History Main / AfraidOfTheirOwnStrength

** In ''[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E26TwilightsKingdomPart2 "Twilight's Kingdom Part 2"]], after realizing she has trouble controlling the combined power of all the Princesses' alicorn magic, Twilight tries to physically distance herself from her friends so she can practice in safety.
** In ''[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS7E10ARoyalProblem "A Royal Problem"]], it's implied that this is the reason for Princess Celestia's [[TheWorfEffect less-than-stellar fighting record]]: she has incredible power and could destroy Equestria single-hoofedly if she desired (witness [[SuperpoweredEvilSide Daybreaker]]); she holds back because she cares for her subjects' well-being.

* ''ComicBook/KingdomCome'': The plot with all its {{Nineties anti hero}}es is essentially when [[BewareTheSuperMan super powered people stopped fearing]] what they [[MoralEventHorizon might become]] if not careful and decided to ride the edge of [[HeWhoFightsMonsters hero and villain]] [[note]]Some could also argue this being the point UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks itself which ''Kingdom Come'' was a deconstruction of[[/note]].

** DependingOnTheWriter his [[StrongAsTheyNeedToBe varying strength]] is attributed to mental blocks he has consciously put up to keep his power manageable. Also one of the {{trope codifier}}s as often it is shown that what he considers one of the biggest threats to the world is ''himself'' going rogue or being put under some kind of mind control, which is also why he considers it a ''good thing'' his [[OddFriendship best friend]] Batman keeps kryptonite in his arsenal at all times. In the ComicBook/PostCrisis era comics, Batman's first chunk of Kryptonite was actually given to him by Superman for exactly this reason.

* ComicBook/{{Cyclops}}, DependingOnTheWriter, which is why Professor X says he put Scott in charge of the first group: he applies the same caution and restraint to the other's abilities that he does to his own.
* What eventually happens to ComicBook/DoctorDoom after he takes the [[PhysicalGod god like]] powers of the Beyonder in ''ComicBook/SecretWars1984''. He realizes unless he watches his every thought and whim he can [[PowerIncontinence accidentally]] [[PersonOfMassDestruction destroy a civilization]] with half a thought, eventually it gets the the point where he can't even sleep.
* The golden age ComicBook/GreenLantern feels this way about his ring after seeing the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in an {{Elseworld}} story to the point where he put away [[TenMinuteRetirement his ring for a time]].

* Black Bolt king of ComicBook/TheInhumans has a voice so powerful he once immobilized the Hulk with a whisper and [[HeWhoMustNotBeHeard destroyed a city when he was born crying]] (he's only gotten more powerful), because of this he has taken a vow of silence except in extreme cases and has [[TheSilentBob mastered body language]].
* The plot of ''ComicBook/KingdomCome'' with all its {{Nineties anti hero}}es is essentially when [[BewareTheSuperMan super powered people stopped fearing]] what they [[MoralEventHorizon might become]] if not careful and decided to ride the edge of [[HeWhoFightsMonsters hero and villain]] [[note]]Some could also argue this being the point UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks itself which ''Kingdom Come'' was a deconstruction of[[/note]].
* In ''ComicBook/MonstersUnleashed'', Kei Kawade is keenly aware of how dangerous and destructive his ability to summon monsters is, to the point that he's considered a [[LivingMacguffin strategic asset]] by every intelligence organization on the planet. He's so scared of his own power that he starts considering ''himself'' a monster.
* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'' has some shades of this. Notably he doesn't drink because he's afraid of losing control of his super strength and after a certain incident involving [[ILetGwenStacyDie Gwen Stacy]] is crazy cautious about calculating the force necessary to safely catch someone with a web line. He also [[DependingOnTheWriter occasionally]] seems to believe this is part of WithGreatPowerComesGreatResponsibility. The only times he ever truly cuts loose are against superhumans who are stronger or tougher than him. On the other hand, when ComicBook/TheKingpin had his aunt shot, he stopped holding back and nearly killed the Fat Man in a CurbStompBattle.
* Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} is more hot-headed and more short-tempered than her cousin, but she is also frightened of her own power and she holds back most of time because she doesn't want hurt anybody.
* ComicBook/{{Superman}}:

* Kenpachi Zaraki is a variant of this in that he subconsciously holds back his true power in his battles, as he fears that if he went all out, fights wouldn’t be any fun for him.

In conflict-based storytelling a great way to [[{{Foil}} contrast]] a protagonist from an antagonist seeking [[DrunkOnTheDarkSide "Ultimate]] [[DrunkWithPower Power"]], or a fellow protagonist with the same power, but lacking the fear, embracing it.[[note]]If it's a fellow protagonist expect them to also fill one or more of the following: HotBlooded, some kind of AntiHero, SlowlySlippingIntoEvil, TokenEvilTeammate, or [[PowerLevels just not]] [[SuperWeight earth shatteringly powerful]], though it could even be a StartOfDarkness.[[/note]]

In conflict-based storytelling a great way to [[{{Foil}} contrast]] a protagonist from an antagonist seeking [[DrunkOnTheDarkSide "Ultimate]] [[DrunkWithPower Power"]], or a fellow protagonist with the same power, but lacking the fear, embracing it [[note]]if it's a fellow protagonist expect them to also fill one or more of the following: HotBlooded, some kind of AntiHero, SlowlySlippingIntoEvil, TokenEvilTeammate, or [[PowerLevels just not]] [[SuperWeight earth shatteringly powerful]], though it could even be a StartOfDarkness [[/note]].

* The golden age Franchise/GreenLantern feels this way about his ring after seeing the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in an {{Elseworld}} story to the point where he put away [[TenMinuteRetirement his ring for a time]].

* ''Franchise/SpiderMan'' has some shades of this. Notably he doesn't drink because he's afraid of losing control of his super strength and after a certain incident involving [[ILetGwenStacyDie Gwen Stacy]] is crazy cautious about calculating the force necessary to safely catch someone with a web line. He also [[DependingOnTheWriter occasionally]] seems to believe this is part of WithGreatPowerComesGreatResponsibility. The only times he ever truly cuts loose are against superhumans who are stronger or tougher than him. On the other hand, when ComicBook/TheKingpin had his aunt shot, he stopped holding back and nearly killed the Fat Man in a CurbStompBattle.

* Franchise/{{Superman}}:

* In ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', after Vaarsuvius realizes how far-reaching the Familicide spell was, he/she has a HeroicBSOD made of MyGodWhatHaveIDone and this, saying something along the lines of "This is the ultimate power I spent most of my life looking for? How many other innocents did I kill whose only sin was loving a stranger?"