Line #12 Main/TheCommandments


1	%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1582493425022062500
2	%% Please do not replace or remove without starting a new thread.
3	%%
4	[[quoteright:350:[[Film/TheTenCommandments1956 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/moses_commandments.png]]]]
5	[[caption-width-right:350:''"Those who will not live by the law... SHALL DIE BY THE LAW!"'']]
6	%%
7	->''"The Lord, the Lord Jehovah has given unto you these Fifteen-- ''[drops one of the stone tablets]'' --Oy. ... Ten! Ten Commandments for all to obey!"''
8	-->-- '''[[Creator/MelBrooks Moses]]''', ''Film/HistoryOfTheWorldPartI''
9
10	The Commandments are a short list of simple rules that must be followed. It's a much simpler system than any rulebook, lawbook or manifesto. The most famous such list of commandments (at least in western culture) is the one known as The Ten Commandments, featured in RealLife Christianity as well as stories about the faith.[[note]]It is widely believed that the Ten Commandments are also common to Judaism, but this is a misconception. In Hebrew, those verses are referred to as "the Ten Statements"; they are in fact made up of ''fourteen'' commandments, and are not even considered of particular importance. There are also [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Commandments#The_Ten_Commandments differences]] between Christian denominations as to how those fourteen are grouped into ten.[[/note]] However, many other such lists pop up in various media, especially fantasy.
11
12	If a work has its own list, include the list on the example. (Unless the list is really long, but if it is then it's unlikely that the example truly belongs in this trope in the first place.)
13
14	No examples from RealLife religion or philosophy please. Not on the main page.
15
16	When rules are played for annoyance, that's RuleNumberOne. When rules are played for alienation, that's ApeShallNeverKillApe. When a long series of {{Noodle Incident}}s result in somebody having a long list of commandments [[SingleTargetLaw just for them]], it is ThingsYouAreNotAllowedToDo. Commandments specifically for robots fall under LawsOfRobotics.
17
18	Contrast SinglePreceptReligion.
19
20	----
21	!!Examples:
22	[[foldercontrol]]
23
24	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
25	* ''Literature/NoGameNoLife'': All sixteen Exceeds (the sentient races of Disboard) are bound by ten inviolable Pledges set up by Tet, the God of Games, upon his/her ascent to being the One True God following the brutal war that destroyed most of the Old Dei (themselves one of the Exceeds, by virtue of Tet surviving). [[spoiler:It was actually created by Riku Dora and his wife Schwi 6,000 years ago, with Tet as their own Old Deus created to help fulfill their wish of creating a peaceful world for the war-weary Exceeds.]]
26	##All bloodshed, war and pillaging is forbidden. (This includes any kind of violence or violation of rights, like physical injuries, rape or a slap.)
27	##All conflicts will be resolved through games.
28	##Each party involved in a game must bet something that both sides agree is of equal value. (The wagers can also be non-material, so long as both side agree to it being equivalent.)
29	##As long as it doesn't go against Pledge 3, the things that are wagered and the rules of the game will not be questioned.
30	##The challenged party has the right to decide the rules of the game. (This also includes the right to refrain from the game.)
31	##Any bets made in accordance with the Oaths must be upheld. (The laws of the universe will actively see to it.)
32	##Conflicts between groups will be conducted by designated representatives with absolute authority. (But that doesn't mean that two people can't compete as one, as Sora and Shiro shows.)
33	##Being caught cheating during a game is grounds for an instant loss. (Which Sora interprets as a deliberate loophole meant for smarter players to exploit.)
34	##In the name of God, the previous rules may never be changed.
35	##Everyone must have fun playing together!
36	* ''Anime/BubblegumCrisis'': Downplayed. [[AllThereInTheManual As revealed in supplemental material]], and occasionally referenced in the series, the Knight Sabers have 11 rules:
37	## Do not divulge any information concerning this organisation.
38	## Do not act upon a personal grudge.
39	## Do not act without the mutual consent of all members.
40	## Do not secede from this organisation.
41	## Members are personally responsible for any damage done to the organisation's equipment unless that damage was unavoidable.
42	## Do not divulge any information concerning our clients.
43	## Do not gather information on your own. The task of intelligence gathering is to be distributed evenly among all the members.
44	## Keep in contact with the other members regularly.
45	## The members do not know each other outside of this organization.
46	## Do not get involved with a man.
47	## The penalty for violating any of the ten regulations listed above is death.
48	** It is worth noting that over the course of the series, almost all of the rules get broken, and rule 11 is never enforced. Ultimately, they seem to be ideals which have been rapidly modified in the face of reality.
49	** Rule 1 is a tricky case - while several people know the identities of some or all of the members, nobody actually ''reveals'' anything.
50	** Similarly, Priss has ''almost'' broken rule 2 several times, but the others always end up suppourting her grudges.
51	** However, Priss ''has'' broken rules 3 and 4, and how her personal duel with Largo and his Hyperboomers (which resulted in the destruction of her hardsuit and motorslave) relates to rule 5 is also a scary thought.
52	** Linna, on the other hand, breaks rule 10 regularly.
53	** Everyone except Sylia has broken rule 8.
54	** Rule 9 is flagrantly disregarded by all four members.
55	** Rules 6 and 7 seem to have been followed, though (regarding 7, in OVA 1, Priss is doing what she's told... until she's chased by Boomers, then she's surviving).
56	* ''Literature/KonoSuba'': The Axis cult, the religion that worships Aqua, chants their divine commandments during the finale of season 2. Even though they don't realize that Aqua [[PhysicalGod really is their goddess in the flesh]], [[GodsNeedPrayerBadly it still powers her up enough to defeat the enemy]]. Of course, this being ''[[LazyBum Aqua]]'', her commandments are... odd.
57	-->"The Axis Church can get things done. And because you can get things done, even if it doesn't go well, it's not your fault!"\
58	"It's society's fault that things don't work out!"\
59	"You can run away from unpleasant things! That doesn't mean you've lost! Because, as they say, 'Sometimes running away is winning'!"\
60	"The answer you come to after being in doubt is usually something you'll regret, no matter what you choose! If you're going to regret it anyway, do whatever is easiest for you in the moment!"\
61	"Do not fear growing old! Not even God knows whether you will be happy in the future, so you should, at least, be happy now!"\
62	[[BrickJoke "Eris pads her chest!"]]
63	* ''Anime/DeathParade'': The [[{{Psychopomp}} arbiters]] have a set of three rules that dictate their existence, with an additional one being added at [[TheStinger the end]]:
64	## Arbiters cannot quit making judgments, for that is the sole reason they exist.
65	## Arbiters cannot experience death, for that would bring them too close to being human.
66	## Arbiters cannot feel emotion, for they are merely dummies.
67	## [[spoiler:Arbiters may not work hand in hand with life, for that will ruin them]].
68	[[/folder]]
69
70	[[folder:Comic Books]]
71	* ''ComicBook/UltimateXMen'': Magneto tattooed the "Ten Mutant Commandments" on his back.
72	[[/folder]]
73
74	[[folder:Fan Works]]
75	* ''Fanfic/AbsoluteTrust'': In the months prior to Aang's awakening, [[SelfInsertFic Alec]] comes up with six rules to govern how he uses his future knowledge, which are listed at the top of every chapter after 3:
76	-->'''Rule Number One''': Alec won't warn the Gaang about things in advance or solve their problems for them, with a few rare exceptions.\
77	'''Rule Number Two''': Only Alec has the right to tell people his true origins, and he will mostly limit this to group members. He will tell new group members his secret as soon as they join the Gaang.\
78	'''Rule Number Three''': There are some changes Alec wants to make, and he will use his knowledge of the future to make those changes.\
79	'''Rule Number Four''': Sometimes, to make a change, Alec will act in a way that doesn't make sense. If that's necessary, he'll tell the Gaang '''"I need you to absolutely trust me."''' After he says that, the Gaang has to either do whatever he asks or leave him to do what he needs to do.\
80	'''Rule Number Five''': After a change happens, Alec will tell the Gaang what happened in the original story, in the interest of transparency.\
81	'''Rule Number Six''': If a major change happens that Alec doesn't expect, the Gaang will have a meeting ASAP. In this meeting, Alec will break Rule One and tell them all relevant information that will help them figure out how to respond to the change.
82	* The whole point of ''Fanfic/TheOfficialListOfUnofficialRules''. It's played for laughs.
83	* ''Fanfic/TheWarOfTheMasters'' uses the original Ten Commandments as a starting point for a more comprehensive version of Creator/IsaacAsimov's [[ThreeLawsCompliant Three Laws of Robotics]]. They range from the serious--"thou shalt not commit murder" is interpreted as "do not kill without orders from your biological superiors"--to the not-so-serious--"remember the Sabbath and keep it holy" equates to "don't bother your superiors while they're sleeping except in a genuine emergency".
84	* ''Fanfic/{{Maat}}'': From Chapter 2, "the prototypes of the forty-two principles of Ma'at" are seen and listed, then the archeologist from the future has thoughts about it:
85	--> The academician's mind pulled a later version of the list from the collection of facts stored from her long studies, and wondered how much the ancient proscriptions had propagated across the historical landscape. ~Golden truths in a plain wrapping. I wonder if these are some of the roots of the Hebrew's Ten Commandments?~
86	* ''Fanfic/QueensOfMewni'': Etheria the Knight created a Code of Conduct for the heirs of the Butterfly Kingdom to follow, and while there were varying degrees of success for following said code, only Etheria herself obeyed all ten rules. (Particularly, Rule 6, which forbade premarital sex, was broken a lot by subsequent heirs.)
87	-->''[[FanCreatedOffspring Aurora]], for now, is doing well."
88	[[/folder]]
89
90	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
91	* The iconic 1956 movie ''{{Film/The Ten Commandments\|1956}}'' tells the story of Moses, featuring and focusing on (what Hollywood thinks are) the Ten Commandments of Judaism. It's actually a remake of [[Film/TheTenCommandments1923 a 1923 silent film]], in which the Moses story was just a prologue to a then-modern story about two brothers, one of whom believes in the Ten Commandments and the other of whom considers them to be outdated.
92	* ''Film/FightClub'' has seven commandments. (They are counted as eight, but the second is just [[RuleNumberOne the first one repeated for emphasis]]):
93	## You do not talk about Fight Club.
94	## '''You do not talk about Fight Club'''.
95	## Someone yells stop, goes limp, taps out, the fight is over.
96	## Only two guys to a fight.
97	## One fight at a time.
98	## No belts, no shirts, no shoes.
99	## Fights will go on as long as they have to.
100	## If this is your first night at Fight Club, you '''have''' to fight.
101	* ''Film/IRobot'' centrally features [[ThreeLawsCompliant Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics]]. This of course does not prevent a ZerothLawRebellion.
102	## [[ThouShaltNotKill A robot may not injure a human being or]], [[AccompliceByInaction through inaction]], [[MurderByInaction allow a human being to come to harm.]]
103	## [[RobotMaid A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings]], except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
104	## [[ICannotSelfTerminate A robot must protect its own existence]], as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.
105	* Franchise/RoboCop has four Prime directives:
106	## Serve the public trust.
107	## Protect the innocent.
108	## Uphold the law.
109	## [[spoiler:Never oppose an OCP officer.]]
110	* ''Film/{{Zombieland}}'' gives us the Rules, as laid down by Columbus. There's almost 40, but they're very succinct (and we never get to hear them all). Examples include:
111	--> 1. Cardio\
112	2. Double tap\
113	3. Beware of bathrooms\
114	4. [[MundaneUtility Always wear a seatbelt]]\
115	17. [[NeverBeAHero Don't be a hero]].\
116	18. Limber up\
117	22. When in doubt, know your way out\
118	29. Check the back seat
119	* ''Film/MadMaxBeyondThunderdome'':
120	** [[MemeticMutation Two men enter, one man leaves.]] It may be the only rule, but it is rigidly enforced.
121	** The only other rule we hear of in [[WretchedHive Bartertown]] (where the titular Thunderdome can be found): "Bust a deal, face the wheel."
122	* Frank Martin's personal code from ''Film/TheTransporter'' series:
123	-->'''Rule 1:''' The deal is the deal. The conditions of the deal will not be changed after it has been confirmed.\
124	'''Rule 2:''' No names.\
125	'''Rule 3:''' ''Never'' look in the package.
126	* ''Film/{{Gremlins}}'' includes three rules that are critical for taking care of a mogwai. The last is most important, because breaking it [[MetamorphosisMonster transforms mogwai into gremlins]].
127	## [[WeakenedByTheLight Don’t allow them near bright light]].
128	## [[ExplosiveBreeder Don’t let them get wet]].
129	## Don’t feed them after midnight.
130	** ''Film/Gremlins2TheNewBatch'' includes a scene where [[AudienceSurrogate Audience Surrogates]] learn the rules and immediately start punching holes in them, particularly the last one, since “after midnight” is very ambiguous. At the end of the scene, a gremlin pops out and attacks the group, serving as a TakeThatAudience
131	* In ''Film/Scream1996'', [[MetaGuy Randy]] lays out the rules to survive a horror movie:
132	##[[SexSignalsDeath You can never have sex]]. [[spoiler: (Though Sidney has sex with Billy and survives.)]]
133	##[[DrugsAreBad Never drink alcohol or do drugs]]. [[spoiler: (Though Randy drinks beer and survives.)]]
134	##Never, under any circumstances, say, “I’ll be right back.”
135	** Randy provides other lists of “rules” in [[Film/Scream2 the]] [[Film/Scream3 sequels]], but they are more tropes than rules.
136	* ''{{Film/Highlander}}'' ,and the series as well, rules that the immortals follow.
137	##All fights must be one on one
138	##An immortal may never interfere in a fight between two others
139	##No fights may occur on holy ground
140	## mortals shouldn’t learn about immortals if at all possible.
141	** of course many immortals are prone to bending or breaking said rules if it suits them. Most will not break the holy ground rule, though.
142	* ''Film/KarateAMuerteEnTorremolinos'': We only hear the third commandment of the Catholic Surfers: You will surf daily if you want to reach spirit peace.
143	[[/folder]]
144
145	[[folder:Literature]]
146	* ''Literature/AnimalFarm'' has the principles of Animalism, which are written on the side of the barn for all to see. The first principle was "All animals are equal". As their system [[HeWhoFightsMonsters slipped into totalitarianism and tyranny]] under Napoleon and his team of pigs, the principles got altered and removed until only a subversion of the first rule remained: "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others." The other six laws, in order of appearance:
147	** Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
148	** Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
149	** No animal shall wear clothes.
150	** No animal shall sleep in a bed.
151	*** After the pigs move into the old house and begin sleeping in the beds, it is amended with ''"with sheets"''.
152	** No animal shall drink alcohol.
153	*** After the pigs become drunk on alcohol, it is amended with ''"in excess"''.
154	** No animal shall kill another animal.
155	*** After the [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids mass executions of political opponents]], it is amended with ''"without reason"''.
156	** All animals are equal.
157	*** But some animals are more equal than others.
158	* ''Literature/ChristianNation'' has the Fifty Blessings, which President Steve Jordan had put into law that supersedes the American Constitution -- many of which are vague and unenforceable.
159	* The badgers in ''Literature/TheColdMoons'' have ancient laws known as "the Adamus". What these laws are is [[CrypticBackgroundReference never properly discussed,]] but it's likely similar to the Ten Commandments.
160	* The Code of Literature/{{Dinotopia}} has ten commandments, plus one that was lost to time and natural erosion.
161	## Survival of all or none
162	## One raindrop raises the sea
163	## Weapons are enemies, even to their owners
164	## Give more, take less
165	## Others first, self last
166	## Observe, listen, and learn
167	## Do one thing at a time
168	## Sing every day
169	## Exercise imagination
170	## Eat to live, don't live to eat
171	## In the original book, an old sage suggests the damaged last commandment is "Don't p[[spoiler:ee in the bath."]] In the mini-series, this was changed to [[spoiler:"Follow the Light."]]
172	** A twelfth commandment can be found in the [[FunWithAcronyms first letters]] of the listed eleven, "Sow good seed."
173	* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}''
174	** The three rules of the Librarians of Time and Space are:
175	### Silence.
176	### Books must be returned no later than the last date shown.
177	### Do not interfere with [[TimeyWimeyBall the nature of causality]].
178	** The disc's gods all have their own. It's mentioned that the gods who endure longest tend to be the ones with the easiest commandments to follow - Offler the Crocodile God, oldest god on the Disc, only has a tiny handful of them and they're mostly about not eating broccoli. Sweevo, god of cut timber, banned the practice of "panupunitoplasty" (a word he made up) just to mess with people. Meanwhile Nuggan, principal deity of Borogravia and also the god of Things In Correct Places On Desks, ''started'' with a simple list of commandments, but constantly adds to his list of Abominations so that his holy book is a three-ring binder. They got so extreme and nonsensical (crop rotation, shirts with six buttons, cheese, babies, the colour blue, jigsaw puzzles, etc.) that Borogravians began praying to their Duchess for succor, [[spoiler:elevating her to quasi-deity status and [[GodsNeedPrayerBadly effectively killing Nuggan]], so that his last Abominations are likened to the echoes of a lunatic.]]
179	* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' has Seven Laws of Magic. Violators will be killed.
180	** Thou shalt not kill by use of magic. [[note]]Pretty self-explanatory, though primarily limited to humans. This even means indirect killing, such as pushing a man off a building with magically summoned wind. That said, if it was killing in self-defense, it might be excused with the person being put on parole.[[/note]]
181	** Thou shalt not transform others. [[note]]No {{Forced Transformation}}s, but one can transform one's own body.[[/note]]
182	** Thou shalt not invade the mind of another. [[note]]No non-consensual {{Mind Probe}}s, but telepathic communication and medical observations are fine if very close to the line.[[/note]]
183	** Thou shalt not enthrall another. [[note]]No MindControl, also the only one that applies to interactions with nonhumans.[[/note]]
184	** Thou shalt not reach beyond the borders of life. [[note]]No necromancy or other messing with the forces of life and death when it comes to mortals. One can perform it on animals without breaking the law.[[/note]]
185	** Thou shalt not swim against the Currents of Time. [[note]]Do not try to change the past through temporal manipulation, lest you create a paradox.[[/note]]
186	** Thou shalt not seek beyond the Outer Gates. [[note]]Do not mess with the forces beyond this universe, referred to as Outsiders.[[/note]]
187	* ''Literature/TheGospelOfTheFlyingSpaghettiMonster'': Eight of those. Well, 10 actually, but Mosey the pirate captain dropped two of the stone tablets as he walked down Mount Salsa.
188	* ''Literature/TheIslandOfDoctorMoreau'':
189	** Not to go on all-fours; that is the Law. Are we not Men?
190	** Not to suck up Drink; that is the Law. Are we not Men?
191	** Not to eat Fish or Flesh; that is the Law. Are we not Men?
192	** Not to claw the Bark of Trees; that is the Law. Are we not Men?
193	** Not to chase other Men; that is the Law. Are we not Men?
194	* Creator/IsaacAsimov's ''Literature/RobotSeries'': Created through the help of Creator/JohnWCampbell, Dr Asimov wrote the ThreeLawsOfRobotics, which became imitated by many other SF writers in works about ArtificialIntelligence. Note that unlike other sets of commandments, these laws are hard-coded into the robots' artificial brains. Robots are designed with utilitarian values, deontology being incorporated at the second law level. This means that if a robot is near a runaway trolley which will run into and kill five people, but it can stop it by shoving a large person in the way, then it will kill one human to save five humans (but would much rather sacrifice itself to save those five people). Many simpler models will then break down because they were put into a position where they broke the first law. The most highly-advanced AI in Dr. Asimov's stories actually deduced a ''[[ZerothLawRebellion Zeroth]]'' law due to the details of the first law: A robot may not injure ''humanity'', or, through inaction, allow ''humanity'' to come to harm. Still, robots capable of understanding this level of abstraction are rare, and even thinking about a method of circumventing the first law is liable to cause them to break down.
195	## A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
196	## A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
197	## A robot must protect its own existence, as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.
198	* ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'': The Ideals of the [[TheOrder Knights Radiant]]. The First Ideal was common to all orders, but the others varied.
199	* Creator/MichaelMoorcock's book ''Literature/TheWarhoundAndTheWorldsPain'' had the main character go through a valley in which the only law was steal nothing. Not as easy as it sounds, as it's then explained that pretty much any crime can be defined in terms of stealing: murder is the theft of life, lying is the theft of choice, etc.
200	[[/folder]]
201
202	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
203	* Leroy Jethro Gibbs on ''Series/{{NCIS}}'' has at least fifty-one rules for himself and his team as of the last episode of season 7. Gibbs' rules (as of Season 8 Episode 24). Yes there are a few doubles. WordOfGod explains the doubles of Rules 1, 2, and 3 are Golden Rules imparted on Gibbs by Franks. It was never said which belongs in Franks' set.
204	--> The Unwritten rule: Do what you have to for family.\
205	1: Never screw (over) your partner.\
206	1: Never let suspects stay together.\
207	2: Always wear gloves at a crime scene.\
208	3: Don't believe what you're told. Double check.\
209	3: Never be unreachable.\
210	4: If you have a secret, the best thing is to keep it to yourself. The second-best is to tell one other person if you must. There is no third-best.\
211	5: You don't waste good.\
212	6: Never apologize, it's a sign of weakness.\
213	7: Always be specific when you lie.\
214	8: Never take anything for granted.\
215	9: Never go anywhere without a knife.\
216	10: Never get personally involved in a case.\
217	11: When the job is done, walk away.\
218	12: Never date a co-worker.\
219	13: Never, ever involve lawyers.\
220	15: Always work as a team.\
221	18: It's better to seek forgiveness than ask permission.\
222	22: Never, ever bother Gibbs in interrogation.\
223	23: Never mess with a Marine's coffee, if you want to live.\
224	27: Two ways to follow: First way they never notice you. Second way they only notice you.\
225	35: Always watch the watchers.\
226	38: Your case. Your lead.\
227	39: There is no such thing as a coincidence.\
228	40: If it seems like someone is out to get you, they are.\
229	44: First things first, hide the women and children.\
230	45: Clean up your own messes.\
231	51: Sometimes you're wrong (addendum to original rules, and written on the back of Rule 13).
232	* ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'' gives us the rules of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Walamaloo:
233	** Rule One: No poofters.
234	** Rule Two: No member of the faculty is to maltreat the Abos in any way at all if there's anybody watching.
235	** Rule Three: No poofters.
236	** Rule Four: This term, I don't want to catch anybody not drinking in their room after lights out.
237	** Rule Five: No poofters.
238	** Rule Six: {{There is no Rule Six}}.
239	** Rule Seven: No poofters.
240	* The ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode "The Game" introduces us to Lefler's Laws, a list of reminders that Lt. Lefler wrote for herself anytime she learned anything important. She's written 102 of them, and a few of them come out during the episode as appropriate:
241	** Law 1: You can only count on yourself.
242	** Law 17: When all else fails, do it yourself.
243	** Law 36: You gotta go with what works.
244	** Law 91: Always watch your back.
245	** At the end of the episode, Westley, who has developed a small romance with her, is preparing to return to the Academy, and offers this: "Law 103: A couple of light years can't keep good friends apart."
246	* On ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine,'' the [[ProudMerchantRace Ferengi]] characters (especially Quark) would occasionally quote from "The Rules of Acquisition", found [[http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Rules_of_Acquisition here]]. There are at least 285 official rules, apparently, and more unofficial rules. The first and most important Rule of Acquisition: Once you have their money, never give it back.
247	[[/folder]]
248
249	[[folder:Music]]
250	* "Ten Crack Commandments" by Music/TheNotoriousBIG. In short:
251	## Don't say how much money you have on you.
252	## Keep your intentions to yourself.
253	## Don't trust anyone wholeheartedly.
254	## Never get high on your own supply.
255	## Don't sell crack where you live.
256	## Don't extend credit.
257	## Keep your business and your family separated.
258	## Don't keep a firearm on yourself.
259	## Stay away from the cops if you're not getting arrested.
260	## Don't take crack from someone else on consignment (selling on their behalf) if you're not already established.
261	* “New Rules” by Music/DuaLipa.
262	## Don’t pick up the phone. (You know he’s only calling cuz he’s drunk and alone.)
263	## Don’t let him in. (You’ll have to kick him out again.)
264	## Don’t be his friend. ([[SexWithTheEx You know you’ll only wake up in his bed in the morning]]. And if you’re under him, you ain’t getting over him.)
265	* The Moonglows' "The Ten Commandments of Love":
266	--> 1. Thou shalt never love another\
267	2. And stand by me all the while\
268	3. Take happiness with the heartaches\
269	4. And go through life wearing a smile\
270	5. Thou shalt always have faith in me, in everything I do or say\
271	6. Love me with all your heart and soul, until our life on earth is through\
272	7. Come to me when I am lonely\
273	8. Kiss me when you hold me tight\
274	9. Treat me sweet and gentle\
275	10. When we say goodnight
276
277	[[/folder]]
278
279	[[folder:Pinballs]]
280	* Creator/DataEast's ''Pinball/RoboCop'' has the three Prime Directives from the movie, which must be completed to enable multiball.
281	[[/folder]]
282
283	[[folder:Radio]]
284	* ''Creator/TheBrewingNetwork'' at times refers to what they call "the brewer's code", which is "don't be a dick". Usually cited when a competition relies on the honor code (ie not checking the internet for answers) or talking about behavior and beer festivals and conferences.
285	[[/folder]]
286
287	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
288	* ''TabletopGame/GeistTheSinEaters'' has the Old Laws of the Dominions of the Underworld. Each Dominion has its own set of laws, such as "Take nothing, leave nothing," "Speak not to the shades" or "Bow before passing guardsmen." It's suggesting that Storytellers tempt the players into breaking them... but in-game, most Sin-Eaters are very reluctant to break them, as doing so draws the instant attention of the [[EldritchAbomination Kerberos]] that runs the Dominion.
289	* The original ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'' had Traditions that vampires (Camarilla vampires, anyway) were required to follow.
290	** The First Tradition: The {{Masquerade}}
291	--->Thou shalt not reveal thy true nature to those not of the Blood. Doing so shall renounce thy claims of Blood.
292	** The Second Tradition: The Domain
293	--->Thy Domain is thy concern. All others owe thee respect while in it. None may challenge thy word in thy Domain.
294	** The Third Tradition: The Progeny
295	--->Thou shalt sire another only with permission of thine Elder. If thou createst another without thine Elder's leave, both thou and thy progeny shalt be slain.
296	** The Fourth Tradition: The Accounting
297	--->Those thou create are thine own children. Until thy progeny shall be released, thou shalt command them in all things. Their sins are thine to endure.
298	** The Fifth Tradition: Hospitality
299	--->Honor one another's Domain. When thou comest to a foreign city, thou shalt present thyself to the one who ruleth there. Without the word of acceptance, thou art Nothing.
300	** The Sixth Tradition: Destruction
301	--->Thou art forbidden to destroy another of thy kind. The right of Destruction belongeth only to thine Elder. Only the Eldest among thee shall call the Blood Hunt.
302	* In the successor game ''TabletopGame/VampireTheRequiem'', these Traditions are simplified down to three: Masquerade (pretty much the same as above), Progeny (same as above), and Amaranth ("Do not commit [[YourSoulIsMine diablerie]]").
303	* ''TabletopGame/ArsMagica''. The [[MagicalSociety Order of Hermes]] has a Code of Conduct which (among other things) forbids dealing with demons, endangering the Order, interfering with secular governments and spying on or killing other mages. It's the cornerstone of the Order's legal system and all members [[SwornInByOath swear an oath to obey it]], nominally on pain of death.
304	* Paladins in the ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms'' follow [[OddJobGods many deities]], each with a different portfolio, their orders and churches may emphasize different parts of the same god's agenda... you got the picture: an universal and strict code ''cannot'' exist. But the common guidelines (priorities and interpretations differ) are Paladin's Virtues from "[[FictionalDocument Quentin's Monograph]]":
305	--> An organized approach brings the most good for all.\
306	Laws exist to bring prosperity to those under them.\
307	Unjust laws must be overturned or changed in a reasonable and positive fashion.\
308	People rule; laws help.\
309	Cause the most good through the least harm.\
310	Protect the weak.\
311	Goodness is not a natural state, but must be fought for to be attained and maintained.\
312	Lead by example.\
313	Let your deeds speak your intentions.\
314	Goodness radiates from the heart.\
315	[[GoodIsNotDumb Give others your mercy, but keep your wits about you]].
316	* ''TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness'':
317	** ''TabletopGame/WerewolfTheApocalypse'' presents the Litany of the Garou Nation[[note]]Aside from the 9th and 13th ones, the degree to which the letter and the spirit of these laws are kept tends to vary between tribes[[/note]].
318	---> Garou shall not mate with Garou.\
319	Combat the Wyrm wherever it dwells and wherever it breeds.\
320	Respect the territory of another.\
321	Accept an honorable surrender.\
322	Submit to those higher in station.\
323	The first share of the kill for the greatest in station.\
324	Ye shall not eat the flesh of humans.\
325	Respect those beneath ye -- all are of Gaia.\
326	[[{{Masquerade}} The Veil]] shall not be lifted.\
327	Do not suffer thy people to tend thy sickness.\
328	The leader may be challenged at any time during peace.\
329	The leader may not be challenged during wartime.\
330	Ye shall take no action that causes a Caern to be violated.
331	** ''TabletopGame/WerewolfTheForsaken'' likewise has the Oath of the Moon, with precepts such as. "The Wolf Must Hunt," "[[{{Masquerade}} The Herd Must Not Know]]", "The Low Honor the High; the High Honor the Low," "[[ApeShallNeverKillApe The People Do Not Murder the People]]," "Respect Your Prey," "The [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent Uratha]] Shall Cleave to the Human," and "Do Not Eat the Flesh of Man or Wolf." Each tribe has a little sub-clause to this Oath, such as "Offer No Surrender You Would Not Accept" (the Blood Talons), "Pay Each Spirit in Kind" (the Bone Shadows), "Let No Sacred Place in Your Territory Be Violated" (the Hunters in Darkness), "Honor Your Territory in All Things" (the Iron Masters), and "Allow No One to Witness or Tend To Your Weakness" (the Storm Lords).
332	* ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasyRoleplay'': Most religious organizations in the Old World follow a set of tenets from their PatronGod. They're an especially serious matter for priests, who can [[GodIsDispleased lose access to their holy magic]] if they violate their god's will.
333	[[/folder]]
334
335	[[folder:Theater]]
336	* "Ten Duel Commandments" from ''{{Theatre/Hamilton}}'', which takes inspiration from "Ten Crack Commandments" by the Notorious B.I.G. as rules for how to conduct an illegal act.
337	## [[OrderedApology Demand an apology from the other party for the grievances inflicted.]]
338	## [[TheLancer Each side gets a close friend as their second.]]
339	## Have your seconds [[ReconcileTheBitterFoes negotiate either a settlement]] or [[DuelToTheDeath a time and place for a duel]].
340	## Procure pistols and [[TheMedic get a doctor on site]], but [[PlausibleDeniability make sure he doesn't actually witness the duel itself]].
341	## Your duel should be in the early morning on high ground.
342	## [[DeadManWriting Leave a note for loved ones before going.]]
343	## [[DeathbedConfession Confess your sins]] and prepare for the duel itself; leave no UnfinishedBusiness.
344	## [[LastSecondChance Seconds have one last chance to arrange a peaceful settlement.]]
345	## [[PointOfNoReturn Prepare yourself with the necessary courage.]]
346	## [[TenPacesAndTurn TEN PACES, FIRE!!!]]
347	[[/folder]]
348
349	[[folder:Video Games]]
350	* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'':
351	** The Nine Divines (Eight [[OurGodsAreDifferent Aedra]] who sacrificed great amounts of their divine power to [[CreationMyth create Mundus]], the mortal plane, and one DeityOfHumanOrigin) are the primary entities worshiped throughout Tamriel. They each have their own commandment:
352	--->1. Stendarr says: Be kind and generous to the people of Tamriel. [[WeHelpTheHelpless Protect the weak, heal the sick, and give to the needy]].\
353	2. Arkay says: Honor the earth, its creatures, and the spirits, living and dead. [[DueToTheDead Guard and tend the bounties of the mortal world, and do not profane the spirits of the dead]].\
354	3. Mara says: Live soberly and peacefully. Honor your parents, and preserve the peace and security of home and family.\
355	4. Zenithar says: [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure Work hard, and you will be rewarded. Spend wisely, and you will be comfortable]]. Never steal, or you will be punished.\
356	5. Talos says: [[WarGod Be strong for war]]. Be bold against enemies and evil, and defend the people of Tamriel.\
357	6. Kynareth says: [[FriendToAllLivingThings Use Nature's gifts wisely. Respect her power, and fear her fury]].\
358	7. Dibella says: [[LoveGoddess Open your heart to the noble secrets of art and love]]. Treasure the gifts of friendship. Seek joy and inspiration in the mysteries of love.\
359	8. Julianos says: Know the truth. Observe the law. When in doubt, [[TheSmartGuy seek wisdom from the wise]].\
360	9. [[TopGod Akatosh]] says: Serve and obey your Emperor. Study the Covenants. Worship the Nine, do your duty, and heed the commands of the saints and priests.\
361	10. The Nine say: Above all else, [[TheGoldenRule be good to one another]].
362	** The Alessian Order, a [[FantasticRacism rabidly anti-Elven]] [[TheChurch religious sect]] which established a [[TheTheocracy Theocracy]] in the 1st Era that wielded nearly as much power as the Emperor at its height, had a set known as the "Exclusionary Mandates," which ultimately all boil down to an argument that the [[OurGodsAreDifferent the human interpretation of Akatosh is good, the elven interpretation of him is bad, and it's one's duty to purge the latter from the former]]. All of them are numbered "1" because the Order considered all of them equally important.
363	--->''The Exclusionary Mandates of Maruhkite Selection: All Are Equal\
364	1: That the Supreme Spirit [[TopGod Akatosh]] is of unitary essence, as proven by the monolinearity of Time.\
365	1: That [[GodIsDead Shezarr the missing sibling]] is Singularly Misplaced and therefore Doubly Venerated.\
366	1: That the protean substrate that informs all denial of (1) is the [[OurElvesAreDifferent Aldmeri]] Taint.\
367	1: That the Prophet Most Simian demonstrated that monothought begets [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence Proper-Life]].\
368	1: That the purpose of Proper-Life is the Expungement of the Taint.\
369	1: That the Arc of Time provides the mortal theater for the Sacred Expungement.\
370	1: That Akatosh [[MindScrew is Time is Proper-Life is Taint-Death]].''
371	** The Dark Brotherhood, an illegal [[MurderInc organization of assassins]] whose membership mostly takes a [[PsychoForHire sadistic glee]] in killing and who practice a ReligionOfEvil, has a set known as the Five Tenets:
372	--->''Tenet 1: Never dishonor the Night Mother. To do so is to invoke the Wrath of Sithis.\
373	Tenet 2: Never betray the Dark Brotherhood or its secrets. To do so is to invoke the Wrath of Sithis.\
374	Tenet 3: Never disobey or refuse to carry out an order from a Dark Brotherhood superior. To do so is to invoke the Wrath of Sithis.\
375	Tenet 4: Never steal the possessions of a Dark Brother or Dark Sister. To do so is to invoke the Wrath of Sithis.\
376	Tenet 5: Never kill a Dark Brother or Dark Sister. To do so is to invoke the Wrath of Sithis.''
377	* The Phantom Thieves in ''VideoGame/Persona5'' set down only two rules to regulate themselves regarding their business of [[HeelFaceBrainwashing stealing people's hearts]]: Any potential target must be agreed on unanimously, and the Phantom Thieves [[ThouShaltNotKill must never kill their target, intentionally or otherwise.]]
378	* In ''VideoGame/QuestForGloryIII'', the city-state of Tarna was ruled by this simple code of law:
379	-->''Thou shalt harm none\
380	Thou shalt not use magic upon the streets of Tarna\
381	Thou shalt not take that which is not thine.\
382	Thou shalt behave with honor.''
383	* In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft Shadowlands'', there is a Broker named Ve'nari who, while trapped in [[{{Hell}} the Maw]], has evaded capture and torment from its inhabitants and the Jailer himself for untold eons. Ve'nari lives by a strict set of rules to ensure her relative freedom and instructs the PlayerCharacter to follow them if they want her aid in subverting the Jailer's ambitions.
384	-->Rule 1: Always have an escape plan. (She admits to the irony of this rule since she's still trapped in the Maw itself, if not a prisoner.)\
385	Rule 2: Keep a low profile. Don't draw the Jailer's attention to yourself.\
386	Rule 3: Trust is earned. If you want her trust and support, you have to work for it.\
387	Rule 4: Always keep a list of potential threats to your safety. Prioritize who or what is the larger threat, and plan to eliminate it.\
388	Rule 5: [[RefugeInAudacity Be audacious]], when the situation demands it.\
389	Rule 6: Implement new concealment measures regularly.\
390	Rule 7: Betrayal is inevitable, even from those close to you. ''Especially'' from those close to you.
391	[[/folder]]
392
393	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
394	* ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'' uses a variation of [[FairPlayWhodunnit Knox's Decalogue]]:
395	## It is forbidden for the culprit to be anyone not mentioned in the early part of the story.
396	## It is forbidden for supernatural agencies to be employed as a detective technique.
397	## It is forbidden for hidden passages to exist.
398	## It is forbidden for unknown drugs or hard-to-understand scientific devices to be used.
399	## (Not Included) ("No Asian characters must appear"... the story takes place in Japan...)
400	## It is forbidden for accident or intuition to be employed as a detective technique.
401	## It is forbidden for the detective to be the culprit.
402	## It is forbidden for the case to be resolved with clues that are not presented.
403	## It is permitted for observers to let their own conclusions and interpretations be heard.
404	## It is forbidden for a character to disguise themselves as another without any clues.
405	** Van Dine's 20 rules were featured shortly in [=EP7=], but only a few of them were used, as the gameboard probably doesn't follow those commandments.
406	[[/folder]]
407
408	[[folder:Web Comics]]
409	* Captain Tagon (and other characters) in ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'' often quote from "The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries"
410	* ''Webcomic/PerfectionEngine'' feature commandments of the Eidolon society as extra pages. In aiming for a literally perfect society, some of the commandments can get rather extreme.
411	--> All Eidolons shall be equal in the eyes of the law. The King is not to be perceived as a higher power — only an aid by means to perfect our souls should we fall astray through the passage of time or the errors in managing our morality. Eidolons shall be punished and put under corrective care immediately should they fall too far astray from the greater goodness this society aims for with their inner negativity, or in extreme cases, outer expressions of negativity towards oneself or another.
412	* ''Webcomic/{{Tamberlane}}'': The Edicts are... not pretty.
413	-->The Ten Edicts Of Creature Kind
414
415	-->[[KillAllHumans That Which Is Human Shall Be Destroyed]]
416	-->[[{{Demonization}} Abroad Shall Not Be Glorified]]
417	-->[[LostCommonKnowledge Public Education Shall Strictly Adhere To Approved Curriculum]]
418	-->[[EvilLuddite Only Parliament Approved Technology Shall Be Utilized]]
419	-->[[{{Hypocrite}} No Species Shall Consider Themselves Above Another]]
420	-->[[ApeShallNotKillApe No Creature Shall Knowingly Harm Another Creature]]
421	-->[[BigBrotherIsWatching Any Knowledge Of Edicts Being Broken Shall Be Reported]]
422	-->[[{{Thoughtcrime}} Any Animal Harboring Human Thoughts Is Tainted]]
423	-->[[{{Dehumanization}} A Tainted Animal Is Not A Creature]]
424	-->[[TheExile A Tainted Animal Must Be Branded And Banished To Abroad]]
425
426	-->[[BlatantLies These Edicts This Day And Hereafter Shall Govern All Creature Kind. These Edicts This Day And Hereafter Shall Be Held Above All Others. These Edicts This Day And Hereafter Shall Never Be Broken. That Each Council May, By Their Wisdom And Strength, Become a Beacon To Lead Us To A Brighter Future.]]
427	[[/folder]]
428
429	[[folder:Web Original]]
430	* The WebVideo/{{Smosh}} video "A CULT BRAINWASHED ME!" revolves around a cult called "[[ChurchOfHappyology the Church of Religiotology]]" that worships a being called "[[TomTheDarkLord Herman]]" [[spoiler: who is really a thirteen-year old boy [[GodGuise pretending to be God]]]] that the cult's founder, [[Creator/TomCruise Com Truise]], meet on an AOL chat forum. Herman gave Com three commandments to base the religion on:
431	## i'm reel
432	## every1 must b sexy n ware sky blue robes
433	## [[PoliticallyIncorrectVillain gay marrage is wrong, cuz it's icky, lol]].
434	* WebVideo/TheKillCount: Has [[TheCommandments/TheKillCount its own page.]]
435	[[/folder]]
436
437	[[folder:Western Animation]]
438	* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' has the Da Rules, which are the rules fairies godparents and the children they are assigned to must follow. Da Rules are not always enforced consistently and often run on NewRulesAsThePlotDemands. In a few episodes Timmy manages to mess up so badly that a new rules is added to keep anybody from doing it again. Some of the more commonly cited rules include:
439	** A godchild must keep the existence of their fairies a secret.
440	** Fairy godparents can only be assigned to miserable children and must move to another child when they become an adult, stop being miserable, or breaks the previous rule.
441	** Fairy magic cannot be directly used to win a nonmagical competition.
442	** [[ThouShaltNotKill Fairy magic cannot be used to intentionally kill or cause harm to a human.]]
443	** Fairy magic cannot create or interfere with true love.
444	** A godchild cannot wish away another child's fairies.
445	* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' episode [[Recap/FuturamaS3E20Godfellas "Godfellas,"]] a spaceborne Bender becomes host to a tiny civilization that worships him as a god. Leading to...
446	-->'''Malachi:''' Behold! The ''[[SinglePreceptReligion One]]'' Commandment!\
447	''GOD NEEDS BOOZE''\
448	'''Bender:''' Make it a double!
449	[[/folder]]

Context Main / TheCommandments