Follow TV Tropes

Following

Context Quotes / TheManBehindTheMan

Go To

1[[foldercontrol]]
2
3[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
4->'''Hot Shot:''' You're saying Sideways is out there?\
5'''Optimus Prime:''' I am, Hot Shot. But that's not who the Mini-Cons are warning us about. Our real enemy lies even further beyond Sideways; and that's why they want to protect us."
6-->-- ''Anime/TransformersArmada'', "Uprising"
7[[/folder]]
8
9[[folder:Audio Plays]]
10->''"Sometimes, he's only a shadow, but he's in ''all'' of them. Always, dark robes just behind the new president, as if he's whispering in the president's ear."''
11-->-- ''AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho: Auld Mortality''
12[[/folder]]
13
14[[folder:Comic Books]]
15->'''Lesla-Lar:''' But I did not die! Instead, I evolved into a new life-form -- of pure energy! I still sought your destruction by mentally influencing others... until I became trapped in a ComicBook/{{Superboy}} Robot!\
16'''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}:''' So it was you in all those battles... YOU!
17-->-- ''ComicBook/StrangersAtTheHeartsCore''
18[[/folder]]
19
20[[folder:Fan Fiction]]
21->''"Dream rules the SMP and [[PuppetKing the King is there for appearances and for passing down messages]]. He himself prefers being a faceless type of leader -- gives the people someone else to get mad at."''
22-->-- '''Eret''', ''[[Fanfic/BetweenDreamsAndMemoriesUniverse Between Heroes and Villains]]''
23[[/folder]]
24
25[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
26->'''Loki:''' I have seen the true power of the Tesseract, and when I wield it...\
27'''Thor:''' Who showed you this power? Who controls the would-be King?
28-->-- ''Film/TheAvengers2012''
29
30->''"Tattaglia is a pimp. He never could have outfought Santino. But I didn't know until this day that it was Barzini all along."''
31-->-- '''Vito Corleone''', ''Film/TheGodfather''
32
33->''"Ronan was only a puppet. It's really Thanos that I need to kill."''
34-->-- '''Drax the Destroyer''', ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy2014''
35
36->''"As I looked out over that city -- nobody knew I was there, nobody could see me, no one was even looking -- I had a thought that would guide me for years. Anonymity, Tony. Thanks to you, it's been my mantra ever since. Right? You simply rule from behind the scenes. Because the second you give evil a face -- a [[UsefulNotes/OsamaBinLaden bin Laden]], a [[UsefulNotes/MuammarGaddafi Gaddafi]], a Mandarin -- you hand the people a target."''
37-->-- '''Aldrich Killian''', ''Film/IronMan3''
38
39->'''Blofeld:''' You came across me so many times and yet you never saw me. [[Film/CasinoRoyale2006 Le Chiffre]], [[Film/QuantumOfSolace Greene]], [[Film/{{Skyfall}} Silva]]...\
40'''James Bond:''' All dead.\
41'''Blofeld:''' Yeah, that's right. A nice pattern developed, you interfered in my world, I destroyed yours. Or did you think it was coincidence that all the women in your life ended up dead? [[ILetGwenStacyDie Vesper Lynd]], for example. She was the big one. Has he told you[[note]]Madeleine Swann[[/note]] about her? And then of course, your beloved M, gone forever. ''Me.'' It was all me, James. It's always been me. ''The author of all your pain.''
42-->-- ''Film/{{Spectre}}''
43
44->''"We all work for someone."''
45-->-- '''Lockdown''', ''Film/TransformersAgeOfExtinction''
46[[/folder]]
47
48[[folder:Literature]]
49->''And they say that all the Cats whose wicked deeds are widely known\
50(I might mention Mungojerrie, I might mention Griddlebone)\
51Are nothing more than agents for the Cat who all the time\
52Just controls their operations\
53The Napoleon of crime!''
54-->-- ''Literature/OldPossumsBookOfPracticalCats'', "Macavity, the Mystery Cat"
55[[/folder]]
56
57[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
58->''"It's like I said: I'm just one, small part in a great machine."''
59-->-- '''Knox''', ''Series/{{Angel}}'', "[[Recap/AngelS05E15AHoleInTheWorld A Hole in the World]]"
60
61->''"We all have our keepers, you see."''
62-->-- '''Emperor Mollari''', ''Series/BabylonFive'', "[[Recap/BabylonFiveS03E17WarWithoutEndPart2 War Without End, Part 2]]"
63
64->'''Sam:''' [Erik's] on every local political board with an extra chair. He's a big deal down at the docks. I guess he even owns part of this golf club. He's a sorry excuse for a man, but he's got a lot of friends. The guy that worries me, though -- he's at the bar. Gray suit. That's his brother Quinn. He built this little empire. He does all the heavy lifting, but none of it means anything without Erik's pretty face and clean record. So, he's a little protective.\
65'''Michael:''' The guy behind the guy.\
66'''Sam:''' You got it.
67-->-- ''Series/BurnNotice'', "Shot in the Dark"
68
69->''"You've done well, [[DiscOneFinalBoss Kuroto]], or should I say, "[[{{Dehumanization}} Dangerous Zombie]]"... and "[[UnwittingPawn Perfect Knock-Out]]", I have to thank you for doing such a good job while I was in prison... of completing my "[[TheMostDangerousVideoGame Kamen Rider Chronicle]]". Kuroto's talents and the power of the Bugsters are no more than tools that make products for Genm Corporation. I was the one who built Genm Corporation. You are not its boss, Kuroto, and most certainly not [[PluckyComicRelief you]] either. '''I''' am [[BigBad the president]]."''
70-->--'''Masamune Dan''', ''Series/KamenRiderExAid''
71
72->''"You get to the top and then you find out that it's only the middle."''
73-->-- '''Prime Minister Dawkins''', ''Series/SecretState''
74
75->'''Zek:''' [[SecretTestOfCharacter It was a test]] to see if you were ready to take my place. And you failed... ''miserably!''\
76'''Krax:''' But father, I am ready! I am ready! ''[MilkingTheGiantCow]'' You saw for yourself. [[KlingonPromotion I was about to grab power]]!\
77'''Zek:''' You don't ''grab'' power. You accumulate it quietly, without anyone noticing.\
78'''Krax:''' But... But I don't understand.\
79'''Zek:''' The bar, you fool! That was the key. [[BarFullOfAliens All those visitors stopping by on their way to and from the wormhole]]. You could have sat there quietly at your leisure and gathered up all the information you needed about the Gamma Quadrant.\
80'''Krax:''' But what about him? ''[indicates Quark]''\
81'''Zek:''' You could have let him [[StaffOfAuthority hold the scepter]] while you controlled everything from the shadows. And then, when everything was running smoothly, only ''then'' would you take over.
82-->-- ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS01E11TheNagus The Nagus]]"
83
84->"I always knew there was someone behind Ingram. Like a black hole--invisible, but powerful."
85-->-- '''Special Counsel''', ''Series/PersonOfInterest'', "God Mode"
86
87[[/folder]]
88
89[[folder:Music]]
90->''You're just a microscopic cog in his catastrophic plan\
91Designed and directed by his RedRightHand''
92-->-- '''Music/NickCave''', "Red Right Hand"
93[[/folder]]
94
95[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
96->''"We want to ''control'' the world [rather than rule it]. A fine distinction. Let someone else rule... or appear to. Meanwhile, we make certain that everything works to benefit the Lodge. The rewards of power, without the drawbacks."''
97-->-- '''A member of the Black Lodge''', ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}''
98
99->''Why rule openly, when one can direct the lords with [[MadOracle whispers and riddles]] and even jests?''
100-->-- ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade -- Clanbook: Malkavian (Revised)''
101
102->''As [[PlayingWithFire firemaster]], [[WitchDoctor shaman]] and [[ChefOfIron head chef]], Butchers wield an amount of influence within each Ogre Kingdom second only to the Tyrant himself. Twinned with their [[EvilGenius malign intellect]], it is not uncommon for the hoarse whispers of a tribe's Butcher to dictate the bellowed commands of his Tyrant.''
103-->-- ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}: Ogre Kingdoms Army Book (6th edition)''
104[[/folder]]
105
106[[folder:Video Games]]
107->''"Hoyt Volker. Stay away from him, Jason. You think '''Vaas''' is crazy? All the evil on the island, it comes from Hoyt. [[BrainwashedAndCrazy He took Vaas's mind away from him]]. It is he who pulls the strings."''
108-->-- '''Dennis Rogers''', ''VideoGame/FarCry3''
109
110->'''Hades:''' So this little angel took down [[BigBad big, bad Medusa]] all by himself. What an accomplishment! Goodness, you should put this on your resume!\
111'''Pit:''' Uh, what's with this guy?\
112'''Hades:''' But before you do, you should know that I whipped up that Medusa especially for you.
113-->-- ''VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising''
114
115->''Despite Basil the Bat Lord seeming like the obvious leader of the terrifying Fright Knights, Willa is the real minifigure behind the curtain in Bricksylvania, pulling on everyone's puppet strings.''
116-->-- '''Willa the Witch''''s description, ''VideoGame/LegoLegacyHeroesUnboxed''
117
118->''"You thought you were using me? ME?! Buddy, I was playing you like a bat fiddle!"''
119-->-- '''Bowser''' to '''Antasma''', ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiDreamTeam''
120
121->''"No, wait. I was just doin' what I was told. ''Couldn't'' refuse. She's someone high up, {{government|Conspiracy}}, maybe, I don't know... No! I told him nothi--!"''
122-->-- '''Don Punchinello''' [[HisNameIs moments before being shot]], ''VideoGame/MaxPayne''
123
124->''"His friend? You kidding me? That crazy alien bastard was just a pawn. I'm the real king."''
125-->-- '''Damon Ricotello''', ''VideoGame/NoMoreHeroesIII''
126
127->''"That giant you killed, the one we call the 'Butcher'? He was actually one of our test subjects and was so close to becoming a full-fledged demon himself. Yet you had to seize the demonic ax from S-003's own facility and use the very weapon we were developing to put an end to his life."''
128-->-- '''[[spoiler:Oliver]]''', ''[[VideoGame/PurgatoryRPGMaker Purgatory 2]]''
129
130->''"Politicians and law enforcement think they rule society. They cannot see [[PuppetKing their own puppet holes]] or the desiccated hands jammed inside. Civic planning, excavation rights, gambling, prostitution, black market trade -- all of these belong to [[TheNecrocracy the Kingdom]], and they offer access to it for the right price."''
131-->-- '''The Buzzing''', ''VideoGame/TheSecretWorld''
132
133->''Unbeknownst to its own citizens, this society is actually manipulated from behind the scenes by a secretive shadow council. Appearances must be kept, but the tyranny of the majority should also be guarded against. After all, what if the fools vote for the wrong candidate?''
134-->-- FlavorText for '''Shadow Council''', ''VideoGame/{{Stellaris}}''
135[[/folder]]
136
137[[folder:Visual Novels]]
138->''"From the very beginning, you had been at my side like a shadow; staying ever a step behind, always pushing me into the limelight. But who was the true conductor of this opera, I ask? 'Tis a foolish question that needs no answering."''
139-->-- '''Reinhard Heydrich''', ''VisualNovel/DiesIrae''
140[[/folder]]
141
142[[folder:Web Animation]]
143->''The leader of leaders, he is the one who pulls the strings, yet prefers to remain in the shadows as the good puppeteer he is.''
144-->-- '''The Overseer''''s bio, ''WebAnimation/XionicMadness 3''
145
146->''"Someone has been pulling the strings from behind the entire time. Even the Overseer ended up being just a puppet."''
147-->-- '''Xero''', ''WebAnimation/XionicMadness 4 Part 3''
148[[/folder]]
149
150[[folder:Webcomics]]
151->''"Every single time I think I have killed the person responsible for usurping my command, I find there's someone else higher up, still fighting me."''
152-->-- '''Martellus "Tweedle" von Blitzengaard''', ''Webcomic/GirlGenius''
153
154->''"Tavros, at this point it should 8e o8vious. I am the unseen hand 8ehind every major event in their session, and to some extent, their whole lives. At least those events not happening 8y the volition of their own natural incompetence! Don't you think this is how it should 8e? Shouldn't the greatest player leave her fingerprints on every step of the rise to power of her ultim8 nemesis?"''
155-->-- '''Vriska Serket''', ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}''
156
157->''"For a little while, I thought he was the supreme menace, and I would have to face him in a final showdown. 8ut it turned out that was just a 8it of standard misdirection. He was just another step up in a typical pattern of escal8tion involving increasingly 'insurmounta8le' threats, which legendary heroes like us have to overcome to achieve total victory over everything."''
158-->-- '''Vriska Serket''', [[ExaggeratedTrope much later in]] ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}''
159[[/folder]]
160
161[[folder:Web Originals]]
162->'''Fortune:''' Speaking of manipulation, it's time for me to steal Arsenal since I've been manipulating you from the start!\
163'''Solidus:''' Actually, I tricked Ocelot into manipulating you into manipulating me!\
164'''Ocelot:''' [[YouFool Fools]]! I've been manipulating everything from behind the scenes!\
165'''Magic Hand:''' But actually, I've been manipulating you!\
166'''Raiden:''' Alright, this has officially become a load of crap.
167-->-- ''[[http://www.gamespite.net/toastywiki/index.php/Site/ThumbnailMetalGearSolid2-05 Thumbnail Threatre: Metal Gear Solid 2: Part 5]]''
168[[/folder]]
169
170[[folder:Western Animation]]
171->''"Hyperion was a hammer. I am an architect."''
172-->-- '''Nighthawk''', ''WesternAnimation/AvengersAssemble'', "Nighthawk"
173
174->'''Ruff:''' You got us. We did send the ransom letter, and we did break in here to kidnap Edmée, but it weren't our idea. We was workin' for someone else.\
175'''Arlo:''' Who were you working for?\
176'''Ruff:''' Well, now, don't judge us. We got the idea from... from, well... '''the Bog Lady.'''\
177''[Ruff and Stucky shudder]''\
178'''Marcellus:''' You did business with a... Bog Lady?
179-->-- ''WesternAnimation/IHeartArlo'', "[[Recap/IHeartArloS1E19TheUncondemning The Uncondemning]]"
180[[/folder]]
181

Top