Quotes / Good Is Not Dumb

"Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves."

— Jesus Christ, Matthew 10:16

"What's so funny about Truth, Justice, & the American Way?"

— By Clark Kent, Daily Planet, January 2001.

"You offer one hand, but arm the other. Wise, Shepard."

— Grunt, Mass Effect 2

Lien: So, given the ninja's attraction to Elan—
Therkla: How did you know about that?!?
Lien: Uh, I have eyes? Good, not dumb. Anyway, given that, we kept a close eye on Elan, waiting for you to make contact.
Elan: Why didn't you tell me anything about it, though?
Lien: Because we wanted it to work! Seriously, how many times do I need to go over the "Good, not dumb," thing?

— The Order of the Stick, Strip #584.

"Trust, but verify."

— Ronald Reagan

"Good Is Not Nice, polite, well-mannered, self-righteous, or naïve, though good characters may be some of these things."

— Dungeons & Dragons, The Book of Exalted Deeds

"I didn't get to be the world's richest duck by being stupid!"

— Scrooge McDuck, DuckTales (1987)

Splinter (about Leatherhead): His scars run deep, but they protect a genuine heart; When he awakens, Michelangelo, you must find a way to befriend him. [...]
Donatello: But we are still chaining him up, right?
Splinter: Of course! I am compassionate, not insane!

— Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012)

"I will help all who request it. No matter what, I am here to heal. If anyone requests my aid, I will help them, no matter how I feel about them or what they have done in the past. Now, I don't have to be stupid about it — if a dangerous creature seeks my aid, I can take precautions to protect myself and my friends even as I administer that aid, and I don't always necessarily need to give aid in the particular manner requested. But I am here because people are hurting, and to allow that pain to continue is to betray my Calling."

— Princess: The Hopeful, First Oath of a Mender Princess

Picard: Maxwell was right. Those ships weren't carrying scientific equipment, were they? A "research" station within arm's reach of three Federation sectors? Cargo ships running with high energy subspace fields that jam sensors?
Gul Macet: If you believed the transport ship carried weapons, why didn't you board it as Maxwell requested?
Picard: I was here to protect the peace, a peace I firmly believe is in the interests of both our peoples. But if I had attempted to board that ship, I am quite certain that you and I would not be sitting here now. And that ships on both sides would be arming for war. Take a message to your leaders, Gul Macet: We know. We'll be watching. We'll be ready.

— Star Trek: The Next Generation, "The Wounded"

"If an enemy asks a favour, do not scorn his request. Only keep on your guard, for he is no different from a dog."

— Epicurus

SpongeBob: You just want to be friends so you can get your hands on a Krabby Patty! And I bet it's not even your birthday tomorrow!
Plankton: Gee, and I thought you were stupid.

— SpongeBob SquarePants, "Plankton!"

"You think I'm weak, don't you? All those years ago when we first fell in love... your father would say I was too sweet for my own good. Maybe he was right. You tell me that it's a cruel world... and we're all just running around in circles. I know that. I've been on this earth just as many days as you. When I choose to see the good side of things, I'm not being naive. It is strategic and necessary. It's how I learned to survive through everything. I know you see yourself as a fighter. Well, I see myself as one too. This is how I fight."

— Waymond Wang, Everything Everywhere All at Once

"We're compassionate, not stupid.'

—Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW)

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