History Quotes / XanatosGambit

->''"He seemed to have made triumph possible and ruin impossible. At the worst, he would stand as well as he had stood before I crossed his path [...] at best, there would be none left to stand against him."''
-->-- ''Literature/ThePrisonerOfZenda''

->''Littlefinger stroked the neat spike of his beard. "Lysa has woes of her own. Clansmen raiding out of the Mountains of the Moon, in greater numbers than ever before... and better armed."\\
"Distressing," said Tyrion Lannister, who had armed them. "I could help her with that. A word from me ..."''
-->-- ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''

->''"Someone who only wins when he's dealt a great hand of cards is a fool, not a [[TheGambler gambler]]."''
-->-- '''Fortunato''', ''Literature/VoidDogs''

->''"The key to strategy... is not to choose a path to victory, but to choose so that '''all''' paths lead to '''a''' victory."''
-->-- '''Cavilo''', ''Literature/TheVorGame''

->''''"Reason?'' Singular? Dear boy, you really did learn nothing from me, didn't you? Never run with any plan in which there is only one desirable outcome."''
-->-- '''Parson Miles''', ''Literature/TheZombieKnight''

-> ''But there were degrees of misfortune, levels of random chance that her masters were willing to accept -- even encourage. What looked like chaos to an outsider was actually the end result of careful manipulation. Management, for want of a better word. It was, after all, the greatest skill Thorne's masters possessed. To control the uncontrollable, to influence and guide the elements that appeared impossible to govern.''
-->-- ''Literature/DeusExBlackLight''

->'''Owen''': It would seem that your plan has gone awry, sir.\\
'''[[TropeNamers David Xanatos]]''': Not really.

->''"Izaya doesn't care if he dies, he wants society to reject Shizuo. If he beats him, cool. If he dies, then Shizuo's a murderer. No matter what happens, he gets his way."''
-->-- '''Aoba Kuronuma''', ''Literature/{{Durarara}}''

->''"Listen well... when I find myself with a goal, I'm sure to plan out a number of routes to the goal, shall we say. To be exact, I weave my plots years or even decades prior so that I may employ a viable route when the time comes. A route that inevitably achieves my ends."''
-->-- '''All For One''', ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia''

->'''Holt''': With fewer officers at our disposal and none of them trying to hit [=CompStat=] numbers, we made fewer bad arrests. Number of complaints against officers: down 32%. Number of cases thrown out at arraignment for insufficient evidence: down 34%. And here's the most important thing we didn't do: we didn't make the community less safe. Rates of major and violent crime, what actually matters, stayed the same.\\
'''O'Sullivan''': What are you saying?\\
'''Holt''': I'm saying the Nine-Nine just became a case study for how a police force can work better with fewer police.\\
'''O'Sullivan''': Are you actually talking about laying off cops!?\\
'''Holt''': If these numbers persist, I may have no choice.\\
'''O'Sullivan''': Then I'll just end the Blue Flu!\\
'''Holt''': Great, that's what I want.\\
'''O'Sullivan''': Well, then I won't end the Blue Flu.\\
'''Holt''': Great, fewer cops! That's what I want.\\
'''O'Sullivan''': You just said that you--... This is a very frustrating conversation.
-->-- ''Series/BrooklynNineNine'', [[Recap/BrooklynNineNineS8E03BlueFlu "Blue Flu"]]

'''Spock''': Why the challenge, and why you chose my captain as your champion.\\

'''T'Pring''': You have become much known among our people, Spock; almost a legend. And as the years went by, I came to know that I did not want to be [[OvershadowedByAwesome the consort of a legend]]. But by the [[DeliberateValuesDissonance laws of our people]], I could only divorce you by the ''[[DuelToTheDeath kal-if-fee]]''. There was also Stonn, who wanted very much to be ''my'' consort, and I wanted him. If your captain were victor, he would not want me, and so I would have Stonn. If you were victor, you would free me because I had dared to challenge, and again I would have Stonn. But if you did not free me, it would be the same; for you would be gone, and I would have your name and your property, and [[AbsenceMakesTheHeartGoYonder Stonn would still be there]].\\

-->-- '''Aoba Kuronuma''', ''LightNovel/{{Durarara}}''

'''T'Pring''': You have become much known among our people, Spock; almost a legend. And as the years went by, I came to know that I did not want to be [[OvershadowedByAwesome the consort of a legend]]. But by the [[DeliberateValuesDissonance laws of our people]], I could only divorce you by the ''[[DuelToTheDeath kal-if-fee]]''. There was also [[TriangRelations Stonn]], who wanted very much to be ''my'' consort, and I wanted him. If your captain were victor, he would not want me, and so I would have Stonn. If you were victor, you would free me because I had dared to challenge, and again I would have Stonn. But if you did not free me, it would be the same; for you would be gone, and I would have your name and your property, and [[AbsenceMakesTheHeartGoYonder Stonn would still be there]].\\

-->-- '''Church''', ''Machinima/RedVsBlue''

-->== ''WesternAnimation/TheLionGuard''

"Distressing," said Tyrion Lannister, who had armed them. "I could help her with that. A word from me..."''

'''T'Pring''': You have become much known among our people, Spock; almost a legend. And as the years went by, I came to know that I did not want to be [[OvershadowedByAwesome the consort of a legend]]. But by the [[DeliberateValuesDissonance laws of our people]], I could only divorce you by the ''[[DuelToTheDeath kal-if-fee]]''. There was also [[TriangRelations Stonn]], who wanted very much to be ''my'' consort, and I wanted him. If your captain were victor, he would not want me, and so I would have Stonn. If you were victor, you would free me because I had dared to challenge, and again I would have Stonn. But if you did not free me, it would be the same; for you would be gone, and I would have your name and your property, and Stonn would still be there.\\

'''T'Pring''': I am honored.\\

[[folder:Anime]]

-->-- ''[[Literature/TheThrawnTrilogy His Last Command]]''

[[folder:Webcomics]]

-->-- '''Mozenrath''', ''[[WesternAnimation/AladdinTheSeries Aladdin]]''

->Izaya doesn't care if he dies, he wants society to reject Shizuo. If he beats him, cool. If he dies, then Shizuo's a murderer. No matter what happens, he gets his way.

[[folder:Film - Live-Action]]
->'''Hamilton:''' My Lord, the princess might be taken hostage, or her life be put in jeopardy.\\
'''Longshanks:''' My son would be most distressed by that. But if she were to be killed, we would soon find the King of France a useful ally against the Scots. You see, as king, you must find the good in any situation.

-->--''Film/SnakesOnAPlane''

->It's [[BigBad Caesar's]] trump card, his last resort, so even if he loses, he still wins.

->Look what your true goal is, then start looking for the ways to reach it.

->He seemed to have made triumph possible and ruin impossible. At the worst, he would stand as well as he had stood before I crossed his path [...] at best, there would be none left to stand against him.

->Littlefinger stroked the neat spike of his beard. "Lysa has woes of her own. Clansmen raiding out of the Mountains of the Moon, in greater numbers than ever before ... and better armed."\\
"Distressing," said Tyrion Lannister, who had armed them. "I could help her with that. A word from me ..."

->'''Captain Pellaeon:''' We're attacking Mrisst?\\
'''Grand Admiral Thrawn:''' It's certainly ripe for the taking. And a base there would give us the capacity to launch attacks into the very heart of the Rebellion.\\
'''Pellaeon:''' Except that the Rebellion must know this. They'd launch a massive counterattack, sir, if we so much as made a move toward Mrisst.\\
'''Thrawn:''' Exactly. Which means that when we're finally ready to draw the Coruscant sector fleet into ambush, Mrisst will be the perfect lure to use. If they come out to meet us, we'll defeat them then and there. And if they somehow sense the trap and refuse to engage, we'll have our forward base. Either way, the Empire will triumph.

->Someone who only wins when he's dealt a great hand of cards is a fool, not a [[TheGambler gambler.]]

->The key to strategy... is not to choose a path to victory, but to choose so that '''all''' paths lead to '''a''' victory.

->''Reason?'' Singular? Dear boy, you really did learn nothing from me, didn't you? Never run with any plan in which there is only one desirable outcome.

-> But there were degrees of misfortune, levels of random chance that her masters were willing to accept - even encourage. What looked like chaos to an outsider was actually the end result of careful manipulation. Management, for want of a better word. It was, after all, the greatest skill Thorne's masters possessed. To control the uncontrollable, to influence and guide the elements that appeared impossible to govern.

->What I came here to get, I got. Even her. Guess you could call it a bank shot. Yes, I've had a nice day.
-->--'''Bester's''' [[CaptainsLog log]], ''Series/BabylonFive'' ([[{{Recap/BabylonFiveS04E14MomentsOfTransition}} "Moments of Transition"]])

->'''Garak:''' You, on the other hand, seem to have left your retirement far behind. Unless you're simply on a pleasure cruise with your pointed-eared friends...?\\
'''Tain:''' (''to Odo'') Cunning, isn't he? He makes a [[FantasticSlurs racial slur]] within earshot of two Romulans, putting me in the position of either defending them -- thus [[YouJustToldMe giving away my allegiance]] to them -- or letting the comment pass, in which case he's managed to [[DivideAndConquer plant a seed of discord]] between us.
-->-- ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', "Improbable Cause"

->'''Spock:''' T'Pring, explain.\\
'''T'Pring:''' Specify.\\
'''Spock:''' Why the challenge, and why you chose my captain as your champion.\\
'''T'Pring:''' Stonn wanted me; I wanted him.\\
'''Spock:''' I see no logic in preferring Stonn over me.\\
'''T'Pring:''' You have become much known among our people, Spock; almost a legend. And as the years went by, I came to know that I did not want to be [[OvershadowedByAwesome the consort of a legend]]. But by the [[ValuesDissonance laws of our people]], I could only divorce you by the ''[[DuelToTheDeath kal-if-fee]]''. There was also [[TriangRelations Stonn]], who wanted very much to be ''my'' consort, and I wanted him. If your captain were victor, he would not want me, and so I would have Stonn. If you were victor, you would free me because I had dared to challenge, and again I would have Stonn. But if you did not free me, it would be the same; for you would be gone, and I would have your name and your property, and Stonn would still be there.\\
'''Spock:''' [[GracefulLoser Logical. Flawlessly logical.]]\\
'''T'Pring:''' I am honoured.\\
'''Spock:''' Stonn -- she is yours. After a time, you may find that ''having'' is [[WantingIsBetterThanHaving not so pleasing a thing, after all]], as ''wanting''. It is not logical, but it is often true.

->There is a small [[CallARabbitASmeerp rahi,]] called a Water Wraith. So small, so insignificant is it, that larger fish do not even consider it a worthy meal. But every now and then, a bold water wraith will attack a fish much larger and more powerful than it. It is a one sided battle, of course, that ends with the poor Water Wraith in the mouth of its foe. Of course, what the larger fish quickly discovers is that the outer shell of a water wraith is coated with deadly poison. The larger fish dies instantly and the water wraith escapes to feast for months on its foolish and very dead opponent. Sometimes, my brothers, the best way, the only way to win... is by losing.

->Little Toa, you have not yet begun to see even the barest outlines of my plans. I have schemes within schemes that would boggle your feeble mind. You may counter one, but there are a thousand more of which you know nothing. Even my... setbacks... are planned for, and so I shall win in the end.

->Every way makes my gain.

->They have seen all of history, all of its possibilities. They have seen all the endings. But they must know, the goddess Etro is already dead. Her end is final. No man, woman, or god can bring her back now. Ignorant and blind to their true mission, they did exactly what I wanted.

->You are just one of many roads I might choose to take. Trust me. I made certain of that.

->'''Eraqus:''' You never admit when you lose.\\
'''Xehanort:''' That's because I never lose.

->Thirty years hence, I am presented with a dilemma - let's call it a two-sided coin. If the coin falls one way, I sacrifice myself and thus restore the Pillars. But as the last surviving vampire in Nosgoth, this would mean the annihilation of our species. If the coin lands on the reverse, I refuse the sacrifice and thus doom the Pillars to an eternity of collapse. Either way, the game is rigged. [...] But suppose you throw a coin enough times. [[SubvertedTrope Suppose one day]]... [[TakeAThirdOption it lands on its]] ''[[HeadsTailsEdge edge]]''.

->I've lost time and time again... but now, I've finally won. Look! We launched them off safely. There's my victory. As long as they're in the air, I haven't lost. And I know they'll succeed.

->All I had to do was entrust the last Crystal Star to my least competent underling! I don't suppose Crump had any idea of my plan, though! Gaaack ack ack ack ack! So, whether he beat you or lost to you... The Crystal Stars would be together and mine either way! Pure genius!

->Let us assume that Franchise/{{Batman}} ''wins''. [[ComicBook/DoctorDoom Doom]]'s machinations are such that even ''if'' Batman manages to be triumphant, his victory will only come about in a way that somehow furthers Doom's overall villainous schemes.

->That's nothing, because MY plan included everything in your plan, but also some other stuff that gives me the upper hand after all!

->'''Parson:''' Ansom is bound to capture me for you? That's what I'm guessing, anyway.\\
'''Charlie:''' Good guess. Yes, you and your artifact, of course.\\
'''Charlie:''' When you're working for Charlescomm, you'll learn. We prefer to play games that don't even ''contain'' a losing outcome. You see?\\
'''Parson:''' Yeah, yeah... You turned it into a no-lose situation by rejoining him.\\
'''Charlie:''' Oh, no!\\
'''Charlie:''' No, I got ''paid'' to turn it into a no lose situation. :)\\
'''Parson:''' :P
-->--''Webcomic/{{Erfworld}}''

'''Tarquin:''' [[GracefulLoser Hey, I know a daring escape when I see one.]] Besides, the crowd LOVES that stuff. Listen to them cheer. Good thing, too. These [[GladiatorGames games]] were starting to suck.\\

'''Tarquin:''' See? Why should I get upset, they paid for these entire games and-\\

->[[Wrestling/TheUndertaker Taker]] is a master of Mind Games, his entire career shows that. And he's also a man to [not] ignore unpleasant possibilities. He'll plan for any occasion, he'll have back ups and back ups for back ups. I guess he might have a back up for the back up of the back up, but that's merely confusing speculation.

->It's like, even when we win... ''he'' wins.

->You know, I look at it this way: either A, we go through there, and get the flag back, or B, we stay here, and I get to kill you. Either way, I win.

->Win/Win for me... Win/[[YouHaveFailedMe LOSE]] for you.

->So even in defeat, [[Franchise/{{Batman}} the detective]] manages to achieve some small measure of victory...
-->-- '''Ra's Al Ghul''', ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', "Off Balance"

->'''Norman Osborn:''' Something occurs to me -- either Spider-Man is destroyed, or you get Oscorp. Whatever happens, ''[[HeadsIWinTailsYouLose you win]]''.\\
'''Kingpin:''' That's why ''I'm'' the Kingpin.
-->-- ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries'', "The Spider Slayer"

->'''Agent Kallus:''' You seem in surprisingly good spirts, considering this loss.\\
'''Grand Admiral Thrawn:''' Loss, you say? The rebels may have protected the location of their base for now, but in doing so they have narrowed my search. Before today, they could have been hiding in any of a thousand systems. But now...now I know they are almost certainly on one of the 94 planets surveyed by my infiltrators. The rebels have won this battle, but the war will be ours.

->Hence the skillful fighter puts himself into a position which makes defeat impossible, and does not miss the moment for defeating the enemy. Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won.

->We didn’t call it the Xanatos Gambit back in the day. We called them Xanatos tags, because it was always a tag at the end of an episode. It tickles me beyond belief that the trope is named after us. I have no idea whether we created it — there must be somebody before us who did it — but we definitely honed it. [Laughs] Part of it was in discussions with myself, Michael Reaves, and [supervising producer] Frank Paur. We didn’t want our villains to decay. We wanted Xanatos to be smart in a way that we hadn’t seen villains be in the past. I didn’t want him to be petty, that was the main thing. I didn’t want him to be vengeful.\\\
We sometimes would play into the notion that Xanatos was trying to take vengeance, and then we’d do a twist on it, you’d find out it wasn’t him after all, and the real Xanatos didn’t give a damn about vengeance. There’s a moment when he’s got the gargoyles pinned down in a deathtrap, and he’s like, “This is my first real attempt at cliché villainy. How am I doing?” The idea was that he had his goals, and if the gargoyles got in the way, they were expendable. But all else being equal, he’d rather keep them alive, because you can’t exploit something you’ve killed. And Xanatos was all about this exploitation, all about preparation. So he would have a plan A and a plan B. And then we did one episode where he has plans C, D, and E.\\\
That idea of keeping him smart, and saying “I’m going to feint left, because what I want here is to the right, and if I get the left and the right, that’s great, but at minimum, I’ll get the right” — that notion became an essential part of his personality. One of the things I’m proudest about in the show is that Xanatos and Demona, who are very different, feel like truly original villains, of a kind I just don’t think had been seen on TV up to that point. There have been more like them since then, but back then, I think they were pretty unique and special.
-->--Thoughts from ''Gargoyles'' creator '''Greg Weisman''' on his show being the {{Trope Namer|s}} as published in a ''Polygon'' article on May 14, 2020, titled ''[[https://www.polygon.com/disney-plus/2020/5/14/21249881/gargoyles-animated-series-disney-plus-greg-weisman-interview-oj-simpson-goliath-chronicles Gargoyles was nearly the center of a vast Disney Cinematic Universe]]''.

'''T'Pring:''' You have become much known among our people, Spock; almost a legend. And as the years went by, I came to know that I did not want to be [[OvershadowedByAwesome the consort of a legend]]. But by the [[ValuesDissonance laws of our people]], I could only divorce you by the ''[[DuelToTheDeath kal-if-fee]]''. There was also [[TriangRelations Stonn]], who wanted very much to be ''my'' consort, and I wanted him. If your captain were victor, he would not want me, and so I would have Stonn. If you were victor, you would free me because I had dared to challenge, and again I would have Stonn. But if you did not free me, it would be the same; for you would be gone, and I would have your name and your property, and [[YourCheatingHeart Stonn would still be there]].\\

'''T'Pring:''' You have become much known among our people, Spock; almost a legend. And as the years went by, I came to know that I did not want to be [[OvershadowedByAwesome the consort of a legend]]. But by the [[ValuesDissonance laws of our people]], I could only divorce you by the ''[[DuelToTheDeath kal-if-fee]]''. There was also [[TriangRelations Stonn]], who wanted very much to be ''my'' consort, and I wanted him. If your captain were victor, he would not want me, and so I would have Stonn. If you were victor, you would free me because I had dared to challenge, and again I would have Stonn. But if you did not free me, it would be the same; for you would be gone, and I would have your name and your property, and Stonn would still be there.\\