Frieza: Virginia. Hanging out with little boys in spandex, I see.
Vegeta: Yes.
Vegeta: Yes.
"With the greatest of respect, Sir, the twin of that toy you are transporting took out that Angel in sixty three seconds, with no civilian casualties, no military casualties and minimal collateral damage to the city it was fighting in. Us ‘kids’ have to pilot these things because there isn’t anyone else who can. While our classmates at school are worrying about who they’ll invite to the dance, we are wondering if tomorrow we’ll die as we’re ripped to pieces by something nuclear weapons barely slow down, knowing if we fail, out entire race is going to die. So, respectfully, I’d ask you to show some fucking respect."
— Shinji, Once More with Feeling
"I'm glad you've come to help us, but you're pretty young."
— NPC in Threed, EarthBound (1994)
"Heroes don't send kids to do the job unless they're little tanks. And most kids are, for some unknown reason, ten times stronger than adult heroes. It's like the younger and cuter they are, the worse they're gonna kick your ass. If that was a four year old playing with a kitten out there, I'd offer her your dead body just to be on the safe side."
Frog Ninja, trying (to no avail) to warn his employer off from attacking Sola Flare, Super Stupor
I think all these experiences have been subjecting your body to a harmful amount of stress, and that's affecting your ability to respond to new forms of stress in a healthy way! You've been dealing with genuine threats from such a young age, your body is now responding to minor threats as if your life were in danger!
— Dr. Priyanka Maheswaran, deconstructing this trope, Steven Universe: Future, "Growing Pains"
Peter Parker: I'm sick of Mr. Stark treating me like a kid.
Ned Leeds: But you are a kid.
Peter: Yeah, a kid who can stop a bus with his bare hands!
Ned Leeds: But you are a kid.
Peter: Yeah, a kid who can stop a bus with his bare hands!
"Ugh, old people always doom the world! So it's up to kids to save it!"
—Nunu, League of Legends
Sabriel: I am only eighteen years old on the outside. But I first walked in Death when I was twelve. I encountered a Fifth Gate Rester when I was fourteen and banished it beyond the Ninth Gate. When I was sixteen I stalked and banished a Mordicant that came near the school. A weakened Mordicant, but still... A year ago, I turned the final page of The Book of the Dead. I don't feel young anymore.
Colonel: I am sorry for that.
Colonel: I am sorry for that.
— Old Kingdom: Sabriel
