->''"You want to talk "cruel," Victoria? How about ripping a child away from her father or bribing a doctor into poisoning every good memory she ever had of him?"''
-->-- '''Emily''', ''Series/Revenge2011''

->''"But there are dreams that cannot be, and there are storms we cannot weather...I had a dream my life would be so much more than this hell I'm living. So different now than what it seems. Now life has killed the dream I dreamed."''
-->-- '''Fantine''', ''Theatre/LesMiserables''

->''"I've got my fix. Happy ending. I've... got... my... fix...."''
-->-- '''Marion''', ''Literature/RequiemForADream''

->''"But who knows what she spoke to the darkness, alone, in the bitter watches of the night, when all her life seemed shrinking, and the walls of her bower closing in about her, a hutch to trammel some wild thing in?"''
-->-- '''Gandalf''' on Eowyn, ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''

->''"Women in the media for so long were always [[TheHeart the emotional support]], the damsels, the smiling pretty faces, so in the 90's, [[EvolvingTrope there was a desperate need to change that]]. Oh, not by making them [[HollywoodHomely unpretty]], we wouldn't do that, but we suddenly made them cold, bitter, confrontational, and overly strong, to go out of their way to show that they're not those old emotional stereotypes, and instead make way for [[StrawFeminist new emotional stereotypes]]. For you see, in every 90's film, the woman behind this strong independent wall that won't let everybody in, ''[quivering, feminine voice]'' is a sad little bunny rabbit [[DefrostingIceQueen that will eventually let down her defences]] and reveal a [[DarkAndTroubledPast tragic backstory]]. ''[normal voice]'' So you see, she wasn't a strong, confident worker just because she was a strong, confident worker. ''[jumps back to the feminine voice]'' Deep down she just wants to be held like any other fragile woman. Oh, I don't want to think! I just want to be loved!"''
-->-- '''WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic''' on ''Film/PatchAdams''

->''"A bird whose wings have been plucked\\
Will shed all its feathers\\
And turn back into the beast it was\\
Before it evolved into a bird."''
-->-- ''Anime/TheBigO''

->''"Through the woods a girl came sadly,\\
Something broken in her chest:\\
She had dared to love another--\\
Alas, no better than the rest.\\
\\
Up my path a girl came gladly,\\
Something opened up my doors.\\
I longed to stop her bleeding heart\\
So I drew her to my shores.\\
\\
Those you trust will hurt you badly--\\
Something now I'm sure you see...\\
So drown your tears in me, my dear,\\
As you drown, my dear... in me."''
-->-- ''VideoGame/BrutalLegend''

->'''Erika:''' So why team up with her? If she didn't have anything you wanted anymore, why burden yourself? Or do you just have a thing for damaged goods?
-> '''Largo:''' Damaged goods? Damage can be healed.
-->-- ''Webcomic/MegaTokyo'' [[http://megatokyo.com/strip/850 [=[=]0850[=]=]]]

->'''Samantha:''' How do we know when we fall in love?
->'''Mrs. Krabappel''': Oh, don't you worry. Most of you will never fall in love and marry out of fear of dying alone. ''[chuckles bitterly]''
-->-- ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''

->''"She's damaged. ''She's damaged'', because the unicorn didn't come to her as a kid."''
-->-- '''WebVideo/TheNostalgiaChick''', making fun of ''WesternAnimation/TheLastUnicorn''

->''"I want to be alone. If I'm alone, I won't be hurt by anyone. "People can understand each other"... [[SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids What a live action series-worthy cliché line.]] In truth, they all only think about themselves. [[EtTuBrute "But I was believing in you!!"... and then, only to be betrayed in the end.]] I don't want to experience this feeling ever again."''
-->-- '''Kaori Yae''', in the first Drama track of her ''VisualNovel/TokimekiMemorial 2: Blooming Stories'' CD

->''"I'm like this cherry tree. Unable to bloom... Just a bothersome being..."''
-->-- '''Kaori Yae''', in her storyline's mandatory Event of ''VisualNovel/TokimekiMemorial 2''

->''"I... I wanted to go to school too. I wanted to play with friends... ride a Ferris wheel. But I couldn't. Because I shouldn't even be alive. I... I'm a woodpecker with the poison beak. I hated and hurt a lot of people. It's the only way I could live. '''[[DeathSeeker That's why I have to die...]]''' '''I CAN'T FORGIVE MYSELF ANY LONGER!''' That's why I can't... The truth is... what I want is happiness... but I can't have it!"''
-->-- '''[[spoiler:Shiro]]''', ''Manga/DeadmanWonderland''

->''"Do you really expect Minene-sama to act as in a shoujo manga? I've never had a proper childhood... [...] Never. My childhood was filled with blood and strife. I have never needed love. Not then, not now. It's a worthless pastime for girls. This is the world I live in. The dirty world of the adults."''
-->-- '''Minene Uryuu''', ''Manga/FutureDiary''

->''"There was a time when men were kind''\\
''When their voices were soft,''\\
''And their words inviting;''\\
''There was a time when love was blind,''\\
''And the world was a song,''\\
''And the song was exciting;''\\
''There was a time...''\\
''Then it all went wrong..."''
-->-- '''Fantine''', ''Theatre/LesMiserables''

->''"I just didn't want to be a loser anymore..."''
-->-- '''Mitsuko Souma''', ''Film/BattleRoyale''

->''"Turns out, you mess with someone's head enough, you can turn a scared little kid into an all-powerful bitch."''
-->-- '''Subject Zero''', ''VideoGame/MassEffect2''

->''"... And I'd rather be famous than free."''
-->-- '''Dolface''', ''VideoGame/TwistedMetal''

->'''''(262)''''': ''But he's like a baby bird with a broken wing that I want to FUCK.''
-->-- ''Website/TextsFromLastNight''

->''"If you think wish upon a star would help, think again. Even when you wish, some wishes just won't come true. Shiro, it's no good if you don't stay determined and independent, you know. You won't become a strong person if you keep relying on us."''
-->-- '''Jun Hono''', ''[[Anime/MazingerZ Shiro Kabuto]]'', ''Anime/GreatMazinger''

->'''Church:''' Look, you go and round up everyone I know, just to bring me back, and then you keep us all in the dark? What the hell did you think was gonna happen, [[spoiler:Carolina?]] Of ''course'' no one trusts you!
->'''[[spoiler: Carolina]]:''' Well, I don't trust ''them'', [[spoiler: Epsilon]]. I don't trust anyone anymore.
->'''Church:''' Oh, why not? Because having friends would ruin the whole 'psychotic loner bitch' thing you've got going on? [[SarcasmMode Because]] ''[[SarcasmMode that]]'' [[SarcasmMode would be a real shame.]]
->'''[[spoiler: Carolina]]:''' It's because I had a team once. A team with the best training, the best equipment - and despite everything that they had that made them the best, they still lied, and stole, and ''tore'' each other to ''pieces''! So you tell me: how the ''hell'' am I supposed to trust a [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits rag-tag team of]] ''[[RagtagBunchOfMisfits idiots]]'', when I couldn't even trust the people that were closest to me?
->'''Church:''' ...
->'''[[spoiler: Carolina]]:''' That's what I thought.
-->-- ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue''

->''"Or maybe, you think you can save me? Will you love me? Take care of me? Heal all my pain? Hm. That's what I thought..."''
-->-- '''Angela Orosco''', ''VideoGame/SilentHill2''

->''"I won't depend on anyone anymore..."''
-->-- '''Homura Akemi''', shortly after her CynicismCatalyst, ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica''

->'''Riley:''' I don’t know what’s happened in your past--
->'''Buffy:''' [[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS2E14Innocence Pain]]. [[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS1E12ProphecyGirl Death]]. [[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS2E22BecomingPart2 Apocalypse]]. None of it fun.
-->-- '''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''', "Doomed"

->''"I don't know what happened on that island, and judging by [[ThousandYardStare that look in your eyes]], I guess I don't want to know."''
-->-- ''VideoGame/TombRaider2013''

->''"Patience\\
Is hard to find\\
Shadows\\
Seem to fill your life\\
\\
Don’t be disappointed\\
Don’t let your heart break\\
Don’t spend another minute\\
In this way\\
\\
It’s okay\\
Dry your eyes now, baby\\
Broken wings won’t hold you down\\
\\
[[SubvertedTrope You’ll take flight soon, baby]]\\
[[SubvertedTrope You’ll be lifted up]]\\
[[SubvertedTrope And you’ll be there]]"''
-->-- ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'', "Wings", a song by Jeff and Casey Lee Williams

->''“Maybe,” Tattletale mumbled. I could feel her fingernails against the fabric of my suit, at my back. “Fuck this. I hate feeling so dumb. So much shit I don’t know, shit I can’t know. Like fucking [[TheOmniscient Ziz]] here. Fuck, I’ve barely ever given a crap about anyone except myself and my friends, and now I’m [[ClusterFBomb fucking]] caring what happens to everyone, when I can’t ''do'' anything about it.”''
-->-- ''Literature/{{Worm}}''

->''"I was a flawed person. I knew it. Had someone asked before all this started, I would have admitted it. But one of the places I felt most flawed, one of the least comfortable things for me to admit, was just how weak I was at my core. Some people could turn to the ugly incidents in their past and find a kind of strength there. An anger to drive them forward. When I touched that part of myself, even around the edges, I almost always felt like all the strength went out of me."''
-->-- '''Blake Thorburn''', ''Literature/{{Pact}}''

->''"You [[DealWithTheDevil sold your soul]] to me to save your boyfriend's life. And how does this creep thank you? By running off with some babe. ...[[ManipulativeBastard He really hurt you, didn't he, Meg?]]"''
-->-- '''Hades''', ''WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}}''

->''"A sword mirrors its owner."''
-->-- '''Riven''', ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends''

->''"Think of it, Batman. To never again walk on a summer's day with a hot wind in your face...and a warm hand to hold. Oh, yes...I'd '''kill''' for that.''"
-->-- '''Mr. Freeze''', ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries''

->''"....I've had to make decisions for the better and, while I let this be known, they were always at my expense! Each and every last sacrifice I've made were for the best and, be this as noted, many of then I wasn't given a choice in, it was either do or die and I chose do because the alternative would be even more unbearable. [...] So, to answer your question, yes, I do know how to make decisions for the best and making decisions for the best doesn't always mean they may be the best course of action, however, it is better than no decision. If you're angry at me, fine, be angry, call me a bitch while your at it, however, I can only hope you'd forgive me for the choices I've made. If you can't, then [[PleaseKillMeIfItSatisfiesYou end my life, act as you see fit, if you think it'll satisfy you]]."''
-->-- '''Yukari''', ''[[FanFic/Gensokyo20XX Gensokyo 20XXV]]''

->''“Passing the favour forward? Yeah. I’ve been helping [[EmotionlessGirl Rei]] since I got here, she was far worse than she is now socially, and then [[LoveInterest you]] came along. You were the kid, the one in a million, who chose to become strong instead of break in response to such monumental adversity. But I could see it in your eyes, the tone of your voice in sheltered moments that you still carried the wounds, that you were more fragile than you seemed”''
-->-- '''[[AntiHero Shinji]]''', ''Fanfic/ThousandShinji''

->'''Asuka''': What Sensei?\\
'''Shinji''': The one my father abandoned me with after my mother died in an accident with the Eva! Not that you'd understand that.\\
'''Asuka''': Me too. [...] My mother... There was an accident with Unit-02... She... died, eventually. My father... didn't mourn very long. [...] So yes, Third Child, I know exactly what that felt like!\\
'''Shinji''': Your father abandoned you after your mother was gone.\\
'''Asuka''': You have nightmares all the time about it. The memory keeps coming after you when you try to sleep.\\
'''Shinji''': ''[nodding]'' It's hard to sleep. You feel lonely and cold at night, because no one ever held you after that.\\
'''Asuka''': You never had many friends before you came here. No on ever wanted to just talk to you for you.\\
'''Shinji''': Your father never explained or apologized for why he just left you.\\
'''Asuka''': No one even tried to understand your pain. No one cared.\\
'''Shinji''': You miss her every day, but don't even have any pictures, barely any memories. No one tells you about her.\\
'''Asuka''': And there was never any point in talking about it to anyone, because there was no one in the world who could understand what being an Evangelion Pilot was like.\\
'''Shinji/Asuka''': ''[in unison]'' You're just like me.
-->-- ''Fanfic/AdviceAndTrust''

->''Asuka leaned into the kiss. She had lost much and suffered terribly, but from the ashes, she had risen anew.''
-->-- ''Fanfic/{{HERZ}}''

->'''Asuka''': Don't worry Shinji. So far, I've lived on my own, by my own, only for me, only for my own values and my own satisfaction. I don't need you, or anyone else for that matter. I... I don't want to be lonely anymore. If I could... I'd rather be with you then be alone. But it's too late now. And besides... half of your heart is not enough. If I can't have you all to myself, then I'd rather not have you at all...\\
'''Shinji''': Asuka...\\
'''Asuka''': It's okay. I can manage on my own.
-->-- ''Fanfic/TheOneILoveIs''

->''"We make our own lives, not the lives others want for us." Stop, a part of Asuka screamed as she spoke. Just stop now. Please stop. "If you depend on others, then you are weak, because you can’t live for yourself. It’s always what others want and what they impose on you. Even if it’s your own mother."''
-->-- ''Fanfic/NeonGenesisEvangelionGenocide''

->''"Look at you! The universe tried its best to destroy you and it only made you stronger."''
-->-- '''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}''' described by an enemy, ''ComicBook/RedDaughterOfKrypton''

->''"And Kara? ... You'll survive this. He just knocked you off your cloud, that's all."''
-->-- '''ComicBook/{{Batgirl}}''' to '''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}''', ''ComicBook/ElseworldsFinestSupergirlAndBatgirl''

->'''[[Franchise/{{Superman}} Clark]]:''' [[ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} She]] spends all of her time in that cape. She's missing out on so much... because I think she's afraid to lose it again.\\
'''ComicBook/LoisLane:''' Kara's been through a lot of trauma.\\
'''Clark:''' I only want her to be happy.
-->-- ''ComicBook/SupermanBrainiac''

->''But [[ComicBook/PowerGirl she]] had to be tough. Finding out that so many years of her life were a pre-programmed lie, coming to a strange world, finding only one man of Krypton and then losing him, turning from innocence into grim experience on a planet she never made... she had to be tough, or break.''
-->-- ''Fanfic/AForceOfFour''

->''"See, in the end, [[ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} you]] were just too sweet, just too optimistic and happy. I take you from home, I give you a best friend and make her hate you... Nope. No matter what I put you through, you always looked on the bright side. Bah!"''
-->-- '''Mister Mxyzptlk''', ''ComicBook/SupergirlCosmicAdventuresInThe8thGrade''

->"''I do not care, Father! [[TheLostLenore A world without her is empty]]. [[StrawNihilist A LIFE without her is empty]].''"
-->-- '''[[spoiler:Lord Blumiere]]''', after crossing the DespairEventHorizon, ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario''

->''She used to be so formidable, relentless. There was something majestic about how Blue moved, in long sweeping dresses or her black court robe. Her hair flowed like a veil around her when she wasn't in court, and Yellow found it so pleasant to part it and see her face bared, and those clear blue eyes. That was the woman who had captured Yellow's attention back in university: her regal aura, her calm yet authoritative voice to her peers, and her detachment to most things going around her. She had quickly assembled a group of loyal followers. ...Yellow looked at her now, saw the deep permanent bags underneath her eyes, how sunken her posture had become, but it didn't matter – she was still her Blue.'''
-->-- ''Fanfic/AnywhereButHere'', [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13023365/2/Anywhere-But-Here Chapter 2]]

-> '''Sigma''': ''[from flashback]'' You can only believe in yourself. That's the kind of girl you really are, aren't you?\\
'''Sheila''': He's right. I never believed in anything but myself. So when was [[BirthdayEpisode it]] that I… When was [[YouAreNotAlone it]]... that I [[DefrostingIceQueen changed]]?
-->-- ''Anime/TweenyWitches'', "Sheila's Quandary" (subtitles)

->''I hate when I can't handle my loneliness. This crying's been happening too often. Every other week now. What do normal people do when they get this sad? They reach out to friends or family, I think. That's not an option.''
-->-- '''Elliot Alderson''', ''Series/MrRobot''

->'''{{Alternate|Universe}} Fiona:''' True love didn't get me out of that tower, I did. I saved myself. Don't you get it? It's all just a big fairy tale!\\
'''Shrek:''' Fiona, don't say that, it does exist!\\
'''Alternate Fiona:''' And how would you know? Did you grow up locked away in a dragon's keep? Did you live all alone in a miserable tower? Did you cry yourself to sleep every night waiting for a true love that never came?
-->-- ''WesternAnimation/ShrekForeverAfter''

->"''It was because of [[DomesticAbuse HIM]] that you became so troubled. When it subsided... the others blamed, hounded, and shunned you. They couldn't see your tragic beauty.''"
-->--'''Clint''', ''VideoGame/TinkerQuarry''

-> "''Only thorns left on this rose.''"
-->--'''Dorothea''', ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses''

-> "I'm addicted\\
To the sorrow\\
When the buzz ends\\
By tomorrow\\
[[DrugsAreBad There's another rush of poison flowin' into my veins\\
Givin' me a dose of pleasure that resides by the pain.]]\\
I'm addicted\\
I'm dependant\\
[[StepfordSmiler Lookin' awesome\\
Feelin' helpless.]]\\
[[MyGodWhatHaveIDone And I know I'm raisin' Cain by every highway in Hell,]]\\
Maybe things won't be so terrible inside this hotel?"
-->--'''[[JerkassWoobie Angel Dust]]''', ''WebAnimation/HazbinHotel''

->''Maia started sobbing, gripping her arms as she sat down in an alley. This wasn't her! She was supposed to be strong and brave! She wasn't supposed to break down crying! She was the Queen of Mercenaries! Another voice, one that belonged to her tormentor, told her that she was just a lovely doll just waiting to be used. That she didn't need to think. That she was only made to make others feel good.''
-->-- ''Fanfic/TheNightUnfurls''

->''My heart is getting heavy from hoping\\
And it's got a lot of battle scars\\
I kinda wish somebody had told me\\
That this was gonna be so hard''
-->-- "Falling Apart" by '''Creator/{{ARMNHMR}}''' and '''Runn'''

->''"Do you remember the book you gave me? '''The Eagle in the Valley.''' I read many stories with my mother. After she passed, that one… is all I thought about. I was the eagle in the stormy valley. Lost, alone, abandoned by my own. Too weak to carry myself away from the clouds. When I could, I flew here. But… The clouds followed. I despaired. Cold. Always cold. Until… you."''
-->'''Shimao Fang,''' ''VideoGame/MyTimeAtSandrock''
----