History Main / TheOnlyWayTheyWillLearn

* ''TheKarateKid'' introduced this lesson technique with ''WaxOnWaxOff'' as the assigned task was menial but resulted in valuable muscle memory.

* This is the ''generous'' interpretation of Grand Cleric Elthina's, er, "hands off" approach in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII''. Despite being one of the most powerful political figures in the city, she refuses to be assert her authority on the grounds that "children learn best when allowed to learn themselves". As a result, anti-Qunari zealots have room to commit hate crimes and the Templars repeatedly inflict brutal punishments on the Circle of Magi.

* Ender from ''EndersGame'' is put under a series of trials by his [[spoiler:seemingly negligent adult supervisors in order to balance his kindness with ruthlessness, making him unafraid to kill when a crucial decision must be made -- he ends up (unintentionally) killing two people to complete his main training. [[TricksterMentor Mazer Rackham]] then ruthlessly punishes him in physical combat until he learns to let go of his instinctive mercy.]]

* In ''TheDresdenFiles'', Harry's lessons for Molly Carpenter, a reforming Warlock, involve this. He tells his cop buddy Murph that she's the kind of person you "have to keep knocking on her ass" because "If I don't, if I let her recover her balance before she gets smart enough to figure out ''why'' she should be doing things instead of just ''how'' to do them, or ''if'' she can do them, she'll start doing the 'right' thing again. She'll break the Laws again, and they'll kill her."

* This applies to the Cutie Mark Crusaders from ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''. they have not yet realized that they can't force their cutie marks to appear and need some kind of epiphany. But from an in-universe prospective, they WILL learn this lesson because every pony eventually gets a mark. Also, their friend, Twist, already went through this and had said epiphany needed to get her cutie mark.

* ''Series/{{QI}}'': in the episode "Immortal Bard", Stephen Fry mentioned a story about actress Diana Wynyard, who while playing [[Theater/{{Macbeth}} Lady Macbeth]] on stage decided to keep her eyes closed during the scene where she was sleepwalking, and walked off the stage into the orchestra pit.

* Case number four of ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney: Justice For All'' has very clear undertones of this, when you think about [[spoiler:[[TheChessmaster Edgeworth]]'s]] awareness and motivations regarding the case.

* In ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Unlimited'', Wildcat has become such an adrenaline addict and rage case that he's joined an underground fighting ring, and it's just a matter of time until someone gets seriously hurt. GreenArrow arranges a bout and then fakes his own death in the ring at Wildcat's hands, forcing Wildcat to face "MyGodWhatHaveIDone" before it happens for real.

** Kakashi's first challenge is to seize [[MacGuffin two bells]] from his person. Fail to get a bell, fail the test, yet there are ''three'' students. The lesson is to ignore the built-in incentive for competition and work as a team. (Later we learn that this method is a strange, sadistic tradition amongst the Hogake-trained line.) They fail to realize this and are punished by only two of them eating lunch while the other watches (guess who), which was ''another'' test of character. They give Naruto food despite the rules and pass.

* On ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'', extreme examples to "teach them a lesson" are present from the first episode, where Maeby conspires to teach her parents a lesson about being away from family by [[KissingCousins making out with her cousin and claiming she didn't know]]. Later in the series, it would be revealed that the Bluth kids have an aversion to being taught "lessons" in this fashion from their father using a OneArmedMan who would lose his prosthetic arm in gruesome ways resulting from their actions.
* One episode of DeadLikeMe has Dolores Herbig have an employee fake a heart attack so she can teach the Happy Time employees a lesson about using the defibrillators to make grilled cheese.

* ''Series/{{Qi}}'': in the episode "Immortal Bard", Stephen Fry mentioned a story about actress Diana Wynyard, who while playing [[Theater/{{Macbeth}} Lady Macbeth]] on stage decided to keep her eyes closed during the scene where she was sleepwalking, and walked off the stage into the orchestra pit.

* In ''KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'', the [[OldMaster Jedi masters]] actually let a Jedi fall to TheDarkSide in order to teach her the dangers of letting her emotions control her. They send the player character to [[DefeatMeansFriendship redeem her]], in order to teach him the same lesson.

* In ''BobAndGeorge'', [[http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/000420c Protoman hears Dr. Wiley plotting but does not interfere because he thinks Dr. Light needs to learn that his robots can be used for evil.]]

* This applies to the Cutie Mark Crusaders from ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''. they have not yet realized that they can't force their cutie marks to appear and need some kind of epiphany. but from an in-universe prospective, they WILL learn this lesson because every pony eventually gets a mark. Also, their friend, Twist, already went through this and had said epiphany needed to get her cutie mark.

'''Dennis Mitchell''': It's the only way she'll learn.

** Ebisu wants to teach Naruto to walk on water, and gives a decent explaination how... but thinks it best that Naruto's practice water be boiling hot. TrainingFromHell excused with it's the only way they will learn. The counter-argument being that a student who has just been dunked in boiling water most likely won't have the best of focus - which is crucial to walking on water.

* Case number four of Phoenix Wright: ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney'' Justice For All has very clear undertones of this, when you think about [[spoiler:[[TheChessmaster Edgeworth]]'s]] awareness and motivations regarding the case.

* Kind of the point of the whole [[TheBible book of Hosea]]. Why order a prophet to go marry a brazen prostitute? Because sure, God could easily just ''tell'' the Israelites they were cheating on Him with other gods just like a wayward wife cheating on her husband with other men, but talk is cheap and people weren't paying much attention to anything the prophets were saying just then. Hence the need for a realistic demonstration of the analogy. "Look how she treats this poor guy! And that's exactly how it is with you people and me: I take you in, give you all kinds of good things, let you share my good name, and ''this'' is how you repay me!?"

* As the quote above says, ''Film/TheMatrix'' (in the film of the same name) can only be understood through direct experience. While the audience may feel the urge to scoff at this at first, it does make sense. Telling someone they have lived in a computer simulation their entire lives may be easy, but they're not going to ''believe you'' without proof. Also, as Cypher points out later, if they were upfront about everything, their recruits would be more likely to refuse.

* In ''JusticeLeagueUnlimited'', Wildcat has become such an adrenaline addict and rage case that he's joined an underground fighting ring, and it's just a matter of time until someone gets seriously hurt. GreenArrow arranges a bout and then fakes his own death in the ring at Wildcat's hands, forcing Wildcat to face "MyGodWhatHaveIDone" before it happens for real.

->''"The Tao which can be explained is not the eternal Tao."''
-->-- '''[[{{Laozi}} Lao Tse]]'''

->''"Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself."''
-->-- '''Morpheus''', ''Film/TheMatrix''

-->Will: Did you know where (the McGuffin) was all along?
-->Kalem: Perhaps.
-->Will: You couldn't have given us a hint?
-->Kalem: What sort of hero would you be if you couldn't find these things for yourself?

[[AC:{{Film}}]]
* ''TheKarateKid'' introduced this lesson technique with ''WaxOnWaxOff'' as the assigned task was menial but resulted in valuable muscle memory.
* As the quote above says, ''Film/TheMatrix'' (in the film of the same name) can only be understood through direct experience. While the audience may feel the urge to scoff at this at first, it does make sense. Telling someone they have lived in a computer simulation their entire lives may be easy, but they're not going to ''believe you'' without proof. Also, as Cypher points out later, if they were upfront about everything, their recruits would be more likely to refuse.
** Later in the film, Morpheus sets Neo up for the "grand illumination" form of this in order to make him realize that he is The One.
* [[DoubleSubversion Double Subverted]] in ''AllAboutEve''. Karen deliberates on her plan to help Margo to get over herself. She finishes with "there's not even a reason why I shouldn't tell her," then, as she picks up the phone, adds, "in time." Subverted again, when it turns out ''Karen'' is the one with her head up her ass.
* ''LocalHero'' - Old Ben, a hermit beachcomber, legally owns the shoreline in a village an oil company wants to purchase, and he's the lone holdout. Mac the acquisitions executive tries to bargain with him; Ben scoops up a handful of sand and asks if he'd give a pound for each grain he's holding for the property. Mac refuses outright, and Ben points out that he can't be holding more than 10,000 grains, and he missed a good deal. Ben is clearly implying he doesn't recognize the true worth of the place but Mac doesn't get it - when the CEO arrives, Mac tells him "If he makes any offer involving sand, take it!"

[[AC:{{Anime}}]]
* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'s'' teachers love this method like Naruto loves ramen.
** Kakashi's first challenge is to seize [[MacGuffin two bells]] from his person. Fail to get a bell, fail the test, yet there are ''three'' students. The lesson is to ignore the built-in incentive for competition and work as a team. (Later we learn that this method is a strange, sadistic tradition amongst the Hogake-trained line.) They fail to realize this and are punished by only two of them eating lunch while the other watches (guess who), which was ''another'' test of character. They give Naruto food despite the rules and pass.
** Jiraiya gets impatient teaching Naruto how to release chakra. So he pushes Naruto into a deep canyon so that he releases his chakra in a panicked rush. Yes... That is ''truly'' the ONLY way Naruto could learn it.
*** Could be excused by Naruto's HealingFactor, though.
** Ebisu wants to teach Naruto to walk on water, and gives a decent explaination how... but thinks it best that Naruto's practice water be boiling hot. TrainingFromHell excused with it's the only way they will learn. The counter-argument being that a student who has just been dunked in boiling water most likely won't have the best of focus - which is crucial to walking on water.
** Recently, when sages tried to explain the fusion of different types of energy into the body, Naruto was at a loss. So one of the sages '''literally''' gave an IceCreamKoan.
---> '''Gamakichi:''' It's like how ice cream is even better when you add mint to the chocolate and vanilla swirl.
---> '''Papa:''' That's even harder to understand!!
---> '''Naruto:''' Oh! I get it!
---> '''Gamakichi:''' Hehehe... That's just how Naruto is...
* In ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'', Izumi Curtis leaves Ed and Al, then just kids, to survive a month on an island without using alchemy because, apparently, that's the only way they will learn what her philosophy means. However, when they explain in short what they've learned, she laughs at them, suggesting she may have been just testing their determination to train under her. Worth noting is that in the manga, she had her husband's apprentice on the island as well, wearing a monstrous mask and wielding a stick, just to up the ante... and also to keep an eye on them should anything seriously bad happen.
** Played with in Izumi's own training in an omake. She was put in the same situation, learned a slightly different lesson...only to discover she trained under the WRONG TEACHER! The alchemy teacher was next door, she got the survivalist! One quick beatdown later, she is on her unique path...

* In ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'', Izumi Curtis leaves Ed and Al, then just kids, to survive a month on an island without using alchemy because, apparently, that's the only way they will learn what her philosophy means. However, when they explain in short what they've learned, she laughs at them, suggesting she may have been just testing their determination to train under her. Worth noting is that she had her husband's apprentice on the island as well, wearing a monstrous mask and wielding a stick, just to up the ante... and also to keep an eye on them should anything seriously bad happen.

** Kakashi's first challenge is to seize [[MacGuffin two bells]] from his person. Fail to get a bell, fail the test, yet there are ''three'' students. The lesson is to ignore the built-in incentive for competition and work as a team. (Later we learn that this method is a strange, sadistic tradition amongst the Hogake-trained line.) They fail to realize this and are punished by only two of them eating lunch while the other watchs (guess who), which was ''another'' test of character. They give Naruto food despite the rules and pass.

** Ebisu wants to teach Naruto to walk on water, and gives a decent explaination how... but thinks it best that Naruto's practice water be boiling hot. TrainingFromHell excused with it's the only way they will learn.

* As the quote above says, ''Film/TheMatrix'' (in the film of the same name) can only be understood through direct experience (or so it is claimed; one wonders if this means that the film's audience is getting short-changed somehow).
** I doubt it. If someone told you that your reality was an illusion, would you believe them or demand proof? It's a lot easier when you're viewing the fictional reality of someone else. Neo must be shown; we can be told.
*** He could, however, have been more straightforward in his largely-irrelevant buildup.
*** Where's the fun in that?

** Maybe Morpheus was talking about the movie. So the audience sees it, they understand it. ([[ViewersAreMorons Or maybe not]].)
** What about what the Oracle did to get Neo to get him to realize he's the One?

* Valve accidentally revealed the "Meet The Spy" video for ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' before it's official unveiling - and subsequently added a "Valve Corporate Achievement" for "Failing to understand what 'Private' means on [=YouTube=]." The heading for it was "It's the only way we'll learn."

* Kalem does this to [[series/TheLegendOfWilliamTell Will.]]