History HonorBeforeReason / Literature

* In ''[[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Literature/ISurvived I Survived the Destruction of Pompeii]]'', Marcus's father insisted that he and Marcus had to go back to Pompeii, where their masters had no doubt hired slave hunters to track them down and probably beat the shit out of them or worse for running away and then return them, to warn everyone about the impending eruption.

** Much like Jaime, former Kingsguard Ser Barristan Selmy is shown to struggle with his guilt at putting HonourBeforeReason and standing by throughout Aerys' reign.

--->"Carrot, what have I told you about the [[LetsFightLikeGentlemen Marquis of ]]'''[[LetsFightLikeGentlemen Bloody ]]'''[[LetsFightLikeGentlemen Fantailler?]]"

* During ''Literature/ABrothersPrice'' Jerin gives his word of honor that he will be a placid, willing captive if his captors will spare Cira. He promptly turns on them, explaining to Cira that this is dealing with these people on their level -- they're already shown themselves to not be trustworthy in the least.

** Prince Rhaegar Targaryen decided to fight like a proper knight and met Robert Baratheon for a 1-on-1 DuelToTheDeath during the rebellion. His knightly honor got him killed, as no amount of chivalric action and skill with a sword were going to stop a very large man with a ''very'' large [[DropTheHammer hammer]] and a severe hateboner for the man in front of him. As Jorah summarizes it to the man's sister:

* Reepicheep the mouse from ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia''. On one notable occasion, [[TheGoodKing Caspian]] has to sternly order him not to challenge a dragon to single combat. [[ArtisticLicenseMilitary When the dragon didn't have any allies anyway, and Reep did.]] The mice he leads are just as bad -- when Reepicheep loses his tail, they all decide to cut their own ones off too rather than wear an honour denied to their leader.

** Played straight and deadly serious in ''[[Literature/ApprenticeAdept Phaze Doubt]]'': [[HeroAntagonist Lysander]] - a deep-cover agent for the [[AlienInvasion invading Hectare]] that the natives are trying to win to their cause - creates a mathematical algorithm that will allow LaResistance's plan[[note]] Using a magic-powered EarthShatteringKaboom to shove the planet fully into the dimension of magic[[/note]] to succeed. He knows that if he doesn't hand it over, the resistance will enact the plan anyway, likely killing them all (himself and the local Hectare included). He considers this a faithful execution of his orders [[note]]"Infiltrate the native resistance forces and thwart any major plans[[/note]]. By this point, Lysander has enough ConflictingLoyalty that he agrees to a best-of-three contest with the local resistance leader for the algorithm.

** Brienne of Tarth aspires to a knightly honour code, and is keenly aware of this trope when she sees that defending a group of war orphans will mean taking on six armed bandits by herself. She tries it anyway, to the internal monologue of ''No chance, and no choice''.

* In Stanley Ellin's novelette "The Crime of Ezechiele Coen" when Baron Von Grubbner refuses to pay Giorgio the money offered to him for informing on the Resistance, he kills the Baron, buries him in the Teatro Marcello and takes the money. Ezechiele, Giorgio's father, insists that the money must be returned, steals it from Giorgio and buries it with the Baron. Due to having been seen with the Baron's distinctive money case by several witnesses, the other ghetto residents believe Ezechiele to be the informant and kill him while Giorgio stands by and says nothing.

* In David Wingrove's ''Literature/ChungKuo'', members of the House (the parliament) have the son of the T'ang of Europe killed. Knowing where this could lead, the T'ang decides to let matters be. The leader of his army, Marshal Tolonen, does not obey orders. Instead he marches into the House in session and slits the throat of one of the plotters. This sets the stage for everything else.

* ''StrikeTheZither'': Ren is a very honorable person. She refuses to betray and overthrow her relative, even though it is a key part of her strategist Zephyr's plan to win the war. This leads to Zephyr arranging a coup behind her back.

** Balman Bryce, a pawn of Cersei, is ordered by her to do away with the up-jumped Bronn before he becomes a problem. Instead of a HuntingAccident or other devious ways like Cersei very explicitly tells him, Balman decides to challenge Bronn to a knightly and honorable joust instead. Balman, a well past his prime fat moron of a man, winds up dead for tangling with the very lethal sellsword in such a knightly manner.