History Main / StockAesops

* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: [[ExactWords Ya just might get it.]]

* DemocracyIsFlawed

* BeliefMakesYouStupid
* [[StrawNihilist Lack of Belief Makes You Stupid]]

* Curiosity saved the cat.
* CuriosityIsACrapshoot

* There are ThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow
* ScienceIsBad
* [[ScienceHero Science Is Good]]
* [[ForScience Science Makes You Crazy]]

* Prejudice and discrimination are stupid and wrong. Treat others with equal dignity and respect.

[[folder:On Entertainment]]
* AntiEscapismAesop: Reality is better than fiction.
* DigitalPiracyIsEvil
** DigitalPiracyIsOkay
* InDefenceOfStoryTelling
* OldMediaAreEvil
** NewMediaAreEvil
*** TVTropesWillRuinYourLife
* SocialMediaIsBad: It cannot substitute for genuine human relationships and can have bad effects if one obsesses over it.
* ThinkOfTheChildren: You are responsible for the kids' well-being, not the media.
* ReadingIsCoolAesop: Reading can be really fun and useful.
* YesVirginia, there is a SantaClaus.
[[/folder]]

* RightMakesMight

* HeWhoFightsMonsters: Getting revenge will make you just as bad as the villain.

* DisproportionateRetribution: Going over and beyond punishing wrongdoers is never good.

* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: Because (more often than not), having absolute power may corrupt someone absolutely.

* PygmalionSnapBack: Accept people for who they are and let others be themselves.

* TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong: You should always agree with your friends.

* BlitheSpirit: Change tradition and convert everyone else to your views.
* TallPoppySyndrome: The Nail That Stands Out Gets Hammered Flat.

** TV Rots Your Brain
* NewMediaAreEvil
** TVTropesWillRuinYourLife

* DigitalPiracyIsEvil
* DigitalPiracyIsOkay
* InDefenceOfStoryTelling
** YesVirginia, there is a SantaClaus.

* AntiEscapismAesop: Reality is better than fiction.

[[folder:On Diet]]
* Always eat your vegetables.
* [[AWeightyAesop Junk food is bad]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:On Drugs]]
* DrugsAreBad, [[WesternAnimation/SouthPark mmmkay?]]
* DrugsAreGood! They let you achieve HigherUnderstandingThroughDrugs because... uh... reasons!
[[/folder]]

* [[AGodAmI Don't Play God]]: it never ends well.
* [[PrideBeforeAFall Pride comes before a fall.]]

* SexEqualsLove (even when it's rape.)

* HitlersTimeTravelExemptionAct: The past shapes the best of all possible presents.

* Avoid the SevenDeadlySins.
* [[ThePresentsWereNeverFromSanta Be careful where you get your power, your validation, and the justification for your actions.]]

* GreenAesop: Because pollution is bad.

* ...and the reason for all the contradictions is the Golden Mean: Nothing In Excess. Everything in moderation, [[GoldenMeanFallacy including moderation]].

Stock Aesops are the morals that the writers and [[ExecutiveMeddling producers]] of TV most often love to explore. They sometimes contradict each other, but it's a clumsy writer indeed who sticks [[MindScrew two contradictory aesops into the same script]], which tends to create a BrokenAesop. When AnAesop contradicts the typical beliefs of society,[[note]]HardWorkFallacy.[[/note]] offends the MoralGuardians,[[note]]ViolenceReallyIsTheAnswer.[[/note]] or promotes an "unconventional" belief,[[note]]HigherUnderstandingThroughDrugs.[[/note]] it's a FamilyUnfriendlyAesop.

* Prejudice and discrimination is stupid and wrong. Treat others with equal dignity and respect.

** GayAesop: Treat {{LGBT}} people with acceptance and tolerance.

* PowerOfTrust: Trust makes people stronger
* BetrayalTropes: Some people should not be trusted

* BecauseDestinySaysSo: Accept Your Destiny
* ScrewDestiny: Shape Your Own Destiny
* ThereAreNoCoincidences: Nothing Happens By Chance; Everything Is Destined

* Blood is ThickerThanWater: Your Relatives Are Your Best Friends
* Family Is A Hindrance: Show The Other Generation What You're Really Worth

* HonestAxe: Honesty Is The Best Policy (And Will Totally Get You The InfinityPlusOneSword)

* HonorBeforeReason is bad

* WhatYouAreInTheDark matters

* TVGenius, BookDumb, DumbIsGood, BrilliantButLazy: Studying Is Overrated

* First Impressions Are Misleading: Sometimes things are MoreThanMeetsTheEye

* OppositesAttract.

* DeathBySex: Just Don't Do It

* SexEqualsLove (even when it's rape)

* CantHaveSexEver: Love is more important than sex

** StrawCivilian: Civilians are [[DirtyCoward spineless cowards]] who have [[DyingLikeAnimals no sense of duty or responsibility]].

Stock Aesops are the morals that the writers and [[ExecutiveMeddling producers]] of TV most often love to explore. They sometimes contradict each other, but it's a clumsy writer indeed who sticks [[MindScrew two contradictory aesops into the same script]], which tends to create a BrokenAesop. When AnAesop contradicts the typical beliefs of society[[note]]the HardWorkFallacy[[/note]], offends the MoralGuardians[[note]]ViolenceReallyIsTheAnswer[[/note]], or promotes an "unconventional" belief [[note]]HigherUnderstandingThroughDrugs[[/note]], it's a FamilyUnfriendlyAesop.

* FreudianExcuse: Cut your {{arch enemy}} some slack -- he had a rough childhood.

[[folder:On Authority and Government]]

[[folder:On Conformity and Individuality]]
* BeYourself - Accept who you are.
* PygmalionSnapBack - Accept people for who they are and let others be themselves.
* Conform to Expectations.

* BlitheSpirit: Convert everyone else to your views.

* [[IDoNotLikeGreenEggsAndHam Keep an open mind and be willing to try new things]] (like Literature/GreenEggsAndHam) - maybe you'll like them!

** GayAesop: Treat LGBT people with acceptance and tolerance.

* DrugsAreGood! They let you achieve HigherUnderstandingThroughDrugs because...uh...reasons!

* NoChallengeEqualsNoSatisfaction - It's no fun winning unless you actually had to put in an effort.

* ReadingIsCoolAesop - Reading can be really fun and useful.
* AntiEscapismAesop - Reality is better than fiction.

* Family Is A Hindrance - Show The Other Generation What You're Really Worth

* InTheEndYouAreOnYourOwn - However, even if you have friends they won't always be there, and there's some things [[ThisIsSomethingHesGotToDoHimself you have to do yourself.]]

* SomebodyDoesntLoveRaymond - Not everyone in the world has to like you, for a friend to all is a friend to none.

* FreudianExcuse: Cut your arch enemy some slack -- he had a rough childhood.
* JusticeWillPrevail

* LoveRedeems - Love can bring out [[HappilyMarried the]] [[RescueRomance best]] [[CantActPervertedTowardALoveInterest in]] [[BattleCouple people]].

[floatboxright:
See also:
+ CapitalismIsBad
]

[[folder:On Tradition]]
* Respect Tradition: Great-Grandmother Knows Best
* Change Tradition: [[DisobeyThisMessage Be Your Own Person]]
* ChristmasSpecial: It's better to give than to receive.
[[/folder]]

* WarIsHell: War is just cruel and useless bloodshed. Please give peace a chance!

* WarIsGlorious: War is heroic and patriotic. Pacifism is for cowardly traitors!
** StrawCivilian: Civilians are [[DirtyCoward cowards]] who have [[DyingLikeAnimals no sense of duty or responsibility]].

* GayAesop: Give acceptance and tolerance for LGBT people.

* [[SillyReasonForWar Your differences are minuscule]], get along already!

* ArmiesAreEvil: Soldiers are [[BlindObedience weak-willed drones]] who exist only to RapePillageAndBurn
* StrawCivilian: Civilians are [[DirtyCoward cowards]] who have [[DyingLikeAnimals no sense of duty or responsibility]]
* WarIsHell
* WarIsGlorious

* [[IDoNotLikeGreenEggsAndHam Keep an open mind and be willing to try new things]] (like GreenEggsAndHam) - maybe you'll like them!

* ButWeUsedACondom: "Condoms are effective, not perfect." Though this storyline is [[SeenItAMillionTimes used so often]], it ends up feeling more like "[[FamilyUnfriendlyAesop Condoms don't work at all, so don't even bother with them]]."

->''"If you believe in yourself, eat all your school, get 8 hours of drugs, stay in milk, drink your teeth, and don't do sleep, you can get work!"''

* [[AWeightyAesop Junk food is bad]].

* ButWeUsedACondom: "Condoms are effective, not perfect." Though this is often [[FamilyUnfriendlyAesop warped]] to "Condoms don't help at all, so don't bother with them."

* CapitalismIsBad: Or then at least [[TheUnfettered Unfettered]] Capitalism is bad.

[[index]]

[[folder:On Agreement:]]

* WithUsOrAgainstUs - You choose one or the other. There's no middle ground.

[[folder:On Ambition:]]

* LivingIsMoreThanSurviving - A Man's Reach Should Exceed His Grasp.
* CarpeDiem - Seize the day, for you may not live tomorrow.

* AmbitionIsEvil - Unfortunately, that also makes you '''evil'''.

* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor - [[ExactWords Ya just might get it.]]
* SweetAndSourGrapes - Learn to appreciate your situation as it is.

[[folder:On Appearance, Beauty, and Clothing:]]

[[folder:On Authority and Government:]]

* TVNeverLies - Question Authority
* DisobeyThisMessage - We're Telling You, Think For Yourself

[[folder:On Belief:]]

[[folder: On Caution and planning:]]
* Live Dangerously and [[InHarmsWay Throw Caution To The Wind.]]

* HoistByHisOwnPetard - The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men often go awry.

[[folder:On Change, Progress, and Technology:]]
* GoodOldWays - Change Is Bad.
* LuddWasRight - Progress is Bad.
* EvilLuddite - Progress Is Good.

[[folder:On Conformity and Individuality:]]

* TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong - You should always agree with your friends.
* PeerPressureMakesYouEvil - Don't give into peer pressure.
* TrendAesop - Giving into materialism, peer pressure, and/or the silly/fickle nature of fashion is more trouble than it is worth.
* BlitheSpirit - Convert everyone else to your views.
* TallPoppySyndrome - The Nail That Stands Out Gets Hammered Flat.

* PowerOfTrust - Trust makes people stronger
* BetrayalTropes - Some people should not be trusted

* AndroclesLion - Kindness is returned in kind.
* LaserGuidedKarma - Cruelty is returned in kind.

* TheFarmerAndTheViper - Don't be kind to evil.
* GoodIsNotSoft - Don't take kindness for weakness.
* MiseryBuildsCharacter - A little suffering is good for the soul.
* EnemiesEqualsGreatness - Having enemies is good for you.
* TheGoldenRule - Do unto others as you would have done unto you.

* TooSmartForStrangers - Don't trust people you don't know, especially if you're a kid.

[[folder:On Curiosity and Science:]]
* CuriosityKilledTheCast - Curiosity killed the cat.

[[folder:On Destiny:]]
* BecauseDestinySaysSo - Accept Your Destiny
* ScrewDestiny - Shape Your Own Destiny
* ThereAreNoCoincidences - Nothing Happens By Chance; Everything Is Destined

* GayAesop - Give acceptance and tolerance for LGBT people.

[[folder:On Drugs:]]

* {{Drugs Are Good}}! They let you achieve HigherUnderstandingThroughDrugs because...uh...reasons!

[[folder:On Effort:]]

* QualityOverQuantity - Few but high-quality trumps many but low-quality.

[[folder:On Entertainment:]]

* ThinkOfTheChildren - You are responsible for the kids' well-being, not the media.

[[folder:On Family:]]
* Blood is ThickerThanWater - Your Relatives Are Your Best Friends

[[folder:On Force:]]
* {{Forgiveness}} - You should forgive those who wrong you. [[ThisIsUnforgivable Unless]] [[MoralEventHorizon you shouldn't.]]
** ForgivenButNotForgotten - ...and even if you did, you should never forget what they've done.
* TurnTheOtherCheek - Break The CycleOfRevenge.

* VengeanceFeelsEmpty - Getting revenge won't give you satisfaction you hoped for.
* HeWhoFightsMonsters - Getting revenge will make you just as bad as the villain.

[[folder:On Friendship:]]

* PoisonousFriend - Well, maybe they weren't really your friends.
* LonersAreFreaks - If you don't have friends, there's something wrong with you.

* BefriendingTheEnemy - Making friends with an enemy will cause them to change their ways.

[[folder:On Honesty:]]

* HonestAxe - Honesty Is The Best Policy (And Will Totally Get You The InfinityPlusOneSword)

[[folder:On Honor:]]

[[folder:On Immortality:]]

[[folder:On Initiative:]]
* LeeroyJenkins - Fools rush in.
* MissedTheCall - He who hesitates is lost.

[[folder:On Intellectualism:]]
* TVGenius, BookDumb, DumbIsGood, BrilliantButLazy - Studying Is Overrated
* AwesomeByAnalysis - Knowledge is power.

[[folder:On Intuition and first impressions:]]

* First Impressions Are Misleading - Sometimes things are MoreThanMeetsTheEye
* SubvertedSuspicionAesop - Always trust your first impressions.

[[folder:On Justice:]]

[[folder:On Kinship:]]

[[folder:On Literature:]]

[[folder:On Love:]]
* CupidHatesOddCouples - Friendship Is More Important Than Love

* WrongGuyFirst - Be careful who you give your heart to.
* LoveAtFirstSight - You'll ''just know'' when your true love shows up, what with the [[BishieSparkle golden lights]] and [[HeartSymbol floating hearts]] and all.
* LoveAtFirstPunch - You'll hate each other at first, though.

* LoveMakesYouEvil - Love can bring out [[IfICantHaveYou the]] [[MurderTheHypotenuse worst]] [[StalkerWithACrush in]] [[{{Yandere}} people]].

[[folder:On Material Possessions and Wealth:]]

* CapitalismIsBad - Or then at least [[TheUnfettered Unfettered]] Capitalism is bad.

[[folder:On Patience:]]

[[folder:On Perseverance:]]
* {{Determinator}} - Never give up.
* KnowWhenToFoldEm - Sometimes you have to give up.

[[folder:On Positive and Negative attitude:]]
* AntiNihilist - Life sucks, [[EarnYourHappyEnding but we can make it better]].
* DeterminedDefeatist - You're bound to fail, but still try anyways.
* ThePollyanna - Keep a positive attitude in times of peril.
* SillyRabbitCynicismIsForLosers - Take off those JadeColoredGlasses and don't be negative.
* SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids - Being a WideEyedIdealist is foolish.

[[folder:On Pride:]]

[[folder:On Relationships:]]

[[folder:On Sex:]]
* DeathBySex - Just Don't Do It

* CantHaveSexEver - Love is more important than sex
* VirginityMakesYouStupid, SexAsRiteOfPassage - You aren't an adult until you've had sex.

* MasterOfNone - You can do everything, but you can't do everything THAT well if you can't be the JackOfAllTrades.
* CripplingOverspecialization - You do one thing very well, but you can't do anything else straight.

[[folder:On Spontaneity:]]

[[folder:On Teamwork:]]

[[folder:On Tradition:]]
* Respect Tradition - Great-Grandmother Knows Best
* Change Tradition - [[DisobeyThisMessage Be Your Own Person]]
* ChristmasSpecial - It's better to give than to receive.

* ArmiesAreEvil - Soldiers are [[BlindObedience weak-willed drones]] who exist only to RapePillageAndBurn
* StrawCivilian - Civilians are [[DirtyCoward cowards]] who have [[DyingLikeAnimals no sense of duty or responsibility]]

[[folder:On Women:]]

* YouGoGirl - Women are just as good as men.
* WomenAreWiser - Women are totally awesome and possess unique wisdom men don't have.

* TheDinosaursHadItComing - Immoral behavior is what drives species extinct.
* HitlersTimeTravelExemptionAct - The past shapes the best of all possible presents.

[[folder:Other Aesops:]]

* GreenAesop - Because pollution is bad.

* ...and the reason for all the contradictions is the Golden Mean: Nothing In Excess. Everything in moderation, including moderation.

For every proverb, there is an equal and opposite proverb.
----

-->-- '''Creator/MrT''' {{parody}}, ''[[SaturdayNightLive TV Funhouse]]''