History Main / DifferingPrioritiesBreakup

* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'': Harry Dresden spends twelve books playing WillTheyOrWontThey with Karrin Murphy. Both of them are attracted to each other, they're close allies, and Harry at least erupts with jealousy whenever he sees Murphy with anyone else. But Harry wants someone to settle down with, while Murphy's not in a place in her life for anything beyond casual encounters. They finally come to a decision, and [[spoiler:barely two minutes before TheyDo someone [[ShootTheShaggyDog puts a bullet in Harry's chest]].]]

There are multiple conflicts that can cause a Differing Priorities Breakup:

# Having Children -- only one of them wants to reproduce.

# OppositesAttract just doesn't work out as advertised. UptightLovesWild, sure, but that doesn't mean they want to live with a WalkingDisasterArea for the rest of their lives or put up with unrelenting BritishStuffiness forever either.

SisterTrope to the WetBlanketWife, who has priorities her husband doesn't. Compare LoveCannotOvercome, CreativeDifferences, MarriedToTheJob, ItsNotYouItsMe, SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome, and ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies. Contrast ProxyBreakup.

Contrast MinorFlawMajorBreakup and ToiletSeatDivorce.

* In ''Manga/MrRightTurnedOutToBeAYoungerWoman'', Haruki Shiina, [[ChristmasCake as a woman in her thirties, is desperate to settle down with the right person]], whereas her younger partners(including Risa Takagai, a woman [[AgeGapRomance ten years Haruki's junior]]) are more patient. [[spoiler:It's implied this caused her breakup with Ryoji, and it briefly causes a rift between her and Risa]].

* ''VideoGame/Va11HallA'': This is part of Alma's backstory. She had a boyfriend named Robert with whom she was with for 4 years, but Robert was not a family person: not only did he not want kids, but he also was distant from his own family and din't like Alma's family either. Alma, being a very family-oriented person, couldn't fix that divide and the two eventually broke up.

* ''LightNovel/AscendanceOfABookworm'': A potential UptownGirl couple breaks up before even officially becoming a thing because of this. The male half of the pairing secretly can't leave his job in the duchy's capital without risking a HeKnowsTooMuch death, but thinks the job is good enough that the female half would happily move in with him. The female half wants to go back to her home province after getting married and is technically the better off one, so what she wants to do takes precedence as far as society as a whole is concerned.

* ''Manga/HidokuShinaide'': While they aren't really dating at the time--Maya likes to think they are but Nemugasa has basically said they're JustFriends who [[FriendsWithBenefits happen to sleep with each other]] only because Maya keeps insisting--Maya letting his jealousy get the better of him and making Nemugasa be late for the mock college entrance exam is a bridge too far for Nemugasa, who snaps at him. Maya [[ItsAllAboutMe can't understand why Nemugasa cares more about school than him]]. Nemugasa tells him to stop interfering with his life and Maya takes the message to heart, leaving Nemugasa alone long enough for Nemugasa to have a BelatedLoveEpiphany when he realizes how lonely he is without Maya.

Compare LoveCannotOvercome, CreativeDifferences, MarriedToTheJob, ItsNotYouItsMe, SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome, and ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies. SisterTrope to the WetBlanketWife, who has priorities her husband doesn't.

* Reversed in the Sam Raimi Film/SpiderManTrilogy. Though Peter and MJ do eventually get together, differing priorities -- particularly in the flavor of "ComesGreatResponsibility" -- are part of what keeps them apart for the first two films; and, indeed, MJ can only begin serious romantic overtures with Peter ''after'' she becomes his SecretKeeper.
* {{Implied}} in the backstory of Film/{{Tron}} as far as Flynn and Lora go. Flynn was in no hurry to grow up and take responsibility. Lora had completed her doctorate and was looking for stability while she focused on her career. Flynn is clearly not over her in the film, but Lora moved on with her eventual husband, Alan Bradley.

* In ''Manga/EvenIfItWasJustOnceIRegretIt'', Setouchi makes games from home while her husband was "a company man." She notes that their lifestyles were incompatible, and they decided to divorce and go their separate ways after talking things out.

# Childfree decisions -- only one of them wants to reproduce.

* In the fourth and final story of [[Franchise/HarryPotter ''The Anguis Series'']], ''Beyond This Place'', it is revealed that [[spoiler:Cal and Nat]] had [[OffscreenBreakup broken up]] due to the vastly different demands of their careers and lifestyle. Quite an anticlimatic end for a couple who had spent almost the entirety of their relationship proving their love and even sacrificing their freedom, friendships, and safety for the sake of the other.

* In ''Series/GilmoreGirls'', this happens with Rachel, Luke's FalseSoulmate from before the pilot episode. Despite being truly in love, Rachel's flighty and impulsive nature left her unable to commit to Luke. As a result, Luke doesn't have another serious girlfriend for years until he starts dating his SecondLove Lorelai.

Compare LoveCannotOvercome, CreativeDifferences, MarriedToTheJob, ItsNotYouItsMe, RealityEnsues, and ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies. SisterTrope to the WetBlanketWife, who has priorities her husband doesn't.

* ''LightNovel/AscendanceOfABookworm'': A potential UptownGirl couple breaks before even officially becoming a thing because of this. The male half of the pairing secretly can't leave his job in the duchy's capital without risking a HeKnowsTooMuch death, but thinks the job is good enough that the female half would happily move in with him. The female half wants to go back to her home province after getting married and is technically the better off one, so what she wants to do takes precedence as far as society as a whole is concerned.