"Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them."
—Dalai Lama XIV
Generosity is one of the greatest virtues. It means putting others first and putting oneself last. Characters are so dedicated for others that they would sacrifice themselves just to let them live. Here's an index of generosity.
Contrast Selfishness Tropes. Compare Responsibility Tropes if selflessness is an obligation. Also compare Humility Tropes, as humility and selflessness tend to go hand-in-hand.
Tropes:
- Act of True Love: Doing something for love of another, even when it would cost you dearly.
- All-Loving Hero: Cares about the happiness and well-being of everyone, even the vile, selfish, or uncaring.
- Armed Altruism: A character giving their sole weapon to someone they want safe in immediate combat.
- Break His Heart to Save Him: Hurting someone you love (and hurting yourself in the process) in order to save them.
- Casual Car Giveaway
- Chaotic Good: No regard for the rules, but all regard for others.
- Chronic Hero Syndrome: Looking out for the welfare of others, even when it's unwise, unhealthy, or driving you into an early grave.
- Contagious Heroism: Being so selfless that others feel compelled to do the same.
- A Doormat to His Men: A leadership figure is so selfless and empathetic that he effectively stops being a leader.
- Draw Aggro: Attracting the attention of something dangerous so other members of your party can recover or escape.
- A Father to His Men: Assuming responsibility for those under your command; earning their respect by making it clear that you value their lives.
- The Four Loves: The fourth love, agape, is love without any self-interest or expectation of reward.
- A Friend in Need
- Friend-or-Idol Decision: Choosing the friend over the idol is a selfless decision.
- Friend to All Children: Children need love...
- Friend to All Living Things: ...and so do animals.
- Go Through Me: "I will make you hurt me before I let you hurt this person behind me."
- Going Down with the Ship
- Good Samaritan
- Greater Need Than Mine
- He Will Not Cry, so I Cry for Him: Taking on another's emotional burdens.
- Hero Does Public Service
- Heroes' Frontier Step: Performing an action so noble, without any sort of personal drive, that it solidifies you as a hero.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Laying down your own life (or health, or happiness) so that others will be spared.
- Holiday Volunteering
- Human Jungle Gym: Large characters letting little children climb up their bodies like a playground.
- I Am Spartacus
- I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Accepting the heartache of letting someone you love find happiness with another person.
- It's Not You, It's Me
- It's Not You, It's My Enemies
- Keep the Reward
- Kindhearted Simpleton: An slow-witted, artless character who cares a lot about their friends and is incredibly well-mannered, well-meaning, altruistic, and compassionate towards everyone.
- Lawful Good
- Martyr Without a Cause
- The Men First
- Messianic Archetype
- The Needs of the Many: You have a large amount of friends who need help; you choose to help the most important one.
- Neutral Good
- Nice Guy
- Overly Generous Fool: A character is so generous with their money that they suffer financially.
- Parental Substitute
- Paying It Forward: A character helps another because someone else helped them in a similar situation before.
- Pet the Dog: Proof that you are not completely evil.
- Prized Possession Giveaway
- Save the Jerk: A heroic character shows off their selflessness by saving someone who's mean to them.
- Selfless Wish: Having a possible opportunity to get something for yourself and using it for others instead.
- Sentimental Sacrifice: Having to destroy something you love for a greater good.
- Shoo the Dog: Sending someone away for their own good.
- Small Steps Hero: Doing all the good deeds first before facing the bad.
- Sweet and Sour Grapes: You got what you desired, but in the end, you realize you don't want it anymore.
- Take Me Instead
- Taking the Bullet: "Don't kill my loved ones! Shoot me instead!"
- Taking the Heat: Willingly taking the blame for something your friend did so they can be let off the hook.
- Think Nothing of It
- Tuck and Cover
- Undying Loyalty: Never abandoning a friend or ally, ever.
- Well-Intentioned Extremist: A character who commits heartless deeds specifically for a noble goal.
- You Shall Not Pass! (done so a friend, family member, or loved one can escape).
