Line #165 Main/Hypocrite


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9	[[quoteright:294:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nosigns_9146.jpg]]
10	[[caption-width-right:294:You mean besides this one?]]
11
12	->''"Hypocrisy is the tribute that vice pays to virtue."''
13	-->-- '''Creator/LaRochefoucauld'''
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15	%% One quote per page -- see Administrivia/TipsWorksheet. Please use the quotes page.
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17
18	People -- particularly those with authority, be it moral or political -- are expected to act in accordance with the ideals they espouse. [[SesquipedalianLoquaciousness That is to say]], they should practice what they preach.
19
20	Those who don't are hypocrites. The dichotomy here is that they may fervently and honestly believe what they say is right and good... they just don't have the moral strength or willpower to consistently live up to their own high standards. (Unless, of course, they're [[StrawHypocrite outright liars]] with no intention of living up to said standards.) They might believe that UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans and that [[NoPlaceForMeThere they aren't worthy of it]] — or that only they can be entrusted to use those means because they're so enlightened (ie. better than everyone else). Maybe they're [[BelievingTheirOwnLies deeply in denial]] or have a ''severe'' lack of self-awareness, and justify their hypocrisy as either necessary or dismiss it with a simple, "That's different." In other cases, they might find the lure of ForbiddenFruit impossible to resist. Or maybe they [[ItsAllAboutMe think the rules should only apply to others]].
21
22	Frequently, they will be found out, be it in an EngineeredPublicConfession or through investigation. TheHero may have the choice of either exposing them as a fraud and discrediting them before their followers, or keeping their secret and blackmailing them into cleaning up their act or helping in another matter. How this turns out depends on how sympathetic or "{{Jerkass}}-ic" they are, and how humanizing their "vice" is, whether it be a diet guru eating donuts (probably OK), an eco-businessman clear-cutting forests (probably not OK) or a [[MoralGuardians moral crusader]] outright [[PaedoHunt molesting children]] ([[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil most certainly not OK]]). If a villain finds a friend of the hero's FatalFlaw this way (or worse, the hero's own), they might use FlawExploitation to torment and control them.
23
24	If found out and/or exposed, the hypocrite will have the chance to mend their ways and do a HeelFaceTurn in one of two forms: either loosen their standards (and cut everyone else the same slack they give themselves), or tighten their belt (and actually live up to their espoused ideals). Failure to do either is usually enough for either a mental breakdown ({{heroic\|BSOD}} or {{villainous\|Breakdown}}, depending on the character) or a full-on FaceHeelTurn as they [[StrawHypocrite reject their morality and embrace their vice]]. Alternatively, because they are feigning what they claim to be, they may find they are BecomingTheMask.
25
26	Heroes are often accused of hypocrisy by villains who want to believe they're not that different and brag AtLeastIAdmitIt. Heroes who actually ''are'' hypocrites tend to hear "WhatTheHellHero" quite a lot. ([[DesignatedHero Unless they don't.]]) Hypocrites, be they heroes or villains, often find themselves hated by the audience ([[HateSink intentionally]] or [[TheScrappy not]]) even more than the CardCarryingVillain, chiefly because they ''lied'' about their convictions, while [[AtLeastIAdmitIt those evil villains come off as being pretty honest in what they do]]. This is usually because of the HolierThanThou implications that someone who publicly preaches about good things is [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtue_signalling signaling to other people that they are a good person]] (or are at least better than some others), and people feel cheated when that does not end up being the case; TreacheryIsASpecialKindOfEvil, after all, and a Hypocrite's actions betray their words, preaching, and supposedly good proposals. Remember also, however, that the HypocriteHasAPoint; just because someone is being hypocritical does not also mean that they are wrong.
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28	An EntitledBastard is often guilty of hypocrisy; because of their [[ItsAllAboutMe inflated sense of self-importance]], they genuinely believe that they are deserving of gratitude, respect, love, etc. from others, even if they treat others with no such dignity (which is often the case). They will disregard the rights of others without shame, yet be genuinely offended at how "unfair" it is for those same people to not like them.
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30	However, like mentioned above, it's possible to be hypocritical and a good person at the same time, whether that would be a JerkWithAHeartOfGold, or a full-blown NiceGuy, and it depends on how severe the hypocrisy is (and the hypocrite's level of self-awareness). This in return, is what makes hypocrisy mainly considered to be a minor form of jerkassery by default.
31
32	It depends on whether this is intentional or not. One writer would do this intentionally so the character would go through a JerkassRealization. HypocriticalHumor is a minor degree of this, when PlayedForLaughs. Another writer may make a character or do something but then forgot about it later on, then making them do things that contrast with earlier claims. It usually takes fans or other writers to point them out, and it’s up to the writer to fix it or leave it like that.
33
34	'''Hypocrite is NOT a YMMV trope. Please don't add it to YMMV pages. A character is a Hypocrite [[Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease in-universe]] or isn't one at all.'''
35
36	The word "Hypocrisy" redirects to this page. For the Swedish MelodicDeathMetal band, see Music/{{Hypocrisy}}.
37
38	[[noreallife]]
39	----
40	!!Examples:
41	[[index]]
42	* Hypocrite/AnimeAndManga
43	** ''Hypocrite/DragonBall''
44	** ''Hypocrite/{{Naruto}}''
45	** ''Hypocrite/OnePiece''
46	** ''Hypocrite/{{Pokemon}}''
47	** ''Hypocrite/SailorMoon''
48	* Hypocrite/ComicBooks
49	** ''Hypocrite/TheDCU''
50	** ''Hypocrite/MarvelUniverse''
51	* Hypocrite/FanWorks
52	* [[Hypocrite/{{Film}} Films]]
53	** [[Hypocrite/AnimatedFilms Films — Animated]]
54	** [[Hypocrite/LiveActionFilms Films — Live-Action]]
55	* Hypocrite/{{Literature}}
56	** ''Hypocrite/HarryPotter''
57	** ''Hypocrite/ASongOfIceAndFire''
58	** ''Hypocrite/WarriorCats''
59	* Hypocrite/LiveActionTV
60	* Hypocrite/VideoGames
61	* Hypocrite/{{Webcomics}}
62	* Hypocrite/WebOriginal
63	** ''Hypocrite/SuperMarioLogan''
64	* Hypocrite/WesternAnimation
65	** ''Hypocrite/FamilyGuy''
66	** ''Hypocrite/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''
67	** ''Hypocrite/TheSimpsons''
68	** ''Hypocrite/TotalDrama''
69	* Hypocrite/OtherMedia
70	[[/index]]
71	----
72	!!Sub-tropes:
73	[[index]]
74	* AnimalWrongsGroup: Animal rights activists who are portrayed in a negative light, with hypocrisy frequently demonstrated by having them resort to causing harm to other people to end cruelty towards animals. Some may even be guilty of actions that endanger animals themselves.
75	* ApeShallNeverKillApe: A group of people who won't act maliciously towards each other, but will be malicious towards everyone else.
76	* ArbitrarySkepticism: Characters who deal with the strange and bizarre on a regular basis are skeptical when they run into something strange and bizarre.
77	* ArmouredClosetGay: A gay person who hates homosexuality.
78	* BegTheDog: Someone beg the ones who they usually bully and expect kindness from those they usually torment and/or completely apathetic to their problems.
79	* BigotryException: Someone who feels prejudiced against a whole group of people just arbitrarily decides that ''one'' of them is actually decent.
80	* BigotWithACrush: Someone feels romantic and/or sexual attraction to a member of a group of people whom they are normally disgusted by.
81	* BitchInSheepsClothing: Someone acts nice towards others, but is actually a big bully or a [[ItsAllAboutMe selfish]] criminal.
82	* BoomerangBigot: Someone feels hatred or contempt for a group of people that they belong to.
83	* BrokenAesop: When a story itself doesn't mesh with the ideals it promotes.
84	* ButNotTooChallenging: A character claims to desire to be challenged, but doesn't take the idea of losing well.
85	* CheaterGetsCheatedOn: Cheaters don't take it well when someone cheats on ''them''.
86	* ChurchgoingVillain: Criminals who openly live a very sinful lifestyle, but they can easily be forgiven by praying to God regularly, [[SarcasmMode right]]?
87	* ComplainingAboutComplaining: A character complains about another character complaining.
88	* CorruptChurch: Priests and ministers who command their worshipers to live a righteous, sacred lifestyle while they themselves do the exact opposite.
89	* CorruptPolitician: A government official who hides behind their political ideology as an excuse for selfishly unethical goals.
90	* CrocodileTears: A character manipulates others by pretending to cry, which is frequently a tactic used by people [[PlayingTheVictimCard wanting to look like they're the injured party]].
91	* DevilInPlainSight: When someone who is ObviouslyEvil isn't seen as such by a general populace that is surrounded by other evils who are obvious, but only a minority can see it.
92	* TheDictatorship: A government that wants to hold absolute power over everyone will unsurprisingly stop at nothing to keep anyone from holding even a sliver of power ''against'' them.
93	* DirtyCop: A policeman is supposed to enforce and uphold the law, but instead they break it like any other criminal.
94	* DisobeyThisMessage: "Pushing individualism" [[HeWhoFightsMonsters by forming]] [[TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized yet another collectivist group]].
95	* DontBeRidiculous: A character dismisses another character's beliefs or observations as being absurd, before giving a correction that's just as (or even more) ludicrous than the other person's statement.
96	* DoubleStandard: For when one person or group would get a free pass of something that another person or group would be completely ridiculed or punished for doing (and vice-versa).
97	* {{Doublethink}}: AKA cognitive dissonance; when one believes in two mutually exclusive ideas at the same time.
98	* DoUntoOthersBeforeTheyDoUntoUs: One side thinks it's only a matter of time before the other side pulls the trigger... so they pull it first themselves.
99	* EntitledBastard: Someone with an [[ItsAllAboutMe inflated ego]] believes that they deserve exclusive treatment and rights, even from the very people they treat poorly.
100	* EvenEvilHasStandards: While this trope is not necessarily about hypocrisy, it can end up becoming an example of such if a villainous character expresses disgust at some sort of evil misdeeds that they have already committed in some other form.
101	* FalseProphet: Someone claiming to be a messianic figure is actually deceiving their followers.
102	* FauxAffablyEvil: A person pretends to be polite and charming individual who cares for others as people for selfless motives, but in reality is a self-serving and rude ControlFreak who sees them as pawns and is willing to kill people remorselessly.
103	* FavouritismFlipFlop: Changing your opinion of an idea depending on who proposed it (e.g. hating a suggestion by the intern but loving it when hearing it from the boss).
104	* FemaleMisogynist: A woman who dislikes women.
105	* FirefighterArsonist: Firefighters usually aren't supposed to be the ones starting the fire outside of controlled burning.
106	* FullCircleRevolution: A revolution that ends up with the status quo it fought against.
107	* GirlbossFeminist: A female character, usually a HighPoweredCareerWoman, and often TokenGirl, who uses the language of feminism, but doesn't live up to it in practice.
108	* HaplessSelfHelp: A person who preaches about how to help oneself, but doesn't practice it.
109	* HeWhoFightsMonsters: In cases where a character becomes increasingly more like those they fight against while claiming that they still have the moral high ground. See also KnightTemplar.
110	* HidingBehindReligion: When a character uses their faith to mask hypocrisy. Very often a [[TheFundamentalist fanatical zealot]] who doesn't even live up to most of what they believe in.
111	* TheHorseshoeEffect: The extremists on one side aren't that different from the extremists on the other side.
112	* HypocrisyNod: Acknowledging one's own hypocrisy in a self-aware way.
113	* HypocriteHasAPoint: Someone manages to provide valid points on a subject in spite of their hypocrisy.
114	* HypocriticalHeartwarming: Protecting someone from abuse because only ''you'' have the right to abuse them.
115	* HypocriticalHumor: Hypocrisy being PlayedForLaughs.
116	* HypocriticalSinging: Hypocrisy in the form of song.
117	* ImmediateSelfContradiction: Saying something, then saying or doing something clearly contradictory to it.
118	* InternalizedCategorism: A person believes that being part of a group that's discriminated against makes them guilty of the negative stereotypes associated with that group.
119	* IResembleThatRemark: Objecting to an insult in a way that only proves that the accusation is true.
120	* KnightTemplar: A person who firmly believes their own cause to be just and righteous, even when it isn't.
121	* MajoredInWesternHypocrisy: A foreigner who claims to hate Western culture, but privately gains or has gained great benefits or enjoyment from some parts of it.
122	* MisanthropeSupreme: A human who hates the human species. Double points if they see themselves as an exception.
123	* MonsterProtectionRacket: The character who heroically neutralizes a threat is the one who set it up in the first place.
124	* MoralMyopia: When you do bad things to someone, it's justified. When they do the same to you, it's an atrocity.
125	* MyCountryRightOrWrong: Fighting for and supporting one's country while disliking its actions.
126	* MyGirlIsNotASlut: If a man has a lot of sex, he's a badass. If a woman has a lot of sex, she's a dirty whore.
127	* NeverMyFault: A person who blames things on other people... who for added effect may be among the afflicted.
128	* NotLikeOtherGirls: Complimenting a girl or woman by contrasting her against the rest of her gender.
129	* NoTrueScotsman: One makes a general statement, someone calls that person out on it with a counterexample, then that person [[MovingTheGoalposts redefines their original statement]] such that, by definition, the counterexample no longer counts.
130	* NotSoAboveItAll: Believing that you are the {{Only Sane\|Man}} StraightMan and that you are SurroundedByIdiots; yet sharing some of those traits of the ''idiots'' you criticize, and/or when pushed you actually join them. This trope isn't a case of hypocrisy if the character is really generally normal and doesn't claim to be superior.
131	* NotSoDifferentRemark: A character remarks on [[{{Foil}} their similarity]] with their enemy.
132	* NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist: A person claims that their extreme actions are in the service of righting wrongs, when in reality [[StrawHypocrite they're just doing it for completely self-serving reasons]].
133	* ParentalHypocrisy: When parents chastise their children for doing the same things that they themselves did at their age or still do to this day.
134	* PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny: When the dictator of an autocratic country pretends to be running a democratic government.
135	* PlayingTheVictimCard: Bemoaning one's miserable lot while conveniently overlooking many, many wrongdoings one has committed.
136	* ProtagonistCenteredMorality: Whatever the protagonist does is morally justified and/or anything that harms the protagonist is morally wrong.
137	* ProtectionRacket: The group demanding money for "protection against threats" is in fact the only threat around.
138	* PsychologicalProjection: Most (though not all) cases of this trope are a character denying having a problem, and accusing others of having the problem instead.
139	* RejectionProjection: A character accuses someone of rejecting them when in fact it's the other way around.
140	* RevengeMyopia: A person taking {{revenge}} for something that they or their peers started.
141	* RewardedAsATraitorDeserves: A villain will punish someone who betrayed a third party for their benefit, even though they accepted the traitor's help in the first place, and by punishing the traitor, betrayed ''them.''
142	* SecretlySelfish: When a character pretends to be altruistic but really only thinks about himself.
143	* SelectiveEnforcement: Law enforcement will ignore someone doing something major but will punish someone doing something minor.
144	* SelectiveObliviousness: When a character refuses to comprehend a particular fact that could harm their hypocritical filter if that is the reason.
145	* SexIsEvilAndIAmHorny: A character who thinks SexIsEvil and who believes that anyone he sexually desires is to blame for having seduced him.
146	* SomeOfMyBestFriendsAreX: Claiming to have friends from a certain group, and then make offensive comments about their group when they're not around.
147	* StartXToStopX: To fulfill some goal, the character does its exact opposite.
148	* StrawFeminist: A common stereotype when it comes to negative portrayals of feminism is to have them preach about gender equality while demonizing all men as being misogynist jerks who deserve to be treated like trash. Another is to contradict their stated goal of standing up for women's rights by attacking women they see as the enemy for having viewpoints or making decisions they don't approve of.
149	* StrawHypocrite: Not only does this person not even bother to practice what they preach, they only ''pretend'' to believe or care about what they say as a cover for their actions.
150	* SuchAPhony: You talk smack about someone you don't like behind their back, but act nice when they're around.
151	* TautologicalTemplar: Somebody who believes that they are good, and that makes everything they do good by default.
152	* ThinkOfTheChildren: A MoralGuardian who selfishly [[MediaWatchdog blames media]] for being a poor parent rather than their own mistakes.
153	* TwoFacedAside: When a character says one thing to Person A, but then immediately expresses the opposite sentiment to Person B in an aside.
154	* VillainousParentalInstinct: A person will hurt children, but not their own.
155	* VillainsWantMercy: Villain shows NoSympathy to others but expect it from others (usually their own victims).
156	* WellIntentionedExtremist: A character that has idealistic goals, yet uses cynical methods to achieve it, which would normally be against that mindset. Especially if [[HeWhoFightsMonsters they start devolving into committing]] [[BecameTheirOwnAntithesis the same kinds of injustices they hate]].
157	* WhyDidYouMakeMeHitYou: Burdening your victim with responsibility for your own abusive behaviour.
158	* YouAreACreditToYourRace: Complimenting a member of a given group in a backhanded way that tends to imply prejudice against that group on a more general level.
159	* YouAreWhatYouHate: People hating others for the same traits they themselves have or what they would eventually have.
160	* YouHateWhatYouAre: An index of tropes where characters hate what they are.
161	[[/index]]
162	----
163	->The horns hold up the halo.

Context Main / Hypocrite