometimes has random, minor effects on a battle, but it's also the only thing that's strong enough to defeat the final boss.]]

* The final fight between [[spoiler:Shirou and Kotomine]] in ''FateStayNight'' is a mild example of this, pitting the former's ideal against a person who is the antithesis of that ideal and considers it idiotic. The [[spoiler:Shirou/Archer]] fight in Unlimited Blade Works is a sheer endurance match for [[spoiler:Shirou to try and defend his ideals against a man who was betrayed by the very same ideal and wants Shirou to give up on it]]. Finally, the trope is [[DefiedTrope defied]] in Heaven's Feel where [[spoiler:Shirou once again fights Kotomine but recognizes that he has long since lost any moral high ground and that the battle is merely that of two equally selfish and NotSoDifferent wishes clashing against each other.]]

** EnforcedTrope by George Lucas's policy. In a Star Wars game, only the "Light Side" path is considered canonical. This prevented Obsidian from doing a KillEmAll ending and forced them to prop up the Light Side path they were working so hard on deconstructing.

[[folder: Western Animation]]

[[folder: Real Life]]

''FistOfTheNorthStar'': This might as well be tattooed on Kenshiro's knuckles so it's the last thing a mook sees before his fist goes right through his face. Kenshiro's fighting prowess comes from Hokuto Shinken. Kenshiro's STRENGTH comes from the [[IncorruptiblePurePureness righteousness of his cause]] and [[{{Determinator}} his unwillingness to ever give up]].

* In the ChildBallad ''Literature/SirAldingar'', the queen's innocence is vindicated by a beautiful little boy who defends her in TrialByCombat against a grown knight.

* ''DeRodeRidder'' (The Red Knight) is canonically unbeatable in a straight fight for justice, as is stated in-universe by an EvilSorcerer doing a mystical examination on his sword. The only way the villains can ever get at him is by treachery or hostages.

* ''SuperRobotWars'' has an ability, called "Valor" or "[[HotBlooded Hot Blood]]", that [[GameBreaker doubles the damage of the next attack]]. Its use is balanced by its price: most most pilots can use it two or three times a stage at high levels. ''Every'' SuperRobotWars ''seishin'' spell is something like this, from Courage and Love (essentially LastDiscMagic) to Trust (healing) to Hard Work and Luck (doubled rewards for killing). Which can produce interesting in-jokes - [[GunBuster Noriko's]] first two ''seishin'' were, true to the spirit of Coach Oota, '''Hard Work and Guts!'''

* Sun Tzu emphasized the importance of making one's followers believe that one's cause is in the right, as it greatly enhances their will to fight and bear hardships.

Though usually done with a hero and somebody darker, it can also be done in a ALighterShadeOfGrey or ALighterShadeOfBlack scenario, to show that, while their ideas and worldviews might still be rather flawed, the winning side at least has a better understanding of how the world should be or at least got more points right than the enemy. [[hottip:*: While a ALighterShadeOfBlack villain might not exactly believe in the powers of truth, justice and honor, he might still be a firm believer in PragmaticVillainy and consider StupidEvil behaviour of his opponent [[EvenEvilHasStandards pathetic and disgusting.]]

* In ''EarthBound'', [[spoiler: one of your party members, being particularly religious, has a Prayer ability that sometimes has random, minor effects on a battle, but it's also the only thing that's strong enough to defeat the final boss.]]

** And will always be invoked because history is WrittenByTheVictor.

** And will always be invoked because HistoryIsWrittenByTheVictor.

** At the same time, often plays out straight; the sort of system of government that will universally be regarded as "wrong" is typically not very effective at martialling its resources and people over the long term.

* In the ''AstroCity'' series "Tarnished Angel" we follow Steeljack, a Supervillain who wants to simply retire, but has a hard time because '''A:''' he is a well known supervillain, '''B:''' is completely covered in shiny metal skin which kills his chances of getting a normal job and '''C:''' the deck is stacked against him. One of the things that has always dogged him is that he could never make it as hero because he always came up short for some reason, but at the end of the story when he is facing off against the Big Bad who happens to be in a top of the line Power Armor suit in EPIC COMBAT, he thinks something like:

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

[[folder: Tabletop Games ]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

[[folder: Real Life ]]

This is obviously intended to be AnAesop on how JusticeWillPrevail, but to quite a many people, coupling violence with righteousness seems like a rather... BrokenAesop way to present it. In these cases, the implication that Right Makes Might comes off as an equivalence, which is most likely not what the writers intended. Often, the writers will make the opponent KickTheDog by fighting like a {{Heel}}, which will result in either the hero winning anyway through brute force, or the enemy's KarmicDeath. Other time's they'll make an opponent want [[DisproportionateRetribution revenge rather than justice]], taking away from whatever righteousness their cause had. That being said, it's still a slightly more acceptable philosophy than inverse: MightMakesRight. It can even be more or less {{justified|Trope}} by the story showing just ''why'' the Right philosophy is better (even for winning in combat) in the end.