History Main / IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim

A subtrope of HeWhoFightsMonsters and MoralDilemma. See IfYouTauntHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim for when the stakes involved in this situation are notably lower.

* In ''Theatre/{{Urinetown}}'', this objection is shot down:

[[folder: Anime and Manga]]

* Hugely averted in ''Comicbook/TheAstoundingWolfMan'' where Gary sets out to kill [[spoiler: Zechariah]] for what the latter did to his life. When Gary finally gets the chance he takes it.

* Kremlin references the trope in ''ComicBook/ExMachina'' Special #2 and states how he thinks such is [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism an out of date, fairy tale ideal]].

* [[CaptainObvious The subject doesn't come up much]] in ''ComicBook/SinCity'', although the series makes no qualms about presenting its {{Antihero}}es as batshit insane in some cases.

** He does, however start to slide down that slipery slope when he attempts to [[spoiler: kill the doctor that the Gunslinger is trying to kill for making him]] in "A Town Called Mercy." Luckily, Amy is there to snap him out of it. To be honest, [[spoiler:The TL!Doctor is not a fan of the Alien!doctor who created cyborgs to go to war, killing thousands to bring about peace, though it is hypocritical to judge the Alien!doctor when The TL!Doctor practically committed genocide to end the Time War, making him [[TheLastofHisKind The Last Timelord]].]]

[[folder: Religion]]

[[folder: Tabletop Games]]

[[folder: Video Games]]

* Discussed in ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia 2'', when Marta fatally cuts down a villain trying to kill Emil she starts to break down thinking she's just like they are. Emil reassures her with the distinction that the villain attacked out of rage while she did it to defend a loved one.

* If you don't bring the [[spoiler: seaplane parts]] back to [[spoiler: Christine and Jade]] in ''Imprisoned'', your character has one of these moments after [[spoiler: killing Kyle]], and [[spoiler: lets himself die in the lab explosion]].
* In ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}} III'', Uther the Lightbringer warns Arthas that "vengeance cannot be part of what we must do. If we allow our passions to turn to bloodlust, then we will become as vile as the Orcs". This is proved right as Arthas becomes obsessed with destroying Mal'ganis and upon defeating him with Frostmourne, becomes the commander of the Undead Scourge, who ironically replace the orcs as the antagonists of the series.

[[folder: Western Animation]]

[[folder: Real Life]]

* Suffice it to say that this trope appears in debates over the use of violent measures in combating terrorism, and [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement leave it at that]]. Before that, there was [[UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar 'Nam]], and [[RuleOfThree again]], [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement that's all we'll say]].

* Averted in ''[[Fanfic/EakinsHardReset Hard Reset'' twice during one [[GroundhogDayLoop loop]]. [[spoiler: Celestia needs no prompting to teleport away rather than kill a helpless prisoner, even one [[ShapeshifterGuiltTrip mocking her with the face of the sister]] that fell to an ambush mere hours before. Twilight explains to Chrysalis that Celestia is better than that [[EvilCannotComprehendGood to no effect]]; then adds "I'm not better than you," before [[PayEvilUntoEvil using dark magic to kill her as horribly as possible]].]]

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'', The Monarch actually invokes this on ''tattling'' so Dean won't spill the beans about breaking into Dr. Venture's lab just to screw around. And it ''works.''

* ''Series/MacGyver'', being a TechnicalPacifist, was rather fond of pulling this gem out whenever his sidekick-of-the-week had the villain at their mercy. Perhaps most brokenly, it's the reason that a Holocaust survivor refrains from shooting the ''Nazi'' who is ''most of the way to succeeding in her plan to infiltrate all aspects of the US Government with neo-Nazis''. Apparently, killing one person who has the resources and intent to commit genocide and is most of the way to enacting that plan and has already orchestrated numerous murders is ''morally exactly the same'' as being a Nazi.

-->'''Joel''' (as Ator): Then why the heck did I hang-glide in here, anyway? [[hottip:* : ''Don't'' ask about the hang-glider.]]

->'''Burns''': Don't kill me!
->'''Abe Simpson''': I ain't gonna kill ya. That'd be cowardly. Monty Burns cowardly! I just wanna ''[[CruelMercy watch you squirm]]''.
-->--''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', "Curse of the Flying Hellfish"

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* NarutoShippuden, has Pain saying this to Naruto, [[spoiler:and he should know, he's already gone down that road.]]

* Subverted in ''Anime/DigimonSavers.'' [[spoiler: Marcus and Shine Greymon have defeated Kurata's OneWingedAngel form, and effectively have him completely beaten and begging for mercy. Not a single one of Marcus' allies pull this trope on him, instead actually '''encouraging him to kill him!''' What avoids making this a Start Of Darkness is that Kurata '''is really''' that much of an evil bastard]]

* NarutoShippuden, has Pain saying this to Naruto, [[spoiler:and he should know, [[StartOfDarkness he's already gone down that road]].]]

* Subverted in ''Anime/DigimonSavers.'' [[spoiler: Marcus and Shine Greymon have defeated Kurata's OneWingedAngel form, and effectively have him completely beaten and begging for mercy. Not a single one of Marcus' allies pull this trope on him, instead actually '''encouraging him to kill him!''' What avoids making this a StartofDarkness is that Kurata '''is really''' that much of an evil bastard]]

* This is very much true in Christianity. Even in the earliest books of the Old Testament, personally carrying out revenge by death is outright forbidden. In fact, not paying evil unto evil, but rather with forgiveness, is a fundmental aspects of Christianity.

* This is very much true in Christianity. Even in the earliest books of the Old Testament, personally carrying out revenge by death is outright forbidden. In fact, not paying evil unto evil, but rather with forgiveness, is one of the, if not ''the'', fundmental aspects of Christianiy.

* In ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' Luke refused to kill Vader, because he realised that doing so would make him no better, than Vader was.

The hero has finally subdued the hordes of evil, thwarted the EvilPlan, and subdued the big bad in one final showdown. However, the villain couldn't make things simple and die in battle. Now he's helpless at the hero's feet and… the hero pauses to consider what sort of person it would make them if they choose to kill the villain versus sparing him.

* Vash, the MartialPacifist hero of ''{{Trigun}}'', goes through the tortures of the damned rather than kill anyone specifically to avoid this trope. Accordingly, the entire last half of ''{{Trigun}}'' has the BigBad sending his [[QuirkyMinibossSquad his suicidal followers]] to try and forcefully {{invoke|dTrope}} it. [[spoiler:Despite the last of them finally succeeding in his mission, it is, in the end, {{averted|Trope}}.]]

* Suzaku in ''CodeGeass'' comes within an inch of [[NearRapeExperience using drugs to interrogate Kallen]]. He only stops because his final words to her, "You will follow my orders," is the same thing (or so he rationalizes) as what Lelouch does with Geass. Also, but this may or may not count, V.V. tells Lelouch that he's becoming more and more like the Emperor, who he's out to destroy in the first place.
* [[spoiler: Saji Crossroad]]'s justification for not pulling the trigger on [[spoiler: Setsuna F Seiei]] in ''{{Gundam 00}}'', although it remains to be seen how long he can hold on to his convictions.

** In the [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist 2003 anime version]], Ed spends every fight with Scar telling him that the slaughter of alchemists and Amestrian troops isn't the answer, and that he must be brought to justice for those crimes as well as [[spoiler: [[MercyKill killing Tucker's daughter]]]]. Each time, Scar shows Ed more and more horrible deeds he's avenging, which Ed always brushes aside. Eventually, upon confronting Scar in Lior when Scar's about to [[spoiler:secretly evacuate the city of civilians, lure in the Amestrian army, and kill all of them to make the Philosopher's Stone]], Scar pounds into Ed that [[spoiler:Lior was purposely sabotaged by Amestris, Amstrian troops have been brutalizing the city, alchemists are killing civilians in the streets right now, and the girl Ed thought he saved in his previous visit (standing right in front of him, unable to speak due to mental trauma) was raped and used as a tool to create even more violence,]] and that ''[[BreakingSpeech all of it was partly Ed's fault]]''. Ed still refuses to condone what Scar is doing, but when Scar orders him to get out of Dodge [[spoiler:with the refugees]], [[HeroicBSOD Ed shuts up and meekly complies]].
* In the second season finale of ''RozenMaiden'', Jun utters the line when Shinku was about to kill Barasuishou. [[spoiler:Bad move. She uses the chance to defeat Shinku]].
* The titular character in ''GingaDensetsuWeed''. So much, especially during the final episode in which [[spoiler: Weed has the chance to finally avenge his fallen comrades by killing Hougen once and for all. His father intervenes and is about to kill him when Weed pushes him out of the way, claiming that his father would be no better than Hougen if he'd killed him.]] There's quite a few examples in this series, suffice to say.
* In the ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'' novels, this is pretty much what Tessa tells Sousuke during the Behemoth arc, when he decides that shooting Takuma would be an effective action to take. "It would be the most logical and secure route, but we can't go about it that way," she said as though trying to convince herself. "If we were to kill him, we would be no better than them. Our organization would lose all meaning." Sousuke is slightly skeptical about this (seeing how Kalinin, his adoptive father whom he was always taking orders from, undoubtedly would have done what he was about to do), but nevertheless follows orders, seeing how he [[TheStoic doesn't really care either way]]. Of course, later on, the fact that she let Takuma live [[HonorBeforeReason lead to a]] ''[[HonorBeforeReason huge]]'' [[HonorBeforeReason amount of destruction]]...
* In ''KaraNoKyoukai'', Mikiya doesn't want Shiki to kill [[spoiler:Lio]], despite him being a crazy cannibalistic superman, because he feels that Shiki isn't and shouldn't become a murderer. [[spoiler:At first she defers to his wishes. Then Lio stabs Mikiya in the eye, seemingly killing him. An enraged Shiki then kills him anyway. Mikiya, after he wakes up, is somewhat annoyed, but seeing that Shiki's murderous side remains under control, says that he'll get over it.]]
* DragonBall:

* In [[BakiTheGrappler New Grappler Baki]], Katsumi Orochi gets beaten the hell out of him by an escaped mass murderer named Dorian. When Retsu Kaio returns the returns a beating to him, Katsumi enters the scene and soaks Dorian with gasoline and is about to torch him, when he suddenly stops and says that if set him on fire, he would cease to be a true Karateka, so he walks away. Then he goes: "Actually, that wouldn't bother me at all." Cue the BBQ/delicious subversion.

* This is found a lot in ''RaveMaster'' the reason Haru gives for not wanting to kill his enemies is because he'll be just as bad as them. He didn't actually kill anyone [[spoiler: besides Doryo]].

* Used in ''OmamoriHimari''. Made especially justified by the fact that the girl that Shizuku wanted to kill wasn't the man who killed her family. The girl was the ''great-granddaughter'' of the man who genocided the Mizuki race, and happened to be completely ignorant of her long-deceased ancestor's crimes.
* Subverted in ''DigimonSavers.'' [[spoiler: Marcus and Shine Greymon have defeated Kurata's OneWingedAngel form, and effectively have him completely beaten and begging for mercy. Not a single one of Marcus' allies pull this trope on him, instead actually '''encouraging him to kill him!''' What avoids making this a StartofDarkness is that Kurata '''is really''' that much of an evil bastard]]

* Hugely averted in ''TheAstoundingWolfMan'' where Gary sets out to kill [[spoiler: Zechariah]] for what the latter did to his life. When Gary finally gets the chance he takes it.

** This is invoked maybe half the times he goes up against the Joker. The comic book series also highlights the cost of Batman's decision: Joker's victims are estimated in the ''thousands'', all of whom Batman is indirectly responsible for.
** Seen in the CrisisCrossover ''InfiniteCrisis'', when he very nearly blows the head off of Lex Luthor's AlternateUniverse doppelganger and (of course) relents. 15 years ago, he nearly did the same to NinetiesAntiHero The Reaper.
** In ''{{Knightfall}}'', Dick Grayson ({{Nightwing}}), and Tim Drake (Robin), come upon Bruce Wayne just as he has apparently killed the [[{{Mooks}} Mook]] who was attacking him. An outraged Nightwing declares: "killing this creep doesn't make you as bad as the slime we used to fight, it makes you ''worse'', because THEY never stood for anything!" [[spoiler:Of course, it turns out Bruce had used a move that makes the victim ''[[NotQuiteDead appear]]'' to be dead for a little while.]].
** In ''Under the Red Hood'', Batman's fear is that if he started killing, he wouldn't be able to stop. Used to justify why he hasn't taken out the Joker at the very least, given how the latter is utterly beyond redemption and has racked up a ridiculously substantial body count. But if it's okay for Batman to kill someone, it might be okay for Batman to kill ''anyone''.

* Kremlin references the trope in ''ExMachina'' Special #2 and states how he thinks such is [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism an out of date, fairy tale ideal]].
* Averted/Played with in ''AtomicRobo'' when [[spoiler: A now elderly Skorzeny informs him that he was the one that killed Nikola Tesla, Robos creator, during WWII, and he did it to steal the man's inventions to use against Robo, who was at the time serving in the US Army. Robo picks up a gun, aims... and then puts the gun away, informs the Nazi that he knows he's dying of cancer, and that he won't be dying like a soldier, instead dying alone, in a hospital bed, in agony.]]
* Superman's long lived in fear of sliding down this slippery slope, and, in the Silver Age AlternateContinuity story ''WhateverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow'', it comes to pass when Superman, in order to save himself, his remaining friends, the world and possibly the entire universe, is forced to deliberately kill the villainous [[spoiler: Mr. Mxyzptlk]]. While everyone else tries to convince him that his decision was clearly justified, he refuses to take the risk, cites this very reasoning as a condemnation of his actions, and so carries out a promise that if he should ever take a life, it would be the end of Superman. [[spoiler: As it turns out, he fulfills his promise by stripping himself of his powers and living the rest of his life as an anonymous human, which actually gives him a [[IJustWantToBeNormal happy ending]] after all.]]

* {{Spider-Man}} does it often. For example: he uses that argument while arguing with [[{{Hawkeye}} Clint Barton]] and the rest of the ''Comicbook/NewAvengers'' that thinks about killing NormanOsborn, and not so long ago stopped [[spoiler: Harry Osborn]] from killing his old man by saying, that if he'll do it, he will become exactly that kind of man his father always wanted him to be.
** Peter got one recently at the end of the Grim Hunt story, where he's shown a vision of the future if he kills [[spoiler: the just-resurrected Kraven the Hunter]]. The reaction of the fandom was... [[MisaimedFandom unexpected]], as the two page spread that encompassed the vision not only showed Peter apparently becoming a complete and utter BadAss, but featured the fan-favorite "Happy Birthday" costume. Cue the fans shouting "Kill the guy!" at their comic books.

* {{Wolverine}} regularly tells younger, softer, less inclined characters to back off or stay outside before going in to finish off the bad guys. Normally, he states in some manner that only people who are going to do "what needs to be done" should go in. This is actually one of the reasons Wolverine is even included on some of the teams he's been on. For example during the Infinity Gauntlet affair NickFury explicitly states this is the reason for his inclusion "...because when it comes down to it, none of you are killers. He is." The same reason applies for why Fury brought the Hulk in as well.

* Everyone's favorite many angled one, Shuma-Gorath, is immortal for this very reason -- anyone who kills him will start to become a new Shuma-Gorath(unless they have a similar level of immortality). Comicbook/DoctorStrange took his own life rather than allow that to happen, which ''still'' didn't work. Fortunately an ally was able to purge Shuma's energies from Strange and bring him back.

* [[CaptainObvious The subject doesn't come up much]] in SinCity, although the series makes no qualms about presenting its {{Antihero}}es as batshit insane in some cases.

* Film/ReturnOfTheJedi Luke refused to kill Vader, because he realised that doing so would make him no better, than Vader was.
* Played straight in the gag-worthy ending to ''KnightRider 2000''.
* Played straight, then subverted in ''RushHour 2''. Lee has Ricky Tan, the BigBad at gunpoint, when Ricky starts taunting him, and Lee's partner Carter tells him, "He's trying to trick you, don't go too far." That is until Ricky says Lee's father was "pathetic," at which point Carter changes his tune to "[[KillHimAlready Shoot his ass!]]"
* Rather bafflingly employed in the finale of ''Film/RoadHouse'': PatrickSwayze is unable to kill the evil crime lord, [[WhatMeasureIsAMook despite having killed his henchmen in hilariously violent ways (ripping out throats, etc.) just moments earlier.]] Then the [[TheCavalry townsfolk that the crime lord had previously bullied show up and blast him with shotguns anyway]]. ... Hooray?
* While it isn't a villain, this trope is basically what stops [[Film/{{Terminator}} Sarah Conner]] from killing Miles Dyson. She sees in that moment that if he kills ''him'', she'll be just like the other Terminator who tried to kill her to change the future.
* Played straight in the finale of the film ''Film/PrinceCaspian''. Caspian decides at the last moment not to kill Miraz in an arranged duel, even though he's fully prepared to hack-and-slash his way through Miraz's army a few moments later, had no trouble chopping up bad guys at the castle a few nights before, and could probably fill a book with unassailable reasons that necessitate Miraz's death.
* Played dead straight in ''Film/XMenOriginsWolverine'', by Logan's squeeze Kayla, in regards him killing off Sabretooth and/or Stryker. Two men, who have been rounding up mutants like cattle, are effectively above the law, and ''will'' most likely continue to hunt Logan down as long as he lives. All of which could be solved by a little extra stabbing...

* Played straight in ''{{Mannequin}} 2: On the Move''. The Prince has the Count by the throat, dangling over the edge of a hot-air balloon basket, high above the streets of Philadelphia. He decides that he can't kill the Evil Count. Of course, as soon as lets the Count back in the basket, the Count reminds us that he has no hesitations about killing others.

* Both the film and book [[TheLordOfTheRings The Lord of the Rings trilogies]] have this regarding trying to use the Ring. Film Galadriel puts the most [[OneWingedAngel dramatic]] point on it. Unlike most of the characters who want to claim it, she's probably not deluding herself about her ability to do so, but it all still ends with Middle Earth under the rule of a [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen "dark"]] overlord.

* This trope is delivered word for word by Morgan Freeman's character in the end of ''{{Unleashed}}''.
* Spoken almost word for word by the LoveInterest to Latif in ''Film/TheDevilsDouble.''
* In the first ''LethalWeapon'' movie, Riggs and Joshua fight on Murtaugh's front lawn. Just as Riggs has Joshua in a killing pose, he stops, saying Joshua isn't worth it. As two uniformed officers are taking Joshua into custody, he grabs a gun and starts taking aim at Riggs. Murtaugh and Riggs both open fire on him, justifiable defense.

* A variation is used in book two of ''TheBartimaeusTrilogy'': TrueNeutral (or [[NobleDemon so he claims]]) djinni Bartimaeus persuades [[spoiler:Kitty]] to save [[spoiler:Nathaniel]] by hinting that, 'If you let him die, you'll be just like ''me''.'
* Used in the book ''Komarr'' in the ''[[Literature/VorkosiganSaga Vorkosigan]]'' saga by LoisMcMasterBujold. Komarran terrorists are about to activate their new weapon, [[spoiler:which they think will lead to a bloodless coup, but which will actually blow up the space station it's positioned on,]] in revenge for the Barrayan massacre of Komarran hostages a generation ago. When the army closes in, they threaten to murder their hostages, [[spoiler:Ekaterin Vorsoisson and Aunt Vorthys,]] if Imperial Auditor Miles Vorkosigan doesn't order the army to back off. Miles tells them, "Please observe that you have now gone as far as you can without turning yourselves into a perfect replica of the enemy you set out to oppose." [[spoiler:The terrorists surrender, but partially because Ekaterin had already destroyed their device.]]
* In Literature/TheDresdenFiles universe, the highly addictive nature of black magic means the White Council enforces this for any type of magical killing of a human. So, someone who uses black magic to kill a human, even if that human was a black-magic murderer themselves, will almost always JumpOffTheSlipperySlope and become a serial murderer themselves.

* Another Terry Pratchett book, "{{Nation}}", has this discussed as a theme, though the focus is more on the ''thinking'' like the villain, than the actual act of killing. First Mate Cox is cruel and evil, enjoying killing simply for the joy of it. When he mutinied against TheGoodCaptain, said captain nearly fell for this trope. Later, Mau is afraid of thinking like him, but decides that any hunter must think like their prey, yet does not turn into it.
* The Bandakarians in the ''SwordOfTruth'' book ''Naked Empire'' believe something akin to this in relation to ''all'' killing. [[WhatAnIdiot Including that in battle.]]
* Subverted in ''[[EndersGame Shadow of the Giant]]'', when Bean grabs [[MadScientist Volescu]], a man who tried to redesign the human race by [[spoiler:replacing them with people like Bean: super-smart but doomed to die by age twenty or so, and also is directly responsible for Bean being like that]], by the throat and threatens to kill him:

* In book ten of ''ASeriesOfUnfortunateEvents'', with Sunny captured by Olaf and one of his top goons heading towards them, the kids decide to set a trap to gain a hostage of their own to possibly trade for their sister. But before they do it, they have an epiphany: if they capture this woman, it will make them evil like Olaf, so they surrender to her and she takes them to Olaf. And these kids are supposed to be the smart ones in a world of [[AdultsAreUseless useless adults]].
* Unintentionally invoked by the [[EliteMook Dark Jedi]] [[AntiVillain Yun]] after he's defeated by Kyle Katarn in the novelization of the PC game ''[[DarkForcesSaga Jedi Knight]]''. After Kyle disables Yun's sword arm, the younger man spits [[DefiantToTheEnd "So, kill me, Rebel, just as I would kill you!"]] Kyle is about to, when he realizes that he doesn't ''want'' to do what Yun would. He doesn't want to be the kind of man who would kill without reason, and Yun is no longer a threat. This act of mercy also starts Yun on the path to his HeelFaceTurn ([[spoiler:and, unfortunately, RedemptionEqualsDeath]]).

* [[TheLegendOfDrizzt Drizzt Do'Urden]] has been in a position of wondering whether to spare his ArchEnemy Artemis Entreri, considering leaving him alive also as potentially unethical because he's just going to kill more innocents if he lives. Not that it matters much what he decides, as Entreri has JokerImmunity. Drizzt also used to be determined never to kill his fellow drow, because [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder that's what they always did to each other]] and [[DefectorFromDecadence that was what he didn't want to become like]]. Once they catch up to him in his new life and start attacking, though, he quickly stops angsting over that because it would be stupid. Basically, he realises it's not this trope when it's self-defence.

* In an episode of ''Series/{{Stargate SG-1}}'', Daniel Jackson and Captain Samantha Carter come across a vat of young Goa'uld symbiotes, Daniel is about to shoot it when Captain Carter says that if he does he will be as bad as the Goa'uld. They begin to walk away but then Daniel suddenly turns and fires at the vat anyway, killing the symbiotes.
** Subverted in StargateAtlantis, Shephard and Michael fight on the roof-tops. Michael hangs from the roof by his finger-nails. Earlier in the episode. Michael had threatened Teyla's baby. Teyla stamps on one hand and then the other. Michael falls to his doom. Mom morality pwns Hollywood morality.
** This is part of the philosophy of the Ancients in ''{{Stargate SG-1}}''. They believe in the free will of every being and even though they have the power to eliminate every threat in the galaxy, they still don't do it. This, however is taken to such an extreme that one can only declare them [[NeglectfulPrecursors guilty]].

* Faith pulls this on ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' to break a MexicanStandoff where she and Buffy both have knives to the other's throat. Unique in that Faith seems to somewhat ''want'' Buffy to kill her and thus become like her, as some form of revenge. Yeah, Faith [[AxeCrazy had issues...]]

* Although never actually spoken, it is heavily implied (and even nearly subverted) during the scene at the Huntsman's treehouse in ''TheTenthKingdom'', when Wolf is about to kill him with the magic axe and Virginia stops him.

* A non-killing example: In an episode of the sitcom ''{{Taxi}}'', an arrogant hairdresser (played by Ted Danson of ''Series/{{Cheers}}'', of all people) gives Elaine a truly horrific new hairdo. She, Alex, and Louie go back to confront the man, who is utterly unrepentant. An enraged Elaine is about to dump a large bowl of some noxious liquid over the man's head, when Alex gives the standard "no better than him!" speech. Elaine agrees and backs down, only for Louie to gleefully state: "''She'' may be better than you, but ''I'm'' not!" BLOOP.
* Played bizarrely straight (and by a character who should have known better) in ''Series/CriminalMinds''; an episode of the second season ends with one of the agents pondering, apropos of almost nothing, how much difference there REALLY is between the offenders that they hunt, and the agents themselves. In this corner, an antisocial, sociopathic recidivist murderer who was abused by his parents for fifteen years and slaughters innocent women purely for the sexual thrill that it gives him. In the opposite side, an agent with ten or fifteen years of experience in fieldwork with the FBI who is willing to fire their weapon ONLY in cause of self-defense or the preservation of another life (and even then, only with utmost angst over the decision afterward), and who has dedicated their professional life to the incarceration of those who would commit such heinous crimes. Yeah, that's a real slippery slope right there.
** Also from ''Series/CriminalMinds'': In an episode of season three, a man takes it upon himself to rescue his kidnapped daughter, but is interrupted from killing him by Agent Reid, who tells the man that if he kills the kidnapper, he'll introduce a cycle of violence into his daughter's life. As he pleads with the father, asking him when the violence will stop, [[spoiler:the man whispers, "Tomorrow," and shoots the kidnapper in the head.]]

* Sort of inverted in an episode of ''AreYouAfraidOfTheDark'' ("The Tale of Cutter's Treasure"). [[spoiler: The main character was fighting a pirate ghost, and was about to finish him off with a dagger...then realized that the ghost was trapped guarding his treasure, and wanted to be at peace. They decided that after all the people he killed in life he didn't deserve it, and did the [[CruelMercy LESS MERCIFUL thing by LETTING HIM LIVE.]]]]

** Said word for word in ''Fragile'' by Clark to convince a second generation meteor freak not to kill her similarly-powered father.

* In ''TheShield'', Vic Mackay regularly breaks the law to catch criminals. One could argue that he's better than the criminals, because he's breaking the law to keep his precinct safe. But then Cavannaugh develops a vendetta against him, and resorts to breaking the law to bring him down. So... he becomes a corrupt cop to bring down a corrupt cop. One of the most justified examples of "You will be no better than him", since if you think that breaking the law to catch a criminal is acceptable, then Vic should be allowed to do his thing. And if you think that it's not acceptable, then Cavannaugh's actions are not justified.

* This is why ''Warehouse13'' insists on Tesla stun-guns and bronzing. As Artie puts it, killing "taints your soul."
* Done in a comedic effect in ''MockingbirdLane''. Although Herman doesn't kill Steve ([[spoiler: he actually died falling down the hidden staircase,]]) Grandpa installs Steve's heart to replace Herman's failing one. Herman then takes Steve's place as an Explorer Scout (expy for BoyScouts) leader, the only type of socializing Steve did after his wife died.

* Towards the end of the Karda Nui arc in ''{{Bionicle}}'', a shadow corrupted Takanuva enters a near-UnstoppableRage and almost kills a few Makuta in revenge for what they did to him. He is stopped when Kopaka pulls a GetAHoldOfYourselfMan and cites the Toa's ThouShallNotKill code when he tells that he'd just be giving into that darkness inside if he did it.

* TabletopGame/{{Birthright}}: Takes this quite literally, as a hero attempting to slay an awnshegh (blood abomination monster) may end up getting overwhelmed by the evil power in the monster's bloodline and become just as tainted.

* In ''SplinterCell Conviction'', the final boss gives you a choice to either kill him or spare him, either of which nets you an achievement. In the twist ending, if you spare him, Grim kills him instead.
* In ''SaintsRow2'', the boss gives you this choice but the player kills him mid-sentence instead.
* The 360 game ''{{Ninety-Nine Nights}}'' has the two main characters in different play throughs in the same situation where they get a chance to kill the main villain. The noble Aspharr spares the goblin king and is bathed in holy light for his mercy. The vengeance driven Inphyy kills him and the holy powers she had been using the entire game reverse on her making her the new villain. The game also features the second corollary of this trope in that in the course of sparing this guy you killed thousands of his soldiers, his priests and various commanders (Not to mention kings of other races) with no such karmic backlash.
* ''AdvanceWars: Dual Strike'' features [[BigBad Von Bolt]] - an old man using technology to sucking the life force from the land in order to extend his own life - saying this to [[TheMessiah Jake]] in his NotSoDifferent speech during the game's ending; if Jake shoots him, they'll both be guilty of the same thing: killing others to save themselves. The game then lets the player decide. [[spoiler:If you say yes, Jake destroys the MacGuffin Von Bolt uses to drain the land's life force and dooms him to die of old age; if you refuse, Hawke [[ShootTheDog shoots Von Bolt]].]]

* Subverted at the end of the game ''[[DarkForcesSaga Dark Forces II: Jedi Knight]]'' after the final battle between Kyle Katarn and Jerec. [[spoiler:Jerec taunts Kyle, "Strike me down and the power of the Dark Side will be yours! I'm sure you haven't forgotten, I was the one who murdered your father." Kyle replies that he hasn't forgotten, pulls Jerec's lightsaber into his hand, and then tosses it where Jerec can easily reach it. Jerec takes it up, screams, and makes a final desperate lunge, where Kyle easily cuts him down.]]
* Discussed in Tales of Symphonia 2, when Marta fatally cuts down a villain trying to kill Emil she starts to break down thinking she's just like they are. Emil reassures her with the distinction that the villain attacked out of rage while she did it to defend a loved one.
* In ''StarWars'' ''TheForceUnleashed'' light side ending. [[spoiler: Galen Marek (formerly Starkiller) rescues the leader of the newly founded Rebel Alliance, defeating both Darth Vader and Palpatine in the process. He's stopped from finishing Palpatine off by a Jedi who tells him that doing so will cause him to fall to TheDarkSide. Despite the fact that said Jedi is a leader of the rebel alliance and who's very purpose is to KILL THE EMPEROR.]]
** Another ''StarWars'' example is ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' for Juhani and Carth's quests. Xor is a disgusting slaver who [[spoiler: cheerfully took part in the Cathar genocide, killed Juhani's father, and tried to buy Juhani herself as a SexSlave]]. Saul Karath was Carth's former commanding officer who betrayed the Republic and carpet-bombed Carth's homeworld. After defeating them, you can encourage them to "finish the job," or invoke the trope.
-->'''[[spoiler: Sunry]]:'''You think I'm some kind of monster, don't you? All I did was kill a Sith! How many Sith have you killed? Dozens? Hundreds? Thousands?
-->'''[[spoiler: Carth]]:''' You're talking about acts of war. We're just defending ourselves! You murdered your girlfriend in her sleep.

* In ''WarcraftIII'', Uther the Lightbringer warns Arthas that "vengeance cannot be part of what we must do. If we allow our passions to turn to bloodlust, then we will become as vile as the Orcs". This is proved right as Arthas becomes obsessed with destroying Mal'ganis and upon defeating him with Frostmourne, becomes the commander of the Undead Scourge, who ironically replace the orcs as the antagonists of the series.
** In Tides of War, Jaina temporarlily becomes racist and almost wipes out ogrimmar. Kalec and thrall point out that if she does this she'll be no better than arthas (in fact, given that arthas was acting out of a misguided sense of compassion, she'd be worse.) Fortunately it gets through to her, and she calms down to the point where she's still mad, but no longer racist.

* Played straight in ''{{Persona 3}}'' when [[spoiler:Ken]] tries to kill [[spoiler:Shinjiro]] as revenge for [[spoiler:Shinjiro accidentally killing Ken's mother]]. The response is along the lines of "If you kill me, you will be just like me", though he's more referring to the guilt [[spoiler:Ken]] would feel from killing than the crime he would have committed. Of course, [[spoiler:Shinjiro]] is [[PleaseKillMeIfItSatisfiesYou still fully prepared to die]]. Not that it matters because [[spoiler:Ken]] is righteous enough that he believes killers shouldn't live so he plans on [[DrivenToSuicide killing himself]] after doing the deed, which [[spoiler:Shinjiro]] immediately protests when he finds out. However, Strega interferes and [[TakingTheBullet it goes downhill from there.]]

* Used in ''{{Oni}}'': at the end of the penultimate mission, Konoko is given the choice of killing or sparing [[spoiler: Griffin]], with this trope hinted at.
* In ''{{Rosenkreuzstilette}}'', [[spoiler:after defeating Iris and reminding her afterwards that the reason she won was because everyone was cheering her on and the reason Iris lost was because couldn't believe in others nor love her fellow man, Tia tells her to give up. Since Tia is a good-natured girl, this possibly implies that Tia refuses to kill Iris because she doesn't want to be a murderer just like her]].

* Played straight in ''{{Shadowgirls}}'' when Paul stops [[spoiler: Lin]] from killing [[spoiler: mad doctor]], even if he has more reasons to see him dead as anyone else, because as a police officer he would have to arrest a killer.
* Invoked in ''EverydayHeroes'' when [[http://www.webcomicsnation.com/eddurd/everydayheroes/series.php?view=single&ID=149953 Mr. Mighty stops Jane]] from killing [[spoiler: her former boss, who just murdered her best friend]].
* In ''{{Goblins}}'', this is the implication for why [[spoiler: Dellyn]] is still alive to make Minmax and Forgath plot-relevant again.
* In ''{{Kagerou}}'', this is Fuuka's reason for stopping [[spoiler: Kano's NoHoldsBarredBeatdown of Red - because it is in fact ''literally true'', [[MindScrew sort of]]]].
* In GeneralProtectionFault, after Nega-Nick is captured, Nega-Trudy expresses a desire to kill him, but Nick tells her that it would make her no better than he is. Nick then goes on to say that his experience in the universe taught him about opposites (as he earlier admits, Nega-Nick is what he might have become), and killing Nega-Nick would easily put her on the same dark path as her prime counterpart.

* Spoken by Elisa to Goliath in the premiere of ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'', as Goliath held the villain David Xanatos over the edge of his own building (although she compares the act to something the ''other'' main villain, Demona, would do).

** Goliath [[AesopAmnesia has to relearn this lesson alot]], as there are a number of occasions after Xanatos where he almost kills someone in blind rage but is talked out of it.
*** Although he can be excused for it, as his entire existence before coming to Manhattan was to fight and kill threats. You can't just decide something one time and rewrite what might be centuries of attacking on your first instinct.
* Subverted in an episode of ''MightyMax''. Norman is facing down a rival barbarian who killed his family. The bad guy uses this line because it's the last card in his deck. Norman smiles and says "I can live with that", then knocks him off a cliff.

* In ''BatmanUnderTheRedHood'', Batman explains that the reason he didn't kill the Joker after the latter killed Jason Todd was that if he went there, he'd never come back.

* In the episode "Hereafter" of ''JusticeLeague'', Superman appears to be killed by Toyman when performing a HeroicSacrifice.
-->'''Toyman''': What are you gonna do to me?
-->'''WonderWoman''': I'm gonna punch a hole in your head.
-->'''TheFlash''': We don't do that to our enemies.
-->'''Wonder Woman''': Speak for yourself.
-->'''Flash''': I'm trying to speak for Superman. [She releases him]

* In ''TheSmurfs'' episode "For The Love Of Gargamel", Papa Smurf tells his little Smurfs that leaving Gargamel and Azrael in their [[TakenForGranite self-petrified state]] would make themselves no better than their enemies. It ends up becoming the justification for many a SaveTheVillain moment in the cartoon show, despite how [[UngratefulBastard ungrateful]] Gargamel ends up being.

* Suffice it to say that this trope appears in debates over the use of violent measures in combating terrorism, and [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement leave it at that]].
** Before that, there was [[TheVietnamWar 'Nam]], and [[RuleOfThree again]], [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement that's all we'll say]].
* Basically, any time anyone kills anyone when it's not the result of a fight for purely self-defensive reasons, someone is going to bring this up.
** Even in self defense, people will bring this trope up, and [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement you know the drill.]]

----

!!Examples:

[[folder:Film]]

* Played straight in many Disney movies, one notable one being ''Disney/TheLionKing''.
--> '''Scar:''' What are you going to do? You wouldn't kill your old uncle, would you?
--> '''Simba:''' No, Scar. I'm not like you.
** He immediately followed this with offering him a particularly [[IronicEcho ironic]] form of CruelMercy.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* This is found a lot in ''RaveMaster'' the reason Haru gives for not wanting to kill his enemies is because he'll be just as bad as them. He didn't actually kill anyone [[spoiler: besides Doryo]]

* Played straight in the finale of the film ''PrinceCaspian''. Caspian decides at the last moment not to kill Miraz in an arranged duel, even though he's fully prepared to hack-and-slash his way through Miraz's army a few moments later, had no trouble chopping up bad guys at the castle a few nights before, and could probably fill a book with unassailable reasons that necessitate Miraz's death.

** Played even straighter in ''Film/XMenFirstClass'', where [[spoiler:Erik ''does'' kill Shaw and become just like him]]: after most of the film is spent with Charles and Erik arguing over whether Erik should kill Shaw, Erik [[spoiler:catches up with Shaw, who attempts to HannibalLecture him. Erik's response is to say 'you're right', kill him anyway, and pick up where he left off as regards the mutant-supremacy agenda.]]

** During the climax of the movies, after Batman defeats Ra's, he doesn't kill him because that would give Ra's the final victory, but finds a loophole. Since they are on a train that's going to crash, well, let this line explain it:

*** Even though Batman was the one to cause the crash.
**** And though he does the exact opposite in the next film and decides to save the Joker when he could let him die.

** But he immediately followed this with offering him a particularly [[IronicEcho ironic]] form of CruelMercy.

The hero has finally subdued the hordes of evil, thwarted the Doomsday plot, and subdued the big bad in one final showdown. But the villain couldn't make things simple and die in battle. Now he's helpless at the hero's feet and… the hero pauses to consider what sort of person it would make them if they choose to kill the villain versus sparing him.

On the one hand, the villain may have done the hero [[ProtagonistCenteredMorality great harm personally]]. But on the other, the average hero tends to take a dim view of killing the helpless. This could easily turn into a JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope situation. Sometimes BeingGoodSucks. Tends to ignore the fact that by killing the bad guy, the Hero may be helping to save innocent lives. Sure, he's helpless now, but there's always the possibility he will recover and live to kill and maim the innocent once again. Of course, this doesn't mean that the more Pragmatic types can't kill the bad guy, but regret having to do so.

Contrast with KillHimAlready. Compare with SaveTheVillain and SwordOverHead. {{Anti Hero}}es are exempt from all four. Compare/Contrast StrikeMeDownWithAllOfYourHatred.

** In the [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist 2003 anime version]], Ed spends every fight with Scar telling him that the slaughter of alchemists and Amestrian troops isn't the answer, and that he must be brought to justice for those crimes as well as [[spoiler: [[MercyKill killing Tucker's daughter]]]]. Each time, Scar shows Ed more and more horrible deeds he's avenging, which Ed always brushes aside. Eventually, upon confronting Scar in Lior when Scar's about to [[spoiler:secretly evacuate the city of civilians, lure in the Amestrian army, and kill all of them to make the Philosopher's Stone]], Scar pounds into Ed that [[spoiler:Lior was purposely sabotaged by Amestris, Amstrian troops have been brutalizing the city, alchemists are killing civilians in the streets right now, and the girl Ed thought he saved in his previous visit (standing right in front of him, unable to even speak due to mental trauma) was raped and used as a tool to create even more violence,]] and that ''[[HannibalLecture all of it was partly Ed's fault]]''. Ed still refuses to condone what Scar is doing, but when Scar orders him to get out of Dodge [[spoiler:with the refugees]], [[HeroicBSOD Ed shuts up and meekly complies]].

* In ''CallOfJuarez: Bound in Blood'', William tries to prevent Ray from killing an unarmed bad guy with this and the story of Jesus forgiving one the murderers crucified alongside him. Ray's reaction? "The Lord forgave him... a cold-blooded murderer? Well, that's good to know." * shoots the baddie dead*

* The Emperor tries to get Luke to try to kill him (and later, to kill Vader) in order to corrupt him in ''StarWars: ReturnOfTheJedi''; it is not clear whether he was confident that Luke wouldn't actually be able to do so, or was genuinely prepared to die to ensure that the Empire would be in [[BadIsGoodAndGoodIsBad good (that is, evil)]] hands.
** Due to the powerful corrupting nature of the Dark Side of the Force, this claim has very literal weight behind it, rather than the more metaphorical standard for this trope.
** In the Expanded Universe, The Emperor had a near limitless supply of clone bodies that he could spirit jump to. He could secure Luke's fall and come back.

* In the DresdenFiles universe, the highly addictive nature of black magic means the White Council enforces this for any type of magical killing of a human. So, someone who uses black magic to kill a human, even if that human was a black-magic murderer themselves, will almost always JumpOffTheSlipperySlope and become a serial murderer themselves.

* In ''HarryPotter/HarryPotterAndThePrisonerOfAzkaban'', Harry stops [[spoiler:Sirius Black and Remus Lupin]] from killing [[spoiler:Peter Pettigrew]], who had betrayed Harry's parents' whereabouts to Voldemort, because he was sure his father wouldn't have wanted his old friends to become murderers, even in revenge for his own death. Notably, however, he didn't regard this as any kind of mercy for [[spoiler:Pettigrew]]'s sake, and was happy for him to go to [[CruelMercy Azkaban prison]]. [[spoiler: Sadly, unforeseen circumstances interfere and Pettigrew escapes with ultimately disastrous long-term consequences, though the 'mercy' itself has slightly more positive results.]]

The heroine has finally subdued the hordes of evil, thwarted the Doomsday plot, and subdued the big bad in one final showdown. But the villain couldn't make things simple and die in battle. Now he's helpless at the heroine's feet and… the heroine pauses to consider what sort of person it would make her if she chooses to kill the villain versus sparing him.

** But he immediately followed this with offering him a particularly ironic form of CruelMercy.