History Main / GungHolierThanThou

** Kryten, being an android, is a variation: able to cite any given regulation verbatim but with no authority whatsoever.

* Nog of ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' is a heroic example, being exceedingly enthusiastic about Starfleet customs.=

** Majors Frank Burns and Margaret Houlihan were this as well (although Houlihan relaxed later in the series).

* Nog of ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' is a heroic example, being exceedingly enthusiastic about Starfleet customs.
* The 1WO in ''Film/DasBoot'' is fresh into the U-boat corps having come from a plantation in Mexico and knowing nothing about the [[WarIsHell horrors of the war]] or U-boat life. He is an ardent Nazi and a by-the-book officer and is the only one who even tries to maintain his appearance and cleanliness throughout the film, though even he winds up frayed around the edges by the end.

* Lt Kendrick in ''AFewGoodMen.''

* Sgt. Maj. Dickerson in ''GoodMorningVietnam''.

* Sgt. Webster to Recon in ''HeartbreakRidge''.
* Joe has a little of this compared to other characters on ''SouthPacific''.
* Private Shimizu appears to be one when he first appears in ''LettersFromIwoJima''. This is deconstructed later when it is revealed that he was in fact ReassignedtoAntarctica (or, actually worse, since no one was expected to come out of Iwo Jima alive) as a punishment for not being a sufficiently brutal Kenpei back in Japan.

* Private Shimizu appears to be one when he first appears in ''LettersfromIwoJima''. This is deconstructed later when it is revealed that he was in fact ReassignedtoAntarctica (or, actually worse, since no one was expected to come out of Iwo Jima alive) as a punishment for not being a sufficiently brutal Kenpei back in Japan.

-->-- '''Trapper John''' to '''Col. Flagg''', ''Series/{{Mash}}''

* In ''Literature/AllQuietOnTheWesternFront'', you have Corporal Himmelstoss who was ridiculous in his requirements for maintianing regulations, even when it is impractical (such as requiring full parade ground protocol in the trenches).

* Lt Kendrick in ''AFewGoodMen.''
-->''"I have two books at my bedside, Lieutenant. The Marine Corps Code of Conduct and the King James Bible. The only proper authorities I am aware of are my commanding officer Colonel Nathan R. Jessup and the Lord our God."''
* Joe has a little of this compared to other characters on SouthPacific.

* Colonel Olds in the Literature/PaladinOfShadows book ''A Deeper Blue'' is a LawfulStupid stickler for the book.

-->-- '''Trapper John''' to '''Col. Flagg''', ''[[{{MASH}} M* A* S* H]]''

* Col. Sam Flagg in ''[[Series/{{MASH}} M* A* S* H]]'', as mentioned.

* Nog of ''StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' is a heroic example, being exceedingly enthusiastic about Starfleet customs.

* In All Quiet on the Western Front, you have Corporal Himmelstoss who was ridiculous in his requirements for maintianing regulations, even when it is impractical (such as requiring full parade ground protocol in the trenches).

* Nog of StarTrekDeepSpaceNine is a heroic example, being exceedingly enthusiastic about Starfleet customs.

* Nog is a heroic example, being exceedingly enthusiastic about Starfleet customs.

'''Examples:'''

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* Arnold Rimmer in ''RedDwarf''.

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<<|MilitaryAndWarfareTropes|>>

Any military setting is bound to have at least one person who is Gung Holier Than Thou: a [[TheNeidermeyer Neidermeyer]] with little, if any, authority. Typically a non-commissioned officer who likely sleeps with a copy of the UCMJ under their pillow. Given their relative lack of authority, anyone who is Gung Holier Than Thou is merely an annoyance. A temporary annoyance if only visiting, like Col. Flagg. A Gung Holier Than Thou can become too much of an annoyance and end up ReassignedToAntarctica.

-> ''"It's your gung-holier-than-thou attitude."''

* Col. Sam Flagg in ''[[{{MASH}} M* A* S* H]]'', as mentioned.