History Main / WorldOfCardboardspeech

* Before the FinalBoss battle of ''MegaManZero 4'' (in a GrandFinale, to boot), Zero delivers this speech as a ShutUpHannibal to [[BigBad Dr. Weil's]] attempt at a HannibalLecture. It is [[strike:one of]] '''''the''''' [[CrowningMoment/MegaMan best moment]] in the ''entire'' series:

** Subverted by Superman when General Zod brings up his [[ThouShaltNotKill code against killing]].
--->'''Superman:''' : I can't take your life, much as I'm tempted. But my code doesn't say a damn thing about not battering you to within an inch of it, ''murderer''! ''(and proceeds to do just that)''

-->''And I just can't keep living this way
-->''So starting today, I'm breaking out of this cage
-->''I'm standing up, Imma face my demons
-->''I'm manning up, Imma hold my ground
-->''I've had enough, now I'm so fed up
-->''Time to put my life back together right now

[[JusticeLeagueUnlimited http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/worldofcardboardspeech.jpg]]
[[caption-width:350:Time for [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Darkseid, Lord of Apokolips]] to go [[OhCrap "Eep."]]]]

* In the final episode of CodeGeass:
-> [[spoiler:'''Lelouch:''' Suzaku, [[XanatosFuneral you have to kill me]], you must promise.]]
-> [[spoiler:'''Suzaku:''' You're going through with this? No matter what?]]
-> [[spoiler:'''Lelouch:''' As planned, the hatred of the whole world is now focused directly upon me, and now the only thing that remains is to get rid of me and finally break the cycle of hatred. The legend of Zero isn't dead, it lives on within the hearts of the Black Knights. Schneizel will serve Zero also. With this, the world will gather not for an exchange of force, but for an exchange of open dialogue around one table. Mankind will be able to forward into the future.]]
-> [[spoiler:'''Suzaku:''' And that-]]
-> [[spoiler:'''Lelouch:''' Yes, is the Zero Requiem.]]
-> [[spoiler:'''Suzaku:''' We both realized it back in C's world. We knew how humanity was longing for the future.]]
-> [[spoiler:'''Lelouch:''' Hey Suzaku, Geass power is similar to a wish, don't you think?]]
-> [[spoiler:'''Suzaku:''' Huh?]]
-> [[spoiler:'''Lelouch:''' It's a request to someone to give you the power to achieve what you can't on your own.]]
-> [[spoiler:'''Suzaku:''' A wish? N-]]
-> [[spoiler:'''Lelouch:''' Yes, and I'm going to grant a wish called Geass to all the people everywhere, for the future of the entire world. [[BookEnds The only ones who should kill are those prepared to be killed]].]]

** Arguably Gohan's speech to Cell.

** I would argue that this is actually an inversion (more of an Epiphany than anything), as he's not realizing that the world isn't fragile; [[spoiler:it's '''he, himself''' that isn't as fragile as he feared.]]
*** [[spoiler: In the original episode "No matter what's in my way" was "Even if I dig my own grave." The official translation was changed because the original phrase carries less defiant and more self-destructive connotations in English.]]

* [[BuffyTheVampireSlayer Buffy]] also had one when she asked for help from the Watchers Council about learning exactly what Glory was (The BigBad of the season). The council subjected her to a long series of tests to prove her worth, but she eventually refused, explaining her own epiphany. Glory actually respected Buffy because she was the Slayer, that she had power. The Watchers Council didn't have the power to stop Glory, so their tests on Buffy were pointless and only an exercise to make them believe they had some control. This speech left the Watchers council dumbfounded. Of course Buffy was also dumbfounded when the Watchers relented and revealed that Glory was a hell demon god.

* The FixerSue / AuthorAvatar character creation Nick of the author "ngrey651" frequently gives these. This troper's personal favorite is when Nick, as an Irken, is placed within the competition of "Blood Sport", a contest in which those involved must fight and kill all the other competitors. Nick rips the owner of Blood Sport, Nexus, a new one, violently insisting that neither Nexus nor the Irkens have earned anything they have today, and demanding to know why the galaxy should conform to twisted Irken standards...and then he gets REALLY vicious.

--->'''Nick''' You know what? '''Fuck you.''' Fuck you and your cruelty. Fuck you and your sadism. Fuck you and the delight you get from controlling innocent people's lives. Fuck the soldiers who just march in a line and listen to barked out orders as they put people to the wall and open fire. Fuck the strategists and tacticians who sit behind the sidelines and think up better ways to kill innocent people and who decide which school they'll bomb next. Fuck the cooks and waitresses and bartenders who let people stuff their faces on planets they've stolen as the former inhabitants starve to death in the streets. Fuck the cowardly drones that never speak up to demand their fair treatment, who accept their lot because they're made differently. Fuck the scientists who perform experiments on women and children and as a four-year-old's guts start to digest themselves and their skin turns blue, fuck them again when they try to justify it all in the name of science. Fuck the ignorant leaders, who step over everyone else to ensure a select few have the highest standard of living and fuck their sick sense of humor. Fuck the natives who don't join together and fight back, and instead let their hatred simmer at the good ones who feel for them, who don't distinguish between a good one of our kind and a bad one of our kind because all they see is the color of our skin and all they hear is the place we came from echoing in their ears as they reach to claw our throats out.

--->And you know what? '''Fuck me too!''' Fuck me a little too, because I should have said this sooner, I should have spoken up before. I should have spoken my heart and not kept quiet, because it's better to die being just and good than to live a life without goodness, a life that tramples on the lives of others. And then, when everyone is good and FUCKED then we'd better start learning to get along because I am TIRED of seeing history repeat over and over because some selfish, STUPID children with big weapons don't listen to what the rest of us want. Because that's what most of Irk is made up of: fucking selfish children who are spoiled, spoiled brats who want everything their own way and throw a temper tantrum when they don't get it. '''GROW...UP!'''

* ''{{Naruto}}'' initially has difficulty fighting Gaara because he is afraid of how strong he is and he doubts whether someone who, despite being alone for much of his life, found people who could acknowledge him, can defeat someone who was always alone. When Sasuke tells Naruto to take Sakura to safety, saying that he does not want to lose everyone precious to him again, [[http://www.onemanga.com/Naruto/133/13/ Naruto realizes that the only true strength comes from protecting others]], and gains the resolve needed to fight Gaara.
-->'''Naruto:''' The pain of being alone is not an easy one to bear. Your feelings... why is it that I can understand your pain? But... I already have many people who are important to me now... I won't let you hurt the people important to me. I'll stop you, even if I have to kill you.\\
'''Gaara:''' Why... why do you go so far for other peoples' sakes?\\
'''Naruto:''' They saved me from the hell of being alone. They acknowledged my existence. That's why they're all important to me.
** He also delivers one when fighting [[spoiler:Sasuke]]. Also a massive TearJerker.
--> '''Naruto:''' [[spoiler:Sasuke. I always knew you were a loner. In the beginning, I was relieved because I thought you were the same as me. Besides, I was glad. In fact, I wanted to talk to you straight away. But, you didn't speak. You could do everything, and you always had everyone. Because we were so different, I, regrettably, decided you would be my rival. I didn't want to lose, because I was called a loser. I thought that all the time. Even when we became Team 7, I thought the same. I stubbornly continued to lie, but, I aspired to be like you. Because of that (flashback Sasuke: "I want to fight you."), that time, I was truly glad. You acknowledged me. Since those were the first words... But, our fists didn't have to meet for me to understand. From that time, we haven't spoken. We... How are we friends? It's not meaningless... To me, you have... Become a close friend... But... If you seriously want to kill me... Even if those words from before were serious... I don't understand... Maybe I thought I was your only willing friend... After all... Maybe I was the only one who thought we were friends... Because of that... I... I will not give up... Sasuke... But I'm not sick... For some reason I don't understand, but... I won't let Orochimaru take you.]]

-->'''Shikamaru''': Things don't always work by the book in this world. Besides, abandoning a teammate to protect yourself? There's no one in this team like that. Not even me. Anyway, a lazy dreamer like me isn't a poor excuse for a leader. All I can do for my comrades... is believe in them... Listen up, I don't think they're sacrifices. I don't think they're dead. Don't underestimate my team.

** ''[[RebuildOfEvangelion Rebuild 2.0]]'' culminates with this for Shinji.
---> '''Shinji''': [[spoiler: I don't care about the world or even myself. But Ayanami... at least I will save Ayanami!]]

--> '''Sam''': I know. It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo; the ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end... because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was, when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines, it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you, that meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going... because they were holding on to something

--> '''Sam''': [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for.]]

--> '''Zero:''' Omega, I finally knew because I fought with myself… What kind of fighting I have done so far? What exactly my hesitation has been so far? Now I can say that my power is not for destruction. It's for my friends; my power is to protect my friends' beliefs! Be gone, my nightmare!

'''Zuko''': No, I’ve learned ''everything''! ''And'' I've had to learn it on my own. Growing up, we were taught that the Fire Nation was the greatest civilization in history. And somehow, the war was our way of sharing our greatness with the rest of the world. What an amazing lie that was. The people of the world are ''terrified'' by the Fire Nation! They don’t see our greatness, they ''hate us''! And we deserve it. We’ve created an era of fear in the world. And if we don’t want the world to destroy itself, we need to replace it with an era of peace and kindness.\\
'''Fire Lord Ozai''': * laughs* Your Uncle has gotten to you, hasn’t he‌?\\

--> '''Sam''': I know. It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo; the ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end... because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was, when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines, it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you, that meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going... because they were holding on to something

--> '''Sam''': [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for.]]

--> '''Zero:''' Omega, I finally knew because I fought with myself… What kind of fighting I have done so far? What exactly my hesitation has been so far? Now I can say that my power is not for destruction. It's for my friends; my power is to protect my friends' beliefs! Be gone, my nightmare!

'''Zuko''': No, I’ve learned ''everything''! ''And'' I've had to learn it on my own. Growing up, we were taught that the Fire Nation was the greatest civilization in history. And somehow, the war was our way of sharing our greatness with the rest of the world. What an amazing lie that was. The people of the world are ''terrified'' by the Fire Nation! They don’t see our greatness, they ''hate us''! And we deserve it. We’ve created an era of fear in the world. And if we don’t want the world to destroy itself, we need to replace it with an era of peace and kindness.\\
'''Fire Lord Ozai''': * laughs* Your Uncle has gotten to you, hasn’t he‌?\\

---> '''Shinji]]]: [[spoiler: I don't care about the world or even myself. But Ayanami... at least I will save Ayanami!]]

* At the end of ''{{Serenity}}'', River admits to Simon as he lays dying from a gunshot to the stomach that she understands that she's always relied on him and the rest of the crew to [[TheCaretaker take care of her]] through her helpless madness. Then, she adds that now, it is [[LetsGetDangerous her turn]] to [[YouShallNotPass take care of them.]] [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Cue awesome.]]

-->''Tear this motherfucking roof off like 2 dogs caged''

-->[[spoiler:Mikuru(big)]]: So ... in a roundabout way, you and I, together, even though I still stumble a little bit, are forging towards a brighter future. One that isn't predetermined to you, that doesn't damage the future I come from. If you understand what I said earlier ... you have the power to change me. Not my past self, so directly ... but your influence ends up helping me become the person I am. I could tell you everything, try to make it predetermined... I could say things were better or worse then they truly will be, and try to trick you into changing things for me. Once, I did - sort of - tell you about the goals of the people I work for. Instead, though, this time I'll do what Yuki-chan did. I'll tell you nothing, even if you would believe me. But I'm not trying to keep you in the dark because I want to manipulate you ... I'm telling you as little as possible because I believe in you. I have absolute confidence that if I don't limit you, you will achieve something wonderful. And maybe, just in small, selfish bits ... I might lead you towards something that I think we both would like...

* Sondra Marshak's published Star Trek novel ''The Prometheus Design'' is ''all'' about Spock doing this. Pick up a copy of -- well, any of her published Star Trek novels, or [[http://www.simegen.com/fandom/startrek/kraith/ go read anything in the ''Kraith'' series starting with Volume Four]]. Her obsessions border on {{AuthorAppeal}}.

'''Firion''': "Believe in the future and persist in the present. That's what I'll do!"

->"[[{{Batman}} That man]] [[{{Determinator}} won't quit]] as long as he can still draw a breath. None of [[JusticeLeague my teammates]] will. Me? I've got a different problem. I feel like I live in a world made of... '''[[TropeNamer cardboard]]''', [[DoesNotKnowHisOwnStrength always taking constant care not to break something]], to break some''one''. Never allowing myself to lose control even for a moment, or '''[[ThouShaltNotKill someone could die]]'''. But you can take it, can't you, [[{{Darkseid}} big man?]] [[PreAssKickingOneLiner What we have here is a rare opportunity for me to cut loose and show you just how powerful I]] ''[[PreAssKickingOneLiner really]]'' [[PreAssKickingOneLiner am.]]"