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1->''"Hear me, my Chiefs! I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the Sun now stands, I will fight no more forever."''
2-->-- '''Chief Joseph''' of the Nez Perce, surrendering.
3
4Bob, possibly a FallenHero or [[TheAtoner Atoner,]] refuses to fight any longer. He decides he would rather become an ActualPacifist or TechnicalPacifist, or retreat from the world altogether.
5
6The reasons for this vary. Perhaps Bob now has (or [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone gave someone]]) a dead relative, or maybe they just think TheQuest has come to an end (though their opponents probably would [[CycleOfRevenge beg to differ.]]) They may have simply [[MoralityChain met the one person who could convince him that murder is not always the answer]]. It could be a simple case of being beaten so badly and so often that they just [[DespairEventHorizon give up completely]].
7
8Frequently, this becomes a TenMinuteRetirement, and Bob's once again forced to draw his sword and kill again. Related to KnowWhenToFoldEm. Compare {{Cincinnatus}}.
9
10When they don't give up long past where it's insane to continue, that's IWillFightSomeMoreForever. For the opposite, where a pacifist gets to an event in their life where they are forced or decide to finally rely on violence, see PacifismBreakingPoint.
11
12----
13!!Examples:
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15[[foldercontrol]]
16
17[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
18* ''Anime/AfroSamurai'' in "Resurrection". After finishing his quest in the first movie, he is no longer the killer he once was, turning to carving statues of all those he killed. Unfortunately for him, the new BigBad still has a bone to pick.
19* ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'': Kenshin Himura [[spoiler:after he accidentally killed his wife Tomoe.]] Though in his case, he swore off killing, not fighting or even swordsmanship. He got himself a custom-made reverse-blade katana so that he could use his sword to rescue people from their oppressors and attackers, but never again kill.
20* Train from ''Manga/BlackCat'', after he met Saya and got tired of being Chronos' cat (i.e., servant).
21* Mewtwo from ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'', after the events of ''Anime/PokemonTheFirstMovie'', swears to not fight anymore and instead seek a safe haven away from humans that try to exploit his power. This proves to be problematic when [[BigBad Giovanni]] manages to locate him in ''Anime/PokemonMewtwoReturns''.
22* Shinji in ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion''. ''Three times''.
23* ''Franchise/DragonBall'':
24** ''Anime/DragonBallZ'': At the end of the Cell arc, Vegeta has the AntagonistInMourning version. With Goku dead and no chance of ever settling their score, Vegeta is so crushed he flies away vowing to never fight again. Until the story skips seven years later to reveal that he ''kept training the whole time'' and becomes extremely fixated on having one last fight with Goku (who has been allowed to return to Earth for one day).
25** Played straighter in the movie ''[[Anime/DragonBallZBojackUnbound Bojack Unbound]]'' (set within said timeskip) which explicitly shows Vegeta lazing about in bed while everyone else is fighting. At least, [[TenMinuteRetirement until he realizes that Trunks is in legitimate danger...]]
26* In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing'''s GrandFinale ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWingEndlessWaltz Endless Waltz]]'', [[HitmanWithAHeart Heero Yuy]] is prepared to kill Mariemaia, having previously been tasked with assassinating her, but in the moment as a MercyKill since Dekim Barton shot her critically. Afterward, his final line:
27-->'''Heero Yuy:''' I've killed Mariemaia. I will never kill anyone ever again. I...I don't have to anymore.
28* ''Manga/VinlandSaga'': Thorfinn goes from a RoaringRampageOfRevenge in the ProlongedPrologue to this in the "Farmland Saga" arc, before finally maturing into a MartialPacifist willing to fight (but not kill) as a last resort.
29* ''Literature/FateZero'': In the ending, [[spoiler:Kiritsugu realizes that he'll never be able to save the world by continuing to kill people, and has in fact caused more harm than good. He retires from his life as an ideal-obsessed assassin, and focuses on raising Shirou.]]
30[[/folder]]
31
32[[folder:Comic Books]]
33* The ComicBook/NewGods story "The Pact" has a pretty awesome example. Izaya, the leader of the New Gods of New Genesis, renounces the ways of war after figuring out that the entire war was ComicBook/{{Darkseid}}'s gambit to remove the obstacles in his rise to power.
34-->'''Izaya:''' I tear off my armor!! I reject this war-staff as a weapon!! I reject the way of war!! Darkseid's game is not mine! Where is Izaya!!!? Where is Izaya!!? IZAAYAA!
35* In ''ComicBook/TheTransformersIDW'' #125, [[spoiler:Optimus Prime gives up the Matrix and the responsibilities of being the leader of an army so he can be Orion Pax again.]]
36** ''The Transformers: Headmasters #1'' has Fortress Maximus, one of the Autobots' most powerful warriors and leaders, is sick of the war and resigns from the fighting to [[TemptingFate try find a new, quiet planet to settle where he won't have to fight at all]].
37-->'''Fortress Maximus:''' Whether I am a hero or a coward is not the issue! I am weary! My joints creak from the corrosion of war without end! I... cannot break this ring of hate that surrounds us all -- but I can remove myself from it. No matter what you decide... I am leaving.
38* In Marvel's ComicBook/AgeOfApocalypse, the Juggernaut has become a pacifist monk and stands watch at the hidden sanctuary Avalon. When the sanctuary is attacked, Nightcrawler [[WhatTheHellHero loses his shit at Brother Cain for refusing to fight back as people die around him]]. The desire to kill surfaces in Brother Cain and clashes with his desire for peace, and he winds up having an aneurysm.
39[[/folder]]
40
41[[folder:Fan Works]]
42* In the backstory of ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12201158/2/Darwin Darwin]]'', Marianne Vi Britannia fought against Britannia declaring war with the E.U., citing that after all the fighting to put Charles on the throne, she'd seen enough bloodshed for a lifetime.
43[[/folder]]
44
45[[folder:Film]]
46* Jules from ''Film/PulpFiction''- The end of the movie (and if you listen closely, the beginning)[[spoiler: has him wanting to retire from killing]] and [[WalkingTheEarth walk the earth]], [[spoiler:and in fact, refusing to kill "Honey-Bunny" and "Pumpkin" who just held up the diner he's in, though that would have been the easier option. ]]
47* Death himself from ''Film/DeathTakesAHoliday''. He falls in love and gets preoccupied so he no longer wants to perform his duties.
48* The knife-wielding "Butcher" Brown in ''Film/TheGunsOfNavarone''. It ends badly for him.
49* Franchise/{{Rambo}} in the [[Film/RamboIV self-titled film]] qualifies for this... at the beginning anyway!
50* ''Film/HotShotsPartDeux''
51** Before the movie starts Topper Harley has resigned from the military and joined a monastery. Where he engages in martial arts contests. Okaaaay...
52** Harbinger gives up killing, but Topper Harley teaches him the joy of slaughter once again. TenMinuteRetirement again.
53* Roy Batty the killer robot in ''Film/BladeRunner'' elects to give a TannhauserGate speech instead.
54* In ''Film/DannyTheDog'', Danny chooses not to kill his opponent, and yells "No more killing!" to the man holding the forced gladatorial combat, who replies "I'm the only one that calls "'no more killing.'"
55* Quirt Evans (John Wayne) tells the marshal (Harry Carey) that he is no longer a gunslinger, but a farmer, in ''Angel and the Badman''.
56* Notorious gunslinger/town marshal Clay Blaisedell (Henry Fonda) tosses his two gold-handled revolvers in the dirt before riding out of town in ''Warlock'' (1959).
57* At the end of ''Film/TheOutlawJoseyWales'', Wales and his nemesis look one another in the eye, and agree to accept that the war is finally over.
58* BA has a TenMinuteRetirement of this sort in ''File/TheATeam'' movie.
59* ''I Will Fight No More Forever'', of course, which is the story of Chief Joseph.
60* In the ''Franchise/StarWars'' films, this is the standard Jedi retirement package. [[Film/ANewHope Obi-Wan]], [[Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack Yoda]], and even [[Film/TheLastJedi Luke]] all respond to tragedy by retreating to some remote planet and hanging up their lightsabers for good (until it's time to train [[MentorOccupationalHazard one last student]]).
61* Parodied in ''Film/HerculesReturns''
62-->'''Delilah:''' You gave me your word that you would never to fight again after that man was killed.
63-->'''Samson:''' Bit unfair bringing that up. [[FemmeFatale You stabbed him]].
64* ''Film/TheKingsMan'': Orlando swore to never fight again after his HeelRealization in Afghanistan, instead joining the Red Cross and bringing humanitarian aid to those in need.
65-->''"When I was young, like you, I wanted to serve my country. But soon I began to question what right we had to take the land, riches, and the lives of people who were only defending their homeland. Every man I killed, I killed a piece of myself. Maybe having a feather would have been better. So, the next day, I put down my rifle and I picked up a stretcher. I should’ve been given the Cross for saving lives, not taking them."''
66[[/folder]]
67
68[[folder:Literature]]
69* Subverted by Creator/RudyardKipling in ''Literature/TheSecondJungleBook''. In "The King's Ankus" Mowgli refuses to kill a treacherous cobra, claiming that he will never kill again save for food. Soon afterward in "Red Dog" the dogs of the title threaten Mowgli's wolfpack and he has no choice but to fight to defend it.
70* In ''Literature/TheNightAngelTrilogy'', Kylar the assassin tries to retire at the start of the second book - motivated in good part by his love interest not liking what he does. Both the goodies and the baddies are fairly insistent that he can't just walk away, though, and he does indeed return (although not by any means happily). His love interest eventually decides that it is indeed something that he has to do.
71* In ''Literature/MosesManOfTheMountain'', Moses, a military genius in his youth, vows to never fight again after murdering an Egyptian overseer and fleeing Egypt.
72* In ''Literature/TheChildrenOfHurin'', Túrin promises his wife Níniel he will never fight again unless it is in defense of their home, after spending his entire life looking for a fight. Unfortunately, YouCantFightFate.
73* In ''Literature/WarriorCats'', Mudfur loses his taste for battle and decides to become a medicine cat after his mate and all but one of his kits die the day they are born. He announces it after representing [=RiverClan=] in a CombatByChampion fight (and winning).
74[[/folder]]
75
76[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
77* Commander "Doggie" Kruger is this in ''Series/PowerRangersSPD'', following the loss of his planet and his people at the hands of [[BigBad Emperor Gruumm]]. The two-parter "Shadow" has him changing his mind, [[HelpingWouldBeKillStealing for the most part]].
78* An identical incident to Gus Griswald below occurred with Moze in ''Series/NedsDeclassifiedSchoolSurvivalGuide''.
79[[/folder]]
80
81[[folder:Music]]
82* Referenced by name in the song "Pioneer Square" by Reilly and Maloney, as a quote from a man named Joseph (either the Biblical figure, the Indian chief, or possibly a homeless man).
83* Music/PhilOchs' song "I Ain't Marching Anymore", written during the UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar is told from a perspective of a soldier who was present at every American war since the War of 1812, but refuses to fight anymore.
84-->''Oh I must have killed a million men\
85And now they want me back again\
86But I ain't marchin' anymore.''
87* The titular character in the Music/ElectricLightOrchestra song "Boy Blue." He returns home after fighting in an unspecified war and is welcomed as a returning hero, but in the last verse, after recounting all of the horrors that he saw and experienced, he flatly tells the crowd, "Hear this clear, for I'll not further say/That no man, shall cause me to take up arms again."
88* Music/{{Eminem}} swore off beefing in the ''Music/{{Encore}}'' song "Like Toy Soldiers", in which he apologises for his HairTriggerTemper leading him into being irresponsible and mourns the pointless deaths that feuds have caused in the HipHop community. While he's since stayed out of potentially fatal beefs with gangsters, the resulting mockery of his career led to an eventual realisation that this was ALessonLearnedTooWell, and Eminem returned to stirring up beef again in his 2018 album ''Kamikaze''.
89[[/folder]]
90
91[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
92* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'': the 3rd Edition supplement ''Tome of Magic'' recounts the story of Andras, an elven [[ThePaladin paladin]] who achieved great victories, only to suffer enough misfortunes and make enough mistakes to fall from grace and become a [[FallenHero blackguard]], crusading for evil just as zealously as he used to fight for good. But after 300 years of fighting for both good and evil, and in the middle of a climactic battle, Andras abruptly dropped his weapon and quit the field, never to be seen again. Unfortunately for him, Andras' betrayals of both his causes meant that he wasn't welcome in any afterlife, so he became a vestige, a being beyond the normal conceptions of life and death. Binders who make a pact with Andras can call upon his martial skill and ability to smite evil and good, but those who fall under his influence will grow weary of combat after a minute of fighting, dropping their weapon and withdrawing from melee.
93[[/folder]]
94
95[[folder:Video Games]]
96* At the end of ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedRevelations'', Ezio decides that he has seen enough action as an Assassin and leaves his weapons behind to start a peaceful life with Sofia. He is forced into action one last time in ''Embers'' when a young Assassin seeks his advice on rebuilding the Order in her country [[spoiler:and he dies not long after]].
97* In ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOpsII'', specifically the [[MultipleEndings endings]] in which [[spoiler:Alex Mason stays dead]], David Mason vows over his father's grave that he'll never fight again, too wearied by the war with Menendez to go on living the life of a soldier.
98* Melus Petilius in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'', a local hero, swore to never pick up a weapon after his wife's death of fever and blamed himself for it. In order to change his mind, you must give him a cursed mace from Molag Bal and [[TeachHimAnger provoke him to attack you]]. Once you're almost dead, Molag Bal will reward you his mace, and Petilius will be stricken with grief, [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone believing that he killed you]].
99* The [[spoiler: Vell-os]] from ''[[VideoGame/EscapeVelocity Escape Velocity: Nova]]'' surrendered to the Colonial Council and became [[spoiler: slaves, because the alternative was to fight the Colonial Council and ''win'', causing immeasurable death and destruction.]]
100* Karel in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade''. ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade Blazing Blade]]'', [[SequelFirst the prequel]], shows us what he retired ''[[BloodKnight from]]''.
101** Ike from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]'' also left Tellius after the war was over.
102* ''VideoGame/GuildWars2'': In the BadFuture the Pale Tree shows the player and Traherne, four of the Destiny's Edge companions are still bitterly fighting among themselves. As a result, Caithe declares she's sick of trying to stop the others from bickering, and accepts Faolain's offer to join TheDarkSide instead. (Thanks to your player character, this doesn't come to pass.)
103* A variation in ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'': Hanzo is noted to be a MasterSwordsman, even more skilful in its use than his brother Genji. But because the last time he wielded his sword was seemingly [[CainAndAbel killing Genji with it]] (the clan elders forced him into it to prevent the family's dissolution after the death of their father), he refused to have it repaired or wield it again, keeping to a bow and arrows instead. The damaged sword can be seen in Hanamura Dojo.[[note]]To add an additional layer of tragedy, Hanzo's guilt is largely unnecessary as [[NiceGuy Genji forgives Hanzo for trying to kill him and hopes he'll come around to the right path]].[[/note]]
104* In ''VideoGame/{{Stellaris}}'', the colonists of a Tomb World might start to adopt the Pacifist ethos after taking in the horrific devastation that the previous population's war brought to their home. [[TheAtoner This is especially poignant if they come from a Militarist empire]].
105* Lt. Velasquez near the end of ''VideoGame/TrafficDepartment2192''... after having spent most of her life on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge over her father's death, she's looking at an absolute victory, having defeated a galaxy-spanning army practically singlehandedly - but losing countless friends along the way. When the opportunity comes to actually kill the Emperor, she demurs - all she wants at that point is for the war to end, and killing him would merely create a vacuum for some other power-mad leader to step into.
106* Invoked by Mad Dummy and [[spoiler:Sans]] in ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'' for pragmatic reasons, both chose not to end their turns so the player cannot enter the next turn and retaliate.
107[[/folder]]
108
109[[folder:Webcomics]]
110* Towards the end of ''Webcomic/JoeVsElanSchool'', while globetrotting after his divorce, Joe mentions that he keeps up with many of the people in his "core group" who had been involved with closing the abusive Elan School. However, he makes the decision not to join them in further pursuing former Elan leadership or fighting against other troubled teen facilities. {{Justified|Trope}}; closing Elan had come at a great personal cost to Joe, and he says he wants to focus on his own healing and peace moving forward.
111[[/folder]]
112
113[[folder:Web Original]]
114* In ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9-ZmH_KYSY&t=0s&list=PLSQLREUw9vwlh8bzgvZCt_WS8615trN5H&index=2 a Link Between Genders]]'', Link casts away his sword and takes on a different role in life.
115* In ''WebVideo/CriticalRole'', after their adventures are done, Percy (the man who introduced firearms into their society) declares that he will never build another weapon again and instead will design things like clocks.
116[[/folder]]
117
118[[folder:Western Animation]]
119* Leegolas from ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}} Bender's Game]]'' vows not to kill anymore after slaughtering the obnoxious but innocent Zoidberg monster.
120* Parodied in ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'' in which Chuckie, scared out of his wits after a slide accident[[labelnote:*]]He attempted to go on a small slide at a SuckECheeses and accidentally ended up in a massive one.[[/labelnote]], dramatically declares that he will ''slide'' no more forever.
121* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' has Billy who becomes this after reaching the DespairEventHorizon.
122* ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'' has this happen to Gus. Formerly known as "[[RedBaron El Diablo]]" for his skilled, yet ruthless [[PlayingWithATrope dodgeball playing]], he vows to never play again after accidentally injuring an innocent bystander.
123** This was parodied in "I Will Kick No More Forever", when star athlete Vince was outkicked by AlphaBitch Ashley Q. [[TenMinuteRetirement and quit playing kickball "forever"]].
124* One ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry'' "Mouseketeer" cartoon "Tom and Chérie" features Jerry's pupil (Tuffy) shuttling letters back and forth between Jerry and his current romantic interest. However, each time he sets out, he gets challenged by Tom and has to fight his way back and forth. It keeps going throughout the cartoon until Jerry supposedly gets a DearJohnLetter. But... Jerry just changes romances and it keeps going. ''This'' time, however, when Tom challenges him, Tuffy ignores it. When challenged again, Tuffy basically tells Tom "Foo!" and leaves, ending the cartoon.
125* In ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPandaLegendsOfAwesomeness'', this is the eventual decision by [[spoiler:Peng]] in his second appearance, as he's afraid kung fu will fuel his inner darkness and he must forever give it up to protect the people he cares about, despite Po's objections. With the whole premise of the show being kung fu, this is shocking for how it was played straight.
126* In the beginning of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'', Batman, long past his prime, [[BatmanGrabsAGun grabs a gun to ward off a thug]] when he starts to suffer a heart problem. When he gets back to the Batcave, he immediately throws the gun away in disgust, hangs up his suit, and closes the entrance to the cave, saying "Never again".
127* ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack''
128** Zigzagged in "Jack and the Smackback", where Jack is conscripted into a sadistic gladiatorial fight. He defeats the first two champions, but is sickened by it, and refuses to fight further for the crowd's entertainment. Unfortunately, the announcer won't let him quit; he sends out a third champion, the gigantic Sumoto. After nearly being crushed by the huge Sumo, Jack discovers he's ''ticklish'' and is able to "defeat" him that way. But the announcer decided to TemptFate and bring out six ''more'' champions. Jack becomes enraged, forgets what he says a minute earlier, recovers his sword, and makes short work of all six of them.
129** Zigzagged differently in "Jack and the Lava Monster". At first, Jack refuses to fight the eponymous monster, believing it wants to fight simply for fun. [[DeathSeeker Then the guy explains his actual motives.]] Jack changes his mind, and honors its request.
130* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime:'' Of all people, ''[[BigBad Megatron]]'', the warmongering tyrant who plunged the Transformers' home planet of Cybertron into an eons-long civil war, who tortured and oppressed his own people for his own goals, gets this moment. [[Recap/TransformersPrimeS3E13Deadlock Following his death at the hands of Bumblebee]], [[Recap/TransformersPrimeTVMBeastHuntersPredaconsRising he gets revived by the dark god Unicron in the series finale movie]]. However, [[AssholeVictim the latter takes control of his body to fulfill his own agenda, all while torturing and subjecting his host to constant]] MindRape. After being freed, Megatron was left broken as [[HeelRealization he finally got a taste of his own medicine]], before disbanding the Decepticons and [[SelfImposedExile leaving for parts unknown]].
131-->'''Megatron:''' Because I now know the true meaning of oppression, and have thus lost my taste for inflicting it.
132[[/folder]]

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