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** It should be noted that the reason for this ambiguous ending is that [[DeathOfTheAuthor Lee died]] before the final scene of ''Game of Death'' could be finished, and Lee never wrote down what was supposed to be at the top. Speculation includes a scroll with an inspiring message, another opponent, riches, something supernatural, or -- as suggested by several of Lee's friends -- a ''mirror'', which was based on the philosophical idea that since you had become the ultimate fighter by reaching that stage, [[ItWasWithYouAllAlong YOU WERE the treasure]].

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** It should be noted that the reason for this ambiguous ending is that [[DeathOfTheAuthor [[DiedDuringProduction Lee died]] before the final scene of ''Game of Death'' could be finished, and Lee never wrote down what was supposed to be at the top. Speculation includes a scroll with an inspiring message, another opponent, riches, something supernatural, or -- as suggested by several of Lee's friends -- a ''mirror'', which was based on the philosophical idea that since you had become the ultimate fighter by reaching that stage, [[ItWasWithYouAllAlong YOU WERE the treasure]].
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** It should be noted that the reason for this ambiguous ending is that [[DeathOfTheAuthor Lee died]] before the final scene of ''Game of Death'' could be finished, and Lee never wrote down what was supposed to be at the top. Speculation includes a scroll with an inspiring message, another opponent, riches, something supernatural, or -- as suggested by several of Lee's friends -- a ''mirror'', which was based on the philosophical idea that since you had become the ultimate fighter by reaching that stage, [[ItWasWithYouAllAlong YOU WERE the treasure]].
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** Luffy absolutely refuses to listen to any information about the titular treasure he's heading toward when the opportunity arises, or else he will quit being a pirate -- because he does not want to have a boring adventure.

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** Luffy absolutely refuses to listen to any information about the titular treasure he's heading toward when the opportunity arises, or else he will quit being a pirate -- because he does not want to have a boring adventure. In the NonSerialMovie ''Anime/OnePieceStampede'', [[spoiler:[[NoMacGuffinNoWinner Luffy destroys an Eternal Pose that would've taken the crew directly to it]] because he refused to become the Pirate King by cheating, an act which once again proves him to be [[GreaterScopeParagon Gol D. Roger]]'s true successor as [[CheatersNeverProsper that's the exact reason]] Roger cast the Pose into the sea to begin with]].
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* ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'' has the Dragon Scroll: after much build-up, the scroll turns out to be blank, shiny paper. Later, Po, the eponymous hero, realizes it's a mirror, and learns the lesson. In a twist on the usual trope, Master Shifu, who gave Po permission to take the scroll, had no idea it was blank, because ''his'' master, Oogway, never told ''him'' what was on the scroll, either. This realization is entirely lost on the main villain, Tai Lung, who had spent years violently trying to obtain the scroll, believing it to be an UpgradeArtifact, and is immediately enraged when it turns out to be blank. When Po tries to explain the scroll's true meaning to him, Tai Lung cannot accept it and his fighting suffers, leading to his defeat. Tai Lung was so focused on the prize that he couldn't handle the realization that there wasn't one, despite how great of a martial artist he became in his journey to get it.

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* ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'' ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda1'' has the Dragon Scroll: after much build-up, the scroll turns out to be blank, shiny paper. Later, Po, the eponymous hero, realizes it's a mirror, and learns the lesson. In a twist on the usual trope, Master Shifu, who gave Po permission to take the scroll, had no idea it was blank, because ''his'' master, Oogway, never told ''him'' what was on the scroll, either. This realization is entirely lost on the main villain, Tai Lung, who had spent years violently trying to obtain the scroll, believing it to be an UpgradeArtifact, and is immediately enraged when it turns out to be blank. When Po tries to explain the scroll's true meaning to him, Tai Lung cannot accept it and his fighting suffers, leading to his defeat. Tai Lung was so focused on the prize that he couldn't handle the realization that there wasn't one, despite how great of a martial artist he became in his journey to get it.
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* ''Series/{{Raven}}'': One of the things Raven says at the end of day 2 of the second week of series 9 is a paraphrase of this [[AnAesop Aesop]]:
-->'''Raven:''' It is not the end of the journey that is most important. It is the journey itself in the end.
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With this trope, the object of the seeker's quest turns out to be materially worthless, but also constitutes a revelation that the seeker has grown or developed in some meaningful way during the course of their journey. Of course, if the protagonist's development is [[SnapBack nullified]] or [[IgnoredEpiphany ignored]], then you have a ShaggyDogStory on your hands. WantingIsBetterThanHaving is another aesop that is often invoked with this one.

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With this trope, the object of the seeker's quest turns out to be materially worthless, but also constitutes a revelation that the seeker has grown or developed in some meaningful way during the course of their journey. Of course, if the protagonist's development is [[SnapBack nullified]] or [[IgnoredEpiphany ignored]], then you have a ShaggyDogStory on your hands. WantingIsBetterThanHaving is another aesop that is often invoked with this one.
one. HelpingWouldBeKillStealing invokes a similar philosophy in terms of letting someone learn by themselves, at least in principle.
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* Invoked in ''Series/QuantumLeap2022'' when Ben leaps into one of three sisters sent on a treasure hunt by their late father. The supposedly hidden treasure at the end turned out to be a [[WorthlessTreasureTwist note from him lamenting the time that he had spent on his own treasure hunts and away from them]], reminding them that "the real treasure is at home, with family". [[spoiler:Then that line turned out to itself be a final clue: he had found the treasure before he died and hidden it ''at home'' behind a ''family'' portrait.]]
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* The ''Franchise/IndianaJones'' movies play with this trope. While there usually ''is'' an actual treasure, the central journey of each of the movies generally involves Indy reaching some deeper understanding about himself or the nature of the treasure over the process of finding it; he often doesn't end up with the actual treasure but comes away from the adventure a better person regardless.

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* The ''Franchise/IndianaJones'' movies play with this trope. While there usually ''is'' an actual treasure, the central journey of each of the movies generally involves Indy reaching some deeper understanding about himself or the nature of the treasure over the process of finding it; he often doesn't end up with the actual treasure but comes away from the adventure a better person regardless. The fact that the treasures he seeks throughout [[Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom three]] of the main four films of the franchise are [[WorthlessTreasureTwist all eventually revealed to be worthless]] in the "they are a death trap" sense (and conveniently [[SelfDisposingVillain take out the villain]]) help a lot.
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** Turned into a joke in the dub of Episode 996 when Carrot says that the greatest treasure was the friends they made along the way, while Nami has a death grip on Zeus and declares that he is her "friend" while Zeus [[TearsOfFear sobs in fear at Nami's]] TranquilFury.
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* In ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'' Ash Ketchum's life goal is ToBeAMaster, but [[CrypticBackgroundReference nobody knows how one actually goes about doing this]] and even after becoming the very best, like no one ever was, he's at a loss at what to do next and starts aimlessly WalkingTheEarth. After reuniting with old friends and making new ones in ''Anime/PokemonToBeAPokemonMaster'', he comes to the conclusion that being a Pokémon Master means seeing the world and meeting all the Pokémon in it rather than being the WorldsBestWarrior.

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* In ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'' ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'', Ash Ketchum's life goal is ToBeAMaster, but [[CrypticBackgroundReference nobody knows how one actually goes about doing this]] and even after becoming the very best, like no one ever was, he's at a loss at what to do next and starts aimlessly WalkingTheEarth. After reuniting with old friends and making new ones in ''Anime/PokemonToBeAPokemonMaster'', he comes to the conclusion that being a Pokémon Master means seeing the world and meeting all the Pokémon in it rather than being the WorldsBestWarrior.
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* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTearsOfTheKingdom'': Finley convinces Sasan to come along and investigate reports of a glowing rock in a southern Lanayru cave. With Link's help, they discover that it's a Shrine of Light — but since they have no way of activating the Shrine, the expedition has to end there, to their disappointment. Nevertheless, Finley says that going on an adventure with her sweetheart was satisfying in its own right.
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* ''Manga/DragonBall'': Goku spends a good while trying to catch Korin before finding out that catching him ''is'' the training; the [[MagicFeather "magic water" is just that: water]]. Master Roshi, on the other hand, spends a lot longer trying to catch Korin (and finding out the truth).

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* ''Manga/DragonBall'': Goku spends a good while trying to catch Korin before finding out that catching him ''is'' ''[[WaxOnWaxOff is]]'' the training; the [[MagicFeather "magic water" is just that: water]]. Master Roshi, on the other hand, spends a lot longer trying to catch Korin (and finding out the truth).
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* In ''VideoGame/DiceyDungeons'', the Witch repeatedly claims that she's more interested in the dungeon ''experience'' than being rewarded. Though when Lady Luck tells her that if she doesn't declare what she's playing for, she won't earn ''anything'' for winning, she quickly offers up her request for ten million actual followers.

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Placed examples in alphabetical order


* ''Manga/{{Sabagebu}}'': [[ParodiedTrope Parodied]]. Momoka leads the Survival Game Club on a quest to her old home in search of a "treasure" her younger self buried. When she gets there, she digs it up, only to find a note from her younger, more innocent self telling her it's the journey that matters, not material things like money. Momoka -- being [[{{JerkAss}} Momoka]] -- is infuriated that there's no money.



* ''Manga/{{Sabagebu}}'': [[ParodiedTrope Parodied]]. Momoka leads the Survival Game Club on a quest to her old home in search of a "treasure" her younger self buried. When she gets there, she digs it up, only to find a note from her younger, more innocent self telling her it's the journey that matters, not material things like money. Momoka -- being [[{{JerkAss}} Momoka]] -- is infuriated that there's no money.



* In the ''My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic'' fanfiction ''Fanfic/ItsADangerousBusinessGoingOutYourDoor'', Twilight Sparkle comes down with a terrible case of Horn Rot, and [[PowerTrio Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity]] go on a long and dangerous quest to FindTheCure. While a lot of fans of the story pointed out [[FridgeLogic they could have just asked Twilight's mentor]] [[BigGood Princess Celestia]] for help, over the course of the story the three girls learn and accomplish a number of things they never would have if they hadn't done it themselves.

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* In the ''My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic'' ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' fanfiction ''Fanfic/ItsADangerousBusinessGoingOutYourDoor'', Twilight Sparkle comes down with a terrible case of Horn Rot, and [[PowerTrio Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity]] go on a long and dangerous quest to FindTheCure. While a lot of fans of the story pointed out [[FridgeLogic they could have just asked Twilight's mentor]] [[BigGood Princess Celestia]] for help, over the course of the story the three girls learn and accomplish a number of things they never would have if they hadn't done it themselves.



* ''Literature/AllTomorrows'' follows the evolution of mankind over the course of a billion years, from a civil war between Earth and Mars, to their war with [[AliensAreBastards the Qu]], to the hundreds of post-human species that emerged as a result. While they eventually become a multi-galaxy society, the author reveals at the end that posthumanity ultimately disappeared from the universe millions of years ago. Whether they died out or AscendedToAHigherPlaneOfExistence, the author concludes that it doesn't matter. What matters, where the very essence of humanity existed and still exists, are in the lives they lived.



* In ''Toys/{{Bionicle}},'' [[OldMaster Norik]] tells this to [[TheHero Vakama]] and [[TheLancer Matau]] at the end of ''Web of Shadows.'' While [[spoiler:Keetongu could have cured them of the Visorak venom]] right off the bat, they had to [[CharacterDevelopment become worthy of it first]].



* In ''Literature/TheTalesOfBeedleTheBard'', [[spoiler:The Fountain of Fair Fortune]] turns out to be exactly this. The trials that the heroes had to suffer through only forced them to recognize their own gifts and talents, or move on past their own heartache, or rely on each other. It works.
* The [[spoiler: way of hiding the Resurrection Stone within the Snitch]] is this in ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows.'' It is literally with the hero at all times - however, it isn't until he achieves the maturity to [[HeroicSacrifice accept his mission]] that he is able to fully implement it.

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* ''Literature/TheBookOfTheNewSun'': most of the four volumes is taken up with journeying. In ''Literature/TheTalesOfBeedleTheBard'', [[spoiler:The Fountain of Fair Fortune]] turns out to be exactly this. The trials a humorous moment Jonas lists all the things that Severian is trying to achieve at the heroes had same time [[note]]serve Vodalus, go to suffer through only forced them to recognize their own gifts and talents, or move on past their own heartache, or rely on each other. It works.
* The [[spoiler: way of hiding
work in Thrax, atone for dishonouring the Resurrection Stone within the Snitch]] is this in ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows.'' It is literally Guild, find Dorcas, make peace with Agia and return the hero at all times - however, it isn't until Claw[[/note]]. All Severian's successes prove ephemeral, yet he achieves returns home a changed man, having achieved the maturity to [[HeroicSacrifice accept his mission]] that unintended goal which he is able to fully implement it.mentioned in passing at the end of Chapter One. In fact, large elements of Severian's journey were being orchestrated by beings who knew far more of Severian's significance than he [[UnreliableNarrator ever]] realized.



* OlderThanPrint 'The Conference of the Birds' Manṭiq-uṭ-Ṭayr a Persian poem by Sufi poet Farid ud-Din Attar, 1177. In the poem, the birds of the world gather to decide who is to be their sovereign, as they have none. The hoopoe, the wisest of them all, suggests that they should find the legendary Simorgh. Most of the birds perish on the journey, but the birds make it to the abode of Simorgh learn that they themselves are the Simorgh.
* ''Day of the Dissonance'' by Alan Dean Foster has the apprentice making a lonnnnng journey to find medicine for the very ill mentor. The apprentice is not amused by the lesson, but does understand it. It helps that said mentor is up front about being a JerkAss TricksterMentor. Extra: The apprentice, Jon-Tom, is a UCLA law student pulled into the magical world, which are the setting for 8 books, called the Spellsinger Series. This is the third. [[spoiler:The medicine is aspirin, which Jon-Tom had with him in his college backpack at the mentor's house when the wizard first started feeling poorly.]]
* Invoked in ''Literature/{{Discworld}}:'' Granny Weatherwax orders a sick man to make a pilgrimage to a remote pond every day for a month to appease the water spirits. It turns out she was just making him take a walk every day to improve his health.
* The ''Series/DoctorWho'' Literature/PastDoctorAdventures novel ''The Ultimate Treasure'' plays this one incredibly-to-the-point-of-eyerolling straight; the titular "ultimate treasure" that the Fifth Doctor and Peri get roped into searching for turns out to be, naturally, exploring the wonders of the universe and making friends along the way. There are two other possible doors that the characters can choose from, one filled with material wealth and the other that fulfils their greatest dreams, but the former turns out to be full of gas that suffocates anyone who enters it and the latter hooks up those who enter to a LotusEaterMachine that allows them to live out the rest of their lives in a simulation where their greatest dreams come true.
* In the novelisation of VideoGame/FireWarrior, the main character's commanding officer eventually tells him that when confronted with the harshness and brutality of the CrapsackWorld they exist in, he realised that the vaunted 'Greater Good' all Tau strive towards simply doesn't exist. However, he then stresses that it is still worth pursuing those ideals because in striving towards them, the Tau can become more virtuous as a race.
* DiscussedTrope in ''Literature/TheGreatDivorce'': the (apostate) bishop believes that "to travel hopefully is better than to arrive," while his more heavenly-minded friend disagrees--if the destination isn't worth traveling to, then how could anyone go anywhere in hope?
* The [[spoiler: way of hiding the Resurrection Stone within the Snitch]] is this in ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows.'' It is literally with the hero at all times - however, it isn't until he achieves the maturity to [[HeroicSacrifice accept his mission]] that he is able to fully implement it.
* In Creator/RobertBloch's story "The Hell-Bound Train," protagonist Martin makes a DealWithTheDevil that the Devil can have his soul if he, Martin, has the power to stop time when he reaches the moment of perfect happiness. Because Martin is always convinced that he could be happier, he never uses that power during his lifetime. After his death, he acknowledges this trope [[spoiler:and uses his power to stop time aboard the hell-bound train so he can enjoy an endless journey with "all the jolly crew" of the damned]].
* ''Little Vampire Learns Kung Fu'' has one of Little Vampire's human friends learning kung fu from a supernatural teacher so that they can reach the top of a temple and read a scroll that will tell them how to be a true master. The scroll ended up reading "If you were able to reach here, you already have learned all the kung fu you need to be a master."



* ''Little Vampire Learns Kung Fu'' has one of Little Vampire's human friends learning kung fu from a supernatural teacher so that they can reach the top of a temple and read a scroll that will tell them how to be a true master. The scroll ended up reading "If you were able to reach here, you already have learned all the kung fu you need to be a master."
* Geraldine Harris's ''Literature/SevenCitadels'' series plays this trope mostly straight; after an arduous quest by the main characters to acquire [[PlotCoupon seven keys to unlock the prophesied savior]], the hero unlocks and enters the cave of the savior, only to see his own face reflected in the mirror that is the only thing there. Toyed with by the fact that he has been religiously forbidden to see his own face (until now), so it takes him a moment to realize who that face is... and then the wife of his god shows up to hammer the point home in case he couldn't figure it out himself.



* Geraldine Harris's ''Literature/TheSevenCitadels'' series plays this trope mostly straight; after an arduous quest by the main characters to acquire [[PlotCoupon seven keys to unlock the prophesied savior]], the hero unlocks and enters the cave of the savior, only to see his own face reflected in the mirror that is the only thing there. Toyed with by the fact that he has been religiously forbidden to see his own face (until now), so it takes him a moment to realize who that face is... and then the wife of his god shows up to hammer the point home in case he couldn't figure it out himself.



** The first book in the series, ''Literature/TheWayOfKings'' shares its name with an in-universe book by an ancient king who decided to make a long journey alone on foot. The book is a set of parables describing the dilemmas he faces on the way and the value of the Journey as an experience on its own. It's implied that this text influenced the Knights Radiant Ideals mentioned above, although the Radiants' powers existed before the Book, so it's not entirely clear what the exact relationship between the two was.
* In Creator/RobertBloch's story "The Hell-Bound Train," protagonist Martin makes a DealWithTheDevil that the Devil can have his soul if he, Martin, has the power to stop time when he reaches the moment of perfect happiness. Because Martin is always convinced that he could be happier, he never uses that power during his lifetime. After his death, he acknowledges this trope [[spoiler:and uses his power to stop time aboard the hell-bound train so he can enjoy an endless journey with "all the jolly crew" of the damned]].
* ''Day of the Dissonance'' by Alan Dean Foster has the apprentice making a lonnnnng journey to find medicine for the very ill mentor. The apprentice is not amused by the lesson, but does understand it. It helps that said mentor is up front about being a JerkAss TricksterMentor. Extra: The apprentice, Jon-Tom, is a UCLA law student pulled into the magical world, which are the setting for 8 books, called the Spellsinger Series. This is the third. [[spoiler:The medicine is aspirin, which Jon-Tom had with him in his college backpack at the mentor's house when the wizard first started feeling poorly.]]

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** The first book in the series, ''Literature/TheWayOfKings'' ''Literature/{{The Way of Kings|2010}}'' shares its name with an in-universe book by an ancient king who decided to make a long journey alone on foot. The book is a set of parables describing the dilemmas he faces on the way and the value of the Journey as an experience on its own. It's implied that this text influenced the Knights Radiant Ideals mentioned above, although the Radiants' powers existed before the Book, so it's not entirely clear what the exact relationship between the two was.
* In Creator/RobertBloch's story "The Hell-Bound Train," protagonist Martin makes a DealWithTheDevil that the Devil can have his soul if he, Martin, has the power to stop time when he reaches the moment of perfect happiness. Because Martin is always convinced that he could be happier, he never uses that power during his lifetime. After his death, he acknowledges this trope [[spoiler:and uses his power to stop time aboard the hell-bound train so he can enjoy an endless journey with "all the jolly crew" of the damned]].
* ''Day of the Dissonance'' by Alan Dean Foster has the apprentice making a lonnnnng journey to find medicine for the very ill mentor. The apprentice is not amused by the lesson, but does understand it. It helps that said mentor is up front about being a JerkAss TricksterMentor. Extra: The apprentice, Jon-Tom, is a UCLA law student pulled into the magical world, which are the setting for 8 books, called the Spellsinger Series. This is the third.
''Literature/TheTalesOfBeedleTheBard'', [[spoiler:The medicine is aspirin, which Jon-Tom Fountain of Fair Fortune]] turns out to be exactly this. The trials that the heroes had with him in his college backpack at the mentor's house when the wizard first started feeling poorly.]]to suffer through only forced them to recognize their own gifts and talents, or move on past their own heartache, or rely on each other. It works.



* Invoked in ''Literature/{{Discworld}}:'' Granny Weatherwax orders a sick man to make a pilgrimage to a remote pond every day for a month to appease the water spirits. It turns out she was just making him take a walk every day to improve his health.
* In the novelisation of VideoGame/FireWarrior, the main character's commanding officer eventually tells him that when confronted with the harshness and brutality of the CrapsackWorld they exist in, he realised that the vaunted 'Greater Good' all Tau strive towards simply doesn't exist. However, he then stresses that it is still worth pursuing those ideals because in striving towards them, the Tau can become more virtuous as a race.
%%* The only Aesop in ''Literature/OnTheRoad'' by Creator/JackKerouac.
* ''Literature/TheBookOfTheNewSun'': most of the four volumes is taken up with journeying. In a humorous moment Jonas lists all the things that Severian is trying to achieve at the same time [[note]]serve Vodalus, go to work in Thrax, atone for dishonouring the Guild, find Dorcas, make peace with Agia and return the Claw[[/note]]. All Severian's successes prove ephemeral, yet he returns home a changed man, having achieved the unintended goal which he mentioned in passing at the end of Chapter One. In fact, large elements of Severian's journey were being orchestrated by beings who knew far more of Severian's significance than he [[UnreliableNarrator ever]] realized.
* DiscussedTrope in ''Literature/TheGreatDivorce'': the (apostate) bishop believes that "to travel hopefully is better than to arrive," while his more heavenly-minded friend disagrees--if the destination isn't worth traveling to, then how could anyone go anywhere in hope?
* In ''Toys/{{Bionicle}},'' [[OldMaster Norik]] tells this to [[TheHero Vakama]] and [[TheLancer Matau]] at the end of ''Web of Shadows.'' While [[spoiler:Keetongu could have cured them of the Visorak venom]] right off the bat, they had to [[CharacterDevelopment become worthy of it first]].
* The ''Series/DoctorWho'' Literature/PastDoctorAdventures novel ''The Ultimate Treasure'' plays this one incredibly-to-the-point-of-eyerolling straight; the titular "ultimate treasure" that the Fifth Doctor and Peri get roped into searching for turns out to be, naturally, exploring the wonders of the universe and making friends along the way. There are two other possible doors that the characters can choose from, one filled with material wealth and the other that fulfils their greatest dreams, but the former turns out to be full of gas that suffocates anyone who enters it and the latter hooks up those who enter to a LotusEaterMachine that allows them to live out the rest of their lives in a simulation where their greatest dreams come true.
* OlderThanPrint 'The Conference of the Birds' Manṭiq-uṭ-Ṭayr a Persian poem by Sufi poet Farid ud-Din Attar, 1177. In the poem, the birds of the world gather to decide who is to be their sovereign, as they have none. The hoopoe, the wisest of them all, suggests that they should find the legendary Simorgh. Most of the birds perish on the journey, but the birds make it to the abode of Simorgh learn that they themselves are the Simorgh.
* ''Literature/AllTomorrows'' follows the evolution of mankind over the course of a billion years, from a civil war between Earth and Mars, to their war with [[AliensAreBastards the Qu]], to the hundreds of post-human species that emerged as a result. While they eventually become a multi-galaxy society, the author reveals at the end that posthumanity ultimately disappeared from the universe millions of years ago. Whether they died out or AscendedToAHigherPlaneOfExistence, the author concludes that it doesn't matter. What matters, where the very essence of humanity existed and still exists, are in the lives they lived.
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* In ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'' Ash Ketchum's life goal is ToBeAMaster, but [[CrypticBackgroundReference nobody knows how one actually goes about doing this]] and even after becoming the very best, like no one ever was, he's at a loss at what to do next and starts aimlessly WalkingTheEarth. After reuniting with old friends and making new ones in ''Anime/PokemonTheSeriesAimToBeAPokemonMaster'', he comes to the conclusion that being a Pokémon Master means seeing the world and meeting all the Pokémon in it rather than being the WorldsBestWarrior.

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* In ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'' Ash Ketchum's life goal is ToBeAMaster, but [[CrypticBackgroundReference nobody knows how one actually goes about doing this]] and even after becoming the very best, like no one ever was, he's at a loss at what to do next and starts aimlessly WalkingTheEarth. After reuniting with old friends and making new ones in ''Anime/PokemonTheSeriesAimToBeAPokemonMaster'', ''Anime/PokemonToBeAPokemonMaster'', he comes to the conclusion that being a Pokémon Master means seeing the world and meeting all the Pokémon in it rather than being the WorldsBestWarrior.
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* In ''VideoGame/WarioWare: Get It Together!'', after defeating the TrueFinalBoss, Wario asks where the treasure is. He's horrified when told there's no monetary reward of any kind at the end. Master Mantis suggests this trope was the real treasure... which doesn't comfort [[OnlyInItForTheMoney Wario]] at all. The ''player'' gets a reward at least, because said boss [[DefeatMeansPlayable joins them]] as the last playable character to be unlocked.

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* In ''VideoGame/WarioWare: Get It Together!'', ''VideoGame/WarioWareGetItTogether'', after defeating the TrueFinalBoss, Wario asks where the treasure is. He's horrified when told there's no monetary reward of any kind at the end. Master Mantis suggests this trope was the real treasure... which doesn't comfort [[OnlyInItForTheMoney Wario]] at all. The ''player'' gets a reward at least, because said boss [[DefeatMeansPlayable joins them]] as the last playable character to be unlocked.
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* In the ''Franchise/MassEffect'' series, particularly the [[VideoGame/MassEffect2 second game]], this is the reason [[spoiler:the non-Heretic and not-automatically-hostile geth concensus]] give to explain why they rejected outside help [[spoiler:from the Reapers, even though they are both synthetic species]]. They cite that the process of arriving at a more advanced state is as important as attaining that state, and to take shortcuts would cheat them out of important learning processes. Given that one of the big spoilers of the series is that [[spoiler:both the interstellar PortalNetwork that spans the galaxy and allows for interstellar travel and civilization to develop, as well as the ancient giant space station currently called the Citadel at the center of it, were intentionally made and left by the Reapers to encourage biological civilizations to develop along familiar and predictable lines before they come in to cull them all every 50,000 years]], they may have a point.
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* In ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'' Ash Ketchum's life goal is ToBeAMaster, but [[CrypticBackgroundReference nobody knows how one actually goes about doing this]] and even after becoming the very best, like no one ever was, he's at a loss at what to do next and starts aimlessly WalkingTheEarth. After reuniting with old friends and making new ones in ''Anime/PokemonTheSeriesAimToBeAPokemonMaster'', he comes to the conclusion that being a Pokémon Master means seeing the world and meeting all the Pokémon in it rather than being the WorldsBestWarrior.
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* ''WebAnimation/TalesOfAlethrion'': It's right there in the theme song: "The reward is the journey of a lifetime." This is basically what [[http://vimeo.com/58179094 "The Reward",]] its flagship short, is all about -- two adventurers team up to find a treasure, only to find a large mirror where the treasure was supposed to be. After a bit of literal self-reflection, the pair realizes the experience was what really mattered, and go on to encourage the same revelation in others by leaving their map where people can find it. [[spoiler:Subverted when a post-credits scene shows that behind the mirror the duo saw is a vast room filled with gold, but once the series shows how it got there through Alethrion's arc, we can see why it'd be left to its own devices. [[SealedEvilInACan Especially when it's shown what's still waiting among the treasure]].]]

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* ''WebAnimation/TalesOfAlethrion'': It's right there in the theme song: "The reward is the journey of a lifetime." This is basically what [[http://vimeo.com/58179094 "The Reward",]] its flagship short, is all about -- two adventurers team up to find a treasure, only to find a large mirror where the treasure was supposed to be. After a bit of literal self-reflection, the pair realizes the experience getting to it was what really mattered, and go on to encourage the same revelation in others by leaving their map where people can find it. [[spoiler:Subverted when a post-credits scene shows that behind the mirror the duo saw is a vast room filled with gold, but once the series shows how it got there through Alethrion's arc, we can see why it'd be left to its own devices. [[SealedEvilInACan Especially when it's shown what's still waiting among the treasure]].]]
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* ''WebAnimation/TalesOfAlethrion'': It's right there in the theme song: "The reward is the journey of a lifetime." This is basically what [[http://vimeo.com/58179094 "The Reward",]] its flagship short, is all about. [[spoiler:Subverted when a post-credits scene shows that behind the mirror the duo saw is a vast room filled with gold, but once the series shows how it got there through Alethrion's arc, we can see why it'd be left to its own devices. [[SealedEvilInACan Especially when it's shown what's still waiting among the treasure]].]]

to:

* ''WebAnimation/TalesOfAlethrion'': It's right there in the theme song: "The reward is the journey of a lifetime." This is basically what [[http://vimeo.com/58179094 "The Reward",]] its flagship short, is all about.about -- two adventurers team up to find a treasure, only to find a large mirror where the treasure was supposed to be. After a bit of literal self-reflection, the pair realizes the experience was what really mattered, and go on to encourage the same revelation in others by leaving their map where people can find it. [[spoiler:Subverted when a post-credits scene shows that behind the mirror the duo saw is a vast room filled with gold, but once the series shows how it got there through Alethrion's arc, we can see why it'd be left to its own devices. [[SealedEvilInACan Especially when it's shown what's still waiting among the treasure]].]]

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Removing general examples.



[[folder:Real Life]]
* This now happens with people who earn Ph.D.s and other terminal graduate degrees. In the modern era, research and employment opportunities both change at such a rapid rate that the information a newly minted Ph.D. has acquired over several formidable years of academic study is often out of date before the diploma has even been printed up -- what matters to other researchers and to employers are the skills and background the Ph.D. has acquired from the academic journey, as these are what enable the individual with a Ph.D. to handle and investigate the studies in his or her doctoral field. Thus, the most intellectually (and professionally) successful Ph.D. is not someone who is questing to take possession of a doctorate, but instead someone who is on a journey to become a better person.
** The "graduate glut" issue means that this is increasingly applying to undergraduate courses too - university is often now prized more for the life experience that people gain than for the bit of paper at the end of it.
* Some modern Christians believe that when you pray for something like courage, [[SinkOrSwimMentor God gives you ''opportunities'' to be courageous]], rather than having you just wake up with instant courage.
* {{Rail Enthusiast}}s will often opt to take the train over flying when they can, citing the slower pace and scenery of a rail journey.
* There are several awards, distinctions and honors that are created with this trope in mind. Individuals or entities that try to subvert this trope and treat those awards as end-goals and do everything they can to achieve them will cause major scandals. The awards themselves will lose prestige and values if this happen too often. One example is the World Bank’s ‘Ease of Doing Business’ index. For years this index is treated as the holy grail for investors who want to invest in a particular country. While this index was created to encourage countries to improve their economic governance, legal and infrastructures for better ratings. In the late 2020, a scandal erupted when several newspapers such as Financial Times, The Economist, and The Wall Street Journal reported that senior leaderships in World Bank allegedly pressured employees to give better rating for countries like China, UAE and Saudi Arabia by tempering the data in order to secure funding from these countries. As a result of these allegation, World Bank chose to discontinue the 'Ease of Doing Business' report.
[[/folder]]

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* In ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}: Mask of Light'', Takua could have put on the [[MaskOfPower mask]] at any time to become the Toa Takanuva. He had to take the mask around the island, learn to stop running from danger and face his responsibilities to be worthy of possessing Toa power. His village elder Turaga Vakama explains as much when Takanuva muses over all the losses it took to find himself.



* In ''WesternAnimation/{{BIONICLE}},'' [[OldMaster Norik]] tells this to [[TheHero Vakama]] and [[TheLancer Matau]] at the end of ''Web of Shadows.'' While [[spoiler:Keetongu could have cured them of the Visorak venom]] right off the bat, they had to [[CharacterDevelopment become worthy of it first]].

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* In ''WesternAnimation/{{BIONICLE}},'' ''Toys/{{Bionicle}},'' [[OldMaster Norik]] tells this to [[TheHero Vakama]] and [[TheLancer Matau]] at the end of ''Web of Shadows.'' While [[spoiler:Keetongu could have cured them of the Visorak venom]] right off the bat, they had to [[CharacterDevelopment become worthy of it first]].

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