"When I wake up in the afternoon
Which it pleases me to do
Don’t nobody bring me no bad news
'Cause I wake up already negative
And I’ve wired up my fuse
So don’t nobody bring me no bad news
If we’re going to be buddies
Better bone up on the rules
'Cause don’t nobody bring me no bad news
We can be the best of friends
As opposed to paying dues
'Cause don’t nobody bring me no bad news"
Which it pleases me to do
Don’t nobody bring me no bad news
'Cause I wake up already negative
And I’ve wired up my fuse
So don’t nobody bring me no bad news
If we’re going to be buddies
Better bone up on the rules
'Cause don’t nobody bring me no bad news
We can be the best of friends
As opposed to paying dues
'Cause don’t nobody bring me no bad news"
— Evillene, The Wiz
"Speak not into the ears of a fool; for he will despise the wisdom of your words.”
I will not fly into a rage and kill a messenger who brings me bad news just to illustrate how evil I really am. Good messengers are hard to come by.
— Evil Overlord List Rule 32
"When the messenger appears and says 'Don't shoot the messenger,' it's a good idea to be ready to shoot the messenger, just in case."
The Persian Messenger: No man, Persian or Greek, no man threatens a messenger!
King Leonidas: You bring the crowns and heads of conquered kings to my city steps. You insult my queen. You threaten my people with slavery and death! Oh, I've chosen my words carefully, Persian. Perhaps you should have done the same.
King Leonidas: You bring the crowns and heads of conquered kings to my city steps. You insult my queen. You threaten my people with slavery and death! Oh, I've chosen my words carefully, Persian. Perhaps you should have done the same.
— 300
Yago: [carrying a small bag] Our emissary has returned from Umateal. They have replied to our ultimatum.
Sador: And? ...What's this?
Yago: It WAS our emissary, sir. That is their reply to our ultimatum. They've...powdered him!
[Sador throws the bag in a rage. A squicked Yago quickly brushes the powder off himself.]
Yago: They are a proud form!
Sador: In an hour they'll be an EXTINCT one! There'll not be a trace of them left... Not even their dust.
Sador: And? ...What's this?
Yago: It WAS our emissary, sir. That is their reply to our ultimatum. They've...powdered him!
[Sador throws the bag in a rage. A squicked Yago quickly brushes the powder off himself.]
Yago: They are a proud form!
Sador: In an hour they'll be an EXTINCT one! There'll not be a trace of them left... Not even their dust.
Bale: Dispose of this idiot.
Cultist: Why? How have I failed?
Sindri: You were stupid enough to personally deliver ill news to Lord Bale. And we cannot abide stupidity.
Cultist: Why? How have I failed?
Sindri: You were stupid enough to personally deliver ill news to Lord Bale. And we cannot abide stupidity.
Spike: Look, I'm not the one who got you into this. Don't kill the messenger.
(Riley shoves a stake into Spike's heart)
Riley: Why the hell not?
(Riley shoves a stake into Spike's heart)
Riley: Why the hell not?
— Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "Into the Woods"
"Well, then I guess it's time to shoot the messenger. Or, you know, chop the messenger into little bitty pieces."
— Angel, "Sacrifice"
"Look, if he didn't want to be fed to my acid-spewing crocodiles he shouldn't have brought me bad news."
—Dread Emperor Malignant II, the Particularly Petty, A Practical Guide to Evil
Talion: Isn't there an expression about killing the messenger?
Ratbag: Yeah, ALWAYS kill the messenger.
Talion: Well, that actually explains a lot.
Ratbag: Yeah, ALWAYS kill the messenger.
Talion: Well, that actually explains a lot.
I make a habit of killing anyone that brings bad news. I find it significantly reduces the amount of bad news you get.
— Kirsten Geary, The Secret World
Don't kill the messenger. Or the messenger will kill you.
— Cogman, Transformers: The Last Knight
Constantine III: What an excellent message. What an excellent messenger. Kill him.
Messenger: Stop!! You can't!! The rules of war!!
Constantine III: As we understand it...the king makes the rules.
Messenger: Stop!! You can't!! The rules of war!!
Constantine III: As we understand it...the king makes the rules.
—Gargoyles: Clan-Building, "Tyrants"
