History Main / TurnTheOtherCheek

* Simon does this to Jayne in {{Firefly}} a few times, which unnerves Jayne more than a direct threat.

* The Risans take this to a scary level. Based on one episode of DS9 terrorism is apparently okay to them so long as the terrorist are enjoying themselves.

* Played for laughs in an episode of M*A*S*H, when Father Mulcahey gets bumped on the backside by the jeep of a visiting general. Said general offers an apology, and Mulcahey replies with the trope title.

*** Another facet to this: In that period, the left hand was still looked upon as unclean, and one could only slap anyone, even the lowest of the low, using the right hand. Turning one's other cheek was essentially to '''dare''' them to slap you using the ''unclean'' hand, which, being unthinkable, left only one other option, to take it as a dare to backhand the victim, which arguably would be just as big of a shame tainting the aggressor if he "accepted" the unspoken dare. It was essentially a wordless taunt of "go ahead and hit me again. Show everyone watching what a cruel monster you are." So in some regard it's simultaneously an endorsement of nonviolent resistance/civil disobedience '''and''' a display of being a [[BadassPacifist]]. '''Cool!'''

* This is one of the stories told by Jesus, telling someone that just got slapped on the right cheek to offer his slapper his left cheek, making this OlderThanFeudalism. The TropeNamer, naturally.
** Jesus then goes on to show us how to do it by saying "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do," as he was being [[spoiler: crucified. Nothing like begging your divine father to spare the ones who kill you. The ultimate DoomedMoralVictor]] of course.
** Who, by virtue of being divinely awesome, does not stay [[spoiler: doomed]].
** And on that note, there's actually a song dedicated to how cool Jesus was by forgiving people.
** TurnTheOtherCheek ThemeMusicPowerUp, anyone?
** A better explanation of "turn the other cheek": if a man considered someone to be inferior, he'd use the back of his hand if he decided to strike him, if he considered him equal, he'd use his palm. Basically Jesus was saying that if someone gave you a backhander, turn the other cheek to force him to use his palm.
** I wouldn't call it a "better" explanation. It is a popular one, but it is not widely accepted among scholars as being the main point. However, seeing as Jesus told most of his stories as parables, it is not unlikely that there was a dual meaning there, telling the listener not to respond with violence or to pay evil unto evil, but also to not be a doormat.
** There is also the interpretation that offering someone the chance to slap you again is a way of showing them that the original insult didn't work, and the slapper has failed in his attempt to embarrass the slappee. As this is usually the fastest way to take the wind out of a bully's sails, turning the other cheek is probably a much better idea than slapping back. Certain Christians interpret this as an endorsement of nonviolent resistance (i.e. civil disobedience).
* A similar sentiment is expressed by the writer of the Book of Proverbs, albeit in a more cynical fashion: "If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you." Proverbs 25:21-22. This is less about being doggedly nice so much as lording your moral superiority over an enemy who has fallen under your power.
** Not quite, although the mistake is (understandably) almost universal, as you'd have to have a pretty comprehensive knowledge of ancient Hebrew rituals to know the significance. For the rest of us, thankfully, there is scholarly commentary: (from the Amplified Bible) ''This is not to be understood as a revengeful act intended to embarrass its victim, but just the opposite. The picture is that of the high priest (Lev. 16:12) who, on the Day of Atonement, took his censer and filled it with "coals of fire" from off the altar of burnt offering, and then put incense on the coals to create a pleasing, sweet-smelling fragrance. The cloud or smoke of the incense covered the mercy seat and was acceptable to God for atonement. Samuel Wesley wrote: "So artists melt the sullen ore of lead, By heaping coals of fire upon its head: In the kind warmth the metal learns to glow, And pure from dross the silver runs below." '' As for extracting the meaning from that... still have some searching to do.

->"''You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. [[TropeNamer But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also]]; and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.''"
->--'''[[TheBible Matthew 5:38-41]]''', Revised Standard Version

-> " Go on, turn the other cheek. I dare you."
->-- Eshua Bar Jehovah (Jesus Christ) , ''{{Lamb The Gospel According To Biff}}, Christ's Childhood Pal''

* In ''ToKillAMockingbird'' Atticus Finch barely flinches when [[CompleteMonster Bob Ewell]] spits in his face, though he does afterwords express disgust regarding the tobacco content of Mr Ewell's saliva. [[spoiler:Ewell later goes on to [[RevengeByProxy try to kill Atticus's children]] and is killed by [[TheBooRadley Boo Radley]]]].

* This is basically the whole plot of The ''ButterCreamGang''.

* Dr. Tenma in ''{{Monster}}'' seems to hold this attitude in general, and [[spoiler: he eventually saves the life of the main villain, knowing full well what he's done]].

** [[MemeticMutation "I can kill you with my brain"]] may also have had something to do with it...

* The protagonist of the Kenny Rogers song "The Coward of the County" is this, until the Gaitlin boys go after his wife. They soon find out why this is a [[BewareTheNiceOnes seriously bad idea]]]].

* A similar sentiment is expressed by the writer of the Book of Proverbs, albeit in a more cynical fashion: "If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap(B) burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you." Proverbs 25:21-22. This is less about being doggedly nice so much as lording your moral superiority over someone who has fallen under your power.

* A similar sentiment is expressed by Paul, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Romans 12:20.

So that bastard stole your lunch money? Next time he is in desperate need of money, just give him more than he needs. This also counts if Bob has just done lots lots of horrible things to Alice, but while Alice is pissed, she cannot fully hate Bob for something he has done in the past. A character forgiving something truly horrible can also count, but only when they don't make the other genuflect repeatedly for it. Another version is to [[KillMeNowOrForeverStayYourHand put oneself completely at the mercy of someone not-very-nice]], basically [[ThePowerOfTrust daring them to prove themselves as unworthy of trust.]]

So that bastard stole your lunch money? Next time he is in desperate need of money, just give him more than he needs. This also counts if B has just done lots lots of horrible things to A, but while A is pissed, he cannot fully hate B for something he has done in the past. A character forgiving something truly horrible can also count, but only when they don't make the other genuflect repeatedly for it. Another version is to [[KillMeNowOrForeverStayYourHand put oneself completely at the mercy of someone not-very-nice]], basically [[ThePowerOfTrust daring them to prove themselves as unworthy of trust.]]

** Harry saves Dudley's life at the beginning of the fifth book. It doesn't even endure him to the Dursleys because they don't understand what happened and naturally blame Harry.

** Speaking of Juergen/ODE, the fact that Lamia does not hold ill-will against them, who practically caught her unprepared, humiliated her thoroughly and put her to death (and wouldn't have gotten away had it not due to Duminuss) may also count.

*** Who, by virtue of being divinely awesome, does not stay [[spoiler: doomed]].
**** And on that note, there's actually a song dedicated to how cool Jesus was by forgiving people.
***** TurnTheOtherCheek ThemeMusicPowerUp, anyone?
****** A better explanation of "turn the other cheek": if a man considered someone to be inferior, he'd use the back of his hand if he decided to strike him, if he considered him equal, he'd use his palm. Basically Jesus was saying that if someone gave you a backhander, turn the other cheek to force him to use his palm.
******* I wouldn't call it a "better" explanation. It is a popular one, but it is not widely accepted among scholars as being the main point. However, seeing as Jesus told most of his stories as parables, it is not unlikely that there was a dual meaning there, telling the listener not to respond with violence or to pay evil unto evil, but also to not be a doormat.
******** There is also the interpretation that offering someone the chance to slap you again is a way of showing them that the original insult didn't work, and the slapper has failed in his attempt to embarrass the slappee. As this is usually the fastest way to take the wind out of a bully's sails, turning the other cheek is probably a much better idea than slapping back. Certain Christians interpret this as an endorsement of nonviolent resistance (i.e. civil disobedience).

* Dr. Tenma, in ''{{Monster}}'', saves the life of the person who put him through living hell. [[spoiler:Twice]]

* Hilariously subverted in the 1992 sci-fi movie {{''Freejack''}}, where a nun who helped the hero is being slapped around by corporate goon Mr. Michellete.

* Hilariously subverted in the 1992 sci-fi movie ''Freejack'', where a nun who helped the hero is being slapped around by corporate goon Mr. Michellete.

->"''You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.''"
->--Matthew 5:38-41, Revised Standard Version

* Much of ''Naruto'''s plot ends up like this. [[spoiler:Konoha ninja kills Nagato's parents, who wreaks his revenge on Konoha, and is then hunted down by Naruto... who ends up understanding the whole mess and decides not to kill him back, preventing a CycleOfRevenge.]] He commits suicide anyway by [[spoiler:bringing everyone he killed back to life]].

* It didn't work in a Harry Turtledove story where Britain had been conquered and after some tough fighting the Germans had defeated the British Army in India. Non-violent protest proved not to work so well when attempted with an occupying power whose officers are willing to order the machine gunning of your protest march and whose superior officers and government regard that as a fine method to deal with civil disturbance.

** Harry saves Dudley's life at the beginning of the fifth book.