All spoilers are unmarked. You Have Been Warned!
These suave, smart bastards have some accordingly eloquent things to say about their achievements, as seen below:
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Anime & Manga
"Become strong like a demon. Become crafty like a demon. You must realize that there is no way to withstand ruthlessness other than by becoming ruthless."
— Dordoni Alessandro Del Socaccio to Ichigo Kurosaki, Bleach
"So long as there are children who can smile innocently as they happily eat sweets, I have a positive opinion of this world. To that end, I have deceived, betrayed, and spilled blood. And I'll likely continue to do so. If that isn't enough, I'll resort to higher reason."
— Cardinal Moldeen Ogus Gyunei, Dances with the Dragons
"How utterly stupid. Why would I fight one-on-one? All I want is the Red Stone. My goal is to be the ultimate lifeform. I am not a warrior like Wamuu, nor am I a romantic. No matter the method, in the end... victory is all that matters!"
"So, an act of disrespect is justification for murder in your book, huh? I see now. You taught me a very important lesson. Which is handy, since you disrespected the life of that innocent old man. I took the liberty of changing one of your guns into your favorite snack. It's your last meal, Polpo. Hope you enjoy it."
"We don't indulge in empty threats or self-coddling compliments to hide our feeble shortcomings. Our breed doesn't need the aid of such lowbrow extravagances to enhance a battle performance. For the moment we visualize the death of our enemy... their fate is sealed! They cannot escape the inevitable!"
— Prosciutto, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind
"I won't try to dress it up. At their base, humans are no different from a flock of pigeons. If one bird flies right, they all go right. Every last one of them don't try to see anything but their own gain and their own hubris. They're all just an assembly of pretenders. For those kinds of people, it may have been all right for my mother's death to be swept under the rug, but... I will have them pretend even more; I will stand far above from that flock of pigeons, and I will control them! That will be because of all of you, and everything will start from when I kill the President... now!"
— Diego "Dio" Brando, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run
Chaud: "So, quite an involved plan, distract everyone with hypnotized models while you steal data. Seems like you thought of everything. Of course, you overlooked me."
Ms. Yuri: "I thought you'd be out of the picture with your NetNavi gone."
Chaud: "There's no time for feeling sorry for myself with Nebula around."
Ms. Yuri: "Ah well, I'll still win. After I take that password from you." snaps fingers, signaling hypnotized models to attack Chaud "Sooner or later, I always win."
"If it's my fate to be shot down by you, I thought this place would be appropriate... However, it doesn't look like there's any chance of that happening."
— Rau Le Creuset, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
"Baransha, what's the absolute toughest obstacle to always overcome in any one particular hunt? [...] That's right, the brain! It controls how they cleverly trick the hunter and try to run away from him. And, in the end, how they counterattack. Now let's see how smart they are, and we'll see where he's going to run, how he's going to hide, and how he's going to fight."
— Garza, Zatch Bell!
Comic Books
"What freak of nature produced this creature... put such mass and strength at the disposal of a criminal genius? His presence seems to charge the air around him, commanding attention — and obedience. It's almost hypnotic..."
"You wonder why I saved your life, do you not? Consider it an illustration — of the true nature of our relationship. Your attack on Injun Joe has served to quell a mutiny in my organization. It demonstrated to the mobs that you are a common enemy, against whom they need protection— protection that I provide. Consider also, Daredevil, that when needed to find this hideout, you did not contact the police. You came to me. We need each other, Daredevil. We are partners, after a fashion. We are the power in this city."
"You still see us as villains in a Saturday morning cartoon. I understand that Tomax and Xamot had you engaged in all manner of mayhem. They found ways to create as much carnage as possible while maintaining a legitimate business. That's their temperament. You'll find it's NOT mine. The key to success is to consider every possible road toward it, and let nothing—not morality, law, or personal preference—influence your choice of the best one. You'll be surprised by how often that road is not a violent one."
— Cobra Commander, G.I. Joe (IDW)
"My talent's for lying. For sticking the knife in when people least expect it. Then walking away with a smile and a wave before they even realize they're bleeding."
"They used to call the devil the father of lies. But for someone whose sin is meant to be pride, you'd think that lying would leave something of a sour taste. So my theory is that when the devil wants to get something out of you, he doesn't lie at all. He tells you the exact, literal truth. And he lets you find your own way to hell."
— Mr. Easterman on Lucifer Morningstar, Lucifer
Surtur: But Malekith said you had agreed to withhold your support from Asgard!
Loki: I believe I did say something of the sort to him at the time but you know how it is with schemers...they are the easiest to deceive. And you, Surtur, for all your vast power, are simply an elemental force! Subtlety of conception is beyond you. Even my stepfather, Odin, read you correctly. 'Twas not difficult to see that your true goal was not what Malekith claimed, the destruction of Asgard which I could readily agree to...but the destruction of everything! And of what use is that to me? Why aspire to become the lord of all I survey... if all I survey is a burned out cinder?
Loki: I believe I did say something of the sort to him at the time but you know how it is with schemers...they are the easiest to deceive. And you, Surtur, for all your vast power, are simply an elemental force! Subtlety of conception is beyond you. Even my stepfather, Odin, read you correctly. 'Twas not difficult to see that your true goal was not what Malekith claimed, the destruction of Asgard which I could readily agree to...but the destruction of everything! And of what use is that to me? Why aspire to become the lord of all I survey... if all I survey is a burned out cinder?
"I live by three simple rules: 1) Order your existence in a way which is necessary to meet your needs. 2) Surround yourself with people that can be manipulated. 3) In every conquest, find a way to be victorious."
— Professor James Moriarty, Moriarty
"Everything that happened here, your pain and suffering was as I commanded it to be. To harden you, Spider-Man. To forge you into something worthy of battling Kraven the Hunter. I came back from the dead to bag the ultimate prize... and it finally stands before me."
— Sergei "Kraven the Hunter" Kravinoff, Spider-Man: Grim Hunt
"I'm going to miss Claude. Fantastic manservant. He made a terrible Hobgoblin, but he made the best bouillabaisse. But some sacrifices have to be made. Just not self-sacrifices. Ah well. Time to lay low again. To plan. To scheme. To rise anew. Have your victory today, Osborn. You earned it. To you, my old foe. And to Goblins everywhere."
— Roderick Kingsley, Superior Spider Man
V: You and me Evey. You and me against the world! Ha ha ha ha! Melodrama, Evey! Isn't it strange how life turns into melodrama?
Evey: That's very important to you, isn't it? All that theatrical stuff.
V: It's everything, Evey. The perfect entrance, the grand illusion. It's everything. And I'm going to bring the house down.
Evey: That's very important to you, isn't it? All that theatrical stuff.
V: It's everything, Evey. The perfect entrance, the grand illusion. It's everything. And I'm going to bring the house down.
Evey: V? You're almost finished, aren't you?
V: See for yourself. The pieces are set out before me, perfectly aligned. Complete, one may at last grasp their design; their grand significance. But "almost finished"...? Yes. Yes, I suppose I am.
V: See for yourself. The pieces are set out before me, perfectly aligned. Complete, one may at last grasp their design; their grand significance. But "almost finished"...? Yes. Yes, I suppose I am.
"Dan, I'm not a Republic serial villain. Do you seriously think I'd explain my master-stroke if there remained the slightest chance of you affecting its outcome? I did it thirty five minutes ago."
— Ozymandias, Watchmen
"Nazis? Do I look like a failed artist with a neurotic grudge against his father and the world? I am a force of nature, boy. I am Magneto."
"Well played, Sonic. I should expect nothing less from my double. But I have won today. I know Eggman is alive while you have learned nothing of my plans. Keep us in the air and on course. We'll rendezvous with the fleet as scheduled. (...) Bring all ships into formation. Begin the docking procedures. Take all the time you want, Sonic. I've already won."
— Neo Metal Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW)
"I am Neo Metal Sonic. I am Dr. Eggman's greatest creation. I am Sonic the Hedgehog— perfected. I have used the Egg Fleet to conquer Angel Island. I have secured the Master Emerald— the most powerful gemstone in the world. I have baited the 'heroes' into bringing me the last thing I need for my ascension. I have won!"
— Neo Metal Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW)
Fan Works
Emerald Sustrai: What's there to understand? You belong to me and I belong to Cinder.
Jaune Ashari: And yet there is nothing to stop me from killing Cinder, is there? The only reason I haven't is because of you, but if she keeps pushing...
Emerald: You can't.
Ashari: I can't? Oh Em, you're so funny. You really do think she's the be all and end all, don't you? Cinder isn't strong, Em. Not compared to Tyrian or Hazel, and I killed them. I killed Salem too. There's not much she Cinder could do to stop me if I decided to end her.
Emerald: You're lying! You're just... You're jealous! Cinder is amazing, strong, kind and-
Ashari: Shall we go back and test that right now? Come on. I'll go slit her throat and show you. Or... You and I can have a nice, peaceful chat over a few drinks and snacks and work things out. It's that or I get rid of Cinder. Your choice.
Jaune Ashari: And yet there is nothing to stop me from killing Cinder, is there? The only reason I haven't is because of you, but if she keeps pushing...
Emerald: You can't.
Ashari: I can't? Oh Em, you're so funny. You really do think she's the be all and end all, don't you? Cinder isn't strong, Em. Not compared to Tyrian or Hazel, and I killed them. I killed Salem too. There's not much she Cinder could do to stop me if I decided to end her.
Emerald: You're lying! You're just... You're jealous! Cinder is amazing, strong, kind and-
Ashari: Shall we go back and test that right now? Come on. I'll go slit her throat and show you. Or... You and I can have a nice, peaceful chat over a few drinks and snacks and work things out. It's that or I get rid of Cinder. Your choice.
"Justin, The Eye Candy. Justin was underestimated early on due to his dainty stature, but quickly proved his team wrong and showed that he could hold his own. Determined to secure his own safety, Justin was not afraid to play dirty. After quite a few early-game schemes, Justin settled down a bit when the stakes were raised when the teams dissolved, as surely him being exposed would've meant a literal death sentence. He formed a friendship with long-term ally Trent but other than that kept his distance from his peers. He flew through different allies after Trent's death and slid his way to the finale. His dastardly deeds went noticed by all his fellow competitors, and even now Geoff believes Justin to be a genuinely good person. And maybe he is."
— Despair Island, Chapter 28
"You listen well, Taurus, I’m not a stupid thug for you to boss around. I’m not a common criminal. I am beyond that. When I talk, people listen. You listen. When I shout, rooms go silent. I am the kind of man who will hand you a calling card if I pickpocket you. I don’t just practice crime. I’m not a walking slaughterhouse like you, no, but I’m something better. I don’t just kill and break, I steal. I preserve. What I lack in pure stopping power, I more than make up for in audacity! I’m as much a showman as a crook, Adam. Something you’ll never understand with your single-minded focus on destruction. So, let me tell you this, and you will listen like any other person. I am Roman fucking Torchwick, and if your men lay so much as a finger on Ruby Rose, I want that finger delivered to me in the mail. If you step within thirty feet, thirty miles of Beacon Academy, you will shed tears of scarlet from both eyes."
— Roman Torchwick to Adam Taurus, Paths of Remnant
Sabrina: You need more Pokémon here to fight my Mega Alakazam, yet that would lead to the melee of Pokémon your Pokédex brought in faltering. Yet it would be so easy if you would just fight with everything you have instead of having some silly restriction upon yourself.
Ash: If I do that, you win.
Sabrina: And is that so bad? I win all the time, I win whenever challengers prove themselves worthy, and I win when they don't.
Ash: If I do that, you win.
Sabrina: And is that so bad? I win all the time, I win whenever challengers prove themselves worthy, and I win when they don't.
"This letter is proof to you that I knew in advance your plans — perhaps better than you, yourself, even did. After all we've been through, I'll ask you not insult me by underestimating my capability. After all, if I could plan for this, then do you really think I can't plan a contingency for if you were to betray me and harm them?"
"Human behaviour is fascinating, you see? If you're good at anticipating the human mind, you leave next to nothing to chance. That's what John (Kramer) used to say."
— Lucy/Kaede and John Kramer, Purpose
"You cannot win against me, Ike. It's impossible. And do you know why? You said it yourself earlier. There are some things you won't do in order to win. Things that you won't consider, not matter how dire the situation is. However, I do not have that weakness... not anymore.
— Elincia, Queen of Sorrow
"I will be a different kind of enemy. I have no sense of honor anymore, and I am assuredly not mad. I don't expect you to fully grasp this here and now, but when you take up arms against me alongside the laguz, you will remember my words from tonight and you will realize that you are facing certain death. And if Titania was right, you will run away and save yourself."
— Elincia, Queen of Sorrow
"We'll figure something out or more likely she will. Sato doesn't seem like the kind of woman who does anything unless she's already got a plan."
Hinata Hyuuga: No... It was impossible...
Neji Hyuuga: Why would I wear a mark demonstrating my subservience to the Hyuuga? I threw off those shackles years ago.
Hinata: Not all shackles can simply be thrown off! The caged bird seal only breaks upon death! How...how did you...
Neji: Still so set in your ways. You; the one I've chosen to challenge me? I too once believed that some things could never be done, but I soon learned that was folly. There is only one fate, one future, one true worldline. But we hardly know that now. We can only believe. And the universe does not care what you believe to be impossible.
Neji Hyuuga: Why would I wear a mark demonstrating my subservience to the Hyuuga? I threw off those shackles years ago.
Hinata: Not all shackles can simply be thrown off! The caged bird seal only breaks upon death! How...how did you...
Neji: Still so set in your ways. You; the one I've chosen to challenge me? I too once believed that some things could never be done, but I soon learned that was folly. There is only one fate, one future, one true worldline. But we hardly know that now. We can only believe. And the universe does not care what you believe to be impossible.
Obito Uchiha: You...You played me like a damn fiddle!
Madara Uchiha: No, fiddles require skill. I played you like a ryo-store slide whistle.
Madara Uchiha: No, fiddles require skill. I played you like a ryo-store slide whistle.
Madara Uchiha: Plan seven-A; absorb Hashirama's sage mode, combine it with my other powers, and use it to kill Obito once he was done with you all. Plan seven-B; if you win, kill you all. Plan seven-C; if you win and Obito is smart enough to try and bring me back, use sage mode to survive until I get his Rinnegan.
Sasuke Uchiha: You planned for this?
Madara: No, my original plan was much simpler. This is what I call "pre-emptive improvisation."
Sasuke Uchiha: You planned for this?
Madara: No, my original plan was much simpler. This is what I call "pre-emptive improvisation."
Film — Animated
Red Hood: Black Mask is just a part of the plan.
Batman: Plan? You're becoming a crime lord!
Red Hood: Yes! You can't stop crime. That's what you never understood. I'm controlling it. You wanna rule them by fear, but what do you do with the ones who aren't afraid? I'm doing what you won't, I'm taking them out!
Batman: Plan? You're becoming a crime lord!
Red Hood: Yes! You can't stop crime. That's what you never understood. I'm controlling it. You wanna rule them by fear, but what do you do with the ones who aren't afraid? I'm doing what you won't, I'm taking them out!
Red Hood: You've always had my attention. But what I really wanted was an audience with you!
The Joker: I'm sorry, that seems to imply that YOU organized this little flambé.
Red Hood: I did. Sure, I had lots of plans. But the endgame was getting Black Mask so desperate that he'd cut a deal. He was the only one with the connections to get into Arkham, and get you out.
The Joker: I'm sorry, that seems to imply that YOU organized this little flambé.
Red Hood: I did. Sure, I had lots of plans. But the endgame was getting Black Mask so desperate that he'd cut a deal. He was the only one with the connections to get into Arkham, and get you out.
"The only way to operate out here is by fear. They hit, I hit harder. They attack, I annihilate. I am the one constant, unassailable force against their chaos and you made them forget that. You think I enjoy this? Look at the universe the Guardians have created. We have the greatest power in the cosmos and what have they made us? Garbage collectors! We pick up the trash. A thief here, a killer there. Scum, dirt, filth! There's no end to it, but there could be. It's my dream that one day all of this rot will be wiped away. A new order will prevail, one that will end the chaos but it won't be built by the faint of heart."
"Go ahead. Send your supers to stop me. Grab your snacks, watch your screens, and see what happens. You are no longer in control. I am."
— Screenslaver/Evelyn Deavor, Incredibles 2
"Now watch closely, everyone. I'm going to show you how to kill a god. A god of life and death. The trick is not to fear him."
— Lady Eboshi, Princess Mononoke
"So it was here the first law was written in stone
It was named and proclaimed as a truth to be known
Our world is an island, it floats on a sea of endless clouds
That's how we would be
And then we wrote more laws, more rules to obey
For the sake of us all it was the only way
To protect us from all of the human ravages
Heaped upon us by those human savages"
It was named and proclaimed as a truth to be known
Our world is an island, it floats on a sea of endless clouds
That's how we would be
And then we wrote more laws, more rules to obey
For the sake of us all it was the only way
To protect us from all of the human ravages
Heaped upon us by those human savages"
— The Stonekeeper, Smallfoot
"Well played. Had the Kryptonian or the Amazon taken that gamble, they would have lost. They do not have the strength of character to destroy an entire planet to achieve success. But you? A human? You kill your own kind to win battles; an admirable quality."
Film — Live Action
"I know what it's like to lose. To feel so desperately that you're right, yet to fail nonetheless. It's frightening, turns the legs to jelly. But I ask you, to what end? Dread it, run from it... destiny arrives all the same. And now it's here. Or should I say, I am."
Ra's al Ghul: Crime. Despair. This was not how man was supposed to live. The League of Shadows has been a check against human corruption for thousands of years. We sacked Rome, loaded trade ships with plague rats. Burned London to the ground. Every time a civilization reaches the pinnacle of its decadence, we return to restore the balance.
Bruce Wayne: Gotham isn't beyond saving. Give me more time. There are are good people here.
Ra's al Ghul: You are defending a city so corrupt, we have infiltrated every level of its infrastructure. When I found you in that jail, you were lost. But I believed in you. I took away your fear, and showed you a path. You were my greatest student. It should be you standing by my side, saving the world.
Bruce Wayne: Gotham isn't beyond saving. Give me more time. There are are good people here.
Ra's al Ghul: You are defending a city so corrupt, we have infiltrated every level of its infrastructure. When I found you in that jail, you were lost. But I believed in you. I took away your fear, and showed you a path. You were my greatest student. It should be you standing by my side, saving the world.
"See, I took a seat on the Council not because I wanted to but because Nick asked me to, because we were both realists. We knew that despite all the diplomacy and the handshaking and the rhetoric, that to build a really better world sometimes means having to tear the old one down. And that makes enemies."
— Alexander Pierce, Captain America: The Winter Soldier
"My father lived outside the city. I thought they would be safe there. My son was excited; he could see the Iron Man from the car window. I told my wife, "Don't worry. They're fighting in the city. We're miles from harm". And the dust cleared... and the screaming stopped... it took me two days until I found their bodies. My father... still holding my wife and son in his arms. And the Avengers? They went home. I knew I couldn't kill them; more powerful men than me have tried. But if I could get them to kill each other... I'm sorry about your father. He seemed a good man, with a dutiful son."
"We take Gotham from the corrupt! The rich! The oppressors of generations who have kept you down with myths of opportunity and we give it back to you...the people. Gotham is yours. None shall interfere. Do as you please. But start by storming Blackgate, and freeing the oppressed! Step forward those who would serve. For an army will be raised. The powerful will be ripped from their decadent nests, and cast out into the cold world that we know and endure. Courts will be convened. Spoils will be enjoyed. Blood will be shed. The police will survive, as they learn to serve true justice. This great city... it will endure. Gotham will survive!"
"You see, it's the slow knife... the knife that takes its time, the knife that waits years without forgetting, then slips quietly between the bones... that's the knife that cuts deepest."
"But I was very very impressed by how intently you tried to warn me. I never thought I would say this, Andrea, but I really, I see a great deal of myself in you. You can see beyond what people want, and what they need and you can choose for yourself."
— Miranda Priestly, The Devil Wears Prada
"I wanted this to be professional, efficient, adult, cooperative. Not a lot to ask. Alas, your Mr. Takagi did not see it that way... so he won't be joining us for the rest of his life. We can go any way you want it. You can walk out of here or be carried out. But have no illusions. We are in charge. So, decide now, each of you. And please remember: we have left nothing to chance."
— Hans Gruber, Die Hard
"The pay phone beyond Hope Tompkins Square Park. Twenty minutes. Go by foot; no rush. If you're really clever, you'll learn the location of the bomb and the code to disarm it. Oh, and by the way, gentlemen, we got something of a bargain on radio detonators. The only problem is the darn things seem to respond to police and FBI frequencies. So if I were you, I'd keep off your radios."
— Simon Gruber, Die Hard with a Vengeance
Freddy Benson: Oh, lousy… She is disgusting, she is lying, she is deceitful, she is two-faced, she is conniving, and she is dishonest!
Lawrence Jamieson: Yes, isn’t she wonderful?
Lawrence Jamieson: Yes, isn’t she wonderful?
— Freddy and Lawrence describing Janet Colgate, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
"You know, when I was young, my brother always used to say, 'Every man has to have a code.' Mine? Precision. A team is nothing but pieces you switch out until you get the job done. It's efficient. It works."
— Owen Shaw, Fast & Furious 6
"You thought that you could use their purge to take my ass out, but... Didn't anybody tell you, A? I don't know how to die! You don't purge me, man, I purge you. In plain sight."
— Dmitri "D" Cimber, The First Purge
"His name is Mickey Pearson. Unique background has our Mickey. American born, Rhodes scholar, so he's born clever but poor. Now, that's quite a leap from a trailer park in Americana to the thousand-year-old university in old Angleterre, where he studies the dark art of horticulture. But he never finished his education, never went home, because he found his vocation. A naughty vocation. He's a bad boy. He starts dealing the dirty wonder weed to his rich, British, upper-class uni pals and realizes he's rather good at it. He's clear and objective about ambition and he can surf the echelons of our complicated culture. He knew how to take advantage of his advantage. He was a hungry animal, you see. He was powerful and ruthless, cunning and quick, charismatic and smart, but he had to do some naughty things to get where he got, to establish his position, to show he wasn't just teeth, tits and tan."
— Fletcher on Michael "Mickey" Pearson, The Gentlemen
"Of course we were aware of what Matthew was up to. We're not complete fucking idiots. I've been onto you for a long time, Fletcher. I knew you'd been following Michael. They're very similar, our jobs. Only I'm better at it than you are. I knew when you came over that night that you'd only be there for half an hour to tell me how clever you are and try to blackmail us. I also knew you couldn't resist a £1500 single malt, an £80 Wagyu steak and a state-of-the-art smokeless barbie that even keeps your feet warm. And when the Scotch got into your cold veins, you lost the benefit of your sharp instincts. See, I kept you there because I needed to know about Matthew and Dry Eye. Took us a while to find your insurance policies. Because you're a naughty squirrel, Fletcher. But it was made a lot easier after I planted a tracker in your shoe. You're never gonna be a predator with us, Fletcher. You're always gonna be prey."
— Raymond Smith to Fletcher, The Gentlemen
"We may all feel ashamed of ourselves to admit this, but there's a certain allure about Dr. Lecter that draws us in. Be it for his incisive articulation or for his exceptional olfactory sense (he is able to tell Clarice Starling’s brand of perfume), he does leave an indelible mark on us as readers as well as viewers. The whole world is privy to Dr. Lecter's diabolical flair for feeding on people and finding their frailties and secrets."
— Entertainism on Dr. Hannibal Lecter
on Dr. Hannibal Lecter"My name is Dalton Russell. Pay strict attention to what I say because I choose my words carefully and I never repeat myself. I've told you my name: that's the "who". The "where" could most readily be described as a prison cell. But there's a vast difference between being stuck in a tiny cell and being in prison. The "what" is easy: Recently I planned and set in motion events to execute the perfect bank robbery. That's also the "when". As for the "why": Beyond the obvious financial motivation, it's exceedingly simple... because I can. Which leaves us only with the "how"; and therein, as the Bard would tell us, lies the rub."
— Dalton Russell, Inside Man.
"If you could make God bleed, people would cease to believe in Him. There will be blood in the water, the sharks will come. All I have to do is sit back and watch as the world consumes you."
— Ivan Vanko, Iron Man 2
"As your leader, I encourage you from time to time, and always in a respectful manner, to question my logic. If you're unconvinced that a particular plan of action I've decided is the wisest, tell me so, but allow me to convince you and I promise you right here and now, no subject will ever be taboo. Except, of course, the subject that was just under discussion. The price you pay for bringing up either my Chinese or American heritage as a negative is — I collect your fucking head."
— O-Ren Ishii, Kill Bill
John Frazier: Thank you for calling. I was gonna call you.
Debbie Ocean: Yeah, I didn't do it.
John: Of course not. You were just on camera 20 feet away while the jewels were being nicked. It's a coincidence.
Debbie: No. That's a solid alibi.
Debbie Ocean: Yeah, I didn't do it.
John: Of course not. You were just on camera 20 feet away while the jewels were being nicked. It's a coincidence.
Debbie: No. That's a solid alibi.
"First task: reconnaissance. I want to know everything that's going on in all three casinos, the rotation of the dealers, the path of every cash cart, I want to know about everything about every guard and every watcher, anyone with a security pass, I want to know where they're from, what their nicknames are, how they take their coffee, most of all, I want you guys to know these casinos, they're built to keep people in, I want you guys to know the quick routes out. Third task, surveillance: Casino security has an eye and ear on everyone, so we want an eye and ear on them."
— Danny Ocean, Ocean's Eleven
"Me, I'm dishonest. And a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest. Honestly, it's the honest ones you want to watch out for, because you can never predict when they're going to do something incredibly... stupid."
"Ladies and gentlemen, you're being detained against your will, and for that I apologize. It is not our intention in any way to harm you, you will not be detained one minute longer than is necessary for us to complete our mission."
— Brigadier General Francis X. Hummel, The Rock
Mark Hoffman: What's going on with Amanda? Didn't you tell me the only way to truly achieve enlightenment is by not attaching emotionally?
John Kramer: But you can have something Amanda doesn't: anonymity. That's the greatest protection. That's what I've given you. I need you to set up a game. It may not be entirely clear to you right now. But I assure you that the people being tested are a part of something much larger. They're connected. So in the end, all the pieces will fit together and it'll be clear.
John Kramer: But you can have something Amanda doesn't: anonymity. That's the greatest protection. That's what I've given you. I need you to set up a game. It may not be entirely clear to you right now. But I assure you that the people being tested are a part of something much larger. They're connected. So in the end, all the pieces will fit together and it'll be clear.
— Saw V
"I wanted my plan to be as cost-effective as possible. So, I've used what I could obtain in this planet, including Zarab. By having them fight you...I made humans feel physically powerless. Revealing the Beta System made them intellectually powerless. I wanted them to learn first hand their dependence on the mighty. You have been instrumental in instilling humanity, my idealistic notion of unconditional obedience to extraterrestrial life. I am very grateful to you.You are the first succesful example of human fusion. It was also demonstrated in my experiment. Thanks to that, we now know that humanity is an effectve biological resource and can be converted into a powerful and formidable weapon. I want to have absolute dominion over this abundant and precious biological resource before it is ravaged by other intelligent life. That's my only interest, Ultraman. "
— Alien Mefilas, to Ultraman, Shin Ultraman
Adrian Toomes: How do you think your buddy Stark paid for that tower, or any of his little toys? Those people, Pete, those people up there, the rich and the powerful, they do whatever they want. Guys like us, like you and me... they don't care about us. We build their roads and we fight all their wars and everything. They don't care about us. We have to pick up after them. We have to eat their table scraps. That's how it is. I know you know what I'm talking about, Peter.
Peter Parker: Why are you telling me this?
Toomes: 'Cause I want you to understand. And... I needed a little time to get her airborne.
Peter Parker: Why are you telling me this?
Toomes: 'Cause I want you to understand. And... I needed a little time to get her airborne.
"He tasks me. He tasks me, and I shall have him. I'll chase him 'round the Moons of Nibia, and 'round the Antares Maelstrom, and 'round Perdition's flames before I give him up."
Spock: In your travels, did you ever encounter a man named Khan?
Spock Prime: As you know, I have made a vow to never give you information that could potentially alter your destiny. Your path is yours to walk and yours alone. That being said, Khan Noonien Singh is the most dangerous adversary the Enterprise ever faced. He is brilliant, ruthless, and he will not hesitate to kill every single one of you.
Spock: Did you defeat him?
Spock Prime: At great cost, yes.
Spock Prime: As you know, I have made a vow to never give you information that could potentially alter your destiny. Your path is yours to walk and yours alone. That being said, Khan Noonien Singh is the most dangerous adversary the Enterprise ever faced. He is brilliant, ruthless, and he will not hesitate to kill every single one of you.
Spock: Did you defeat him?
Spock Prime: At great cost, yes.
"I'm not your average dope boy, Mr. Gonzales. Don't let the pretty hair fool you. I got eyes everywhere. [...] Information is power. And power is priceless."
— Youngblood Priest, Superfly (2018)
"I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you...and I will kill you."
— Bryan Mills, Taken
T-850: Unlikely. I'm an obsolete design. T-X is faster, more powerful and more intelligent. It's a far more effective killing machine.
John Connor: Oh, great. That's great.
T-850: My presence in this timeline has been anticipated. T-X is designed to terminate other cybernetic organisms.
John Connor: Oh, great. That's great.
T-850: My presence in this timeline has been anticipated. T-X is designed to terminate other cybernetic organisms.
"Howdy, Quaid. If you're listening to this, that means Kuato's dead and you led us to him. I knew you wouldn't let me down. Sorry for all the shit I put you through. But hey, what are friends for? I'd like to wish you happiness and long life, old buddy, but unfortunately that's not gonna happen. You see, that's my body you've got there, and, well...I want it back. Sorry to be an Indian giver, but I was here first. So adios amigo, and thanks for not getting yourself killed."
— Carl Hauser to Douglas Quaid, Total Recall (1990)
"Nobody ever believed he was real. Nobody ever knew him or saw anybody that ever worked directly for him. But to hear Kobayashi tell it, anybody could have worked for Söze. You never knew; that was his power. The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist."
— Verbal Kint on Keyser Söze, The Usual Suspects
Eric Finch: I suddenly had this feeling that everything was connected. It's like I could see the whole thing, one long chain of events that stretched all the way back before Larkhill. I felt like I could see everything that happened, and everything that is going to happen. It was like a perfect pattern, laid out in front of me. And I realised we're all part of it, and all trapped by it.
Dominic Stone: So do you know what's gonna happen?
Finch: No, it was a feeling. But I can guess. With so much chaos, someone will do something stupid. And when they do, things will turn nasty. And then Sutler will be forced to do the only thing he knows how to do. At which point, all V needs to do is keep his word.
Dominic Stone: So do you know what's gonna happen?
Finch: No, it was a feeling. But I can guess. With so much chaos, someone will do something stupid. And when they do, things will turn nasty. And then Sutler will be forced to do the only thing he knows how to do. At which point, all V needs to do is keep his word.
— On V, V for Vendetta
"The public's out there throwing darts at a board, sport. I don't throw darts at a board — I bet on sure things."
— Gordon Gekko, Wall Street
Sergeant Howie: Game? What game?
Lord Summerisle: The game of the hunted leading the hunter. You came here to find Rowan Morrison, but it is we who have found you and brought you here and controlled your every thought and action since you arrived.
Lord Summerisle: The game of the hunted leading the hunter. You came here to find Rowan Morrison, but it is we who have found you and brought you here and controlled your every thought and action since you arrived.
"I am not the god of war, Diana, I am the god of truth. Mankind stole this world from us. They ruined it, day by day. And I, the only one wise enough to see it, was left too weak to stop them. All these years, I have struggled alone, whispering into their ears. Ideas, inspiration for formulas, weapons... but I don't make them use them. They start these wars on their own. All I do is orchestrate an armistice I know they cannot keep, in the hope they will destroy themselves."
"You built these weapons to destroy us. Why? Because you are afraid of our gifts. Because we are different. Humanity has always feared that which is different, but I am here to tell you, to tell the world, you're right to fear us. We are the future. We are the ones who inherit this earth and anyone who stands in our way, will suffer the same fate as these men you see before you. Today was meant to be a display of your power. Instead I give you a glimpse of the devastation my race can unleash upon your's. Let this be a warning to the world and to my mutant brothers and sisters out there, I say this. No more hiding. No more suffering. You have lived in the shadows of shame and fear for too long. Come out. Join me. Fight together in a brotherhood of our kind, a new tomorrow that starts today."
Literature
"I have wanted... to commit a murder myself. I recognized this as the desire of the artist to express himself!... But—incongruous as it may seem to some—I was restrained and hampered by my innate sense of justice. The innocent must not suffer."
— U.N. Owen/Judge Wargrave, And Then There Were None
"If I win, I'm a prodigy. If I lose, then I'm mad. That's the way history is written."
— Artemis Fowl, Artemis Fowl
"One day, probably soon, you'll get yourself killed thanks to that irrational set of compulsions you call a conscience, long before my name tops your list. I needn't lift a finger. Giving you information seems an excellent way to accelerate that process. It will also tax the resources of my enemies. And... I believe I have no objection to contributing against any organization that would victimize children so."
— Gentleman Johnny Marcone, The Dresden Files
"He is eloquent and persuasive; and once his words had even power over my heart: but trust him not. His soul is as hellish as his form, full of treachery and fiendlike malice."
— Victor Frankenstein to Captain Walton on the Monster, Frankenstein
"Moriarty only makes a single personal appearance in the cases of Sherlock Holmes, that brief appearance being before he tumbles down the Reichenbach Falls. Despite this single appearance he is a character that rivals all but Watson and Holmes in his presence in the collective consciousness. He is the criminal mastermind of literature, father of all nefarious geniuses. But he is never there; he is talked about, his hand is felt but never seen in the stories. To me that is what gives him his power. He is placed out of sight, manipulating and bringing devilish schemes into being by using other people. This absence makes you wonder at the limits of his abilities and power. He could be behind any mystery, pulling the strings even as our consulting detective unravels them. So, when it came to writing a story from Moriarty’s point of view I wanted to show how he worked, always at a remove, always manipulating, always looking for weaknesses to exploit."
— Stephen Henry on Professor James Moriarty, "The Last Visitor" (Further Associates Of Sherlock Holmes)
"She stared at the Grinch and said, "Santy Claus, why? Why are you taking our Christmas tree? WHY?" But you know, that old Grinch was so smart and so slick, he thought up a lie and he thought it up quick!"
"We stand alone at the edge of the world, as I stood alone atop the corpses of my family. When you go forth from this city, you will bring the same ruin to your people that you allowed to befall mine. I am Hallandrette's favourite son and I will devour your bones as surely as she does when her unloved children are cast into the ocean."
— Florian Leikenbloom, The Monster of Elendhaven
"He swayed a nation to kill its king, once. He persuades. He influences. Perhaps he doesn't even intend to do so, but it's in his nature. And while you are more powerful than he by far, once he has your trust, there is no saying what he might be able to accomplish, through you."
— Myrnin to Amelie on Oliver, Bitter Blood
Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity,
There never was a Cat of such deceitfulness and suavity.
He always has an alibi, and one or two to spare:
At whatever time the deed took place—MACAVITY WASN'T THERE!
There never was a Cat of such deceitfulness and suavity.
He always has an alibi, and one or two to spare:
At whatever time the deed took place—MACAVITY WASN'T THERE!
— Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, "Macavity: The Mystery Cat"
"There's nothing better in life than the look on your enemy's face when they realize you've played them every step of the way. Why do you think I keep starting secret cabals trying to overthrow me?"
—Dread Emperor Traitorous, A Practical Guide to Evil
"Oh, woe is me, you've destroyed my army... Hahaha, you fell for it again! I haven't paid them in a year, they were about to depose me. Once more, Irritant triumphs against all odds!"
—Dread Emperor Irritant, A Practical Guide to Evil
"Ah, but every palace you destroy has to be rebuilt! You've single-handedly pulled the Empire out of a slump, hahaha. Once again sweet victory is mine."
—Dread Emperor Irritant, A Practical Guide to Evil
"Larat, now huntsman but once a prince of the Winter Court, had in those days schemed to slip the leash holding the fae to Arcadia by binding himself to Creation instead. Seven and one, a pattern that'd echoed around Calernia long enough for it to have the proper form of binding, and behind it the weight of earthly crowns laid at his feet. It'd been a clever enough scheme but also a risky one, not that he'd had much of a choice. As the King of Winter and the Queen of Summer wed and their war abruptly ended, with it changed the landscape of Arcadia: a single court, and with it different stories that meant Larat was running out of time if he ever wanted to wiggle his way out. Desperate measures had seen him lead a ramshackle Wild Hunt - born of nothing, for Spring and Autumn had not come and might never again - to swear itself to my service, and so avoid entanglements in Arcadia. Doubly clever he had been, the once-prince, for it was to a court contained within my frame he had sworn himself and his fellows. Like fish in the sea, the fae had been content to keep swimming in that familiar power until I gathered the crowns I owed and completed Larat's scheme for him."
— Catherine Foundling on Larat, A Practical Guide to Evil
"He was a soldier, a warrior, behind that relaxed smile and fatherly manner. He was going to get what he wanted and he was going to get it in the most efficient way possible. He was a dedicated man - dedicated to his goals, dedicated to his people. He never let fear affect him."
— Harry Dresden describing "Gentlemen" Johnny Marcone, Storm Front (Dresden Files)
"I'm cap'n here by 'lection. I'm cap'n here because I'm the best man by a long sea-mile. You won't fight, as gentlemen o' fortune should; then, by thunder, you'll obey, and you may lay to it!"
— Long John Silver, Treasure Island
"You never saw what I am, Liu Futong. All you saw was what you wanted to see: a useful little monk, willing to suffer for whatever purpose you put him towards. You never realized that it wasn't your name they were going to call, exhorting you to reign for ten thousand years. It was mine."
— Zhu Chongba, She Who Became The Sun
China: When he came back, he fought Mevolent's forces with a single-minded determination—not to defeat evil, but to have his revenge on Mevolent's lackey. Mevolent himself fell, but just as Skulduggery was in a position to claim his vengeance...
Stephanie: There was the Truce.
China: And suddenly his enemy was a protected citizen. Skulduggery has been waiting a long time to get his revenge, and he will risk anyone and anything in order to get it.
Stephanie: There was the Truce.
China: And suddenly his enemy was a protected citizen. Skulduggery has been waiting a long time to get his revenge, and he will risk anyone and anything in order to get it.
"We're fighting ourselves? That's how you want this to go? This is an opportunity to shake the world to its foundations, and you want to kill each other? Let me tell you - and I'm speaking from experience here - there are always more deserving people out there to kill."
— Dreylan Scarab, Skulduggery Pleasant
Madoc: Power. Power is the ability to get what you want. Power is the ability to be the one making the decisions. And how do we get power?
Jude Duarte: We learn how to fight well?
Madoc: We get power by taking it.
Jude Duarte: We learn how to fight well?
Madoc: We get power by taking it.
Live-Action TV
Jess Mastriani: Okay, if Darren Merrit is dead, then who is this guy?
Assistant Director John Pollock: Are you ready for this? And this is the only thing that makes sense - he's the man you're looking for. He's Jared Hart.
Jess: No way.
Agent Nicole Scott: We would've known, sir!
Pollock: He fooled you, agent, hell he fooled me! But who else is gonna come in here impersonating an FBI agent? Who's getting anything out of that except a long jail sentence? I'm telling you, the guy is Jared Hart... Yeah, this guy's been running us around in any direction he wanted! You three, us, me...
Agent Antonio Cortez: So he used us to find the doctor-
Nicole: And then once he finds him-
Pollock: He kills him.
Assistant Director John Pollock: Are you ready for this? And this is the only thing that makes sense - he's the man you're looking for. He's Jared Hart.
Jess: No way.
Agent Nicole Scott: We would've known, sir!
Pollock: He fooled you, agent, hell he fooled me! But who else is gonna come in here impersonating an FBI agent? Who's getting anything out of that except a long jail sentence? I'm telling you, the guy is Jared Hart... Yeah, this guy's been running us around in any direction he wanted! You three, us, me...
Agent Antonio Cortez: So he used us to find the doctor-
Nicole: And then once he finds him-
Pollock: He kills him.
— 1-800-Missing, "Truth or Dare: Part 1"
John Pollock: I gave her my Bureau PDA.
Acting AD Jim Michaelson: Oh, that's brilliant. So this highly disturbed woman is going to pick up all our communications. She's gonna know every move we make.
Agent Antonio Cortez: And we know where she is.
Agent Nicole Scott: Every second. That thing you gave her has tracking on it, doesn't it sir?
Pollock: Of course. I've also told Dr. Reynolds that she's your prime suspect. At the moment she's probably getting out of dodge... Follow the signal from my PDA and you'll find the girl.
Jess Mastriani: You're great, sir.
Pollock: Dr. Reynolds is great. A master liar, a genius manipulator... I'm just better.
Acting AD Jim Michaelson: Oh, that's brilliant. So this highly disturbed woman is going to pick up all our communications. She's gonna know every move we make.
Agent Antonio Cortez: And we know where she is.
Agent Nicole Scott: Every second. That thing you gave her has tracking on it, doesn't it sir?
Pollock: Of course. I've also told Dr. Reynolds that she's your prime suspect. At the moment she's probably getting out of dodge... Follow the signal from my PDA and you'll find the girl.
Jess Mastriani: You're great, sir.
Pollock: Dr. Reynolds is great. A master liar, a genius manipulator... I'm just better.
— 1-800-Missing, "Patient X"
Antono Refa: Oh, Londo, you are a fool! You walk away from the greatest power I have ever seen! And now you expect me to do the same? They are the key to my eventual rise to the throne! Why would I abandon them?
Londo Molari: Because I have asked you. And because your loyalty to your people should be greater than your ambition. And because I have poisoned your drink.
Londo Molari: Because I have asked you. And because your loyalty to your people should be greater than your ambition. And because I have poisoned your drink.
"Most of my associates are under the impression that once I've granted them a favor, they're indebted to me for life. But it's a false assumption. They're indebted to me because I make them a lot of money. They're loyal to me because I've earned it."
— Raymond "Red" Reddington, The Blacklist
"When I came here, I had nothing but my name and my wits. A man in a place like this, surviving on those two things alone, he suffers indignities, slights, ridicule... But I overcame it. I used the wits to build the name."
— Jack Rackham, Black Sails
"It's always brute force with you men, isn't it? But real corruption... is a thin, subtle blade. Sabrina's strength, the bonds that must be severed, are those to the mortals around her. The people she loves. But not to worry. I'm quite good at tearing souls apart. One piece at a time."
Dean Pelton: Dean Spreck?
Dean Spreck: Hello Craig.
Dean Pelton: City College... Now I understand everything, now your whole evil plan is clear as day. But if you need to explain it to your men, I understand.
Dean Spreck: It’s simple, Craig. I posed as a fake ice cream company, sponsored your end of the year picnic, and waved enough money under your students’ noses to provoke them to destroy their own campus.
Dean Spreck: Hello Craig.
Dean Pelton: City College... Now I understand everything, now your whole evil plan is clear as day. But if you need to explain it to your men, I understand.
Dean Spreck: It’s simple, Craig. I posed as a fake ice cream company, sponsored your end of the year picnic, and waved enough money under your students’ noses to provoke them to destroy their own campus.
Frank Castle: You want me on the outside so I can step on every piece of shit I see. That way, nobody gets strong, and we... The city's yours for the taking.
Wilson Fisk: Something like that, yeah.
Frank Castle: So if you can do that, if you can get me out, why not just do it yourself?
Wilson Fisk: Because I play the long game, Mr. Castle. You see, when I'm finally let out of this cage, it won't be to wage war. It will be to win one.
Wilson Fisk: Something like that, yeah.
Frank Castle: So if you can do that, if you can get me out, why not just do it yourself?
Wilson Fisk: Because I play the long game, Mr. Castle. You see, when I'm finally let out of this cage, it won't be to wage war. It will be to win one.
Davros: "But you promised me, Dalek Caan. Why did you not foresee this?"
The Doctor: "Oh I think he did. Something's been manipulating the timelines for ages. Getting Donna Noble to the right place at the right time."
Dalek Caan: "This would always have happened. I only helped, Doctor."
Davros: "You betrayed the Daleks!"
Dalek Caan: I saw the Daleks, what we have done throughout time and space. I saw the truth of us, Creator. And I decreed no more!
The Doctor: "Oh I think he did. Something's been manipulating the timelines for ages. Getting Donna Noble to the right place at the right time."
Dalek Caan: "This would always have happened. I only helped, Doctor."
Davros: "You betrayed the Daleks!"
Dalek Caan: I saw the Daleks, what we have done throughout time and space. I saw the truth of us, Creator. And I decreed no more!
"This is just part of the new plan. Our national plan. For the nation. New York, Chicago, Kansas City, Miami, Texas, California. You, too, are a national outfit, yes? Wait... no. You are one man in one city. What do they say... big fish, small pond? But we are the sea. I can tell what you are thinking, you can just kill me the way you killed the men before. But this is a mistake. Because when you look at me, you don't see the man behind me, and the man behind him, and all the men that follow. Forever. Mhhmm, you see them now. The wave that never ends. We understand each other. Cheer up, look at this way: We are not taking half. We are leaving half. You work for us now. You do what we say or we kill you and find someone who will."
— Ebal Violante, Fargo
"Don't confuse a winning move with a winning game... In this game, the skill one must have above all else is patience. The board changes, but very slowly. The art of chess is knowing when a piece is most valuable and then, in that very moment, being willing to sacrifice it. For in the vacuum created by the loss of what is most precious, opportunity abounds. Influence is maximised, and desire becomes destiny."
— William Bell, Fringe
"Actually, I became a cat burglar to support my blog. You see, I love food, and I love writing about it, but you can't make a living with a blog. So if you like to travel and you love to eat, as I do, you have to find a way to pay for it somehow...I work five or six days a year. I travel the world. I eat like a king."
— Roland, The Good Guys
"I have to say, detectives, nicely done. And not just the final maneuver in the street, but the whole thing from start to finish. I'm very impressed...I'm just glad that it's you that caught me and not that Laviolette. The man is unworthy of the credit."
— Roland, The Good Guys
"You know, I have given my life to the lost children of Gotham because I wanted to make a difference. And you know what kind of difference I made? None. Because the people running this city feed off the weak and the law protects them. And when your mayor rounded up all those children to send off to that prison upstate, I decided "no more." I would teach them there are consequences. So why don't you ask yourself, detective: Who are you fighting for? A mayor in the mob's pocket? Cops on the take? Or for the weak and the innocent? Who are you, finally?"
— Davis "The Balloonman" Lamond, Gotham, "The Balloonman"
"Hannibal's not God. Wouldn't have any fun being God. Defying God, that's his idea of a good time. There's nothing he'd love more than to see this roof collapse mid-Mass, choirs singing... he would just love it, and he thinks God would love it, too."
What's the point of having strings if you don't pull them once in a while?
— Mama P, Just Add Magic
Becky Quinn: I understand why you want revenge.
Charles "Chuck Hankins" Peizer: Oh you do, do you?
Becky: I'm the one that gave you the apple, but I never meant to send you away. You've gotta believe me. I'm sorry.
Chuck: (chuckling) Becky, Becky, Becky. You really don't get it, do you?
Becky: Get what?
Chuck: This isn't about getting revenge on your family. In fact, this all started long before you.
Becky: I don't understand.
Chuck: I mean, what I want is far bigger than any of you. You're simply in my way. Plus you also have something I need. And until I get it, I'm not going anywhere.
Charles "Chuck Hankins" Peizer: Oh you do, do you?
Becky: I'm the one that gave you the apple, but I never meant to send you away. You've gotta believe me. I'm sorry.
Chuck: (chuckling) Becky, Becky, Becky. You really don't get it, do you?
Becky: Get what?
Chuck: This isn't about getting revenge on your family. In fact, this all started long before you.
Becky: I don't understand.
Chuck: I mean, what I want is far bigger than any of you. You're simply in my way. Plus you also have something I need. And until I get it, I'm not going anywhere.
He Who Remains: I know it all. And I've seen it all. Everything you guys did on Lamentis, I saw. Everything the TVA didn't know about, I knew. All the scheming, all the talking. That little look by the lake. Quite sentimental. Very touching stuff, by the way.
Sylvie: No. No, we broke out of your little game. That's how we got here.
He Who Remains: No. Wrong. Every step you took to get here, Lamentis, the Void, I paved the road. You... you just walked down it.
Sylvie: No. No, we broke out of your little game. That's how we got here.
He Who Remains: No. Wrong. Every step you took to get here, Lamentis, the Void, I paved the road. You... you just walked down it.
Wow, you guys have some real trust issues, don't you? Guess it makes sense she didn't tell you. I mean, with the two of you fighting all the time. Of course, if I was one of them - these people that you seem to think are your enemies - what would I do? Well, there'd be no balloon, so I'd draw a map to a real secluded place like a cave or some underbrush - good place for a trap - an ambush. And when your friends got there a bunch of my people would be waiting for them. Then they'd use them to trade for me. I guess it's a good thing I'm not one of them, huh? (Beat) You guys got any milk?
— Benjamin Linus, Lost
That's what my father does — he manipulates people. He makes you think it's your idea but it's his.
— Alexandra Rousseau on Benjamin Linus, Lost
"Conniving, manipulative, and usually able to think ten steps ahead of almost everybody else, Rumplestiltskin is Once Upon A Time's most intelligent character. Watching his clever machinations unfolding is one of the most entertaining parts of the show, particularly with the charisma that Robert Carlyle brings to the character."
"Rumplestiltskin successfully outsmarted and manipulated practically every character on this list in order to achieve his ends. Regina cast the first Dark Curse while Snow White and Prince Charming's true love ensured that it could be broken, all of which Rumplestiltskin planned and enacted with flawless execution. Time and time again, he convinced others to act against their own self-interests. No matter how dire the situation, Rumplestiltskin always found an unorthodox and effective solution. In the end, he even outsmarted the Wish Realm version of himself in order to save everyone and finally be free to reunite with Belle in the afterlife."
Shawn Spencer: You give a bad name to all the good Mantises everywhere. This was never about honor or justice or even presidential fitness. You just wanted to take down the Caminos so you could steal their dirty money.
Reginald "The Mantis" Parker: I've gotta say, I'm impressed. You figured it out. The truth is I couldn't have done it without your help.
Shawn: Man, the deal was we help you bring down the Caminos, not we help you get rich. You've risked my life. You risked Gus' life.. for what? What, a million dollars in drug money?
The Mantis: Actually, about $10 million.
Shawn: ... No kidding.
The Mantis: Yeah. The irony is I was about to give up until you and your partner helped solve the final piece of the puzzle. And what happened at the glass factory— I couldn't have done that on my own. So here [tosses him a stack of cash], thanks for coming out champ.
Luther Sloan: How many lives do you suppose you've saved in your medical career?
Julian Bashir: What has that got to do with anything?
Sloan: Hundreds? Thousands? Do you suppose those people give a damn that you lied to get in Starfleet Medical? I doubt it. We deal with threats to the Federation that jeopardize its very survival. If you knew how many lives we've saved, I think you'd agree that the ends do justify the means. I'm not afraid of bending the rules every once in a while if the situation warrants it. And I don't think you are either. In time you will agree with me.
Julian Bashir: What has that got to do with anything?
Sloan: Hundreds? Thousands? Do you suppose those people give a damn that you lied to get in Starfleet Medical? I doubt it. We deal with threats to the Federation that jeopardize its very survival. If you knew how many lives we've saved, I think you'd agree that the ends do justify the means. I'm not afraid of bending the rules every once in a while if the situation warrants it. And I don't think you are either. In time you will agree with me.
"The Federation needs men like you, doctor. Men of conscience, men of principle... men who can sleep at night. You're also the reason Section 31 exists. Someone has to protect men like you from a universe that doesn't share your sense of right and wrong."
— Luther Sloan, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges"
"Nothing ever changes, except man. Your technical accomplishments? Improve a mechanical device and you may double productivity but improve man and you gain a thousandfold. I am such a man."
—Khan Noonien Singh, Star Trek: The Original Series, "Space Seed"
"Who's been messing up everything?
It's been Agatha all along!
Who's been pulling every evil string?
It's been Agatha all along!"
It's been Agatha all along!
Who's been pulling every evil string?
It's been Agatha all along!"
— Agatha Harkness' theme song, WandaVision
Music
"I've got that poker face that moves in and out of traces, blind to the eyes of a coward, trying to defy the empowered. They’re suspect to the blame, they all forgot my name, but I'm smooth, I've got nothing to prove. I’m a pretender in my own game!"
— The Impostor, DAGames
"He's a ghost.
He's a god.
He's a man.
He's a guru.
You're one microscope cog in his catastrophic plan.
Designed and directed by his red right hand."
He's a god.
He's a man.
He's a guru.
You're one microscope cog in his catastrophic plan.
Designed and directed by his red right hand."
— Nick Cave, "Red Right Hand"
"Just sign on a line and we can be friends
I'll be here for you until your world ends
Enjoy all your toys, I will supply
You only live once and you'll be mine
The day you die, I'll have my payment
Your eternal soul's enslavement
Did you divine our dark arrangement?
You were lovely entertainment!"
I'll be here for you until your world ends
Enjoy all your toys, I will supply
You only live once and you'll be mine
The day you die, I'll have my payment
Your eternal soul's enslavement
Did you divine our dark arrangement?
You were lovely entertainment!"
— The Living Tombstone, "Alastor's Game"
"You buy land at high deposit
when I drop profitable hovels on it
Each island is like a wallet
cus I got the whole place in my pocket
You crank the land value with every little bit of spit and polish
If I get a better tenant than you, well thank you, everything's demolished!"
when I drop profitable hovels on it
Each island is like a wallet
cus I got the whole place in my pocket
You crank the land value with every little bit of spit and polish
If I get a better tenant than you, well thank you, everything's demolished!"
— Tom Nook, The Stupendium, "Nook, line and Sinker"
"They run from the truth and fear what they don't know.
After 700 years I'm quite a worthy foe.
Don't be surprised if you end up dead.
What else did you expect? You're facing the Demon's Head.
Trying to change the world is my number one objective.
Standing in the way is the world's greatest detective.
Don't be surprised if you end up dead.
What else did you expect? You're facing the Demon's Head."
After 700 years I'm quite a worthy foe.
Don't be surprised if you end up dead.
What else did you expect? You're facing the Demon's Head.
Trying to change the world is my number one objective.
Standing in the way is the world's greatest detective.
Don't be surprised if you end up dead.
What else did you expect? You're facing the Demon's Head."
"I'm the fucking best, all these mercenaries come and puff they chest
Flex, they moving plates for like a couple reps
Exterminator crushing pests, blade on my back makes a fucking mess
Want nothing more than death, accepting nothing less
Not anybody close to me, those who have known me will know that
Hope is weak, only attracting death, and it flows into those who notice me
Those who ain't taken heed reap and sew it like old upholstery
Never been good with words, but my sword in motion is poetry
Listen to the blade go
In the end, you'll fall and I want you to know I did it
Highly effective with methods that edges on scientific
Surgical, virtually terminal to any op I visit!"
Flex, they moving plates for like a couple reps
Exterminator crushing pests, blade on my back makes a fucking mess
Want nothing more than death, accepting nothing less
Not anybody close to me, those who have known me will know that
Hope is weak, only attracting death, and it flows into those who notice me
Those who ain't taken heed reap and sew it like old upholstery
Never been good with words, but my sword in motion is poetry
Listen to the blade go
In the end, you'll fall and I want you to know I did it
Highly effective with methods that edges on scientific
Surgical, virtually terminal to any op I visit!"
"We're the light in your screens, we're the lead in your veins, then you wake from your dreams so we can sell them again. In the light we distract with the shiny and new, so you're blind to the fact that the product is you. So let your brain dance and replay the dream, but don't drown in the data stream. 'Cause we see where you are and we see where you go, 'cause we know what you own and we own what you know."
"No-one ever recalls the second they first come across 47, because before you’ve drawn a breath in, 47's got you on the floor forgetting. If you only could pause a second, can't stall destiny, halt what’s meant to be. No protection, we all get reckoned, the cause of death will be 47."
— The Stupendium on Agent 47, "The Second"
" Tabletop Games
"He who sees his own doom can better avoid its path. He who sees the doom of others can deliver it."
— Eldrad Ulthran, Warhammer 40,000
Theatre
Macavity's a mystery cat, he's called the hidden paw
For he's the master criminal who can defy the law
He's the bafflement of Scotland Yard, the Flying Squad's despair
For when they reach the scene of crime Macavity's not there!
Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity
He's broken every human law, he breaks the law of gravity
His powers of levitation would make a fakir stare
And when you reach the scene of crime Macavity's not there!
You may seek him in a basement, you may look up in the air
But I tell you once and once again Macavity's not there!
For he's the master criminal who can defy the law
He's the bafflement of Scotland Yard, the Flying Squad's despair
For when they reach the scene of crime Macavity's not there!
Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity
He's broken every human law, he breaks the law of gravity
His powers of levitation would make a fakir stare
And when you reach the scene of crime Macavity's not there!
You may seek him in a basement, you may look up in the air
But I tell you once and once again Macavity's not there!
—Macavity's Villain Song, Cats
"Give 'em the old razzle dazzle
Razzle Dazzle 'em
Give 'em an act with lots of flash in it
And the reaction will be passionate
Give 'em the old hocus pocus
Bead and feather 'em
How can they see with sequins in their eyes?
What if your hinges all are rusting?
What if, in fact, you're just disgusting?
Razzle dazzle 'em
And they'll never catch wise!"
Razzle Dazzle 'em
Give 'em an act with lots of flash in it
And the reaction will be passionate
Give 'em the old hocus pocus
Bead and feather 'em
How can they see with sequins in their eyes?
What if your hinges all are rusting?
What if, in fact, you're just disgusting?
Razzle dazzle 'em
And they'll never catch wise!"
— Billy Flynn, Chicago
"Giovanni is a really bad guy. He sort of functions as the evil presence in the show... He's a pretty calculating person who orchestrates the whole conflict between Ash and him... He manipulates a whole lot of people during the show, which makes him a lot of fun to play."
— Darren Dunstan, on his character Giovanni, Pokémon Live!
Giovanni, Pokémon Live!"My high charms work, and these mine enemies are all knit up in their distractions. They now are in my power, and in these fits I leave them while I visit young Ferdinand, whom they suppose is drowned, and his and mine loved darling."
— Prospero, The Tempest
"Elphaba, where I'm from, we believe all sorts of things that aren't true. We call it 'history'.
A man's called a traitor or liberator
A rich man's a thief or philanthropist
Is one a crusader or ruthless invader?
It's all in which label is able to persist
There are precious few at ease
With moral ambiguities
So we act as though they don't exist!"
A man's called a traitor or liberator
A rich man's a thief or philanthropist
Is one a crusader or ruthless invader?
It's all in which label is able to persist
There are precious few at ease
With moral ambiguities
So we act as though they don't exist!"
— The Wizard, Wicked
Video Games
"The power of Infel Phira is incredible. It brought us an overwhelming victory over the Divine Army. We have surpassed the Power of the Goddess."
— Infel, Ar tonelico II: Melody of Metafalica
"I'm going up against Ra's al Ghul — the Demon's Head. The man has lived for over six hundred years, spurred on entirely by his quest to remake the world in his own image. I never know if I'm going to walk away from an encounter with him."
— Batman on Ra's al Ghul, Batman: Dark Tomorrow
"Your powerful GDI forces have been emasculated, and you yourself are a killer of children! Now of course it's not true, but, the world only believes what the media tells them to believe... and I tell the media what to believe, it's really quite simple."
— Kane, Command & Conquer: Tiberian Dawn
"In a matter of days I believe we'll be ready. Our forces hidden within Ashfallow Citadel have been training night and day, ready to strike when we give the signal. With Captain Veleth distracted by the ash spawn attacks, the timing seems perfect. I've waited nearly a decade to exact my revenge upon Lleril Morvayn for the death of my ancestor and I long for the moment my blade will be drawn across his throat. The next letter you'll recieve from me will include his head in a sack."
— Vendil Severin, Skyrim
"Let the gods perish. Let the iniquitous Crystal break into a million pieces and Ardyn's soul with it. Naught else mattered. "As if...this wasn't what I've wanted...all along."
— Ardyn Izunia, Final Fantasy XV: Dawn of the Future
"I would end the reign of the gods, and you object on moral grounds? Blood is spilled in any new birth, Prince. And in many a just cause, as you know... [...] Look at you! Are you not ashamed? Your mind is filled with nothing but secondhand beliefs. You dance upon the stage of your gods like a mindless puppet! THAT is what I reject: being a slave to tradition, to obligation. The old ways. Damn the gods! Damn their fates and their destinies! I will have true freedom! Any man who offers less is my enemy."
— Walhart the Conqueror, Fire Emblem: Awakening
"All my power was stripped from me in defeat. In that sense, I am nothing compared you. What do I possess, however, is knowledge. I know you as well as I know my own hands. Most of all, I know in precise detail how exactly you can be destroyed. [...] So, unless you'd like me to reveal the secret of your demise to all who care to listen... You will do exactly as I say. For now, I leave you in the capable hands of the Order of Heroes, to whom you'll swear your loyalty. I trust we understand each other... fragile king."
— Lyon to Fomortiis, Fire Emblem Heroes
"Shogun's influence reaches from the streets to government seats. His grip on the sector is tight. And he never lost a fight. Armed with big guns, loyal goons and a heavy sword... allies and foes know that Shogun is lord."
— The Shogun's bio, Huntdown
"What's with all the weird looks? Fine. Let me explain everything. I fought Landia by myself and lost. So I fled to Planet Popstar. That's when the thought struck me... I could have you defeat Landia for me! A stroke of genius, I know. You even helped me repair my Starcutter. I really did appreciate that, by the way. Anyway... MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! The time has come for your planet... No! The time has come for the ENTIRE UNIVERSE to bow down to me. And for being such a big help in all of this, your planet gets to go first! Prepare to bow, Popstar! Welcome your new overlord!"
"From the moment you awoke, I have used you. I have used you so that you might become strong, stronger than I. I used you to keep the Lords of the Sith from condemning the galaxy to death with their power unchecked. I used you to lure them to Telos, where they could be at last fought and killed. I used you to reveal Atris' corruption so that her teaching could be ended before it began. I used you to gather the Jedi so that they could be destroyed. And I used you to make those who wounded me reveal themselves, so they could be killed by the Republic."
"I am waiting like an elevator. I have the commerce, I run Fawful's Bean 'n' badge but... The day comes soon when Fawful rises again, and then no baby's candy has safety! I am counting chickens before they are even eggs, before the chickens are even chickens! I! WILL! HAVE! FURY! I LAUGH AT DEFEAT! I FIGHT WITH RAGE! I HURT YOUR FACES!"
— Fawful, Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
"I've got all the secrets of the galaxy at my fingertips. Give me ten minutes, and I could start a war."
"You carve your own path. Use whatever methods you see fit... You don't let legal bullshit get in the way. And if it costs a few lives? So be it."
"The healthy human mind doesn't wake up in the morning thinking this is its last day on Earth. But I think that's a luxury, not a curse. To know you're close to the end is a kind of freedom. Good time to take...inventory. [...] Out-gunned. Outnumbered. Out of our minds. On a suicide mission. But the sand and the rocks here, stained with thousands of years of warfare... They will remember us. For this. Because out of all our vast array of nightmares, this is the one we choose for ourselves. We go forward like a breath exhaled from the Earth. With vigor in our hearts and one goal in sight: We. Will. Kill him."
— Captain John Price, Modern Warfare 2
"This is for the record. History is written by the victor. History is filled with liars. If he lives, and we die, his truth becomes written - and ours is lost. Shepherd will be a hero, 'cause all you need to change the world is one good lie and a river of blood. He's about to complete the greatest trick a liar ever played on history. His truth will be the truth. But only if he lives, and we die.."
— Captain John Price Describing General Shepherd, Modern Warfare
"No matter what happens to me in the end, I will fix this torturous world! That... is my own rebellion!"
— Takuto Maruki, Persona 5 Royal
"Welcome! I was asked by an acquaintance to help with his research. What I desire is to bring out the entirety in Pokémon potential! If I can accomplish that, I don't care what it takes! If it means the strength must be brought out by the interactions between Pokémon and Trainers, then so be it! If it means you have to use a merciless approach, like Team Plasma's, and force out all of the Pokémon's power, then so be it! And yes, if the entire world is destroyed as a result, then so be it."
— Colress, Pokémon Black 2 and White 2
"The sorrows of this world are without number. Study your heart and know this to be true. Incessant war. Suffering. And man turns a blind eye to the atrocities created, the blood on their hands. Even now. The people of this world shall become one through the Holy Body. All nations, religions, creeds. With one will and one God. We shall witness the coming of a paradise free of misfortune. Your hatred. Your grief. Your agony. I can relieve you of those burdens. Like a babe in the womb, the subjects of my kingdom need only drift about in tranquillity. My child, do you still not understand? Why would you rob so many poor souls of their salvation? Why do you oppose me? Have you no compassion?"
— Osmund Saddler, Resident Evil 4 (Remake)
"The Vice Kings are named after one guy: Benjamin King. That shit don't happen unless you're a professional or a badass, and in King's case, he's both."
— Johnny Gat on Benjamin King, Saints Row
Benjamin King: You forgot who you talkin' to. My name is Benjamin muthafuckin' King. I'm the man who took my crew from being a bunch of baby gangstas in Sunnyvale to being one of the most influential and feared forces in the goddamn city. You know how I did that? I said, you know how I did that?
Warren Williams: How, Mr. King?
King: I did it by knowing when it was time to build, when it was time to watch, and when it was time to act.
Warren Williams: How, Mr. King?
King: I did it by knowing when it was time to build, when it was time to watch, and when it was time to act.
"Yuri. From now on, I'm your enemy. This is the last time we'll ever speak as friends. The world as you know it will end. By my hand. If you really think you can stop me, my old friend, bring everything you have. Unlike Nicolai and Rasputin, I won't depend upon the power of some evil god. I'll do it with my own hands."
— Masaji Kato, Shadow Hearts: Covenant
The Terror Mask: It's too late, Rick.
Rick: But... the sacrifice...
The Mask: One sacrifice isn't enough to open the gateway. Not one, not one thousand, but ten thousand sacrifices! And you, Rick, you have been the executioner. I want vengeance for an eternity of agony. I want the Corrupted to know that it was ME who stopped them! To do that... I got to let them out.
Rick: But... the sacrifice...
The Mask: One sacrifice isn't enough to open the gateway. Not one, not one thousand, but ten thousand sacrifices! And you, Rick, you have been the executioner. I want vengeance for an eternity of agony. I want the Corrupted to know that it was ME who stopped them! To do that... I got to let them out.
— Splatterhouse (2010 remake)
Dirty Bubble: We got double-crossed!
Man Ray: While we were here setting up traps to help the Sneaky Hermit, the hermit was busy stealing our lairs!
Mermaid Man: Wow. That really is sneaky.
Man Ray: While we were here setting up traps to help the Sneaky Hermit, the hermit was busy stealing our lairs!
Mermaid Man: Wow. That really is sneaky.
"I needed some 'alone time' to supercharge my mech after you got me past the Zeti. Faking my death was the perfect way. And now, my ultimate weapon is complete! Finally, with the energy collected from the Extractor, I can rule the world! Pity about the damage done down there, but there's still enough left for me to conquer."
"Gotcha! The fortress reactor was just a decoy! A true winner always keeps his trump card hidden until the end."
"Can a flower hold beauty if it does not wilt?! Can a wolf be satisfied with eating grass?! The thought makes me retch! As do those who wish for it, and those content to live in shackles! Let the biting bugs go ahead and eat what they wanna eat! Let the weeds grow where they wanna grow! Some may look down at them and scoff at their foolishness, but their unwavering wills are proof they're alive! If that's what you call "evil", then I will live and die with evil as my mantra!"
— Magilou, Tales of Berseria
"He is a puzzle, wrapped in an enigma, shrouded in riddles, lovingly sprinkled with intrigue, express mailed to Mystery, Alaska, and LOOK OUT BEHIND YOU! but it is too late. You're dead. For he is the Spy - globetrotting rogue, lady killer (metaphorically) and mankiller (for real)."
— The Spy's official bio, Team Fortress 2
"YES, I WAS THE ONE THAT RE-ARRANGED THE CORE! I WAS THE ONE THAT HIRED EVERYONE TO KILL YOU! THAT, HOWEVER, WAS A SHORT-SIGHTED PLAN. YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD BE A HUNDRED TIMES BETTER? KILLING YOU MYSELF!"
"It's impossible to say for certain what he's really like. He masks his personality. And he's very good at it. It isn't like someone playing poker. This is a very smart man who is looking to gain the upper hand in every situation."
— Dr. Yolanda Mendez on Aiden Pearce, Watch_Dogs
"Heh heh heh...Haaa ha ha ha haaa! 3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939937510582097494459230781640628620899862803482534211706798214808651328230664709384460955058223172535940812848111! The world's made up of numbers! I've been reverse-engineering my desired solution all along! And here it is!"
— Sho Minamimoto, The World Ends with You
Even if I go to hell, I will live till the end of this world. And if the world does not come to an end... I will destroy it with my own hands!
— Grahf, Xenogears
"Yes, we will destroy god. That is our purpose... That is our destiny!"
— Grahf, Xenogears
"Chairman Goda, Kiryu-san... It's impressive how faithfully you've followed my script. [...] This is the tapestry I set out to paint... And it took me 26 years to see it realized."
— Yukio Terada/Daejin Kim, Yakuza 2
Visual Novels
"If you achieve your goals using accidental means, the outline becomes blurred, and it makes it harder for anyone outside, looking in, to grasp what the actual plan is."
— Alphard, 428: Shibuya Scramble
"Mmmm... I can't tell you... It'd be easier to leave you on your own, but it just wouldn't be fair if I did that! So how about this? If the traitor comes forward and reveals their identity to me, I'll tell them where I hid the bombs!"
"There's nothing left here. Just the two of us. We can be together forever. Seriously, I don't even think time is passing anymore. It really is a dream come true... I worked so hard for this ending, [playername]. The game wouldn't give me one, so I had to make one myself. The script is broken at this point, so I don't think anything will get in the way anymore. And you wouldn't believe how easy it was to delete Natsuki and Yuri. I mean, there's a folder called 'characters' right in the game directory... It kind of freaked me out, how easy it was. Imagine if you could delete your own existence with the click of a button? Well, I guess on the plus side, it gave me an easy out if things didn't go my way. Ahaha! Thankfully, it didn't come to that... Instead, we finally got a good ending."
— Monika, Doki Doki Literature Club!
Webcomics
"Of course not, my wooly friend. You can cheat. [...] Nudge die rolls, palm cards, "forget" penalties... but you have to sit down and play the game first. As long as the people at the table see a fellow player across from them, they'll tolerate you. A crooked player is a pain in the ass, but someone who refuses to play makes them question their own lives— —and people HATE to think. They'd rather lose to a cheater than dwell too long as to why they're playing in the first place."
—Lord Shojo, The Order of the Stick
Western Animation
"I'm not afraid of the unknown! I have the power to change destiny! Queen of vampires! You weigh the scales of fate. Spill my guts, or face the unknown. Either way, I will not bite. For turning you would subjugate me to the wheel of fortune. And I am a king, not a hamster. My path runs straight into the void, on a sick, flaming chariot!"
— The Vampire King, Adventure Time, "Stakes Part 7: Checkmate"
"I'd like to let you in on a very important secret I learned when I was about your age, boy. You see, power, real power doesn't come to those who were born strongest, or fastest, or smartest. No. It comes to those who will do anything to achieve it."
Ms. Van Dyne, I am not some common criminal that can be distracted by your prattling. You are nothing to Doom. And your pathetic attempts to elicit an enraged, childish reaction as you do with your other, lesser foes, is as equally unimpressive. So please, stop embarrassing yourself.
Well, if you're charmin' enough, they'll give ya' free stuff
And they'll all do what you say
And since no one's the wiser, you can have it your way
With a wink of the eye, and a flink of the wrist
You give a twirl and then you blow 'em a kiss
Of how I charm the pants off this here town!
And they'll all do what you say
And since no one's the wiser, you can have it your way
With a wink of the eye, and a flink of the wrist
You give a twirl and then you blow 'em a kiss
Of how I charm the pants off this here town!
— Ms. Chalice, The Cuphead Show!
Danny Fenton: Now you're ripping off gifts? What is that supposed to do?
The Ghost Writer: A: Make a huge scene, and B: Blame it on you.
The Ghost Writer: A: Make a huge scene, and B: Blame it on you.
"What David Xanatos wants, he gets. You haven't got a clue! You're so far behind him it's pathetic. He told me to tell you. He doesn't have to hide his plans from you. There's not a thing you can do to stop him. He's the most brilliant man on the face of the earth."
— Fox on David Xanatos, Gargoyles, "Her Brother’s Keeper"
Thailog: Time to go. I've got plans of my own, and twenty million dollars to see them through.
Dr. Anton Sevarius: So, how are you going to spend it? Stroll into a bank and open a checking account?
Thailog: I'll find a way to make it work for me. I set all this up, didn't I?
Dr. Anton Sevarius: So, how are you going to spend it? Stroll into a bank and open a checking account?
Thailog: I'll find a way to make it work for me. I set all this up, didn't I?
— Gargoyles, "Double Jeopardy"
"Interesting plan. Unfortunately for you, it's not really an option. President? Foolish, faceless man; my campaign is a farce! A small part of a much grander scheme. (chuckles) President...? Do you know how much power I'd have to give up to be President? That's right, conspiracy buff. I spent 75 million dollars on a fake Presidential campaign, all just to tick Superman off."
— Lex Luthor, Justice League Unlimited, "Question Authority"
"Our showdown, while inevitable, is premature. Although it would be the simplest thing for me to take away your bending right now, I won't. You'd only become a martyr. Benders of every nation would rally behind your untimely demise, but I assure you, I have a plan. And I'm saving you for last, then you'll get your duel, and I will destroy you."
"I'd like to make an announcement to the world: the Earth Kingdom is no more. And from here on out, this man has no authority. I have created a new Earth Empire, and I will continue to lead it into the future myself, bringing about a new era of prosperity for my people. And let me assure my fellow leaders of one thing: anyone who crosses our borders or stands in our way will be crushed!"
"You wound me, dear boy, of course I'll be plotting behind your back. I am going to deceive you, manipulate you and when I've gotten what I want . . . well . . . I'll let your imagination conjure up the gruesome finale. Your only hope of survival is that somehow the things I teach you will be enough for a twelve-year-old boy to outwit the world's most dangerous mind, before I render you to pieces like a wolverine with a squeak toy."
— V.V Argost to Zack Saturday, The Secret Saturdays
Double Trouble: I let Catra know you were going to Dryl. After that, all I had to do was plant seeds of doubt. Sowing chaos where I could. It wasn't hard. I just had to keep you isolated and at each other's throats until... the plan was underway. Salineas. If the Horde controls the seas, they control Etheria.
Glimmer: That will never happen. We won't let it. Now that we know their plan, we can stop it.
Double Trouble: [chuckles] Oh, stop it? Oh, this was a ruse, darling. A distraction. The Battle of Salineas is over. It happened earlier this very evening. It's too late. Salineas is gone.
Glimmer: That will never happen. We won't let it. Now that we know their plan, we can stop it.
Double Trouble: [chuckles] Oh, stop it? Oh, this was a ruse, darling. A distraction. The Battle of Salineas is over. It happened earlier this very evening. It's too late. Salineas is gone.
"Beware of Scorpio!
He'll sting you with his dreams of power and wealth!
Beware of Scorpio!
His twisted twin obsessions are his plot to rule the world and his employees' health!"
He'll sting you with his dreams of power and wealth!
Beware of Scorpio!
His twisted twin obsessions are his plot to rule the world and his employees' health!"
— Scorpio's Theme, The Simpsons
"Come work for me. You can still save the world like a good hero. I'll even pay you. All you have to remember is to look the other way on occasion. On any occasion I choose."
— Tombstone, The Spectacular Spider-Man, "The Invisible Hand"
"Think fast, think faster! You are in a particularly unfriendly neighborhood, Spider Man! (laughs) Although I will admit you have an annoying tendency to, well, survive, the Green Goblin has every contingency in place to test the outer limits of that talent! Until all that remains IS A RED AND BLUE STAIN ON THE PAVEMENT!"
"The best puppeteers never use strings."
Darth Maul: Three of your lieutenants have already sworn their allegiance to me.
Hondo Ohnaka: Traitors! Scum! I'm so proud... but so betrayed. Let me warn you, you are not the first laser sword-wielding maniac I've had to deal with, and Hondo Ohnaka survives every time!...My men aren't going anywhere with you! Look at (the Sith), how powerful can they be, they are running away from Kenobi!
Maul: Filth! You will pay for your insolence!
Hondo: Insolence? We are pirates! We don't even know what that means! Open fire! If we kill those two, their riches will be ours!
Hondo Ohnaka: Traitors! Scum! I'm so proud... but so betrayed. Let me warn you, you are not the first laser sword-wielding maniac I've had to deal with, and Hondo Ohnaka survives every time!...My men aren't going anywhere with you! Look at (the Sith), how powerful can they be, they are running away from Kenobi!
Maul: Filth! You will pay for your insolence!
Hondo: Insolence? We are pirates! We don't even know what that means! Open fire! If we kill those two, their riches will be ours!
"Fellow Decepticons, take heed! Your leader, Megatron, still lives! Though we remain dispersed throughout the far reaches of the galaxy, exiled from our true home, we are all still Decepticons, united by a common purpose. The time has come for us to put aside our differences and act as one under my undisputed leadership. Only then can we cast off the shackles of Autobot oppression. Working together, we can raise up our glorious empire once more, and crush all who stand in our way!"
— Megatron, Transformers: Animated, "Mission Accomplished"
"Your fate is sealed now, Autobots. One of your elite guard forces are preoccupied with the Decepticon Uprisings at the rims of the galaxy. I will use this space bridge to transport my Decepticons to the heart of Cybertron, and take over the entire space bridge network. From there, it will be a simple matter to transport all Decepticon forces onto a virtually defenseless Cybertron and take over the entire planet. And I have your expert space bridge technician (Bulkhead) to thank for it."
— Megatron, Transformers: Animated, "A Bridge Too Close Part II"
Megatron: A new power dominates your world. Any further attempts to attack me will be met with even greater force! Your leaders should be advised that my fusion cannons have enough firepower to decimate any densely populated area of my choosing. I would in all likelihood set sights on your nation's capital, for starters.
Agent Fowler: Point taken, now what do you want from us?
Megatron: Nothing, Agent Fowler. The Decepticons mean no harm to humanity. We merely desire a place to call home.
Agent Fowler: No offense, Megatron, but I'm having a tough time swallowing all this! Since you've seemed so bent on plastering human-kind under molten steel.
Megatron: Agent Fowler... I admit that war brings out the worst in me, but the conflict with the Autobots is now over! And our quarrel has never been with your kind. Now that the one true enemy of the Decepticons is no more, my only wish is to coexist on this planet with the human race… peacefully. Together, Agent Fowler, I believe that you and I can make that dream a reality.
Agent Fowler: Point taken, now what do you want from us?
Megatron: Nothing, Agent Fowler. The Decepticons mean no harm to humanity. We merely desire a place to call home.
Agent Fowler: No offense, Megatron, but I'm having a tough time swallowing all this! Since you've seemed so bent on plastering human-kind under molten steel.
Megatron: Agent Fowler... I admit that war brings out the worst in me, but the conflict with the Autobots is now over! And our quarrel has never been with your kind. Now that the one true enemy of the Decepticons is no more, my only wish is to coexist on this planet with the human race… peacefully. Together, Agent Fowler, I believe that you and I can make that dream a reality.
"Oh, you're up. Goody. We can start your history lesson. Long before there were loud-mouthed buff guys in Spandex, there was the Gentleman Villain. His favorite sinister act was this — tying someone to a train track. It's simple, inexpensive, personal, and deadly. But it gives you a little hope. Maybe you'll escape. Lesson's not over, sonny! (sighs) Now, the Gentleman Villain had these old-school time bombs — three sticks of dynamite wired to an alarm clock. And what was so poetic about that is that they ticked! You could hear them. Tick, tick, tick. Nowadays, they're just digital. No sound, no peril. Oh? Oh, ho, ho! Do you hear that? There's the ticking. The train is coming. Is it on this track? Tick, tick, tick. Maybe it's on the other track. Tick, tick, tick! Not bad for an old man, huh? I'm gonna get going and let you try to escape. And if you do, tell the Peril Partnership that the Guild isn't scared of punks. If you don't? Eh, well... sorry."
— Red Death, The Venture Brothers
"I could have taken anything I wanted. But I faced the ultimate high-tech challenge and defeated it, Player. That's what's important."
— Carmen Sandiego, Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?
Other Media
"Word and sword are the two arms of a ruler. Smooth your servants as much as you can, save the sword for the others."
— Guy I "the Old" d'Ivrea, King of France, Anscarid d'Ivrea, the Free Count of France
Father Howlett: You are no witch. You're a thief.
Fayth Alden: I like to think of myself as a particularly avid reader, and an unusually creative performance artist. But I am stealing this.
Fayth Alden: I like to think of myself as a particularly avid reader, and an unusually creative performance artist. But I am stealing this.
— Zero Hours, "Those Familiar Spirits"
