History Main / WorldOfCardboardspeech

* In ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyondReturnOfTheJoker'', Terry was always being chided by the Joker for not being "the real Batman". At the climax, Terry finds himself slightly outmatched but comes to realize that the original Batman never beat the Joker at his mind games. To counter this, Terry turns the tables through an [[BreakingSpeech epic verbal beatdown]] that actually gets the Joker to stop smiling. He gets the Joker to finally lose his cool by doing exactly what Joker had wanted Batman to do ever since they started fighting: laugh. Terry makes the Joker ''flip out'' by ''laughing''...because he was laughing '''AT him''', making the Joker the butt of the jokes. Granted, the [[AxCrazy immediate result]] is not what Terry had in mind, but it shows show that Terry is his own man, able to combat the Joker better than the original Batman ever could: unlike Bruce, Terry could see the Joker as a pathetic loser. It can be viewed [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LikMS5gDDI here]].

Named for the popular scene from ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Justice League Unlimited]]'' featuring Superman. Fans have long complained about how widely his {{power level|s}} [[StrongAsTheyNeedToBe varies throughout]] Franchise/TheDCU. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl_5UwS57X8 This speech has him explaining why he occasionally takes a beating]], he is already so powerful he is worried of the harm that would happen if he gave it all he had.

* ''Comicbook/TheMightyThor'' Volume 3 Issue 3 has Thor searching for lost Asgardians after resetting Ragnarok. While in Katrina-ravaged New Orleans, Iron Man approaches him about having to register with the government... this being several months after Iron Man and Mr. Fantastic unleashed the robotic Thor clone that killed the second Goliath. Thor then decides to show [[TranquilFury just how insulted]] he was by initiating a CurbStompBattle with Iron Man.
-->''[after Thor Mjölnirs Iron Man through a few buildings in one strike)''\\

** Not a speech, but when the Sentry finally showed up to face [[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk The Hulk]], we get this exchange;

** [[spoiler: This speech is actually pretty tragic, because of Uncle Charlie's optimistic youth; it is also a turning point for [[OneSteveLimit Little Charlie]], as she goes from optimism to seeing the world as a foul, hypocritical place.]]

-->'''The Judge:''' The law is the end product of many years of history... the fruit of human knowledge! Like a gem, polished to a gleam through trials... and errors. It is this fruit we receive, and pass on, and face in our time. And it is always changing, growing. Nurturing it is our task as human beings.

-->'''Shuichi:'''[[spoiler: When Maki said she was going to sacrifice herself just now, I thought...Why? So many of our friends have sacrificed their lives. Why Maki? Why now? Why do we have to go through it again? The sadness of losing Kaede..and Kaito... Why do we have to feel that sadness over and over and over again? Why do we have to bear that burden...? Well, I don't care how much the audience wants it, I'm not gonna feel that way anymore! I don't want anyone to feel that way anymore! Even if this is fiction, even if we're all fictional... The pain in my heart is real! The sadness I feel when I lose the people I love is real! I won't forgive this game that treats us like toys. And if this is what the world wants...then I reject that world! I'll fight the world that inflicts suffering for entertainment!]]

* Goku then claps back with his own BadassBoast.
-->'''Goku:''' You're not the only one with that kind of power. ([[UpToEleven transforms in SSGSS Goku]])

** Adrian Raven gives one when the school he teaches at is being attacked by a [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=995 wizard]]

* The TropeNamer, which you can watch [[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5ofD6jYB0Q here]] and read at the top of the page, is Superman's speech in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited'' during his fight with {{ComicBook/Darkseid}} in the GrandFinale. The specific moment is in answer to Darkseid asking, "[[NothingCanStopUsNow Can't you see that it's hopeless?"]] after he's attacked by Batman. Superman proceeds to hit Darkseid harder than he's hit anything else in the DCAU, and has him on the ropes, [[spoiler:only for Darkseid to resort to an AgonyBeam when it becomes clear Superman would win a straight fight.]]

* [[Comicbook/TheIncredibleHulk The Hulk]] says something similar to the JLU example in the ''WesternAnimation/AvengersAssemble'' episode "Hulked Out Heroes". After Gamma-poisoning turns the rest of the Avengers (save for Comicbook/BlackWidow) into monsters, Hulk advises ComicBook/TheFalcon to treat "everything like an egg" in order to avoid breaking things. During the finale, Hulk gleefully states that he always has to hold back to avoid killing his opponents, but now that he's up against a group of Hulked-out monsters, he no longer has to worry about that.

Compare RightMakesMight, RousingSpeech, HeroicSecondWind, HesBack, FridgeBrilliance, LetsGetDangerous, PatrickStewartSpeech, and IAmNotLeftHanded. A HeroicHeelizationSpeech is a similar trope where the hero's gloves also come off... only without the heroic EurekaMoment and with more emphasis on the "Nothing stops me from punching you into the sun" part of this trope.

Compare RightMakesMight, RousingSpeech, HeroicSecondWind, HesBack, FridgeBrilliance, LetsGetDangerous, PatrickStewartSpeech, and IAmNotLeftHanded. A HeroicHeelizationSpeech is this trope... ''without'' the heroic realization and more emphasis on the "I will punch you into the sun" part.

Compare RightMakesMight, RousingSpeech, HeroicSecondWind, HesBack, FridgeBrilliance, LetsGetDangerous, PatrickStewartSpeech, and IAmNotLeftHanded.

'''Sam:''' Then let us be rid of it, once and for all! Come on, Mr. Frodo. I can't carry it for you... but [[TheDeterminator I can carry you!

* In the ''TabletopGame/VampireTheRequiem'' supplement "Danse Macabre," a ''wonderful'' story of the Chicago vampires running in bits between the chapters climaxes with an antiheroic version of this. Prince Maxwell Clarke confesses to [[spoiler:the diablerie of Norris Spiegel]] in a scene that's half "World of Cardboard" Speech and half ReasonYouSuckSpeech as he shares a recent revelation: He's truly sick of pushing himself to his limits keeping the city safe for a bunch of ingrates who use that safety to plot against him and abuse and mock him for his efforts to keep the peace. The speech goes on a while and is interrupted a couple of times, but this excerpt sums it up nicely:
-->'''Prince Clarke:''' I'm tired of being lobbied, taken for granted and schemed against. I am now, officially, a ''tyrant''. You all knew I'd ignore my own laws, Persephone here proved that, and I'm sick of the pretense. I get to do whatever I want. You don't. You don't Embrace, you don't kill one another, you sure as hell don't commit diablerie, but if I feel like it, ''I can do any of that.'' I think you'll put up with it, I really do. Because the alternatives are worse. Because in my tenure, I've run this city better than any Prince anyone can remember. Because with me, Chicago ''works''. If you don't agree? Think you can do better? All right, try to upset the apple cart. Just remember [[spoiler:Norris]]. He had half of us blackmailed, he was old and smart and had a legion of spies behind him. Look where ''he'' ended up.

** After the BigBad's VillainousBreakdown in the final case of ''VisualNovel/ApolloJusticeAceAttorney'', there is some surprisingly poignant words from Klavier Gavin and the Judge about the nature of the law, given that the two of them are a BunnyEarsLawyer and a CloudCuckoolander. While the Big Bad believes "the law is absolute" and needed to protect the "ignorant masses" from themselves, Klavier and the Judge point out that the law is constantly changing as a reflection of human morals, and that it is thus the job of lawmakers and defenders to nurture it over time.

* Alison, the superhero title character of ''Webcomic/StrongFemaleProtagonist'', gets an extremely disturbing one as part of a NotSoDifferent speech [[http://strongfemaleprotagonist.com/issue-3/page-74/ when she visits a villain in prison]].

'''Alison:''' I think about how easy it would be. What if I just started showing up to Klan rallies with an I-beam? Knock down the capitol building, force them to pass Universal Health Care, stuff every Ayn Rand fanatic into a big mason jar and hurl them into the sun. I could do it, you know. I really could. And then there's these people with their fucking sneers going "You're a monster! You're a thug! You kill people!" NO FUCKING ''SHIT'' I KILL PEOPLE! I put holes in mountains! I break shit constantly without even trying! I saved the world on no less than seven fucking occasions, and guess what, super-accuracy is not one of my anomalies! Am I supposed to be impressed that you've never killed anybody? What a bold moral choice from someone who's terrified of violence and scared shitless of going to jail! It's like, have you ever had the option of murdering a bunch of people? Okay, then why the FUCK am I listening to your opinion on the matter? Every day I ''don't'' kill a thousand fucking people, they should throw me a god-damned tickertape parade!

* ''Disney/{{Frozen}}'': "Let It Go" serves as one for Elsa expressed through SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic. Having spent most of her life concealing [[AnIcePerson her ice powers]], she is discovered and runs from her kingdom. Once she realizes she has nothing to fear and no one to accidentally hurt, "Let It Go" comes on and she starts using her powers to their full extent, creating snow creatures, a new wardrobe, and an enormous castle. In some ways, it is a subversion, though, as even when using the full range of her powers she still did not have full control and traded one form of isolation for another, and accidentally injured her sister Anna. [[spoiler: When Anna sacrificed herself to save Elsa, and in turn her love for her sister was enough to reverse the effects of the frozen heart, Elsa realized that "Love can thaw a frozen heart" and she gained full control of her powers, finally able to reverse the eternal winter at will]].

* At the end of ''Film/{{Serenity}}'', River admits to Simon as he lies 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.]] [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome Cue awesome.]]

'''Sam:''' [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it's worth fighting for.]]

'''Sam:''' Then let us be rid of it, once and for all! Come on, Mr. Frodo. I can't carry it for you... but [[TheDeterminator I can]] [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments carry you!]]

* In the ''TabletopGame/VampireTheRequiem'' supplement "Danse Macabre," a ''wonderful'' story of the Chicago vampires running in bits between the chapters climaxes with an antiheroic version of this. Prince Maxwell Clarke confesses to [[spoiler:the diablerie of Norris Spiegel]] in a scene that's half "World of Cardboard" Speech and half ReasonYouSuckSpeech adding up to a SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome as he shares a recent revelation: He's truly sick of pushing himself to his limits keeping the city safe for a bunch of ingrates who use that safety to plot against him and abuse and mock him for his efforts to keep the peace. The speech goes on a while and is interrupted a couple of times, but this excerpt sums it up nicely:

** About halfway through the play Prince Philip has a NoMisterBondIExpectYouToDine moment with King Henry -- and three other people who [[ExactEavesdropping happen to be listening in]] -- revealing he is ''nowhere'' near as delicate or naive as he looks, seemingly proving himself a cunning adversary. Just when you think Philip's achieved his SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome, Henry promptly demonstrates [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech why Philip sucks.]]

* In ''VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}}'', Shiki's SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome comes when he manages to [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu scare Roa shitless]] with one of these: {{justified|Trope}} in that to him, the world '''really is''' as flimsy as cardboard. For context, [[spoiler:Roa has previously believed Shiki and he [[MagicalEye share the power to see death]]. He even goes as far as to thank Shiki for teaching him how to use it. Turns out, what Roa sees are actually the lifelines of living things. Shiki, on the other hand, can see the point of end for all things, including inanimate objects and even the universe itself. The speech is him really drilling in the difference.]]

* ''WebAnimation/BrokenSaints'': [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments Raimi's speech to Shandala in Chapter 21 about how much she has meant to him.]]

** The [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20071203 one leading up to those]] may be Gil's ''defining'' SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome.
* Torg from ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'' gets one of these [[http://sluggy.com/daily.php?date=041122 at the end]] of the "That Which Redeems" arc (doubling as his SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome).

* In ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyondReturnOfTheJoker'', Terry was always being chided by the Joker for not being "the real Batman". At the climax, Terry finds himself slightly outmatched but comes to realize that the original Batman never beat the Joker at his mind games. To counter this, Terry turns the tables through an [[BreakingSpeech epic verbal beatdown]] that actually gets [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome the Joker to stop smiling.]] He gets the Joker to finally lose his cool by doing exactly what Joker had wanted Batman to do ever since they started fighting: laugh. Terry makes the Joker ''flip out'' by ''laughing''...because he was laughing '''AT him''', making the Joker the butt of the jokes. Granted, the [[AxCrazy immediate result]] is not what Terry had in mind, but it shows show that Terry is his own man, able to combat the Joker better than the original Batman ever could: unlike Bruce, Terry could see the Joker as a pathetic loser. It can be viewed [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LikMS5gDDI here]].

* In ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'', Bruce attends Clark's funeral in Smallville and ends up talking to Diana about how badly he screwed up. He promises to live up to Superman's ideal and wants to find [[Film/JusticeLeague the other metahumans and bring them together]]. Diana is uncertain that will work because she has [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters a low opinion of humanity]], while Bruce asserts that "Men are still good."

* This one from ''BillyJack'':

* The final battle in ''Film/EightMile'' is B. Rabbit making one giant WorldOfCardboardSpeech in free style form.
* ''Film/{{Inception}}'' has an interesting version of this, in that [[spoiler:the emotional conflict and the physical conflict are the same thing, through the character of Mal.]] It is an interesting version of the relationship between the physical/emotional conflict, but the WorldOfCardboardSpeech comes in this dialog:

* In the ''TabletopGame/VampireTheRequiem'' supplement "Danse Macabre," a ''wonderful'' story of the Chicago vampires running in bits between the chapters climaxes with an antiheroic version of this. Prince Maxwell Clarke confesses to [[spoiler:the diablerie of Norris Spiegel]] in a scene that's half WorldOfCardboardSpeech and half ReasonYouSuckSpeech adding up to a SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome as he shares a recent revelation: He's truly sick of pushing himself to his limits keeping the city safe for a bunch of ingrates who use that safety to plot against him and abuse and mock him for his efforts to keep the peace. The speech goes on a while and is interrupted a couple of times, but this excerpt sums it up nicely:

** Henry has the upper hand, right? Wrong. Philip launches into his WorldOfCardboardSpeech and plays the people hiding in the room against him.

* ''WesternAnimation/ABugsLife'': During the climax of the film, Flik gives one to Hopper in response to his statement that the ants are just lowly life forms who are meant to serve grasshoppers, having realized that Hopper keeps bullying the ants and trying to keep them under his thumb because he's actually afraid of them and are well aware of what they're capable of. The ants quickly realize Flik's right and are [[MisfitMobilizationMoment galvanized into beating Hopper and his men back]].

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

* The hero says IAmWhatIAm, realizing that they doesn't have to be ashamed. It's especially common as a retort against the villain using a HannibalLecture or TheReasonYouSuckSpeech.

-->-- '''[[Franchise/{{Superman}} Super]][[Characters/DCAUSuperman man]]''', ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Justice League Unlimited]]'', [[CurbStompBattle right before one hell of an asskicking handed to Darkseid]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' has several per ''game.''
* One of the possible endings for ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment'' has the Nameless One making a World of Cardboard Speech... and ''[[spoiler:disbelieving the final boss out of existence.]]''
-->'''The Nameless One:''' If there is anything I have learned in my travels across the Planes, it is that many things may change the nature of a man. Whether regret, or love, or revenge or fear -- whatever you believe can change the nature of a man, can. I've seen belief move cities, make men stave off death, and turn an evil hag's heart half-circle. This entire Fortress has been constructed from belief. Belief damned a woman, whose heart clung to the hope that another loved her when he did not. Once, it made a man seek immortality and achieve it. And it has made a posturing spirit think it is something more than a part of me.
* ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar: Dark Crusade'' features a rare villainous example given by Necron Pariah Thomas Macabee in the introductory movie to the [[TheUndead Nec]][[KillerRobot ron]] stronghold.
-->'''Macabee:''' Lucky creatures. At long last you have found the tranquility of death. [[WasOnceAMan I was like you once, clinging to life and blind to the truth]]. When I [[DugTooDeep uncovered the truth]], I too shuddered and paled with fear. Deep in these catacombs, [[WeCanRebuildHim I was remade]]. Here, my brethren slumbered for aeons, while the living grew like weeds. My lord knew this day would come. He had plans for us all. We would purge this world, once more. So come, poor victims of life. We will grant you tranquility in these crypts. Kronus will be a tomb world, once more.
* ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaTheTwoThrones'' had [[NoNameGiven the Prince]] discovering [[spoiler:his slain father]] in a deep cavern. Being taunted by his evil side, he had a revelation that gave him the mental fortitude to reject his SuperpoweredEvilSide.
-->'''Dark Prince:''' What now then? Gather up enough sand, perform another [[ResetButton grand rewind]]? Or perhaps you can return to the Island and [[SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong travel back to a time when he might still be saved.]] Maybe rescue a DamselInDistress along the way!\\
'''Prince:''' '''''NO!''''' You are right. I ''have'' been like a child. Naive and arrogant; always rushing to undo my mistakes. Never facing the consequences of my actions. No more. I accept what I have done, and ''all'' that it implies. ''[transforms back, without water]''\\
'''Dark Prince:''' What is this?! You have no water! How did you--?\\
'''Prince:''' You hold no power over me now! Be gone! Retreat to whatever dark hole spawned you, and do not trouble me again.
* Delivered collectively by the heroes at the end of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' as they're about to fight NietzscheWannabe Kefka. See [[Quotes/WorldOfCardboardSpeech the quote page]] for the whole thing, including the villain's hilarious reply.
* Yuna delivers a good one to Lady Yunalesca in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'', when she announces her intention to TakeAThirdOption rather than [[spoiler: complete the Final Summoning.]]
-->'''Yuna:''' I will stand my ground and be strong. I don't know when it will be but someday, I will conquer it. And I will do it without ''false hope''.
* ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'':
** The game is full of these, often combined with a HeroicSecondWind moment. In fact, pretty much all of the cutscenes in the ten Destiny Odyssey storylines before the battle with the villain, consists of the hero giving one of these: [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Cloud]] refuses to let Sephiroth psyche him out, [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI Terra]] learns not to let her powers define who she is, [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV Cecil]] decides to fight for what he really cares about, etc. Here's [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyII Firion's]] for an example:
--->'''Emperor:''' You should have disposed of your fantasy and accepted me as master.\\
'''Firion:''' There is no meaning in strength only used to hurt others! I have dreams... dreams worth dying for!\\
'''Emperor:''' What will an insect like you do?\\
'''Firion:''' Believe in the future! And persist in the present! That's what I'll do!
** And here's [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyIII Onion Knight's]]. Bit of backstory. Throughout his Destiny Oddyssey, Onion Knight acted as a bit of a StrawVulcan, arrogantly trusting only his intelligence, running from every encounter with people that he thought he "can't defeat", and pushing Terra to go to the source of a strange power, to prove that he wasn't "without valor" despite that. So, after that backfires horribly, he's learned a little more about how to be a hero, and faces the Cloud Of Darkness, who multiple people said is too powerful for him:
--->'''Onion Knight:''' I finally got it. I was a fool to defy my heart, just to bind myself to reason. I will protect Terra with my own strength. That's what's most imporant to me! Don't get me wrong--I still won't fight against anyone I can't beat. But I've decided in my heart to fight. That's why I'm going to beat you!
** For [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyI the Warrior of Light]], there's the end of his personal journey, where he meets his rival Garland, who tells him that they are fated to continue fighting forever and ever BecauseDestinySaysSo, and that all that's left for them is to [[BloodKnight find some grim enjoyment in it]]; in response, the warrior stoically refuses to fall into despair, declaring he will fight to bring the cycle to an end.
--->'''Warrior:''' [[ShutUpHannibal Garland, I pity you]].\\
'''Garland:''' [[EvilCannotComprehendGood Pardon]]?\\
'''Warrior:''' [[YouCantFightFate You are bound by the chains of destiny]] and [[DespairEventHorizon steeped in despair]]. And for that, [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds I pity you]]. Indeed, [[HistoryRepeats we have repeated our battles time and time again]]. You could say that we have been [[GroundhogDayLoop caught in the cycle of battle]]. But now that I know the truth, I can overcome it. All that is left to do now is fight to end the cycle!\\
'''Garland:''' You can defeat me here, [[DeathIsCheap but that would only be another step in the cycle]]!\\
'''Warrior:''' Whatever destiny the world may hold for me, [[{{Determinator}} I can never give up]]! [[ScrewDestiny This battle shall come to an end]], and I shall save you, too!
* There's a really, ''really'' [[AntiHero anti-heroic]] version in ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'' when Yuri reveals why he's become a VigilanteMan. It's definitely a case of the hero breaking past his limits and taking action, but as Flynn points out, that's not necessarily a good thing.
-->'''Yuri:''' The laws have always been the tools of whoever happens to hold all the chips...You can't deny that lives were saved because those bastards were put down. You'd rather tell those people, "sorry you have to die today, I promise we'll change things soon?"...They're out there, you know. People so bad they'll just go on hurting others. What can the average person do but be victimized by people like that? You know it was the same way with our people in the lower quarter. \\
'''Flynn:''' Even so, Yuri, what you're doing isn't right. Do you intend to rain down your justice on all the villains of the world? That's the behavior of a common criminal!\\
'''Yuri:''' I recognize it for what it is and I've made my choices. Murder is a crime.\\
'''Flynn:''' And even knowing that, you intend to dirty your hands.\\
'''Yuri:''' [[ShutUpKirk Intend to? I already have.]]
* ''VideoGame/MegaManZero 4'':
** Before the FinalBoss battle (in a GrandFinale, to boot), Zero delivers this speech as a ShutUpHannibal to [[BigBad Dr. Weil's]] attempt at a BreakingSpeech. It is [[strike:one of]] '''''the''''' [[Awesome/MegaMan best moment]] in the ''entire'' series:
--->'''Zero:''' If I destroy Weil's core, the explosion will take [[ColonyDrop Ragnarok]] out with it... If Ragnarok is blown apart, it no longer poses a threat!\\
'''Weil:''' Are you even capable of it? The Reploid hero, protecting justice and humanity! I am one of those humans you have sworn to protect! Do you have it in you to defeat me?!\\
(cue OneWingedAngel)\\
'''Zero:''' I never cared about justice and I don't recall ever calling myself a hero...I have always only fought for the people I believe in. I won't hesitate...If an enemy appears in front of me, I will destroy it!
** The best part about it is, Zero has finally learned what he was really fighting for, a question that has [[HeroicBSOD plagued him]] since [[spoiler:Iris' death]] in the ''[[VideoGame/MegaManX X]]'' series, proceeding to kick the BigBad's ass, save the world ''again'', and ''finally'' end the '''''centuries'''''-long RobotWar.
** He has another one in a flashback from the [[AllThereInTheManual Drama Tracks]], delivered to Omega. This one more or less speaks for his earlier incarnation and says more or less the same stuff.
--->'''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!
** At the end of ''X8'', Zero delivers one ''again'':
--->'''Zero:''' Even if we Reploids are destined to join the scrap heap when that evolutionary step does come about...we still have to fight...Not only against Mavericks, but against our own destiny as well.
* In one of the bonus maps of ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 2|Cursed Memories}}'', [[TheAtoner Kurtis]] faces an army of clones of his old AntiHero self, seeking to eliminate him for being an "outdated" kind of hero. Seeing them as incarnations of his previous mistakes, he gives a lengthy speech about true heroism and proceeds to kick ass.
** In ''VideoGame/Disgaea5'', the main character Killia has one of these moments later in the game. Killia has been doubting himself since [[spoiler:the death of his LoveInterest Lieze]] and his revenge against the BigBad has been his only reason to keep going. But when the party is almost defeated by TheDragon Bloodis, his friends remind him that [[YouAreNotAlone he is not alone]]. Killia understands that he does have a reason to keep fighting, to protect the people who are important to him.
*** In a later stage, the plot that has been running regarding Killia's inner personality [[spoiler:Killidia]] finally comes to fruition. [[spoiler:He's been struggling to hold down his destructive impulses, fighting with a voice in his head that can kill everyone. In the final moments before a huge showdown with Bloodis on Goldion's home planet, Killia finally realizes this other voice never existed, he was so scared of having to confront his power that he wasn't using it, but after this the player gains use of Killia's exceptional Overload skill, and for this one single battle it is permanently active. Killia takes the power he's been hiding from, and realizes it doesn't have to be about ''power'', it can be about ''protection'', effectively destroying Killidia and merging Killia with his power.]]
* Alicia of ''VideoGame/ValkyriaChronicles'' has one when she's standing against an enemy battleship fortress [[spoiler:as an activated Valkyria]], stating that she knows how to give her life [[spoiler:as a Valkyria]] meaning. [[spoiler:Her impending HeroicSacrifice is stopped by a 1-2-3 punch from Welkin consisting of a confession of love, a marriage proposal, and a [[CooldownHug Cooldown Kiss]].]]
* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsAdvance'', Marche, after being captured, accidentally gets teleported into the fourth crystal room. While the totema cannot defend the crystal, Babus stands in Marche's way and Cid reminds him that he's alone, asking him if he believes he can do it. Marche notes that he hasn't always been confident in himself, but while he enjoys the world, it isn't real and he must destroy the crystal to go back home.
-->'''Cid:''' You're alone now. None of your friends can help you. You would fight even with the odds stacked against you? Are you so sure of your abilities?\\
'''Marche:''' Not at all. I'm always nervous. But... I can't afford to let that stop me. I love this world... there's magic and the clan is fun. Sometimes, I'm not sure I really want to go home. But I am sure that this place isn't real. It's a game! It's just a dream-- an escape from the real world! But you can't just avoid problems forever... I have to go back! I have to destroy the crystals!\\
'''Babus:''' And I suppose you think we're just going to stand here?
* In ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare2'', [[spoiler: Captain Price]] gets two ''epic'' such speeches, back to back, in the final two levels.
-->'''[[spoiler: Price:]]''' The healthy human mind doesn't wake up in the morning thinking this is its last day on earth. But I think that's a luxury, not a curse. To know you're close to the end is a kind of freedom. Good time to take... inventory. Out-gunned. Outnumbered. Out of our minds. On a suicide mission. But the sand and rocks here stained with thousands of years of warfare... they will remember us. For this. Because out of all our vast array of nightmares this is the one we choose for ourselves. We go forward like a breath exhaled from the earth. With vigor in our hearts and one goal in sight: [[TranquilFury We. Will. Kill him.]]\\
'''[[spoiler: Price:]]''' This is for the record... [[WrittenByTheWinners History is written by the victor]]. ''History is filled with liars''. If he lives, and we die, his truth becomes written, and ours is lost. [[spoiler: Shepherd]] will be a hero, 'cause all you need to change the world is one good lie and a river of blood. He's about to complete the biggest trick a liar ever played on history. His truth will be the truth. But only if he lives, and we die
* ''SonicTheHedgehog'': Short and to the point:
-->'''Sonic:''' What you see is what you get: just a guy that loves adventure. I'm Sonic the Hedgehog!
* ''VideoGame/StarCraft'':
-->'''Zeratul:''' You speak of knowledge Judicator? You speak of experience? I have journeyed through the darkness between the most distant stars. I have beheld the births of negative-suns and borne witness to the entropy of entire realities. Unto my experience, Aldaris, all that you have built here on Aiur is but a fleeting dream, a dream to which you will only wake up to an even greater nightmare.
* In the freeware RPG ''VideoGame/LastScenario'', what was meant to be a RousingSpeech takes the form of one of these. Prince Wilhelm delivers a speech to his disheartened troops, explaining how selfish he's been while people like the protagonists risked their lives to see him rise to the throne. Until then, he was bitter about the new responsibilities thrust on him, and never realized how much his people were sacrificing while he did nothing. He promises that he'll finally become the leader they've idealized him as if they'll just keep fighting a little longer. [[spoiler:The speech alone is enough to convince the enemy commander to order a retreat, since his entire plan hinged on getting the soldiers to give up on their weak-willed leader.]]
* Near the end of ''VideoGame/GodOfWarII''.
-->'''Kratos:''' If all on Olympus will deny me my vengeance, then all on Olympus will die. I have lived in the shadow of the gods for long enough. The time of the gods has come to an end!
* In the final battle of ''VideoGame/WildArms2'', what starts with the protagonist extends to ''all of humanity'' delivering a speech about how they should stop relying on heroes to do all their fighting and making [[HeroicSacrifice Heroic Sacrifices]]. They promise to fight together to protect the world... while the protagonist is fighting alone in the one place they can never physically reach. Cue CombinedEnergyAttack and SugarWiki/MusicOfAwesome. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y37qRomvY6Y It starts around 2:50 and extends through the entire fight.]]
* ''VideoGame/TheForceUnleashed 2'':
** In the trailer:
--->'''Starkiller:''' ''[narrating while slaughtering stormtroopers and droids]'' Betrayed by Vader for the ''last'' time. A new journey begins... with something worth fighting for... ''someone'' worth dying for... and I will not stop... I will not rest. Vader can't stop me now! ''[quietly]'' Vader can't stop me now. Nothing can.
** There's one in the actual game too at the very end:
--->'''Starkiller:'''[[spoiler:''[to Vader who has been captured by the rebels]'']] I let you live. You tell me I'm a clone but I ''chose'' to spare you. ''[beat]'' Maybe Kota's right. Maybe this is all a trick -- a way to get me so confused... that I'd forget who I really am and become your slave again. But either way... ''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis I.]]'' [[PunctuatedForEmphasis Let. You. Live.]] I've finally broken your hold over me.
* In the ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII'' Bonfire of the Vanities DLC, Ezio delivers one of these after Savonarola is killed, coupled with a bit of ShamingTheMob. Some of which is TruthInTelevision and including quotations from ''The Light in the Heart.''
-->'''Ezio:''' Silencio! Silencio! Twenty-two years ago, I stood where I stand now... and watched my loved ones die, betrayed by those I called friends. Vengeance clouded my mind, and it would have consumed me, were it not for the wisdom of a few strangers, who taught me to look past my instincts. They never preached answers, but guided me to learn for myself. We don't need anyone to tell us what to do. Not Savonarola, nor the Medici. We are free to follow our own path. There are those who would take that freedom from us, and too many of you gladly give it up. But it is our ability to choose - whatever ''you'' think is true - that makes us human. There is no book or teacher to give you the answers, to show you the path. Choose your own way. Do not follow me, or anyone else.
* ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIVBlackFlag'': Bartholomew Roberts begins his pirate career with one of these, some of which is TruthInTelevision, including quotations from ''A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the most notorious Pyrates''.
-->'''Black Bart:''' In honest service there are thin commons, low wages, and hard labour. Yet as gentlemen of fortune we enjoy plenty and satisfaction, pleasure and ease, liberty and power... so what man with a sensible mind would choose the former life, when the only hasard we pirates run is a sour look from those without strength or splendour! Now, I have been among you six weeks, and in that time I have adopted your outlook as my own, and with so fierce a conviction that it may frighten you to see your passions reflected from me in so stark a light. But... if it's a captain you see in me now, aye then... I'll be your bloody captain! For I have dipped my hands in muddied waters, and withdrawing them find 'tis better to be a commander than a common man!
* Towards the end of ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsI'', Sora is all about these.
* The PSP remake of ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaRondoOfBlood'' (''The Dracula X Chronicles'') has Richter give one after beating the TrueFinalBoss.
-->'''Richter:''' I'm a Belmont. That's my job.\\
'''Dracula:''' Humanity will call me back.\\
'''Richter:''' You're right. We never learn. But one day, we'll have to. And if you return, someone like me will be waiting for you.
* In ''VideoGame/AsurasWrath'', when Asura is finally facing down Chakravartin in the final DLC chapter, he lays it all out in his [[PunctuatedPounding distinctive]] [[TalkToTheFist way]]:
-->'''Asura:''' I understand it all now! [[UnstoppableRage The true reason for my wrath!]]\\
'''Chakravartin:''' You are not worthy!\\
'''Asura:''' I could not stand it! There is always some fool who wants to rule the world! Always forcing others to do what they cannot do for themselves! \\
'''Chakravartin:''' How can he, be so powerful!? [[AGodAmI I am the only God]]!\\
'''Asura:''' [[GodIsEvil That, is why... I pray to no one!]] [[AGodIAmNot Nor will I be prayed to!]] And above all else... [[ThisIsUnforgivable I will]] ''[[ThisIsUnforgivable never]]'' '''''[[ThisIsUnforgivable forgive]] [[{{God}} you]]'''''... ''for making '''[[PapaWolf MY DAUGHTER CRY!]]'''''
* ''Videogame/TheSecretWorld'':
** Carter spends most of her time [[IJustWantToBeNormal wishing she was normal]] and fearing her magical powers for their [[PersonOfMassDestruction sheer destructive potential]]; however, in "Carter Unleashed," she finally decides to cut loose on the Familiars swarming up from the basement.
--->'''Carter:''' Miss Usher and Mr Montag want me on the bench for this game, and I know it's to keep their star player from being injured mid-season, but it feels more like being put in the penalty box. I want to step up to bat... I mean, I want to help out! I can use my powers- the really freaky ones. ({{Beat}}) You know they warded this school from the inside because of me? ({{Beat}}) I'm tired of being scared of it, being made sick by it; maybe that's how my powers want to be used- for me to just say the words and tear it all down!
** Freddy Beaumont delivers a rare villainous example during the confrontation in the Illuminati Archives.
--->'''Freddy:''' I've been in exile for a very long time. I was forced by false prophets to flee my homeland in disguise, degrade myself by pretending to be something I'm not, to be much less than I truly am. I spent a long time cursing my kind, planning my revenge and victorious return. Eventually, I got on with my life, and now, ''they're'' all dead and forgotten by those who once worshipped them! There's a lesson in there somewhere, I'm sure. Thing is, I'm ready to be myself once again; no more disguises. ''Their'' false prophecies perished with the White God. I'm free... and I don't plan on anything... or ''anyone'' changing that.
* ''VideoGame/{{Halo 4}}'' has Cortana give a very simple speech to Master Chief [[spoiler: as she explains how she sacrificed herself to ensure that he survived the destruction of the Didact's ship]]. Much of the game shows how Chief is so involved with being the hero that he has lost much of what it means to be a regular person.
-->'''Master Chief:''' It was my job to take care of you.\\
'''Cortana:''' [[YouAreNotAlone We were supposed to take care of each other]]... and we did.
* ''VideoGame/SilentHill2'' has the final fight with [[ImplacableMan Pyramid Head]] begin with James realizing why it existed.
-->'''James:''' I was weak. That's why I needed you. Needed someone to punish me for my sins. But that's all over now. I know the truth. Now it's time to end this.
* After beating Alkaid, the Shura King in the final scenario of ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsCompact3'', Alkaid asks, "Folka Albark, you say that the old ways of our worlds were wrong and searched for an answer, is that so? What is the difference between our people and these people?" Folka answers, "I have fought alongside the people of these worlds and learned from them the answers to my question, the people of this world and us are exactly the same." Keita is surprised at Folka's answer but Folka continues, "Do you GET that, Shura King? We are like they are, we just have to find a way to live without fighting, that's all. We just didn't know HOW. It's not just about fighting; we have to learn how to build a new Shura World with our own hands." Van asks, "So that is your answer, Folka?" Alkaid says that ideals alone will not make it a reality, but Folka retorts that they can do it. Alkaid says again that anyone can SAY they can do it and Folka says that he and the remaining Shura will find a way. Alkaid says that it is time then that he joined his beloved Generals in the great beyond and says "Folka, I leave the Shura World in your hands."
* ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarIV'' has Chaz giving a most righteous two-part version to Le Roof, where he essentially calls bullshit on the entire spiritual meaning of the Algo solar system: the Protectors are mindlessly obedient servants of the Great Light the same way that Zio and Dark Force are the servants of the Profound Darkness, the only difference is that the good guys are outside the seal and the bad guys are trapped inside it. After that, he realizes that none of that matters and neither do the gods: what matters is that innocent people will die if somebody doesn't do something, and ''that'' is worth fighting for.
* In the Genocide run of ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'', [[spoiler: the final boss, Sans]] has one that runs for the entire first phase of his fight, admitting that he StoppedCaring a long time ago, and never bothers to put his all into anything anymore, but that [[KillEmAll what you've done]] [[HeelFaceDoorSlam and are about to do]] are [[MoralEventHorizon so awful]] that he [[LetsGetDangerous can't afford to not interfere anymore.]] [[ThatOneBoss You're going to hear this speech a few times]].
-->'''[[spoiler:Sans]]:''' [[spoiler:our reports showed a massive anomaly in the timespace continuum. timelines jumping left and right, stopping and starting... [[TimeCrash until suddenly, everything ends]]. heh heh heh... [[YouBastard that's your fault, isn't it?]] [[RippleEffectProofMemory you can't understand how this feels]]. [[AllForNothing knowing that one day, without any warning... it's all going to be reset.]] [[DespairEventHorizon look. i gave up trying to go back a long time ago.]] [[MysteriousPast and getting to the surface doesn't really appeal anymore, either]]. [[ResetButton cause even if we do... we'll just end up right back here, without any memory of it, right]]? to be blunt... [[FreudianExcuse it makes it kind of hard to give it my all.]] ...[[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation or is that just a poor excuse for being lazy]]...? [[ShrugOfGod hell if i know.]] all i know is... [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt seeing what comes next...]] i can't afford not to care anymore.]]
* ''VideoGame/BlazBlueChronoPhantasma'': As Noel was being assisted by Rachel into accepting her Murakumo nature, the process is interrupted by (who else?) none other than Terumi, going on about how she has a the power to destroy a god. Noel refutes his claim, saying that she'll use it to save Tsubaki. This only make Terumi mock her further by calling a puppet. What does Noel say in response?
-->'''Noel:''' You're right... no, it's true. I ''am'' a puppet. But... but even then, there's nothing false about my desire to save Tsubaki. As long as I feel that way, I'll always be Noel Vermillion. Whether I am a human or a doll... it has no bearing on my thoughts and feelings!
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* In the series finale of ''Series/{{Extras}}'', after taking a role on ''Series/BigBrother'', Andy finally realizes the absurdity of the measures he's taken to be famous and that none of it is making him any more happy, culminating in one of the most heartfelt and effective on-camera indictments of celebrity culture.
-->'''Andy:''' You are literally the gutter press. And fuck you, the makers of this show as well. You can't wash your hands of this. You can't keep going 'Oh, it's exploitation but it's what the public wants.' No, the Victorian freakshow never went away. Now it's called ''Big Brother'' or ''X-Factor,'' where in the preliminary rounds, we wheel out the bewildered to be sniggered at by multimillionaires. And fuck you for watching this at home. Shame on you, and shame on me. I'm the worst of all because I'm one of these people who goes 'I'm an entertainer. It's in my blood.' Yeah, it's in my blood because a real job's too hard...Someone once said that I'll never be happy because I'll never be famous enough, and they were right.
* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
** Tyrion telling Shae that despite the betrayal and outmaneuvering by his family, he wants to stay in King's Landing because he both ''belongs'' there and he ''likes'' playing the game against his family and the other manipulators of the city.
** Littlefinger's awesome "chaos is a ladder" speech to Varys. Destroying "the Realm" isn't the end, it's an ''opportunity''.
** Jon Snow's HonorBeforeReason speech when ''everyone'' is ticked off that he refused to swear a false oath, even with the fate of the world riding on the situation.
-->"I'm not going to swear an oath I can't uphold. Talk about my father if you want, tell me that's the attitude that got him killed. But when enough people make false promises, words stop meaning anything. Then there are no more answers, only better and better lies. And lies wont help us in this fight."
* ''Series/TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody'' episode "Summer of our Discontent" had Zack go to summer school. He can cope with the work, but this brings resentment from the other students who go on to give him a wedgie every time he impresses the teacher, until he learns to keep his mouth shut. He finally gets tired of pretending to be less intelligent than he is and gives a speech that doubles as both this trope and TheReasonYouSuckSpeech.
-->'''Zack:''' You know what? That's it. There's nothing wrong with being smart. In fact, and this'll probably shock you, but outside these walls it's considered a ''good'' thing. So go ahead, call me a nerd. But next year, when you're all here, I won't be. I'll be taking The Road Less Traveled right to the beach!
* ''Series/{{Angel}}'':
** The series had one of these in the appropriately titled episode ''Epiphany''. In the previous handful of episodes he had managed to alienate his [[TrueCompanions entire team]] because he was under the impression that there would be some sort of GrandFinale where the forces of evil are defeated forever. After having a morally devastating realization on the universality of evil, he resolved that all he could do was simply [[WeHelpTheHelpless help the innocent]]. This epiphany wavered as his life kept taking turns for the worse, but he regained it right before the end; he even referenced it in his RousingSpeech three seasons later, just before the series' GrandFinale. It's all the more awesome as, in the previous episode, "Reprise", Holland Manners delivers Angel his version of the speech about evil's implacability, which causes Angel's brief HeroicBSOD.
** Season Five's ''[[MilestoneCelebration You're Welcome]]'' was a world of cardboard episode. Angel had been losing his hero spirit dealing with Wolfram and Hart machinations. Cordelia woke from her coma to restore that resolve and to warn him of a plot against him by Lindsay. In the climactic mano-a-mano, Angel beat the snot out of him saying, "All those tattoos, all those new tricks you've learned... just don't matter. Doesn't matter what you try. Doesn't matter where I am or how badass you think you've become. 'Cause you know what? I'm Angel. I beat the bad guys."
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
** The series 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.
** Used again in the GrandFinale. The speech was instigated by the [[BigBad First Evil]] mocking her for being the lone Slayer. Buffy then had an epiphany regarding the Slayer legend given from the beginning of the series, and she decided to ignore that limitation.
--->'''Buffy:''' So here's the part where you make a choice. What if you could have that power, now? In every generation, one Slayer is born, because a bunch of men who died thousands of years ago made up that rule. They were powerful men. This woman... (Willow) is more powerful than all of them combined. So I say we change the rule. I say my power... should be ''our'' power.
** And used again in the Season Seven episode, ''Bring On The Night''. Buffy, after spending an episode fleeing, with her friends, from a supposedly unkillable, prehistoric "uber-vampire," finally meets him face-to-face, in front of her friends, and gives a speech:
--->'''Buffy:''' Look at them. They're terrified. Meat for the beast. You're going to kill them, and there's no way I can stop you. You can't be killed. But, see, here's the thing: I don't believe that. I ''always'' find a way. [[TheDreaded I'm the thing that monsters have nightmares about.]] And right now, you and me are going to show them why.
* ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003'':
** Admiral Adama gets at least two of these per season.
** There were two in the season 3 finale. One by Lee Adama (which is too long to put here, but is in the quotes page), and a short one by:
--->'''Saul:''' My name is ''Saul Tigh''. I am an officer in the Colonial Fleet. Whatever else I am, whatever else it means, that's the man I want to be. And if I die today, that's the man I'll be.
* A particularly dark use, and inversion, of this trope in ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine''. The "in"famous episode "In the Pale Moonlight" had Sisko [[WholeEpisodeFlashback relate his story]] in a computer log about his efforts to convince the Romulans to participate in the Dominion War. Finding that simple logic wouldn't work, he sought the help of Garak and [[RecruitingTheCriminal other criminals]] to falsify evidence. He struggled with the serious moral and ethical compromises he had to go through to achieve this. By the end he stood up and instead of being morally untouchable he stated with growing conviction that the benefits ''outweighed'' the moral standing of one officer, even himself... and then erased the log.
-->'''Sisko:''' At oh-eight-hundred hours, station time... the Romulan Empire formally declared war against the Dominion. They've already struck fifteen bases along the Cardassian border. So, this is a huge victory for the good guys! This may even be the turning point of the entire war! There's even a "Welcome to the Fight" party tonight in the wardroom!... So... I lied. I cheated. I bribed men to cover up the crimes of other men. I am an accessory to murder. But most damning of all... I think [[ICanLiveWithThat I can live with it]]... And if I had to do it all over again... I would. Garak was right about one thing – a guilty conscience is a small price to pay for the safety of the Alpha Quadrant. So I will learn to live with it...Because I can live with it...I can live with it. Computer – erase that entire personal log.
* ''Series/{{Farscape}}'': Crichton [[spoiler:who makes the wormhole weapon and decides to go and tell everyone that they suck for wanting it, and threatening to let them all die. He explains why he shouldn't have made it in the first place]]. Also a SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome.
* ''Series/{{Firefly}}'':
** The speech that Simon gives Jayne at the end of ''Trash'', where Jayne suffered an accidental neck injury immediately after Simon [[spoiler: learned that Jayne tried and failed to collect on their bounty in a previous episode]]:
--->'''Simon:''' No matter what you do, or say or plot, no matter how you come down on us... I will never, ever harm you. You're on this table, you're safe. 'Cause I'm your [[TheMedic medic]], and however little we may like or trust each other, [[TrueCompanions we're on the same crew]]. Got the same troubles, same enemies, and more than enough of both. Now, we could circle each other and growl, or sleep with one eye open, but that thought ''wearies'' me. I don't care what you've done, I don't know what you're planning on doing, but I'm trusting you. I think you should do the same. 'Cause I don't see this working any other way.
** Which is then capped off by:
--->'''River:''' Also? I can kill you with my brain.
* ''Series/KamenRider'' The original rider suffered from this originally in that while his strength had been greatly increased his physical responses still assumed he was normal. So breaking a sink while trying to turn it on or hurting another person while trying to comfort them or throwing bad guys into walls so hard they explode... Since he's the first Rider he tends to give plenty of speeches to both enemies and other Riders.
* ''Series/KamenRiderDecade''
** The series features a slight twist on this. During the final confrontation in each world, the BigBad will deliver a BreakingSpeech to Tsukasa and that world's primary Kamen Rider. Tsukasa will counter with a World of Cardboard Speech, not for himself, but for his current partner, explaining their motivation and how that makes them a real hero - which is typically the main point of the other Rider's original TV series, as Decade is an anniversary show. This is also typically the point where Tsukasa gains access to his partner's powers as per Decade's conceit of PowerCopying.
** In ''Movie Wars'', Decade unknowingly delivers a WorldOfCardboardSpeech ''simultaneously'' with ''Series/KamenRiderDouble'', seconds before they cross over. What's notable about this is that the subject of their speeches are almost the same, even culminating in the two of them alternately declaring their respective {{catchphrase}}s.
* ''Series/PushingDaisies'' featured quite a lot of these, many of which were aided by the [[LemonyNarrator narrator]].
* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
** Inverted in the episode "The Waters of Mars" when the Doctor has the epiphany that [[spoiler: he doesn't have to follow the rules anymore because he is [[LastOfHisKind the last of the Time Lords]] and [[AGodAmI the laws of time belong to him]].]] But when he tries to act on this epiphany [[spoiler: and save the remaining crew of Bowie Base One, Captain Brooke ''[[HeroicSacrifice shoots herself]]'' rather than allow him to play with the future chain of events he himself told her was immutable.]] He realizes he has a mental block, says the speech, attempts to kick ass fueled by the power of his new outlook, but [[YouCantFightFate mostly fails]].
** The 2005 episode, "Bad Wolf" holds an exchange between the Doctor and a Dalek and features quite an impressive BadassBoast.
** Much later on, the newly minted Doctor (XI) in Series 5 has just saved the world and so forth, as usual, but is a bit cheesed with the alien [[PoliceAreUseless police force that failed to do anything]]. So he calls them back to Earth. [[spoiler: At which point he gives a [[SuitUpOfDestiny bow-tie choosing,]] [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome CMoA]] speech, culminating with the police seeing every villain the Doctor has ever faced - and noticing that Earth, a world even the aliens think is Made of Cardboard, is still here: "But you're not the first lot to have come here. Oh, there have been so many. And what you've got to ask is... [[ArmorPiercingQuestion what happened to them?]] - Hello. I'm the Doctor. [[BadassBoast Basically...]] [[TheDreaded run]]."]]
** Still later, in the episode "A Good Man Goes to War", a villain calls the Doctor a "good man". He responds, "Good men don't need rules. Today is not the day to find out why I have so many."
** The 12th Doctor delivers a beautiful one in "Flatline". After he's tried for the entire episode to peacefully engage the Boneless on the grounds that there may just be a misunderstanding causing them to kill innocent people while he's also trapped in a shrinking TARDIS, he finally has enough. When he finally emerges from the TARDIS, [[BadassLongcoat he unbuttons his coat]] and lays it down.
--->'''The Doctor:''' I tried to talk, I want you to remember that. I tried to reach out, I tried to understand you, but I think that you understand us perfectly. And I think that you just don't care! And I don't know whether you are here to invade, infiltrate or just replace us. I don't suppose it really matters now, you are monsters! That is the role you seem determined to play, so it seems that I must play mine! [[HeWhoFightsMonsters The man that stops the monsters]]! I'm sending you back to your own dimension. Who knows? [[GoodIsNotNice Some of you may even survive the trip]], and if you do, remember this: you are not welcome here! This plane is protected! [[MyNameIsInigoMontoya I am the Doctor]]! ''[Clara tosses him the Sonic Screwdriver]'' And I name you '''''THE BONELESS!!!''''' ''[uses the Screwdriver to create a force field, blowing the Boneless away]''
** Up until the series 8 finale, [[AntiHero the Doctor]] has often struggled with self-doubt about his morality and occasions where both allies and foes alike have compared the friends he brings along on his interstellar travels to underlings or soldiers under his command, most notably Davros' BreakingSpeech in "Journey's End". When his old arch-nemesis the Master decides to tempt him by giving him an undead army made of Cybermen for a birthday present as a way to convince him that they are NotSoDifferent, however, he finally finds his answer, rejects [[WeCanRuleTogether her offer]] and proceeds to undo her plan:
--->'''The Doctor:''' I am not a good man! And I'm not a bad man. I am not a hero. I'm definitely not a president. And no, I'm not an officer. You know what I am? [[BeYourself I... am... an idiot. With a box and a screwdriver, passing through, helping out, learning.]] I don't need an army, I never have. ''[gestures towards Clara]'' [[ThePowerOfFriendship Because I've got them. Always them.]] [[ThePowerOfLove Because love, it's not an emotion. Love is a promise.]]
** In "The Girl Who Died", the Doctor realizes what he was trying to tell himself when he chose his new face -- that he always tries to save people, even if it's in violation of the rules of time travel, as he did when he was in Pompeii. As such, he states this before using Mire field medkit technology to save Ashildr's life:
--->'''The Doctor:''' I know where I got this face, and I know what it's for. OK, what's it for? To remind me. To hold me to the mark. [[IAmWhatIAm I'm the Doctor, and I save people.]] And if [[RageAgainstTheHeavens anyone happens to be listening, and you've got any kind of a problem with that, to HELL with you!]]
** At the climax of "The Zygon Inversion", the Doctor tells Zygon commander Bonnie -- who wants to break TheMasquerade and start a war with humanity -- exactly why WarIsHell, in the process summing up ''everything'' that has driven him since the Time War:
--->'''Twelve:''' I don't understand? Are you kidding? Me? Of course I understand. I mean, do you call this a war, this funny little thing? ''This'' is not a war! ''I'' fought in a bigger war than ''you'' will ever know! I did ''worse'' things than you could ever imagine! And when I close my eyes... I hear more screams than anyone could ''ever'' be able to count! And you know what you do with all that pain? Shall I tell you where you put it? You hold it ''tight'', till it burns your hand! And you say this: No one else will ''ever'' have to live like this! No one else will ever have to ''feel'' this pain! Not on my watch!
** Just before the climax of "The Doctor Falls", the Doctor tries to get [[spoiler: the Saxon!Master and Missy]] to help him in what looks to be a hopeless LastStand against the Cybermen, giving a speech that may very well define him and his character better than any other:
-->'''The Doctor:''' I'm not trying to win. I'm not doing this because I want to beat someone, because I hate someone, or because I want to blame someone. It's not because it's fun. God knows it's not because it's easy. It's not even because it works because it hardly ever does. I do what I do because it's right! Because it's decent! And above all, it's kind! It's just that... Just kind. If I run away today, good people will die. If I stand and fight, some of them might live. Maybe not many, maybe not for long. Hey, you know, maybe there's no point to any of this at all. But it's the best I can do. So I'm going to do it. And I'm going to stand here doing it until it kills me. And you're going to die too! Some day... And how will that be? Have you thought about it? What would you die for? Who I am is where I stand. Where I stand is where I fall.
* In ''Series/TerminatorTheSarahConnorChronicles'' episode "The Last Voyage of the Jimmy Carter," John Connor gives a truly ''awesome'' speech to Jesse about exactly ''why'' he is mankind's leader. In one scene, John goes from being a whiny, lovestruck emo kid to being ''the'' John Connor who will lead mankind.
* ''Series/PowerRangersDinoThunder'':
** In the episode "Fighting Spirit," Tommy had spent the last dozen episodes either [[ItMakesSenseInContext trapped in amber, trapped in his morphed form or trapped in an invisible form]] (the reason being that [[FakeShemp Jason David Frank]] had [[RealLifeWritesThePlot other commitments to attend to]]). But they made his return to normalcy in a suitably epic and ContinuityNod filled method. Tommy tried to use his Ranger Powers to return to normal but he was stuck in a dream-coma. Here, in his mind, he had to fight his past Ranger forms who continually overpower him. Progressing to his time as the Green Ranger, he is beaten down but refuses to give up, which was what his past ranger incarnations [[SecretTestOfCharacter wanted to teach him.]] This in turn lead to him awakening from the coma and unlocking his current Ranger form's SuperMode.
--->'''[[Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers Green Ranger]]:''' You passed the test.\\
'''Tommy:''' Test? What are you talking about?\\
'''[[Series/PowerRangersZeo Red Zeo Ranger]]:''' You haven't been fighting us... you've been fighting for your life.\\
'''[[Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers White Ranger]]:''' And you've proven the will to live is stronger than any Ranger power.
** [[WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall Linkara]] in his WebOriginal/HistoryOfPowerRangers reviews talks extensively about this episode. He points out that the superficial reading is a meaningless lesson because Tommy has never shown anything but [[TheDeterminator rigid determination]] in his Power Ranger career. But taking the entire season into account and knowing his history holding ''six'' different powers and four colors, he speculated that Tommy came to view himself as only worthwhile when holding a Ranger power. Thus his lesson was that it was his spirit and effort that made the Ranger power worthwhile and that his name was Tommy Oliver, not "Green/White/Red/Black Ranger."
* In ''Series/RescueMe'', Needles delivers one to his crew in season 5. He's been the consummate nice guy and something of a doormat up to this point, but he realizes after breaking up a fight that his crew will never respect him unless he's a hardass.
* In the 2005 ''Series/{{Hercules}}'', Hercules becomes a bit demoralized when he finds out that [[spoiler: his father is the villain Antaeus, not Zeus]], but he immediately bounces back with:
-->'''Hercules:''' It doesn't matter who my father is: Zeus, Amphitryon, or the Cretan Bull! ''[tackles Antaeus through a pillar]'' It doesn't matter! I AM NOT MY FATHER! ''[Antaeus rubs dirt on himself to replenish his strength]'' Yes, Antaeus, seek the Mother's strength. I rely on my own. My birth doesn't matter, only my life! I make it have meaning. No one else. ''[Antaeus tries to shove Hercules into a bonfire, but burns his own hand and flinches. Hercules looks at his own wounds]'' We are not gods, Antaeus, only men. Only very strong men! ''[knocks Antaeus far away]''
* Jack [=McCoy=] tends to give these at least once a season in ''Series/LawAndOrder'', generally when the defense lawyer is going for Jury Nullification. Sometimes it works. Other times, not so much.
* ''Series/{{Smallville}}'':
** Clark Kent gives one in the Season 10 premiere when he finds himself in the afterlife after being stabbed by a kryptonite dagger.
--->'''Clark:''' [[HeroicSacrifice I died]] [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome to save the world.]]\\
'''Jor-El:''' [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Evil never ends. By sacrificing yourself, you have left the humans vulnerable to future threats.]]\\
'''Clark:''' [[MyDeathIsJustTheBeginning I left a]] [[Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica team of heroes]] [[WeHelpTheHelpless behind to protect them]]. \\
'''Jor-El:''' You were meant to be [[{{Superman}} Earth's greatest protector.]] Now, they are about to face the greatest evil without you. \\
'''Clark:''' [[DeathIsCheap Then send me back!]] [[BecauseDestinySaysSo I know my fate! To step into the light! To be a symbol of hope for them.]]\\
'''Jor-El:''' [[ContinuityNod I told you to rule with strength.]] [[RefusalOfTheCall But you chose the martyr's path.]] [[TakeThat What makes you think you deserve a second chance?]]\\
'''Clark:''' [[ShutUpHannibal I can do it.]] [[HeroicWillpower I CAN BE THEIR HERO!]]
** Appropriately, considering the trope namer, during the FinalBattle in the GrandFinale, [[spoiler:Darkseid quickly overpowers Clark, at which point Jor-El gives Clark a vision that helps him realize that every battle he's fought over the course of the series, every life he's saved, have all been tests along his journey to fulfilling his [[{{Superman}} destiny]]. This grants Clark the clarity to fully embrace his powers (namely flight, which he hadn't been able to use at all during the show's run); Clark then proceeds to [[CurbStompBattle curbstomp]] Darkseid.]]
** Martian Manhunter, aka John Jones, also gets one in the episode "Absolute Justice" during Season 9. He had spent the majority of the eighth season and the first half of the ninth as a normal human after sacrificing his powers to save Clark's life. While hunting for a villain named Icicle with Doctor Fate, they are ambushed. Fate sacrifices himself, using all of his energy to restore John's powers. Icicle takes Doctor Fate's helmet and uses all of its (impressive) powers to attack Clark, Hawkman, Chloe, Green Arrow, and Star-Spangled Kid. Just as he is about to finish off the latter, the John Jones flies through the window and hits him with a burst of energy, throwing him across the room. Icicle stands up and incredulously declares, "I killed you!" At this point, Jones gives his speech (followed by an epic beat-down):
--->'''Martian Manhunter:''' I am Mars' sole survivor. There's a reason for that.
* A rather dark variation in ''Series/OnceUponATime'', as Snow White is finally driven to renounce her IncorruptiblePurePureness and declares that she's going to kill her nemesis Cora. It mixes with DespairSpeech and a dash of ShutUpKirk as her husband tries to console her and try to steer her away from the dark side:
-->'''Snow:''' I've followed the same rule my entire life... "Hold onto goodness". It's what my mother taught me. How many more lives is following that lesson going to take away from me? [...] I made the 'right' decision when I stopped Regina's execution all those years ago when it could have saved us all this heartache. I made the 'right' decision when I sent Emma through that wardrobe alone, and we didn't see her first steps. I made the 'right' decision when I let my own mother die from Cora's poison. [...] All I want is our happy ending. It's time. We've earned it. No more lives lost. No more hearts broken. [...] I don't care about justice anymore. We keep thinking people will change. What if that's wrong? What if ''I'm'' the one who has to change? [...] [[WhamLine I'm going to kill Cora]].
* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' plays with the concept in the GrandFinale. Q outright TELLS Picard what the purpose of the test was and the reasons why he put HumanityOnTrial. Picard, tired of Q's games, just wants it to be over and doesn't fully understand what he is told, but he does listen.
-->'''Picard:''' ''I sincerely hope this is the last time [[HumanityOnTrial I find myself here]].''\\
'''Q:''' ''You just don't get it, Jean Luc. The trial never ends. We wanted to see if you could expand your mind and your horizons and for a brief moment, you did.''\\
'''Picard:''' ''When I realized [[TemporalParadox the paradox]].''\\
'''Q:''' ''Exactly. For that brief fraction of a second, you were open to options you'd never considered. THAT is the exploration that awaits you. Not mapping stars or studying nebula, but charting the unknown possibilities of existence.''\\
'''Picard:''' ''Q, what is it you are trying to tell me?''\\
'''Q:''' (leans in to whisper something, but pulls away) ''You'll find out. In any case I'll be watching. And if you're really lucky I'll drop in to say hi, from time to time.''
* In the episode "Something Old", of ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'', Ted decides he's had enough of relying on the Universe giving him signs and decides to take matters into his own hands.
-->'''Ted:''' Maybe it's dumb to look for signs from the Universe. Maybe the Universe has better things to do—dear God, I hope it does. Do you know how many signs I've gotten that I should or shouldn't be with somebody, and where has it gotten me? Maybe there aren't any signs. Maybe a locket is just a locket, a chair is just a chair. Maybe we don't have to give meaning to every little thing. Maybe we don't need the Universe to tell us what we really want. Maybe we already know that deep down.
* ''Series/FakingIt'': In "School's Out", [[spoiler:Lauren]] gives one to the school board which doubles as a RousingSpeech [[spoiler:to convince them to save Hester High]].
* ''Series/MarriedWithChildren'' has Al deliver one to his local librarian after she calls him a loser, as detailed in the Quotes section.
* ''Series/TheExorcist'': In the first season finale, [[spoiler: Pazuzu]] traps Father Tomas in an illusion, where he's tormented with all his failures, in an attempt to goad him into suicide. Before he can, however, the sight of a cross inspires him, and he realizes that despite his flaws, he has never truly strayed from his faith, and has still done good. This gives him the strength to break free of the illusion, and to then lead the charge in exorcising the demon for good.
-->'''Tomas:''' These things do not make me weak. [[IAmWhatIAm They make me what I am.]]\\
'''[[spoiler: Pazuzu]]:''' And what is that?\\
'''Tomas:''' '''[[HeroicSecondWind An exorcist.]]'''
* ''Series/TwentyFour'': In the Season 7 finale, Renee Walker realizes the only way to get the names of the conspirators from Alan Wilson is through the use of torture. She and Jack discuss the struggle between following the laws they've sworn to uphold and what they're willing to do to save innocent lives:
-->'''Jack:'''I can't tell you what to do. I've been wrestling with this one my whole life. I see fifteen people held hostage on a bus, and everything else goes out the window. I will do whatever it takes to save them -- and I mean whatever it takes. I guess maybe I thought if I save them I could save myself...\\
'''Renee:''' Do you regret anything that you did today?\\
'''Jack:''' No. But then again, I don't work for the F.B.I.\\
'''Renee:''' I don't understand.\\
'''Jack:''' You took an oath. You made a promise to uphold the law. When you cross that line, it always starts off with a small step. Before you know it, you're running as fast as you can in the wrong direction just to justify what you started in the first place. These laws were written by much smarter men than me. And in the end, I know that these laws have to be more important than the fifteen people on the bus. I know that's right. In my mind I know that's right. I – I just don't think my heart could ever have lived with that. ''[Renee is close to tears]'' I guess the only advice I can give you is try to make choices that you can live with.
[[/folder]]

* WorldofCardboardSpeech/AnimeAndManga

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* Tsukasa from ''Anime/DotHackSign'' has a revelation about [[spoiler:not needing to fear reality anymore]], a la this trope, [[spoiler:which enables his escape from "The World."]] In the process, he gives this speech.
* At one point in the ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' anime, Eren can't bring himself to fight because of recent revelations creating subconscious doubt [[spoiler: and the fact that he's been severely injured.]] His friends try to make him see sense, each in their own way characteristic to them. Mikasa simply says that "[[CatchPhrase The world is a]] [[CrapsackWorld cruel place]]" and that there is [[TakeAThirdOption no other option]]: [[CallBack it's fight or die]]. Armin tells Eren "[[HeroicSacrifice Someone who can't sacrifice anything]] [[CatchPhrase can never hope to change anything]]" and encourages him to [[TheUnfettered abandon his humanity to combat an inhuman threat]]. Jean [[WhatTheHellHero brusquely]] reminds him that everyone's trusting him enough to give their lives for him and that if they stop now, [[spoiler: Marco]]'s death will mean nothing. By the time Eren finishes, we're given a summary of everything that's influenced him and motivates him to keep going on, including the discussion of choices he had with Levi and being forced to live with the consequences.
-->'''Armin:''' ''[earlier] Someone who can't sacrifice anything can never hope to change anything.''\\
'''Eren:''' ''[internal monologue]'' I know that... that's why I failed. I clung to my companions and my ties to them, and I failed. [I need to] remember... ''[flashbacks of fallen Survey Corps members and his mother getting eaten* (angrily) [[ThePowerOfHate I'll wipe you all out...]] [[IllKillYou no, I'll kill you!]] There's no time to figure out if this is the right thing to do! [[HeWhoFightsMonsters Don't try to keep your hands clean!]] That's right... this world... [[IronicEcho is cruel]]!!! ''[cue UnstoppableRage and [[spoiler: Titan transformation]]]''
* In ''Anime/{{Beyblade}}'', Kai gives an awesome one before defeating Brooklyn.
-->'''Kai:''' [[MyNameIsInigoMontoya Kai. That's my name.]] And I'm a Beyblader. And you might think you are, but you're not. You learned from the best but you forgot a very important lesson. Beyblading isn't just about overpowering your opponent with fancy moves. That's only part of the game. There's more to it than that. Much more. That's why I have something you don't. I have learned from every battle I fought. Every friend, enemy, and spectator always had something to offer me. And I'm a student to this game. And I always will be. With the hardships of training, competitions, the wins and the losses, they all taught me something. And I've taken that knowledge and used it to my advantage. That's why I can say, that I'm a true beyblader. That's what keeps me going. And that's my strength. I don't think you ever will (understand). Because you're not a true beyblader. You have the power and the skill, but something is missing from inside you. You don't have the beyblading spirit! That's why I have to win this battle! Because beyblading means more to me than you could ever understand! IT'S NOT JUST A GAME TO ME! FINISH HIM NOW DRANZER!"
* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'':
** Ichigo tells Ishida about losing his mother, and after seeing his father and sisters suffer as a result, not wanting anyone else to feel the same. He states that he can't save everyone, but wants to protect as many people as he can, which makes Ishida reflect on his grandfather's teachings and accept his offer to fight the Hollows together.
** Ichigo again at the end of the [[MeaningfulName Deicide Arc]] having attained full control of his power after properly communing with his Zanpakutou. Able to literally wipe out mountains with a casual sword swing, [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome he calmly tells Aizen that he has surpassed him in strength]] [[ShutUpHannibal and is tired of Aizen's speeches.]] Made all the more awesome given at this point, Aizen and Ichigo are the two most powerful characters in the series, even surpassing Yamamoto ([[spoiler:pre-Bankai]]).
* In the manga version of ''Manga/{{Bokurano}}'', Takami "Komo" Komoda, who was lonely and detached from the world for much of her childhood, plays the piano [[spoiler:as part of a plan to lure out the enemy pilot, who has fled from his robot]]. She gives an internal monologue about everything she has noticed about the world, and how she considers it beautiful and something that could only come about as a result of a miracle.
-->'''Komo:''' Thank you everyone. If only I had noticed what exactly surrounds me sooner. But it's okay, now that I have noticed. Noticed the world.
* Rolo of ''Franchise/CodeGeass'' overcomes his training as a tool due to his feelings of brotherly love for Lelouch, enabling him to utilize his Geass so effectively he wipes out entire squadrons of Knightmares. Even as the strain is killing him, he's happily explaining how Lelouch has finally made it possible for him to feel like a human.
* ''Anime/CowboyBebop'':
** Spike Spiegel gives one of these to Jet before he leaves for his final confrontation with Vicious. After spending the entire series running from his past, he's finally going to face it.
--->'''Spike:''' There once was a tiger-striped cat. This cat died a million deaths, was revived, and lived a million lives, and he was owned by various people who he really didn't care for. The cat wasn't afraid to die. Then one day the cat became a stray cat which meant he was free. He met a white female cat and the two of them spent their days together happily. Well, years passed and the white cat grew weak and died of old age. The tiger-striped cat cried a million times, and then he died too. Except this time, he didn't come back to life.
** Discussed a bit with Faye.
--->'''Faye:''' Is that it? You're just going to throw your life away?\\
'''Spike:''' I'm not going there to die. I'm going there to see if I was ever really alive.
* ''Anime/DigimonAdventure'':
** In the finale, [[spoiler:the Digidestined and their Digimon have been digitized by [[TrueFinalBoss Apocalymon]], their Digimon were reverted to their base forms, and their [[UpgradeArtifact crests]] are destroyed. They realize that their crests were powered by their own spirits and thus [[MagicFeather they didn't need the physical items]], and they return to face Apocalymon with a WorldOfCardboardSpeech and proceed to battle him.]]
** During the hunt for their [[UpgradeArtifact crests]], which allow their digimon to evolve into more powerful forms, they found that each crest represented something special and unique about them and it would only work when they were exhibiting those attributes. Tai's crest was Courage, but he tried to force Agumon to evolve by putting himself in harm's way, which caused a warped evolution into [=SkullGreymon=], a violent [[TheBerserker berserker]]. A very traumatizing mistake, but Tai learned that courage wasn't rushing into a battle, but standing up against evil, allowing Agumon to evolve into his proper form, [=MetalGreymon=]. Each digidestined had to go through something similar (although not with warped evolutions) through the remainder of the season.
** The original gives Agumon one about the strength of his bond with his friends in the 50th episode, at the climax of his fight with Mugendramon. The dub, [[LullDestruction being the dub]], turns it into him reminding Machinedramon of exactly what it is his claws do to Digimon of his type.
* ''Anime/DragonBallZ''
** During the final battle with Kid Buu, Vegeta has a long internal monologue in which he comes to terms with Goku being better than him. After spending most of the series resenting Goku for this and trying to surpass him by any means, Vegeta finally lets go of his grudge:
--->'''Vegeta:''' Amazing. How do you do it, Kakarot? [[{{Determinator}} You've always been like this, ever since the day I first met you; always ready to meet the next challenge, even if it's bigger than you are.]] It was the same on Namek, [[MyKungFuIsStrongerThanYours you had improved so much that it made Recoome like he was standing still. Your power had increased so dramatically since our battle on Earth that I thought you had done it, I thought that you had become a Super Saiyan!]] It tore me apart! How could a low-class soldier accomplish so easily what I... I had to struggle my whole life to achieve!? [[TheProphecy After three millennia, it has finally happened; a new Super Saiyan has emerged]], and, somehow, I have become this pauper's witness. Then at last, it happened. I too transformed. After living every moment of every day for the singular purpose of surpassing you, I finally became a Super Saiyan myself, the Prince had reclaimed his throne and fulfilled his destiny. [[CantCatchUp But no matter how strong I became, your power still exceeded mine.]] [[HeroicResolve At first, I though it was your loved ones; that it was your instinct to protect them that spurred you on and pushed you beyond your limits.]] But then I found myself with a family of my own, and my power... didn't increase at all. [[BloodKnight I used to fight for the sheer of pleasure of it; for the thrill of the hunt, oh I had the strength unmeasurable... I spared no one.]] [[EasilyForgiven And yet, you showed mercy to everyone, even your fiercest enemies, even me!]] [[TechnicalPacifist Yet, you never fought to kill, or for revenge.]] [[SpiritedCompetitor Only to test your limits and to push yourself beyond them, to become the strongest you could possibly be.]] [[BlueAndOrangeMorality How can a Saiyan fight like that and at the same time be so gentle that he wouldn't hurt a fly? It makes me angry just thinking about it!]] But, perhaps it is my anger that has made me blind to the truth for so long. I see it now, this day has made it all too clear. [[WorthyOpponent You're better than me Kakarot. You are the best.]]
** Goku's (in)famous dub line to Freeza after he'd transformed into a Super Saiyan for the first time:
--->'''Goku:''' [[AdaptationalHeroism I am the hope of the universe! I am the answer to all living things that cry out for peace! I am protector of the innocent! I am the light in the darkness! I am Truth!]] '''[[AdaptationalHeroism Ally to good, nightmare to you!]]'''
** The ''Anime/DragonballKai'' version:
--->'''Goku:''' I'm a proud Saiyan who calls Earth home, and I'm here to defeat you. I am the warrior you've heard of in legend, pure of heart and awakened by fury, that's what I am. '''I AM THE SUPER SAIYAN, SON GOKU!'''
* There are some example in ''Manga/Eyeshield21'', but mention particular to Yukimitsu InnerMonologue [[spoiler: before score a touchdown against the Shinryuuji Naga]] that is also a message to all the weakling, geeky type in the world of getting out and trying sports.
* ''Anime/FullmetalAlchemist'':
** In the first anime:
--->'''Edward:''' Even after I became a soldier, war still seemed like something that happened in a far off land, where I couldn't see it... or someone else fought and died. It didn't seem real... I thought war had nothing to do with me... But now that... I learned there's someone who's willing to start war, who's going to start war, just for the Stone... I know that as long as there are people who seek the Stone's forbidden power, that bloodshed will keep happening... And I know the desire for that power, lurks somewhere in all of us... [[spoiler:The Homunculi]] may throw fuel on the fire of war... But didn't the desire to bring back people we love, create them?... And if they're nothing more than products of our hearts and minds, no matter how pure our intentions... Then there will never be... a war, that isn't at least in some part, caused by all of us... ever.
** And in the final scene (doubling as BookEnds, as nearly every episode began with first the four sentences of this speech):
--->'''Alphonse:''' Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one and only truth. But the world isn't perfect, and the law is incomplete. Equivalent Exchange doesn't encompass everything that goes on here, but I still choose to believe in its principle, that all things do come at a price, that there's an ebb, and a flow. A cycle, that the pain we went through did have a reward, and that anyone who's determined and perseveres, will get something of value, even if it's not what they expected. I don't think of Equivalent Exchange as a law of the world anymore. I think of it as a promise, between my brother and me. A promise that [[spoiler:some day, we'll see each other again.]]
** Roy Mustang also gives one to Ed, Al, and Winry when he tracks the brothers down after [[spoiler:Ed and Al escape from Lior]]. It's about the difficulties he has as a veteran of Ishbal [[spoiler:including killing Winry's parents]], and how he came to Ed and Al not to bring them back to the military, but of his own volition in order to protect them.
* In ''Anime/GundamBuildDivers'', [[TheAce Kyoya Kujo]] finds himself and his Gundam AGE-II Magnum pinned down by a mercenary piloting a Providence Gundam. It takes Kyoya a bit before he realizes his opponent and those he's working for don't care for the video game world they live in. He's able to get behind him and admit that he was hesitant in finding the man who has been selling the Break Decals that have been damaging the game because he feared there were actual users who were using them because they loved the game. Now that he's come to realize that they don't, he's not showing mercy anymore. [[spoiler: He, then, [[IAmNotLeftHanded proceeds to rip the Providence's DRAGOON backpack off of him and in half, kick its beam rifle away, then obliterate the suit]].]]
* In the first few ''LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya'' books and pretty much the entire anime, Kyon is just trying to get by, to do what he needs to do to deal with Haruhi and little more, relying on Nagato to handle any really serious issues. Then the whole world changes, so that he could go back to a normal life. In the end, he decides (In a World of Cardboard Monologue) that he much prefers the old world, and is willing to go back and enjoy it head on, and no longer [[spoiler:rely on Yuki so much, whom had caused the events of the story as part of a nervous breakdown.]] TheMovie version of this is epic.
* The Final Trials in ''Anime/HeartcatchPrettyCure'' were pretty much this: the four Cures are set against their Mirage selves, embodying their own hang-ups (Tsubomi's insecurity, Erika's jealousy towards her sister, Itsuki's denial of being herself, and Yuri's regrets and failures). As each Cure fights, they come to realize that that's what makes them who they are and they'll use it to become stronger. It takes Tsubomi the longest since she isn't sure if she can confront that part of herself, but she does. It helps unlock their SuperMode in the end, so that's a plus.
* In ''only chapter 6'' (anime episode 2) of ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders'', Jotaro is on the losing end of his battle against Kakyoin, but keeps getting back up in spite of being heavily wounded. He then gives a speech about [[ThisIsUnforgivable his motivations to fight]], and the difference between [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold him]] and his [[BrainwashedAndCrazy opponent]]. This promptly turns the fight around as Jotaro finally unleashes his Stand for the first time, leaving Kakyoin almost dead in the end.[[note]]The quote is from the Viz dub of episode 2, but it's still very well delivered.[[/note]]
-->'''Kakyoin:''' And still, you get up. You are so pathetic; you're nothing more than a sandbag, about to be pummeled by a skilled boxer. Why even bother standing up? I'm just gonna knock you down again.\\
'''Jotaro:''' ...[[GoodIsNotNice Look, no one ever said Jotaro Kujo was a nice guy.]] I beat the crap out of people more than I have to. Some are even still in the hospital. I've had idiot teachers who like to talk big, so I taught them a lesson, and they never came back to class. If I go to a restaurant and the food's bad, I make it a policy to stiff 'em with the bill. But...even a bastard like me can spot true evil when he sees it! True evil are those who use the weak for their own gain and crush them underfoot when they're through! Especially an innocent woman! And that is exactly what you've done, isn't it?! And your [[PsychicPowers Stand]] gets to hide from the victim, the law, and the consequences! That's why... I WILL JUDGE YOU MYSELF!!!
* In ''LightNovel/{{Katanagatari}}'' Shichika is given a set of rules by Togame when they start travelling together. Towards the end of the story when he no longer is bound by them, he calmly explains to his opponents how each of the rules were holding him back, and demonstrates just exactly how powerful he really is when those rules aren't holding him back.
* In ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'', Fate gives a totally epic one in episode 12 before going on to have her BigDamnHeroes moment.
* In the finale of ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'', the hero, Domon, does one of these combined with a love confession in one of the most [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments heartwarming]] moments in the series, and often considered the most genuine love story in the Gundam franchise.
* A major TearJerker example with Licenseless Rider's speech in ''Webcomic/OnePunchMan'':
-->'''Licenseless Rider:''' No one expects much from me... They think [[CListFodder a C-Class hero]] won't be much help. I know that better than anyone. I'm not good enough for Class B. I'm weak. I know that much. No one has to tell me I have no chance of beating you. I already... know that! And yet, I must try. It's not about winning or losing! It's about me [[HoldTheLine taking you on right here, right now!]]
* Detective Ikari does this in the last episode of ''Anime/ParanoiaAgent''. As one of the characters who has gotten some of the worst of it: [[spoiler:he lost his job, his wife died, and he was too old to learn any new skills]]. His WorldOfCardboardSpeech comes when he [[spoiler:destroys the 2-D fantasy world with a baseball bat, claiming that the real world has no place for an old man like him, but that he would rather face that harsh reality than live in a fantasy world]]. It is truly epic to watch.
* Sakura of ''Manga/PenguinMusume'' gives one to Marie, talking about her strength from the PowerOfFriendship. The weird thing was, that at this point, Sakura was gigantic and Marie wasn't. There was no real point to start a battle of wills that ultimately evened the scales after Marie gave her own World of Cardboard Speech where she said she didn't ''need'' her friends. And ironically, it was Marie saying she didn't need her friends that provoked them to give her their love and even the scales.
* Happens at the end of ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'', when Madoka finally makes her wish to become a magical girl. The whole series up to this point lays out why she should never, ever do this, first because her naive selflessness would put her in danger, and later because this would literally cause a planet-scale apocalypse due to her uncontrollable power [[spoiler:turning her into an unstoppable witch]]. But she realizes that [[LoopholeAbuse there's a way around the latter problem]], allowing her to use her immense power for good, and fulfilling her desire to sacrifice herself to save others:
-->'''Madoka:''' I wish to erase all witches before they are born. [[spoiler:All the witches in all the universes, both past and future.]] With my own hands! [[note]]This includes ''her own'' witch form, preventing the normally-inevitable negative karmic backlash.[[/note]]\\
'''Kyubey:''' If a prayer like that were granted, it could unravel the fabric of time itself! It would go against the very force of karmic destiny! Do you truly intend to become a god?\\
'''Madoka:''' I don't care what I become. All those who have fought against witches, who believed in hope as magical girls... I don't want to see them cry. I want them to be smiling to the very end. If any rule or law stands in the way of that, I will destroy it. I will rewrite it. That is my prayer... my wish. [[FaustianRebellion Now, grant my wish, Incubator!]]
* Occurs in ''Anime/TheSoulTaker'' when the protagonist, suffering from repressed guilt about Maya's death, allows the Soul Anubis to pummel him... until he comes to a realization.
-->'''Kyōsuke:''' I wanted to feel the pain Maya suffered, even just for a moment. I felt that I should know that pain. But right now, no matter how many times I'm hit, I'm not able to feel the pain. So now, I'm ''ending it''.
* ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'':
** Simon gets an ''awesome'' speech when he breaks out of his HeroicBSOD and comes to accept his own strengths and weaknesses instead of measuring himself against Kamina. Then he [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown drills General Guame a new one]].
--->'''Simon:''' [[spoiler:My bro is dead. He's gone! But he's right there on my back, and here in my heart! He lives on as a part of me!]] If you're gonna dig, dig to the heavens. No matter what's in my way, I won't stop! Once I've dug through -- it means that I've won! Just who the hell do you think I am? I'm Simon. I'm not my Bro! I'M ME!! '''[[TheMagnificent Simon the Digger!]]'''
** And then there's the speech to the Anti-Spiral, which is on the quotes page.
* At the end of ''Anime/TigerAndBunny'', Kotetsu gives one when [[spoiler:he returns from his TenMinuteRetirement]].
-->'''Kotetsu:''' And you know what? I realized you don't get to set your own limits. Even after I [[spoiler:lose my powers]] and get mocked by everyone or look ridiculous, I'm not going to let that stop me. I'm going to stay a hero to the very end. I'm not going to give up. Besides, it doesn't hurt to have a hero who's uncool, right?
* ''Series/ThunderboltFantasy'': After a comment by Syou Fu Kan upsets Ken San Un, Ken mocks Syou for carrying himself like a swordmaster, but having a sword fighting style that has no flair or style to it as if he were instead wielding a blunt weapon, giving him the title "Edgeless Blade", which Syou feels fits him just fine. Moments later they are ambushed by the Black Demon Sect's Chou Mei who now has them all cornered to kill them. During the ensuing fight, Syou throws his sword aside to kill a {{Mook}} that was about to kill Ken. Chou Mei believes he has Syou cornered, when he suddenly picks a stick up off the ground. Ken tries to rush the sword back to him, but is startled when he realizes the sword is a fake made of silver-painted wood. Syou Fu Kan then proceeds to CurbStompBattle all of the mooks with nothing more than the stick, including ''exploding'' some of their heads off:
-->'''Chou Mei:''' You bastard! How did you do that without a sword?!\\
'''Syou Fu Kan:''' You need to stop making dumb assumptions. See, I was never using a sword in the first place.\\
'''Chou Mei:''' Impossible! This can't be!\\
'''Syou Fu Kan:''' Did you think that only metal could form an edge?! Don't presume so much, boy! If you channel the right force into it, then hair and cloth can split flesh and shatter bone!\\
'''Chou Mei:''' Just who in the world are you?!\\
'''Syou Fu Kan:''' They call me the Edgeless Blade... apparently. Though we just came up with that. Now then... if you run, I won't chase you.
* ''Manga/VinlandSaga'': Canute delivers one in the first arc as he abandons his ShrinkingViolet character and matures into a true prince intent on seizing and using the power available to him to build a better world. In the second arc, Thorfinn delivers a three-part speech as he comes to realize his views on life and suffering and matures fully into the AllLovingHero that his father was. [[spoiler:Notably, the third part is delivered to ''Canute'' and ends up deconstructing some of the motivation he described in his speech in the last arc.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theater]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* Episode 8 of ''WebVideo/SwordArtOnlineAbridged'' has Kirito, who jumps in to save a group of people he's never seen before in his life and probably will never see again, yelling out his speech in denial, or realisation, or anger, or probably all three.
-->'''Kirito:''' You know something? I really hate people! [[HumansAreBastards They're selfish, ignorant, loud obnoxious pricks, with basically no redeeming qualities whatsoever]]. I mean really, look at all they've achieved! [[CrapsackWorld Genocide, global warming]], [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking reality TV]], and just a never ending parade of failures and fuck ups! [[HobbesWasRight They are, without question, a complete write-off of a species]], and '''how dare you make me care about them!'''
* After Gohan finally achieves Super Saiyan 2 in Episode 60, Part 2 of ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'' and effortlessly curb stomps the Cell Jr.s, he delivers a ''haunting'' one to Cell himself, all while never raising his voice above a [[TranquilFury menacing whisper.]]
-->'''Gohan:''' Cell, you don't get it. I ''hate'' this. The vibrations through my fists on contact. The taste of blood in my mouth. The sound of my heart in my ears. ''I hate it. I always have.'' But right now, in this moment, the only thing I hate more than it is '''you'''. Because you were right about me. I was a coward. Scared of what would happen if I snapped. Afraid that, if I lost it this time, I'd never come back. That I'd finally kill someone. But I'm not scared anymore, Cell. '''''[[ImpliedDeathThreat Because there's no point in being afraid of the inevitable.]]'''''
* In ''Fanfic/KyonBigDamnHero'':
-->'''[[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...
* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'':
** Thor (previously James Potter -- the first attempt at the whole humility thing sort of backfired) give Snape a speech along these lines, referencing a canon BadassBoast.
--->'''Thor:''' I am the God of Thunder and Lightning spoken of in ancient myth and whispered legend, Snape. I am he who battled Jormungand, the father of all great serpents, and fought the greatest Jotunheim had to offer when Merlin was but a suckling babe. I am Thor Odinson, God of the Vikings. [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Not a petty conjurer of cheap tricks.]] All the power of the storm, from all the world, flows through my veins. It can be summoned by my hammer at any time, wherever it is. A lightning storm in Japan? Mine. A hurricane off the coast of Barbados? Mine again. A brace of tornadoes in Kansas? Mine. All that might, all that destructive force, ''mine'' to command.
** Harry provides a succinct one to a HYDRA assault team in chapter 74 when [[RageBreakingPoint he has finally been pushed too far.]]
--->'''Harry:''' You people and your guns. Did you think that they would protect you from ''me?''
::: [[CurbstompBattle The answer to that, by the way, would be no.]]
** And in chapter 78, he provides an inversion, where he rejects TheFinalTemptation from Chthon (essentially, the power to "play God.")
--->'''Harry:''' I never ''wanted'' power. I never ''wanted'' to be God. And I am ''done'' playing.
** A much darker variant in the sequel also comes from Harry, given to the Red Room as he passes the GodzillaThreshold and [[spoiler: becomes the Dark Phoenix]].
--->'''Harry:''' '''''I am no man. You thought I was, or that I was something close. You thought that I was something you could tame, that you could control. But all along, I LET you do it. I LET you mess with my mind and body, because [[AfraidOfTheirOwnStrength I was afraid -- not of you, but of me. I was afraid of cutting loose and being what I REALLY am.]] Well, guess what? I'm not afraid any more.'''''
** And later on, he mentions that he "lives in a world of glass" as part of a BlaseBoast.
* From [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5433094/26/The_Doorstop chapter 26]] of ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5433094/1/The_Doorstop The Doorstop,]]'' [[spoiler:[[Franchise/LyricalNanoha Nanoha]]]] gives a truly epic one to a Chaos Assassin.
-->'''[[spoiler:Nanoha Takamachi]]:''' The day before yesterday was the first time I killed. Six of them were valued employees, men and women with loving families and excellent career prospects who I had nothing but the utmost personal and professional respect for. [[spoiler:The last two were my own adoptive children. Erio and Caro]] came from backgrounds that would have broken any lesser individual, and they came out happy, caring, and the finest recruits I have ever had the privilege of training. They battled against monsters and criminals, protected the innocent, and saved the life of the woman I love most in the world. Your animals, your killing machines? They do not deserve it." [...] "Here is what I am going to do, assassin. I am going to make sure the Hellhounds get the help they need, that they are given the chance to become productive members of society. I am going to stand against your gods' forces, no matter what strange powers or arcane technologies they might wield, and I am going to cleanse their masters' taint from their hearts, their minds, and their souls. Then, once all else is done, once the war is over and the universe is at peace once more, I shall go to your gods and I shall forgive them, for they have strayed far from their path and know not what they do. I shall forgive them, and I shall grant them what healing and redemption I can muster. People die in war. I can accept that. I am only one amongst billions. I can accept that. But even if this is impossible, even if I fail, this is the path I shall strive to walk. This is the will of [[spoiler:Nanoha Takamachi]]. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?
* Faren Brosca sort of gives one in ''Fanfic/DragonAgeTheCrownOfThorns while'' [[spoiler:[[CurbstompBattle curbstomping]] the most powerful form of the demon that trapped them in the fade.]] Then again, it's not so much him letting loose as saying he's actually ''not'' under the influence of any empowering emotion or whatnot.
-->'''Faren:''' You know, I could say I'm doing this because I don't plan on letting those important to me die. I could say it's because I'm in a hurry to get out of this Fade thing and find out what happened to Kallian. I could say it's because I had a sort of revelation that ever so epically opened my eyes to a sort of higher calling. And I could also start a long, pointless monologue about true strength and a heap of other stuff, during which, truth be told, I may not even know what I'd be talking about half the time. I could babble for hours about nonsense, but the truth is that, right now, I am simply kicking your ass because I just don't like you.
* This concept is somewhat referenced in the ''Manga/{{Naruto}}''/''Franchise/{{Justice League|of America}}'' Crossover ''Fanfic/ConnectingTheDots'' Superman has to teach all about ''not blowing stuff up'' when he's stopping crime.
* From ''Fanfic/ShadowchasersTorment'' ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6611580/45/Shadowchasers_Torment Chapter 45]]'':
-->"It does seem like I've been gotten pretty full of myself hasn't it?" he finally said. "It's funny, but hearing you talk about how everything in the universe hinges on the balance between Light and Darkness, Chaos and Order, it made me realize something. I've..." He paused before sighing as he started again.\\
"I've been way too inwardly focused, ever since I woke up in that morgue. At first, all I cared about was getting my memories back... With every clue to my past I chomped at the bit rushing from one lead to another... Everyone I met, friends, foes, they seemed so small...so unimportant. The Dread Emperor, Willy, Kesto, even poor Ravel. I started treating everyone I fought as beneath me, thinking it would all be worth it once I regained my memories, and discovered my true self."\\
"It seems that whoever I was before I met Ravel the first time... He was an arrogant son of a bitch... Maybe that's how I got into this whole mess...\\
"But now..." His right hand clenched into a fist.\\
"Now I know that getting my memories back, that finding my true self... it all doesn't mean shit if I only end up looking back with shame at what I was willing to become to get there! I'm not the only one with a stake in this fight... The people who took me in and treated me like family are risking their lives for something bigger then who's right or wrong, or who's more powerful. We're fighting to protect all of creation... Every human, every Shadow... Every resident of Heaven, Hell, and every realm in-between... If Tharizdun returns nobody will be spared, so I can't keep on acting like some petty little child and act like I'm above it all!" He drew the top card off his deck.\\
"So I'll use the strength all of my opponents have given me, good or evil, strong or weak, and the lessons taught to me by everyone who's helped me when I needed them the most, and I'll take down you, Tiberius, and everyone else involved in this mad plan!"
* In ''Time Braid'': (after Sakura has finally tapped into her full potential)
-->'''Hidan:''' You'll run out of chakra soon, but Jashin won't. He's a god, but you're just a fancy medic-nin.\\
'''Sakura:''' ''[injury heals, chuckles]'' You know, I've been telling myself that for years. But as long as my Heaven Seal is active I can't fool myself. I see too much, and I can't miss the implications. I'm not just a medic-nin, Hidan. I'm the last native kami of this demon-haunted world, and my domains are insight and mystery. Not to mention that I just took about [[TookALevelInBadass six levels of badass]]. Don't make me fight you, or you'll lose.
* ''Fanfic/TheImmortalGame'': When [[spoiler: Celestia]] regains her power after weeks of being depowered and tortured, she delivers a speech in a similar vein as the TropeNamer:
-->'''[[spoiler:Celestia]]:''' Centuries of boiling water for tea when I knew that I could boil the seas. Of lifting quills when I could lift mountains. Of breaking wax seals when I could break ''anything I please.'' My power is too much for this world. But it isn't too much for you, is it, [[EvilMatriarch Terra]]? Now I get to find out what I'm really capable of. No lives to save, no plans to make, ''nothing'' to hold me back. I am divinity unleashed.
* In Fanfic/{{Reconciliation}}, Hanako, [[spoiler:having received an angry TheReasonYouSuckSpeech from Lilly, who is grieving over the loss of her husband Hisao and rejecting Hanako's attempts to console her]], talks about her past, including the loss of her parents, her isolation, becoming friends with Lilly and Hisao, being upset by being pitied, and finally lashing out at them. Hanako says the loss of her friendship with Hisao and Lilly was worst of all because she knew it was her fault, and as such, [[spoiler:asks Lilly to accept the support of those closest to her]].
* In chapter 20 of ''Fanfic/AceCombatTheEquestrianWar'', Rainbow Dash delivers a speech to [[spoiler: Gilda]] during their second confrontation after the war has already ended.
-->'''Rainbow Dash:''' I hate to break it to you, G, but you've lost this battle the moment you attacked Firefly. No... actually, even back when you hurt Medley. But I've got to thank you for one thing. For challenging me! Thanks to you, I still have one more reason to fight and live! We may not be so different after all, but I can clearly see who is who. And you're not yourself! But since there is nopony else in the sky besides us, now you'll get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see just how fast I really am!
* ''[[Fanfic/PonyPOVSeries Reharmonized Ponies]]'':
** Twilight has one after [[spoiler:Fluttercruel makes her realize Fluttershy's motivation for becoming Princess Gaia/Nightmare Whisper,]] breaking her out of her mental block that'd plagued her the entire battle.
--->'''Twilight Sparkle:''' You... you're doing this... not because you want to force yourself on others, you're not really doing this because you're scared of truth. You're doing this, you want to make the world fair, BECAUSE YOU'RE OUR FRIEND! And we're doing this BECAUSE WE'RE YOUR FRIENDS! We can't escape it! OUR FRIENDS CHANGE WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT! I HATE IT! Discord showed me what I didn't want to see! That we could all grow into ponies different from the ones we made friends with! Ponies that may well drift away from each other! ... THAT'S THE PRICE OF HAVING FRIENDS AND -- It's-worth-it! It will ALWAYS be worth it! Because if that pony was ever really your friend, then before or after doesn't matter, friendship is now! It doesn't have a future or past! No matter how distant, a friend is a friend! And my heart is more free BECAUSE I accept that!
** [[spoiler:This also activates the Element of Magic ''without'' the crown she normally needs. The others follow suit, activiating their own Elements with their own {{World Of Cardboard Speech}}s and finishing with Fluttercruel earning her Cutie Mark and realizing what it, and Fluttershy's, ''really'' mean, giving a speech of her own and summoning the Element Of Kindness.]]
** In the [[BadFuture Epilogue/Dark World timeline]], Twilight and the rest of the the Element bearers have spent the last thousand years as Discord's [[BrainwashedAndCrazy brainwashed enforcers]], stuck between being his playthings and carrying out his will. When Twilight suffers a VillainousBSOD following a meeting with [[CheerfulChild Apple Pie]] (whose ability to find joy even in [[CrapsackWorld this world]] completely [[EvilCannotComprehendGood baffles her]]), she withdraws into her mind and, after much debate with other aspects of her personality [[spoiler: and Cadence's spirit]], decides not to give up hope, which finally frees her from Discord's taint. Upon awakening, she states the following:
--->'''Twilight:''' I leave behind [[TheDragon Tragedy]], Master's tool, I leave behind [[NietzscheWannabe Sparkle]], Discord's toy, I am simply Twilight The Unicorn. I am me. I have magic to do and tragedies to face. I'm done hiding in the cage I've made for myself and those around me...I'm finally free. And I have some friends to make.
** Similarly, when Liarjack is restored to Applejack after a VisionQuest [[spoiler: and talking to Applebloom's spirit and the [[GodOfGood Father Of Alicorns]]]], she gives a speech of her own:
--->'''Applejack:''' Ah made a PROMISE TO APPLEBLOOM to look after her family an' it's 'bout time Ah kept it the right way! Ah'm done hidin' in lies. They work fer me, not the other way 'round. The Apple family. The Pie family... little Apple Pie, who'd laughed. Ah'm there fer ya all.
** And ''again'' when Twilight and Applejack manage to restore Rarigreed to Rarity. We should probably just accept that this is going to be a staple of Dark World.
--->'''Rarity:''' I am ugly. Inside and out. I'm a horrid creature. I won't hide from that any more! Desire has its own beauty, desire fuels progress. Without it, nothing can move forwards because nothing wants to move forwards. My desire for Tom to be real created something beautiful because I nurtured that desire for so very long! But I have been ugly. Divorced from reality for a thousand years. I've grown so strong, in some respects... but so much else about who I am has... stagnated. No longer. Desire is supposed to be honest. Desire is supposed to be straightforward, desire in its pure form doesn't hide its intent. I'm done hiding from truth. I'm still... desirous. I still want it all. And SINCE I want it all, then I'll ACCEPT it all, beauty and ugliness, in equal measure.
** Justified, as awakening one's Element without the physical Elements seems to ''require'' a personal epiphany in order to happen.
** We get another one when Spike awakes as the new Element of Generosity. His gets bonus points for also being a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech aimed at Discord (who isn't even there).
** And now Pinkie Pie's had one after her own HeelFaceTurn:
--->'''Pinkie Pie:''' What do I decide? What should I do? It's like I can think clearly again, all I could see for a zillion years was bullies were my friends were supposed to be. ...I could try to make them up give the Elements... save my foals... but they've suffered enough...I can see that now...I was wrong...Twilight was right...I made them killers...I can only hope whoever's out there had mercy on them...And if they are in Pony Heaven, anything I give them in Equestria could never hold a candle to whatever Paradise provides them. But what if they're in Pony Hell like Twilight said? But how could I save them, if I brought them back by going back into the fog? I could just...quit...curl up and cry, let guilt crush me...but that'd hurt my friends. After all they did to save me, it'd be wasting this second chance I've been given...It's like they told Dashie...laying down and dying doesn't fix what I did... My friends...my...my niece...they're all here...they cared for me...they suffered to save me...they protected me...They cared for me...And I tried to throw them away...I can't make up for much...but I can make up for that... I'm sorry for what I've done...But I don't have time to let it crush me...I love my foals...but I can only pray their souls are in Pony Heaven...I love my friends...and they're right here...I'm free.
** Rainbow Dash's is a bit delayed, but she does eventually give one that shows she's done tearing herself up over the choices she's made.
--->'''Rainbow Dash:''' Yeah, I'm glad you didn't kill me, I'm glad until I got my head on straight you had me tied to a bed and set that mare to keep an eye on me so I couldn't try to rip my own Element to pull the plug. But I'm tired of 'what ifs', what if I'd chosen to turn right around and Sonic Rainboomed Discord into the ground a thousand years ago? Maybe it'd have killed him, maybe I'd have shattered every bone in my body and not left a scratch on him. It doesn't MATTER. I've spent the last THOUSAND YEARS obsessing myself with 'what if'. What if I'd made the other choice? What if I'd not turned down Grogar's offer to take out Discord? What if, what if, what if. Buck 'what if'! I didn't [[spoiler: rip my heart out and show it to you]] so you'd be thinking about what ifs.
** Twilight gives one during the FinalBattle after [[spoiler:hijacking [[TrueFinalBoss Nightmare Paradox]]'s time travel spell and combining it with her connection to Minty Pie, summoning the [[CrisisCrossover G1, G2, G3, and G4 Mane Casts]] to the present.]]
--->'''Twilight:''' You have power over time? The magic between friends transcends time, space, reality, death, beyond all barriers! Friendship doesn't just pierce the barrier between life and death, but all barriers, everywhere! This is a friendship that pierces the walls between worlds! We've been made, unmade, and remade, but the links we've forged between our souls are all still here! You have [[spoiler: six Elements of Harmony]] that are absolute? We have six sets of hearts beating together in harmony! You have a [[spoiler: gallery of Nightmares]]? We have a herd of FRIENDS! I'm not scared. Not with all of you by my side. And neither are they scared by my side!
** Rarity had been greatly traumatized by her time under Discord's control, and ashamed and terrified of both her Cutie Mark and her Element of Generosity, because Discord had corrupted them to corrupt her. She has an epiphany after [[spoiler: helping Diamond Tiara make a dress for her mother]] and breaks out of her funk. She gives this internal monologue:
--->'''Rarity:''' I managed a smile. Maybe I was being foolish. But I knew this wasn't pointless... or at least, I didn't believe it was. And I think I finally understand. Making things beautiful and making beautiful things is simply what I am good at. A pony is not a slave to their cutie mark no matter what they teach you in school. It's your guide, not your master. My Element and my Cutie Mark are not the same thing, have never been the same thing, and I was a foal for believing they were. If making beautiful things and making things beautiful are what I'm good at, and my Element is to be generous towards others, of course I'll share my talent with them. But that isn't the only thing I can share. Letting my sister help, spending time with others: those are generosities too, not just giving away THINGS. And I should have remembered that when Twilight's spell made me relive those moments I had been true to that inner spirit. But I was too scared of what I had done. I'll never know how much of what I did was Discord's taint or my own choices, but I'm not ashamed anymore. Not as long as I remember that no matter what riches cross my path, my greatest treasure is at home, and she is waiting for me. And whether I find someone to live my life with is up to me. For the first time in weeks, I finally feel free.
** Bright Eyes gives one at the climax of her ''7 Dreams/Nightmares'' story, when she realizes that [[spoiler:she's fighting [[BigBad Cruel Eyes/D___t's Shadow]] in her own mind and has been stupid letting ''him'' make the rules]] and is able to overcome the fear he's been causing her the entire time. [[spoiler:She promptly uses the control over her mind this gives to reconfigure her weapon and give her the opening needed to finish him off.]]
--->'''Bright Eyes:''' And I'm an idiot! I've been letting YOU set the rules and what goes and what doesn't here. You've had me so caught up in this mess I hadn't thought this through! [[spoiler:[[BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind This is all in MY head? MY mind? MY soul? That means I can do anything I WANT!]]]] And I've always had with me the lance that pierces the darkness! [[NotAfraidOfYouAnymore And now that I've realized that, I've got no reason to be afraid of you anymore!]]
** Celestia gives one at the end of her Reharmonizing side story after realizing that while her subjects do fear her, they don't hate her as she had feared, allowing her to let go of the guilt she's had ever since the Day of Chaos.
--->'''Celestia:''' I am Princess Celestia. [[TimeAbyss I remember the big bang]]. I have seen things ponies can never comprehend. I am the Day itself...and my subjects fear me. But they do not hate me. They fear me as child fears their mother. I have guilt I must live with, but what a chaotic tyrant made me do is not among the things I should be ashamed of. I now know that I am both feared and loved by my subjects as their ruler and their mother. And I both love and fear for them the same way. I am free.
* ''Another'' great MLP example is Nyx's [[TheSummation after-the-fact]] speech toward the end of ''Fanfic/PastSins'' about why she threw herself between the ponies of Ponyville and a horde of monsters from the Everfree forest.
-->'''Nyx:''' As an alicorn, I can bear the burdens no other pony can. I threw myself in the way of a Lupus Major to protect Twilight because, while the beast wounded me, it could have easily killed Twilight. The pain I endured saved not just one life but lives all over Ponyville. It's far better for me to be wounded if it means somepony, anypony, can continue to live and be happy. I can be bruised, battered and beaten but, as long as there is still breath in my lungs, I will continue to protect ponies. I will protect them, because what can kill them I can survive, because what hurts them is but a scratch for me, because it's the one thing I've been able to do right.
* An interesting variation, delivered ''to'' the protagonist, from ''Fanfic/CalvinAndHobbesTheSeries'' (after Calvin had nearly gone insane from trying to avoid LaserGuidedKarma):
-->'''Susie:''' Calvin, you live by your own rules! [[BadassBoast You make things up! You create! You destroy! You tease temptation!]] You do all sorts of horrible things, most of them to me, yes, [[PetTheDog but then there are days you do good all on your own!]] You shouldn't let something like Karma run your life! You need to be rude and nasty and gross and weird, so that you can be good on your own accord.
* Another MLP story, the AU ''Fanfic/RainboomsAndRoyalty'', goes directly to the source and has Twilight Sparkle (who's been repressing her power ever since her [[BreakTheCutie traumatic entrance exam]]) paraphrase the TropeNamer when fighting [[TheDragon Blackened Armor]] [[spoiler: (aka her BrainwashedAndCrazy brother)]].
* In the WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic[=/=]Literature/TheDresdenFiles crossover ''Fanfic/TheDresdenFillies'' Bon Bon delivers one summarizing who Harry Dresden is.
-->'''Bon Bon:''' You're a man of iron and blood, stone and fire. Touched by darkness, but not overcome by it. Beaten and damaged, but unbowed. Unrelenting in word and deed, in thought and creed. You would lay siege to Tartarus itself if that's where [[spoiler: Twilight]] had been taken. And all because she's your friend. Because you would do anything to keep her safe. Because you ''care''.
* ''Fanfic/ThePowersOfHarmony'': Twilight says this [[spoiler: after Blair throws her off the edge of Neighagra Falls in an [[DieOrFly attempt to make her use her powers]].]]
-->'''Twilight Sparkle:''' For ten years I've felt restless, like I'm stuck in a tiny box that's pushing in on me from all sides. I feel a constant pressure on my font at all times, like a wild animal pulling on it's chains just begging for release. It's only gotten worse since this magical growth spurt started, and now I feel a constant tingling in my horn, like my magic is trying to spill out. I've desperately wanted to let go, to just start firing off as much magic as I can, but I haven't because of what happened the last time I did that. When I had that Flare ten years ago, I experienced a sensation like nothing I've ever had before, nor since. Not only was I completely immersed in my own magic, but all the magic around me, as well. I could see the safety wards in the room and all around the castle, the magic being cast by students in the school, and even all the magic out in Canterlot itself. For the briefest of moments I was connected to all the unicorns around me, and when I saw all of that, it was a simple matter to unravel the spell surrounding one little dragon egg. It felt good—no, it felt amazing. In that instant I had access to more magic than I'd ever dreamed, and I wanted it all. I wanted to learn every single spell I saw, and then I wanted to learn every other spell there is, as well. Since then I've dedicated my life to understanding as much about magic as I can, but it's never enough because there’s just so much. Equestria is huge, the world is huger still, and the universe is of a size and scale that's beyond comprehension. We haven't even scratched the surface of how magic works, and all I want is to learn and see as much of it as I can. I know my work will never be finished, but that's comforting in a way, because the saddest day of my life would be the day there's nothing left to learn.\\
'''Blair:''' So why have you been holding back? Your Absorption power will help you achieve more than you could ever dream.\\
'''Twilight Sparkle:''' Because I won't able to stop. Back then, I just wanted to keep having that feeling of immersion and connection with all the magic around me, and I tried to take all of the magic around me into myself. I didn't know what I was doing, and instead of absorbing the magic, I redirected it to the ponies around me. It's a small miracle nopony was hurt, and didn't want to take that chance again. And you want me to return to that. I stood at the edge of a terrible precipice that I was only barely able to turn away from, and you'd have me take a running leap off the edge?! You'd force me to release something I know I won't be able to control because I couldn't even handle it's shadow?! I only have one thing to say to that! Be careful what you wish for!
* In the ''Fanfic/PonyPOVSeriesChaosVerse'', Fluttercruel gives one during the FinalBattle right before [[spoiler: using chaos to fight back against [[BigBad Nightmare Phobia]] and gaining her own cutie mark.]]
* In ''Fanfic/PerfectionIsOverrated'', before the final confrontation with [[BigBad The Usurper]], Nagi and [[ParodySue the remaining SUEs]], the [[Anime/MaiHime Himes]] reject his offer of a perfect world, speaking of how they have overcome their flaws while their opponents did not.
-->'''Yukino:''' All of us were once powerless. We've had to struggle against everyday difficulties, as well as those unique to our own lives, and change and grow stronger to continue on in life, even before we became Himes. With these new powers, we've had to question ourselves, do things we never even thought possible and face odds that were against us even with our powers! But when have things ever been difficult for you or the SUEs before now? Have any of your problems been significant enough that success was not guaranteed? Because you haven't faced adversity, you don't have what it takes to win!\\
'''Midori:''' Getting this far was impossible for us at the beginning, even once we'd awakened our powers. It might sound like I'm ripping off an anime, but we've had to become better fighters, grow as people and survive multiple battles in order to be able to face you, without being handed any of that on a silver platter like you were! If your [=SUEs=] had become stronger, they might have been able to defeat us, but they couldn't grow, and so were defeated because we surpassed them! Our victory will be one we have earned ourselves!\\
'''Nao:''' ''[when the Usurper asks if they wish to keep the world the way it is in spite of its flaws]'' Nothing is perfect! Bad things happen to us in life, some of which happen without reason and some of which are our own faults! This world is, to some degree, the one we deserve! But people can change, and they can improve themselves! They might not ever achieve 'perfection,' but whatever world they make would damn well be better than whatever you come up with if your SUEs are any indication of what you consider perfect!\\
'''[[spoiler:Shiho]]:''' Life doesn't always give you what you want. Sometimes the object of your dreams or the person you desire is beyond your reach no matter how hard you try. Sometimes your goal is impossible before you even begin. But life goes on, and you can find new reasons for living, new goals, new people to cherish, and sometimes you may even find that your old goal was not what you truly wanted! You could never realize any of this if you simply got what you wanted all the time!\\
'''Shizuru:''' Imagination and reality are two separate things. Often, things you'd hoped for don't quite measure up in reality. But sometimes, something or someone defies your expectations and yet is wonderful in its own unique way. An endless fulfillment of all your fantasies would deny you this satisfaction, and render all the times your wishes were granted meaningless!\\
'''Natsuki:''' [[spoiler:I was offered [[LotusEaterMachine such a world]] once. But I realized that it was just that, a reflection of my deepest desires that could not ever become true, and chose to continue to stay in this one]]! If I [[spoiler:rejected a world based on]] my own personal desires, what makes you think I would accept one based on yours? I would never sacrifice the joys and sorrows of my own life to become a mindless slave for your pleasure!\\
'''Mai:''' Each one of us has a person that is special in their own way. We've spent time with them, bonded with them, allowed them to become important to us, and become a part of each other's lives. We can name a few ways in which those people fall short of perfection, but many others in which they've touched our hearts, influenced us, and made us happy. They will never be perfect and I'm not sure how close they are to being as good as they can be, but they're precious to us and they've become irreplaceable parts of our lives. If we were to accept your world, we'd give up all of who we are and who they are, and that's why you must be stopped!
* ''Fanfic/FriendshipIsShowtime'' has [[Series/KamenRiderWizard Haru]] spend several chapters in a HeroicBSOD induced by his SuperpoweredEvilSide [[spoiler:nearly killed Twilight.]] The mane cast finally help him out of it by telling him YouAreNotAlone, [[spoiler:restraining the Dragon Phantom with the Elements and]] allowing him to access [[MidSeasonUpgrade Flame Dragon]] against Phoenix. He proceeds to give a version of the TropeNamer speech as he {{Curbstomp|Battle}}s Phoenix.
-->'''Haru:''' Phoenix – You're strong, and [[BloodKnight you seek to find strong opponents to fill that void of yours.]] Me? I've got a different problem. Ever since I got these powers, I felt like I lived in a world made of cardboard. Taking care not to not break something, break somepony. Never allowing myself to slip to [[EnemyWithin Dragon's]] [[SuperpoweredEvilSide control]], even for a moment otherwise somepony could get hurt. But you can take it, Phoenix. What we have here is a new opportunity for me to cut loose and show you a real SHOWTIME!
* ''Fanfic/JusticeLeagueOfEquestria'': Rainbow Dash/Supermare gives one at the climax of the first arc of ''Mare of Steel'', during her final fight with [[BigBad General Zod]]:
-->'''Zod:''' You could have been more than some costumed fool. You could have been a great leader. You could have been a god! [[EvilCannotComprehendGood Why are you throwing this away for mere weaklings?]]\\
'''Rainbow Dash:''' Because I love them! They raised me from when I was a foal! They showed me all the good that's in this world, and they were by my side throughout my life, encouraging and comforting me as I grew! They never abandoned me, or said I wasn't worth it; not when I failed my first flight exam, not when my father died, not when I fought against Nightmare Moon and Discord, never! They made me the mare I am today, and I am grateful that I have such great ponies surrounding me! And you know what? They accept me for who I am; I don't love them because they see me as a god, I love them because they see me as Rainbow Dash!\\
'''Zod:''' Then you are just as weak as they are!\\
'''Rainbow Dash:''' I'm not weak. I am Supermare! ''[punches Zod]''
* ''WebAnimation/TurnaboutStorm'': After [[Franchise/AceAttorney Phoenix]] finally gets the much needed lead he needed to find a way to the truth behind the mystery, and after a much needed realization regarding [[IdenticalStranger the eerily similar to his mentor]] Sonata, he delivers to himself a short but effective inner speech before stepping back into the courtroom:
-->'''Phoenix:''' I was given one more chance, one more chance to find the truth. It's either sink or swim. [[spoiler:Even if she tries to have me arrested for intrusion]]. I got her on the stand; it doesn't matter anymore. It's time she pays her dues for all she's done... Including the murder...
* A variation where the character giving the speech is not the one who delivers the imminent beatdown: in [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6373544/22/A-Certain-Destined-Introduction A Certain Destined Introduction]], [[Manga/ACertainScientificRailgun Misaka Mikoto]] is feeling alone, hated, and guilty; her power seems like it's useless, she's beginning to think she only ever destroys things, and she's about to give up... and then Kuroko steps up and makes it perfectly clear just who the Railgun is, to the villains and Mikoto herself.
-->'''Kuroko:''' Indeed, she is a criminal. Taking the law into her own hands, reading manga without paying for it, mistreating public vending machines, electrifying people indiscriminately just because they annoy her; even stealing game arcade coins without a second thought. To be honest, she's the picture-perfect law-breaking delinquent. But, so what? She might be a criminal, but you are ten times worse! You trick others into doing your dirty work for you, hurt our students and threaten Hitomi-san with their lives, and spread horrible rumors while hiding behind your status at school -- while you're a coward, Onee-sama is noble and brave, and she helps anyone no matter who they are! ''It doesn't matter what you say!'' The truth is still the truth, ''AND THE TRUTH IS THAT MISAKA MIKOTO-ONEE-SAMA IS A '''TRULY AMAZING HUMAN BEING!'''''
* In the [[WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents Fairly Oddparents]] fanfic, ''[[Fanfic/NeverHadAFriendLikeMe Never Had a Friend Like Me]]'', [[JerkassGenie Norm]] is still mostly a sarcastic individual, but vaguely nicer since meeting his newest master. After he [[spoiler: saves Timmy, [[OriginalCharacter Amanda]], and Cosmo, Wanda, and Poof from the Pixies and Anti-Fairies, he banishes them, except for HP and Anti-Cosmo, whom he restrains, and delivers an awesome speech to them, detailing how being a genie grants him powers beyond comprehension, and how after performing wishes for all kinds of masters has removed any restraint he would otherwise have. The two can only quiver in fear.]]
-->'''Norm:''' That's an understatement. Maybe you and your buddies are starting to think your little magic tricks make you invincible. Maybe you think you're actually powerful enough to withstand any obstacle. I think you're just a bunch of idiots who've forgotten exactly who you're dealing with. There is a reason why genies spend most of the time [[GenieInABottle locked up]]. We're famous for being tricky to deal with, but that because you don't want to deal with us when [[LetsGetDangerous we're done playing around]]. We have no rules or real limitations on what wish we can grant. Do you have any idea what that means? Anything we want to do is possible as long as someone wishes for it. Da Rules, [[ChaoticEvil bad luck]], and [[LawfulEvil trying to achieve perfect order]] limits what you can do. Not a genie. And we have the raw magic power to back up that sort of limitless potential. I want you to imagine for a moment exactly what that means about the kind of wishes I've dealt with in the past. Not every master I've had was a saint. I've dealt with thieves, warriors, spies, murderers, psychopaths, and politicians. I've heard every warped idea they've ever considered to the point where I find any wish practically predictable. Even with the amount of twisting I can do to a wish, I have to grant some rather distasteful desires at times. I can honestly say that I've granted some wishes that would give you nightmares. Me and morality parted ways a long time ago. I need you to consider what this all means for you. I need you to consider exactly what it truly means when you've manage to make a genie, someone with enough magic to make you look like a second-rate stage magician and a history of granting wishes regardless of how unthinkable they might be ethically, completely furious with you. ''
* ''{{Fanfic/Anthropology}}'': [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Lyra]] and her [[spoiler: human]] friends have put on the Elements of Harmony in an attempt to stop Discord from wiping out humanity. [[spoiler: When Discord corners them, Lyra and her friends find themselves at a loose end, while he gloats and claim that humanity is just begging for the end to come. Lyra starts talking about how when she first came to Earth, Lyra was lost and didn't know what she was doing, thanks to the friends she's made, and all the help they gave her, she not only knows she can be a human, but she as well as the rest of humanity can accomplish anything. The Elements thought it was awesome speech, because they activated and defeated Discord.]]
-->'''Lyra:''' [[spoiler:I'd only just gotten here when I met Audrey, and she was my first friend. She let me stay with her. Without her kindness, I would have been lost in this world. And then I met Nathan, and he gave me something -- just a guitar, but it meant so much. I finally found what I was meant to do as a human. It's one of the most generous gifts I've ever gotten. And Randall welcomed me into his band. I got to perform music with real humans. And he even helped me find my parents. Even now... He's always shown some real loyalty. Even if he thought I was crazy. Out of all the weird new things I experienced in the human world, that airplane was the strangest... But I wasn't afraid, because you (Paul) shared your laughter with me. You helped me overcome one of the hardest challenges of all, Monica. All this time I'd been lying to everyone. But you... You convinced me that I had to be honest. To my family. To all of you. To myself. And I'm so much happier now that everyone knows the truth about me. Of course we can. Magic has nothing to do with this... The important thing is that I realized that all these humans were the best friends I'd ever had, and that I belonged here in this world with them. I thought I'd never be a normal human, but thanks to them... I know that we can accomplish anything. ''[the Elements activate]'']]
* [[http://www.reddit.com/r/AskScienceFiction/comments/1zae6m/star_trek_why_do_you_resist_us/cfrx8uu This]] post from [=r/AskScienceFiction=] answers the question "Why do you resist us?" with a literal PatrickStewartSpeech about how the Borg's self-proclaimed "perfection" is a fallacy.
* In ''Fanfic/OriginStory'', it is Alex's acceptance of the fact that she's not merely a physical copy of ComicBook/PowerGirl, not merely the memories of [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Xander Harris]], but a person in her own right made from many, many parts that allows her to stop running and be the hero she was always meant to be.
* In ''[[Fanfic/TheInstituteSaga The Institute Saga 3]]'', Superman gives one just before he and Apocalypse start fighting.
* In the original version of the ''[[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/253045/i-am-going-to-save-and-or-destroy-equestria I Am Going to Save and/or Destroy Equestria!]]'' chapter "Today I Reach For The Stars" (before the author changed the outcome to him winning due to superior tactics and a power-up due to negative comments complaining he had become a GodModeSue), while battling Crunch the Rock Hound and Squirk the Sea Fiend, Ambrose has an epiphany that all this time, he had been limiting his magic by the laws of physics and causality. In Equestria, magic is only limited by your imagination and willpower. Thanks to this, he is able to perform feats nopony had ever believed possible, curb-stomp the two, and even briefly control almost all of reality, even the sun and moon.
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10092339/1/Ranma-Saotome-Chi-Master Ranma Saotome, Chi Master]]'', Qiáng Wang decides to lure Ranma into a confrontation, thinking has a good idea of the young martial artist's skills. But Ranma explains that the whole reason he was fighting in Kowloon Walled City was because his Guru wanted to teach him restraint, and he's kept himself at that level out of habit. But since he's fighting relatively tough opponents, and doesn't have to worry about his surroundings, he won't hold back.
* ''Fanfic/EscapeFromTheMoon'': In the sequel ''The Mare From the Moon'', one happens in chapter 15. Unusually, it's a character doing this on behalf of somepony else:
-->'''Twilight Sparkle:''' I... asked her about that, after Starlight told me about the whole thing. She compared it to something from one of Spike's comics, actually. That most of the time, she feels like she lives in a world of cardboard, and that she always has to hold back to keep from breaking everything around her. Daybreaker is what happens when she doesn't ''care'' enough to hold back anymore, to let loose with everything she has without worrying about the consequences. And that's something that she'd only use as an absolute last resort.”
* ''Fanfic/TriptychContinuum'':
--> Spike had been taught to be careful: scales were rougher than flesh, claws more edged than hooves. To realize that every moment spent among ponies was an instant where he could cause harm without meaning to, and so he never did.
--> His family was under attack, and nictitating membranes flickered across his eyes as he swiped to draw blood.
[[/folder]]

* In ''only chapter 6'' of ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders'', Jotaro is on the losing end of his battle against Kakyoin, but keeps getting back up in spite of being heavily wounded. He then gives a speech about [[ThisIsUnforgivable his motivations to fight]], and the difference between [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold him]] and his [[BrainwashedAndCrazy opponent]]. This promptly turns the fight around, leaving Kakyoin almost dead in the end.

'''Jotaro:''' ...[[GoodIsNotNice Look, no one ever said Jotaro Kujo was a nice guy.]] I beat the crap out of people more than I have to. Some are even still in the hospital. I've had idiot teachers who like to talk big, so I taught them a lesson, and they never came back to class. If I go to a restaurant and the food's terrible, I make it a policy to stiff 'em with the bill. But even a bastard like me can spot true evil when he sees it! True evil are those who use the weak for their own gain and crush them underfoot when they're through! Especially an innocent woman! And that is exactly what you've done, isn't it?! And your [[PsychicPowers Stand]] gets to hide from the victim, the law, and the consequences! That's why... I WILL JUDGE YOU MYSELF!!!

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

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

A fundamental part of telling a story is conflict: you want the hero to have their problems and, hopefully, overcome them in a satisfactory manner. In many cases that conflict is entirely external; the BigBad is plotting to TakeOverTheWorld or otherwise spill the blood of the innocent and TheHero is out to stop them. But there is also that conflict which is emotional; it exists in their mind and usually forms a mental block that they cannot break through.

A "World of Cardboard" speech is where the hero acknowledges that this mental block has been limiting them. And because of a recent personal revelation about themselves and/or their situation, they have found a way to excel past their previous limits. This trope is heavily dependent on the context of the story and the life of the character. Despite the room [[Administrivia/TropesAreFlexible for variation]], each speech has to follow the same pattern to be a world of cardboard speech: the hero is having trouble from an emotional/psychological viewpoint, the hero has a powerful revelation, and then they give the speech.

In effect, this is a EurekaMoment that leads to a HeroicResolve. The speech itself can vary depending on the revelation, but the crux of this trope revolves around the epiphany that the speech giver still has the power to effectively oppose their foe. Universal to all of these speeches is that realization and being subsequently empowered because of it. What happens after the speech is usually a case of TheGlovesComeOff.

* The hero says IAmWhatIAm, realizing that he or she doesn't have to be ashamed. It's especially common as a retort against the villain using a HannibalLecture or TheReasonYouSuckSpeech.
* A reveal to his allies (or the audience) in TheSummation at the end of the story, possibly even after the BigBad has been defeated. The hero explains the revelation long after the fact.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech against the villain. In this case, the hero has a renewing of confidence ''because'' he realizes how pathetic the villain is. This may overlap with a KirkSummation.

* The hero DoesNotKnowHisOwnStrength (or, perhaps, [[AfraidOfTheirOwnStrength is all too aware of it]]), but realizes that ''now'', in this place and circumstance, [[GodzillaThreshold he shouldn't hold back]]. This is the context of the {{Trope Namer|s}} speech.
* In a ComingOfAge story, the hero accepts TheCall, rejecting immaturity, irresponsibility, and in effect, childhood. Where once they [[RefusalOfTheCall Refused The Call]], they now accept their place as TheChosenOne, possibly even receiving a SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome.
* A loner and/or DeathSeeker, finding something WorthLivingFor. Inversely, a Hero who has everything to live for and sees no point in putting their good fortune on the line, finds something worth [[HeroicSacrifice sacrificing themselves for]] or [[NeutralNoLonger veering from their undecided allegiance]].

You can expect a [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMoments Moment of Awesome]] if the villain attempts [[BreakThemByTalking Breaking Them By Talking]] and the hero responds with a "World of Cardboard" Speech. The villain may respond with "ThisIsGonnaSuck."

** The same applies (though not nearly to the same extent) to wizards in general. The average wizard has so much protection from magical attack that trying to kill them magically would be like trying to kill a fish by holding it under water. Unfortunately for the rest of the non-magical world, in the days when wizards didn't spend their days confined within Universities generally being lazy, they ''would'' use magic to battle one another, and it nearly tore the Discworld apart. Especially under Ridcully's administration, people outside the University are frequently reminded that the "rule" that forbids wizards from using magic on non-wizards in anything but self-defense is just a self-imposed guideline. With special emphasis on the ''self''-imposed.