Film — Animated
Little John: You know somethin', Robin. I was just wonderin', are we good guys or bad guys? You know, I mean, uh? Our robbin' the rich to feed the poor.
Robin Hood: Rob? Tsk tsk tsk. That's a naughty word, we never rob. We just sort of borrow a bit from those who can afford it.
Little John: Borrow? Boy, are we in debt.
Robin Hood: Rob? Tsk tsk tsk. That's a naughty word, we never rob. We just sort of borrow a bit from those who can afford it.
Little John: Borrow? Boy, are we in debt.
Harley Quinn: We're real Robin Hood types. Rob from the rich, sell to the poor!
Lois Lane: Give to the poor.
Harley Quinn: Huh?
Captain Boomerang: That can't be right...
Lois Lane: Give to the poor.
Harley Quinn: Huh?
Captain Boomerang: That can't be right...
Film — Live-Action
"Now some of you might think that our loyal host intended this treasure for the coffers of Prince John, instead of to ransom the king- and you'd be right. But a strange thing happened. A change of heart overtook him in the forest and there it is safe and sound!"
—Robin Hood, The Adventures of Robin Hood
Reporter: Some folks are sayin' that Parker and Barrow are heroes, callin' 'em Robin Hoods. Are they Robin Hoods, Ma?
Governor "Ma" Ferguson: Did Robin Hood ever shoot a gas station attendant point-blank in the head, for four dollars and a tank of gas?
Governor "Ma" Ferguson: Did Robin Hood ever shoot a gas station attendant point-blank in the head, for four dollars and a tank of gas?
"So I'm finally in the presence of greatness, huh? The Duke. The guy that steals money from the scum of the earth and gives it to the unfortunates of the world."
—Jimmy Serrano to Jonathan Mardukas, Midnight Run
Literature
"I justify my existence by jousting with evil. But I've never defrauded an innocent man or extorted anything from an honest citizen."
"Robin Hood, are you?"
"I'm Diego Vasquez, Mr. Merle. Perhaps I make my own legend but I certainly don't model myself on others'."
"Robin Hood, are you?"
"I'm Diego Vasquez, Mr. Merle. Perhaps I make my own legend but I certainly don't model myself on others'."
— Recoil by Brian Garfield
Live-Action TV
Blackadder: I fail to see why a thief should be idolised just because he has a horse between his legs.
Baldrick: My favourite's The Shadow. What a man! They say he's halfway to being the new Robin Hood.
Blackadder: Why only halfway?
Baldrick: Well, he steals from the rich, but he hasn't got round to giving it to the poor yet.
Baldrick: My favourite's The Shadow. What a man! They say he's halfway to being the new Robin Hood.
Blackadder: Why only halfway?
Baldrick: Well, he steals from the rich, but he hasn't got round to giving it to the poor yet.
— Blackadder, "Amy and Amiability"
He robbed from the rich and he gave to the poor
Stood up to the man and he gave him what-for
Our love for him now ain't hard to explain
The Hero of Canton, the man they call Jayne!
Stood up to the man and he gave him what-for
Our love for him now ain't hard to explain
The Hero of Canton, the man they call Jayne!
—The Ballad of Jayne Cobb, Firefly
Overture: Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, riding through the land/Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, without a merry band/He steals from the poor and gives to the rich/stupid bitch!
Mr. Moore: What was that?
Overture: We said, 'He steals from the poor and gives to the rich'.
Mr. Moore: ...wait a tic. Blimey, this redistribution of wealth is trickier than I thought.
Mr. Moore: What was that?
Overture: We said, 'He steals from the poor and gives to the rich'.
Mr. Moore: ...wait a tic. Blimey, this redistribution of wealth is trickier than I thought.
It ain't what you takin', it's who you takin' it from.
—Omar Little, The Wire
"I keep forgetting about your thing, Frank. Only do unto bad guys. Rob Badass Peter so you can kill Psycho Paul, so on and so forth. What do you call that? Is that a code? I mean, is it a mantra? It's not a mantra, right? Is it an ethos? What if we got you a little pair of green tights and a pointy cap with a feather in it? (Frank Castle laughs)
— Micro, The Punisher (2017), "Resupply"
Tabletop Games
Not all Euthanatoi are killers; you prefer Aces (or Jokers) over Kings. Luck - good or bad — is the hand you deal, and it's much less permanent than death. It's amazing how much sudden poverty can teach a person. On the other hand, your way with fortune helps the needy. Slot machines are child's play, and you get a warm feeling from the shouts of joy you inspire. Lady Luck can flash a dazzling smile.
— The Agent of Fortune, Mage: The Ascension — Tradition Book: Euthanatos
Do not harm the innocent. You cannot fight for justice by unjust means.
Uphold justice where law has failed.
Take the excess from the wealthy to feed the starving. It is no harm to lose money that you do not need. Be true to your fellows. Betrayal is a foul deed, worthy of Greenskins and Beastmen.
Ask no questions of your fellows' pasts. Every Herrimault has his reasons for fighting and should be judged on his actions now.
Reject the Ruinous Powers, and fight against them even alongside tyrants.
Uphold justice where law has failed.
Take the excess from the wealthy to feed the starving. It is no harm to lose money that you do not need. Be true to your fellows. Betrayal is a foul deed, worthy of Greenskins and Beastmen.
Ask no questions of your fellows' pasts. Every Herrimault has his reasons for fighting and should be judged on his actions now.
Reject the Ruinous Powers, and fight against them even alongside tyrants.
—The Code of the Herrimaults, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay: Knights of the Grail: A Guide to Bretonnia
Video Games
Rule number 1: Don't steal from anyone weaker than you.
Rule number 2: Don't steal from anyone poorer than you.
Rule number 3: No stealing from people who are crying.
Rule number 4: Steal people's stuff, but not their dignity.
Rule number 2: Don't steal from anyone poorer than you.
Rule number 3: No stealing from people who are crying.
Rule number 4: Steal people's stuff, but not their dignity.
Jackal the Thief, instructing a young thief-in-training in Bravely Second
PC: Where did you get the credits for all the supplies?
Jolee: Well... we didn't buy all the equipment, per se. Some were happy to donate goods. Some we just, ah, knew had more than they could use...
PC: So you stole it?
Jolee: 'Stole' is such a harsh word. They would have donated those goods readily enough if they were compassionate. I considered it a tax on the greedy.
Jolee: Well... we didn't buy all the equipment, per se. Some were happy to donate goods. Some we just, ah, knew had more than they could use...
PC: So you stole it?
Jolee: 'Stole' is such a harsh word. They would have donated those goods readily enough if they were compassionate. I considered it a tax on the greedy.
Visual Novels
Heroine: ...is that what you do? Steal from the rich to give to the poor?
Sevastian: [shrugs] Why not? the noble I relieved of that purse hardly felt its absence. Whereas it'll feed that vendor's family for a month.
He shakes his head, wistful.
Sevastian: They don't know what they have. They don't care what others don't.
Heroine: So you take it upon yourself to balance the scales?
Sevastian: Something like that.
Sevastian: [shrugs] Why not? the noble I relieved of that purse hardly felt its absence. Whereas it'll feed that vendor's family for a month.
He shakes his head, wistful.
Sevastian: They don't know what they have. They don't care what others don't.
Heroine: So you take it upon yourself to balance the scales?
Sevastian: Something like that.
— Reigning Passions, Sevastian episode 3
Webcomics
Zeke: So what're ya gonna do with the prize money if you win?
Cassiopeia: Eh, give it to some good cause I can't just pinch things for. I never did figure out how to steal parents for space-orphans.
Cassiopeia: Eh, give it to some good cause I can't just pinch things for. I never did figure out how to steal parents for space-orphans.
Web Videos
"I'd be hijacking the palace to plunder the gold and then get back on my stallion
Galloping to papplewick, refunding the broke with the money that the monarchy stole"
Galloping to papplewick, refunding the broke with the money that the monarchy stole"
— Robin Hood, Freshy Kanal, "Robin Hood vs. Guy Fawkes"
Western Animation
Stealing is wrong — unless it's from pirates.
— Katara, Avatar: The Last Airbender
