History Main / EvilVirtues

* '''Valor.''' To quote [[{{Highlander}} The Kurgan]] (and NeilYoung): ''"It's better to burn out than to fade away!"'' Villains despise weakness. So even when they know they're going to lose and the odds are in the hero's favor, he's not going down without a fight.

->You wrote to me once, listing the [[SevenHeavenlyVirtues four chief virtues]]: [[TheWisePrince Wisdom]], [[ForGreatJustice Justice]], [[{{Determinator}} Fortitude]] and [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure Temperance]]. As I read the list, I knew I had none of them. But I have other virtues, father. [[AmbitionIsEvil Ambition]]. That can be a virtue when it drives us to excel. [[TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty Resourcefulness]], [[ManipulativeBastard Courage]] - perhaps not on the battlefield, but... there are many forms of courage. [[IncestIsRelative Devotion]], to my family and to you. But none of my virtues were on your list. Even then it was [[WellDoneSonGuy as if you didn't want me for your son.]]

* '''Valor.''' To quote [[{{Highlander}} The Kurgan]]: ''"It's better to burn out than to fade away!"'' Villains despise weakness. So even when they know they're going to lose and the odds are in the hero's favor, he's not going down without a fight.

* '''Love.''' Despite LoveRedeems, a surprising number of baddies [[UnholyMatrimony love either their spouses]], [[EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas parents]], [[DaddysLittleVillain children,]] or even underling/superior while remaining evil. Of course, it's worth mentioning that LoveMakesYouEvil and [[LoveMakesYouCrazy Crazy]]. With Love as a villain's virtue, the result is often UnholyMatrimony.

* '''Valor.''' To quote Kurgan: ''"It's better to burn out than to fade away!"'' Villains despise weakness. So even when they know they're going to lose and the odds are in the hero's favor, he's not going down without a fight.

* '''Valor.''' To quote Kurgan: "It's better to burn out than to fade away!" Villains despise weakness. So even when they know they're going to lose and the odds are in the hero's favor, he's not going down without a fight.

* '''Selflessness.''' Most villains who try to create a better world don't do it for themselves. They rarely expect thanks for bearing all the difficulties and many accept it that they may not even be able to enjoy the results. Yet they are often willing to sacrifice their popularity and even their life for the greater good.

* '''Honesty.''' Though rare, some villains ''[[VillainsNeverLie don't]]'' [[ILied lie]], and insist that [[IGaveMyWord keeping a promise is a matter of honor.]] In organised crime settings, a villain will not get far without a reputation for honesty.

* '''Hard Work.''' Despite EvilIsEasy and TheDarkSide making access to power easier, many villains will undergo much more extreme ordeals and protracted effort than heroes, who usually benefit from HardWorkHardlyWorks. Is it any wonder the bad guy did a FaceHeelTurn in frustration?

* '''Determination''' Sometimes when a villain [[VillainousValor keeps on trying despite]] being stomped into the ground a million times, and still gets up and [[{{Determinator}} keeps going after his goals]] regardless of the constant beatings, you have to at least admire their tenacity somewhat. In general, [[VillainousBreakdown villainous breakdowns]] are significantly less common (though also much more spectacular) than a [[HeroicBSOD hero falling to bits after a major defeat]].

* '''Responsibility.''' Villains '''care'''. Even if they [[WellIntentionedExtremist go the wrong way about fixing problems]], they are a lot more sensitive to noticing them.

Villains are bad, it goes without saying. However they can't be ''all'' bad for the simple reason that a character loaded down with '''all''' of the SevenDeadlySins (along with whatever other character flaws writers can think of) will be too lazy, gluttonous, envious, prideful, angry, lusty and miserly to ''do'' much of anything.

Contrast MrViceGuy, where a hero has an emblematic vice. This trope is very, ''[[OmnipresentTropes very]]'' common. Not to be confused with VillainousValor, though bravery could be another villain's virtue. After all, if you're trying to take over the world, you're up against pretty much ''everyone'', and thus it helps quite a bit to be able to look at an army six billion strong, smile confidently, and say "Bring it on."

* '''Loyalty''' is a pretty even split between heroic and villainous. This isn't being a LawfulEvil RulesLawyer mind you, because these types can still be TheStarScream, but PowerOfTrust brand loyalty where even a ChaoticEvil type will avoid betrayal.

* '''Honesty.''' Though rare, some villains ''[[VillainsNeverLie don't]]'' [[ILied lie]], and insist that [[IGaveMyWord keeping a promise is a matter of honor.]] In organsied crime settings, a villain will not get far without a reputation for honesty.

Even if they only have one vice, a villain is going to need a big heaping of icky good traits in order to accomplish their goals. They don't have to be an AntiVillain[[hottip:* :(Though villains with enough virtues usually end up switching categories, if not pull a HeelFaceTurn)]] they just need to have one or more of the SevenHeavenlyVirtues or another good trait to get by. The reason for this is both practical and artistic. Practically, a villain with a virtue of some kind will have a way to put their schemes in motion and [[TheAntagonist effectively oppose]] TheHero. Without these virtues, authors would have to resort to making them a BoringInvincibleVillain to get anything done. Artistically, it helps make the villain a RoundedCharacter, and helps make them [[DynamicCharacter dynamic]] if their virtue and vice are [[CharacterDevelopment somehow in conflict.]]

->You wrote to me once, listing the four chief virtues: Wisdom, justice, fortitude and temperance. As I read the list, I knew I had none of them. But I have other virtues, father. [[AmbitionIsEvil Ambition]]. That can be a virtue when it drives us to excel. [[TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty Resourcefulness]], [[ManipulativeBastard courage]], perhaps not on the battlefield, but... there are many forms of courage. [[IncestIsRelative Devotion]], to my family and to you. But none of my virtues were on your list. Even then it was [[WellDoneSonGuy as if you didn't want me for your son.]]
--> -- '''Comodus''' in ''{{Gladiator}}'', just before suffocating his father and framing Maximus.

* '''Honesty.''' Though rare, some villains ''[[VillainsNeverLie don't]]'' [[ILied lie]], and insist that [[IGaveMyWord keeping a promise is a matter of honor.]]

Contrast MrViceGuy, where a hero has an emblematic vice. This trope is very, ''[[OmnipresentTropes very]]'' common. Not to be confused with VillainousValor, though bravery could be another villain's virtue.

* '''Resourcefulness.''' Another 50/50 split, resourceful villains are ''exceedingly'' dangerous because they will defy heroes TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty.

* '''Determination''' Sometimes when a villain [[VillainousValor keeps on trying despite]] being stomped into the ground a million times, and still gets up and [[{{Determinator}} keeps going after his goals]] regardless of the constant beatings, you have to at least admire their tenacity somewhat. In general, [[VillainousBreakdown villainous breakdowns]] are significantly less common than a [[HeroicBSOD hero falling to bits after a major defeat]].

Contrast MrViceGuy, where a hero has an emblematic vice. This trope is very, ''[[OmnipresentTropes very]]'' common. Not to be confused with VillainousValor.

--> -- '''Comodus''' in ''{{Gladiator}}'', just before stabbing his father and framing Maximus.

* '''Honesty.''' Though rare, some villains ''don't'' [[ILied lie]], and insist that [[IGaveMyWord keeping a promise is a matter of honor.]]

Contrast MrViceGuy, where a hero has an emblematic vice. This trope is very, ''[[OmnipresentTropes very]]'' common.

* '''Determination''' Sometimes when a villain keeps on trying despite being stomped into the ground a million times, and still gets up and keeps going after his goals regardless of the constant beatings, you have to at least admire their tenacity somewhat. In general, [[VillainousBreakdown villainous breakdowns]] are significantly less common than a [[HeroicBSOD hero falling to bits after a major defeat]].

* '''Love.''' Despite LoveRedeems, a surprising number of baddies [[UnholyMatrimony love either their spouses]], [[EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas parents[[, [[DaddysLittleVillain children,]] or even underling/superior while remaining evil. Of course, it's worth mentioning that LoveMakesYouEvil and [[LoveMakesYouCrazy Crazy]]. With Love as a villain's virtue, the result is often UnholyMatrimony.

* '''Love.''' Despite LoveRedeems, a surprising number of baddies love either their spouses, children, or even underling/superior while remaining evil. Of course, it's worth mentioning that LoveMakesYouEvil and [[LoveMakesYouCrazy Crazy]]. With Love as a villain's virtue, the result is often UnholyMatrimony.

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