Line #66 Main/StrokeTheBeard


1	[[quoteright:250:[[VideoGame/StreetFighterIV https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gouken-beard.jpg]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:250:"What ''is'' [[Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow]]?"]]
3
4	->''"When I stroke the beard thusly, do I not appear more... intellectual?"''
5	-->-- '''Data''', ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS2E6TheSchizoidMan The Schizoid Man]]", while trying on a fake beard
6
7	This is the need for either [[OldMaster Old Masters]] or WickedCultured villains to stroke their beard as a compulsion. [[DastardlyWhiplash Evil types]] usually do this while preparing their {{Evil Plan}}s, sipping AGlassOfChianti, and indulging in [[SlouchOfVillainy Villainous Slouching]]. This version is somewhat [[DiscreditedTrope discredited]] today.
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9	These people don't necessarily need an actual beard, as even placing their hand on their chin where a beard would be while in thought can suffice.
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11	This trait has several faces; the meticulous planning and deep thought this trope usually suggests tends to be associated with evil. The good type usually suggests a zen-like peacefulness. Some also liken it to shrinks stroking their Freud-like beards. The overarching theme with this trope is intellectualism ([[SmugSnake or at least sneakiness]]).
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13	Not to be confused with stroking someone's ''else's'' beard (which is typically a flirtatious or possessive gesture).
14
15	Compare PuttingOnMyThinkingCap.
16	----
17	!!Examples:
18	[[foldercontrol]]
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20	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
21	* Konoemon in ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'' often does this.
22	* Harima in ''Manga/SchoolRumble'', several times when he was keeping his beard long.
23	[[/folder]]
24
25	[[folder:Fan Works]]
26	* In ''Fanfic/Plan7Of9FromOuterSpace'', [=TuMok=] tells of how he consulted a HermitGuru on Olympus Mons. Lacking a beard, the guru strokes the icicle clinging to his chin.
27	* Papa Smurf does this on occasion in the ''Fanfic/EmpathTheLuckiestSmurf'' stories. It becomes a habit that, when he becomes clean-shaven in "Empath's Wedding", he finds himself playing around with his mustache due to the lack of facial hair.
28	* ''Fanfic/DungeonKeeperAmi'': As said in [[https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/threads/dungeon-keeper-ami-sailor-moon-dungeon-keeper-story-only-thread.30066/page-2#post-6355687 Production Model]]: Tasbaal tried to, but he lost his beard:
29	--> "You will have to create a new imp variant that has a stronger connection to the dungeon heart, and imprint some of your own personality on it. Possibly erase its own mind first, but destroying a mind is much simpler than rebuilding it anyway," his hand went to his collar in an unconscious gesture, grasping for something that was no longer there. "Alternatively, you could torture some of your useless goblins to death and use their tormented ghosts to-"
30	* In ''Fanfic/NeitherABirdNorAPlaneItsDeku'', Mister Mxyzptlk sprouts a beard to stroke while pondering Izuku's complaints about their "game". He then proceeds to shave all of it off with an electric razor.
31	[[/folder]]
32
33	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
34	* In ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', Mei strokes her chin as she considers Tyler's deal.
35	[[/folder]]
36
37	[[folder:Film — Live-Action]]
38	* Pai Mei of ''Film/KillBill'' was awesome at this.
39	* Robin does this in ''Film/RobinHoodMenInTights'' while pondering an archery contest. Then flicks his fingers clean.
40	* ''Franchise/StarWars'': In the prequels, Obi-Wan Kenobi usually strokes his beard meditatively just before doing something totally badass. He and Anakin Skywalker spend a good minute stroking their chins, signaling to each other on how they should make their getaway from General Grievous in a deleted scene from ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith''.
41	[[/folder]]
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43	[[folder:Literature]]
44	* ''Literature/JudgeDee'' often does this.
45	** And is most put out when he starts to do so in ''The Chinese Gold Murders'' only to have the villain start stroking his even ''more'' impressive beard first. He is vindicated in the end, though, when the villain's beard turns out to be false.
46	* ''Literature/RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms'': Guan Yu is one of the earliest examples. Just watch any Chinese opera show featuring him as a character.
47	* In ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}}'', a dwarf stroking his beard is considered an insult to the party he's speaking to.
48	-->" Stroke your beard the wrong way, and the dwarves will bar the gates to the mountain once again." - Tanis Half-Elven
49	* Archeologist Radcliffe Emerson had a beard when he met ''Literature/AmeliaPeabody'', but not after they married; he still strokes his chin meditatively as an action-equivalent to a catchphrase. The habit has even been picked up by other characters, including his daughter-in-law.
50	* Some ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' characters have done this, including [[MagnificentBastard Vetinari]], [[EvilVizier Abrim]], and some of the older and wiser dwarves, who of course ''all'' have beards.
51	* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''. Grand Maester Pycelle would stroke his [[WizardBeard long white beard]] to give himself an air of wisdom. Unfortunately after Tyrion Lannister has Shagga forcibly shave it off during an interrogation, he loses this implied authority, just looking like a sickly old man.
52	* In one ''Literature/ArtemisFowl'' book, while deep in thought, the narration mentions that [[TeenGenius Artemis]] would've stroked his beard if he had one.
53	* ''Literature/InTwoWorlds'': Anthony's classroom aide, Bradley, is a hipster who has a habit of doing this.
54	[[/folder]]
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56	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
57	* The quote above comes from the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS2E6TheSchizoidMan The Schizoid Man]]", wherein Data tries to emulate Riker GrowingTheBeard. The end result is so ridiculous that Troi has to excuse herself before she completely breaks down, and Geordi only does a marginally better job of holding back his laughter.
58	* The ''Series/PushingDaisies'' episode "Oh, Oh, Oh, It's Magic!". The magician does this when he tells Emerson in a very dramatic voice that he needs his help in solving the murders of his assistants.
59	* In an episode of ''Series/ModernFamily'', some of Manny's friends draw a beard on his face with magic marker while he's asleep. He strokes his drawn-on beard this way while plotting his revenge.
60	[[/folder]]
61
62	[[folder:Newspaper Comics]]
63	* ''ComicStrip/FlashGordon'': Ming the Merciless.
64	[[/folder]]
65
66	[[folder:Stand-Up Comedy]]
67	* Creator/EddieIzzard, regarding the change from ''Mr. Dog Canned Dog Food'' to ''Cesar'': "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJz-yZUOgtM Obviously there was a strokey-beard meeting at ''Mr Dog'' headquarters...]]"
68	[[/folder]]
69
70	[[folder:Video Games]]
71	* [[OldMaster Gouken]] does this in his victory pose in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIV''.
72	* Nolan of ''VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn'' does this in his character portrait.
73	* ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'': Saisyu Kusanagi.
74	* ''VideoGame/TalesOfXillia'':
75	** Resident CoolOldGuy Rowen does this. When Elize asks why he does, he explains it helps him think.
76	** Jiao also does this at times, such as when he activates [[SuperMode Overlimit]].
77	[[/folder]]
78
79	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
80	* ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney:''
81	** A certain Mr. Phoenix Wright is always stroking his chin in court while thinking.
82	** In Investigations, [[spoiler: Quercus Alba does it when cornered]]
83	* Several characters in ''VisualNovel/DaughterForDessert'' do this while thinking.
84	* Commonly done by thinking characters, most notably Dennis, in ''VisualNovel/DoubleHomework''.
85	[[/folder]]
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87	[[folder:Web Animation]]
88	* ''WebAnimation/TheVampair'': The Duke strokes his goatee at the end of "Oweee" as he formulates a plan.
89	[[/folder]]
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91	[[folder:Webcomics]]
92	* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'': The wizards in Rose's story, ''Complacency of the Learned'', have a habit of stroking and bothering their beards that could charitably be called compulsive. The excerpt seen in the comic spends a solid paragraph describing how they do it anywhere, on any occasion, as something of a default neutral pose.
93	[[/folder]]
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95	[[folder:Web Original]]
96	* ''WebVideo/TheNostalgiaChick'': In a RareFemaleExample, a very beardless Nostalgia Chick does this in her Dreamworks video.
97	[[/folder]]
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99	[[folder:Western Animation]]
100	* Sokka of ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' does this almost continuously while in his [[MemeticBadass Wang Fire]] disguise, whether he's pondering something or not. (Though since he is [[TheSmartGuy the idea guy]] and an engineering genius, it's probably safe to assume that there's something planning-related going on in that head of his.)
101	* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' the professor reveals his prized possession is Leonardo Da Vinci's beard. Cue Fry putting on the beard and stroking it while the professor is discussing the great minds he admires. Fry then destroys the beard on accident, revealing the beard had a map inside.
102	* Tenzin from SequelSeries ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' is prone to doing this. This would make his Uncle [[WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender Sokka]] ''so'' proud of him.
103	* Papa Smurf in ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs1981'' can be found doing this.
104	* Sifu Lo in ''WesternAnimation/SeisManos'' strokes his beard a lot, cementing him as a typical OldMaster type. It also [[spoiler: cements his status as an {{Expy}} of [[Film/KillBill Pai Mei]], including the fact that he's actually an EvilMentor.]]
105	[[/folder]]
106
107	[[folder:Real Life]]
108	* In MediaNotes/PekingOpera stroking your beard = thinking.
109	* Jewish men stroking their beards when studying or thinking is so iconic that it became the traditional ASL sign for a Jew or Jewish. (The more modern sign is imitating rolling a Torah scroll.)
110	[[/folder]]

Context Main / StrokeTheBeard