History Main / LesserOfTwoEvils

* In ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'' most of the time when Doctor Eggman is availible as a follower in a level his mission represents that levels villain path, however in the handful of levels where his opposite is Black Doom he represents the hero path due to [[EvilVersusOblivion being far less evil.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/GarfieldAndFriends'': In "[[Recap/GarfieldAndFriendsS3E06 Binky Gets Cancelled Again!]]", the President of WBOR cancels ''The Binky the Clown Show'' and replaces it with ''The Buddy Bears'' after recieving complaints from parents that Binky's show isn't educational. Garfield finds Binky loud and obnoxious, but he considers the Buddy Bears worse than Binky because [[TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong they encourage children not to have their own individual points of view and punish them for thinking otherwise]], so he helps Binky get his show back on the air.

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'': The end of "[[Recap/JusticeLeagueS2E11And12ABetterWorld A Better World]]" has Superman pardon his nemesis Lex Luthor to assist with defeating his evil Justice Lord counterpart and his team. Given their long rivalry, and how the other world Luthor sparked the other Superman's StartOfDarkness, Prime Superman states it's ''"just one of the hard choices he has to make today"''.

** In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS22E17LoveIsAManyStrangledThing Love Is a Many Strangled Thing]]", it's revealed that Homer's strangling Bart has actually been keeping some of Bart's worst tendencies in check. However, the same thing happens in "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS4E6ItchyAndScratchyTheMovie Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie]]" when Homer and Marge give Bart a legitimate punishment only to let him off the hook. When this happens again in "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS21E14PostcardsFromTheWedge Postcards from the Wedge]]", causing Homer and Marge to let Bart fend for himself, it results in Bart attempting to destroy Springfield Elementary to get their attention.

* One of the most notorious examples of this happening in politics in recent history occurred during [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_Louisiana_gubernatorial_election the 1991 election for governor of Louisiana.]] The two candidates remaining during the runoff election were Democrat Edwin Edwards, who was widely believed to be corrupt, and David Duke, a former leader of the UsefulNotes/KluKluxKlan, who was running as a Republican. Many prominent Republicans, including the current Louisiana governor (and losing candidate) Buddy Roemer and President UsefulNotes/GeorgeHWBush endorsed Edwards. Two popular bumper stickers endorsing Edwards summed up the state's mood: one said "Vote for the Lizard, not the Wizard" and the other said "Vote for the Crook: It's Important!"

* In the ''VideoGame/Persona5'' PeggySue fic series ''Fanfic/StartAgain'', Ichiryusai Madarame is this. His neglect and plagiarism of Yusuke and his other students is unquestionably cruel and unfair, but compared to the other problems the Phantom Thieves have to deal with, which include a renegade Metaverse assassin, a violent sexual predator, a mob boss, the sociopathic leader of a GovernmentConspiracy, and [[spoiler:Hifumi's mother]], [[AdaptationalVillainy whose toxic behavior is rapidly escalating]] due to [[ForWantOfANail Yusuke's accidental actions causing changes in the timeline]], his cruelty is at least stable and predictable. Therefore, dealing with him is fairly low on the Phantom Thieves' to-do list.

* ''[[https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/threads/hybrid-hive-eat-shard-worm-mgln-complete.55056/ Hybrid Hive: Eat Shard]]'': Taylor is impressed by how much the PRT is offering to pay her for the opportunity to study her Unison Device, but she doesn't want to risk them finding out too much and deciding to take it away, so she'd like the option to refuse. Carol Dallon advises her, though, that if they're willing to pay that much, then someone ''really'' wants access to the necklace, and refusing the contract will probably lead to them finding a less pleasant option where Taylor doesn't get paid at all -- and possibly doesn't even have guaranteed safety.

* In ''Fanfic/WalkAMileinAnothersShoes'', a ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'' fanfic, Izuku believes that he must hurt classmates he likes to win the Sports Festival[[spoiler:because All for One threatened to kill the winner if Izuku doesn’t win.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'': The end of "A Better World" has Superman pardon his nemesis Lex Luthor to assist with defeating his evil Justice Lord counterpart and his team. Given their long rivalry, and how the other world Luthor sparked the other Superman's StartOfDarkness, Prime Superman states it's ''"just one of the hard choices he has to make today"''.

** In the episode "Love Is A Many Strangled Thing", it was revealed that Homer's strangling Bart has actually been keeping some of Bart's worst tendencies in check. However, the same thing happened on "Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie" where Homer and Marge gave Bart a legitimate punishment only to let him off the hook. When this happens again in "Postcards from the Wedge", causing Homer and Marge to let Bart fend for himself, it resulted in Bart attempting to destroy Springfield Elementary to get their attention.
** In "Sideshow Bob Roberts", Sideshow Bob is running for mayor opposite "Diamond Joe" Quimby. Lisa and Bart do their best to try and make sure the sleazy and incompetent Quimby is reelected over the murderous and psychotic Bob, with the former quoting this word for word.

* ''Manga/BlackClover'': [[spoiler:After the devil [[ManipulativeBastard Zagred]] orchestrates the massacre of the elves at the hands of human nobles, [[DespairEventHorizon their leader Licht is brought to the brink of despair]], which corrupts his four-leaf grimoire into a five-leaf and leaves him open to [[GrandTheftMe being possessed by Zagred]], but when his human friend [[TheArchMage Lemiel]] shows up Licht retains enough sanity to realize that he wasn't involved in the massacre. While Licht is relieved by this realization, at this point it's too late to reverse his corruption; therefore, [[DefiantToTheEnd in an effort to deny his body to Zagred]], [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique Licht uses the magic stones]] to turn himself into a [[AlmightyIdiot demon]], trusting that Lemiel will be able to [[MercyKill kill him]]. Lemiel is not at all happy about this, but agrees with Licht's reasoning. Licht then goes on a destructive rampage that almost wipes out the Clover Kingdom; this is presented as a far better alternative to what would've happened if Zagred's plan had worked.]]

* ''Fanfic/DungeonKeeperAmi'': The Shining Concord Empire, Avatar of All Light, King Albreight, and many other lesser overworld powers breifly ally with [[spoiler: Empress]] Mercury for the battle of Crowned Death's high temple. This is actually a case of subversion, as Mercury is a heroine. However, most of the lightworld powers involved do not know or do not acknowledge her as a hero and see it as PragmaticVillainy on her part- she was at war with Crowned Death; and, having discovered the massive, mobile fortress, needs their help to destroy it.

Compare BlackAndGrayMorality, when those who are technically the "good guys" are the lesser evil. EvenEvilHasStandards may be in play to drive the point home.

* ''Manga/BlackClover'': [[spoiler:After the devil [[ManipulativeBastard Zagred]] orchestrates the massacre of the elves at the hands of human nobles, [[DespairEventHorizon their leader Licht is brought to the brink of despair]], which corrupts his four-leaf grimoire into a five-leaf and leaves him open to [[GrandTheftMe being possessed by Zagred]], but when his human friend [[TheArchMage Lemiel]] shows up Licht retains enough sanity to realize that he wasn't involved in the massacre. While Licht is relieved by this realization, at this point it's too late to reverse his corruption; therefore, [[DefiantToTheEnd in an effort to deny his body to Zagred]], [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique Licht uses the magic stones]] to turn himself into a [[AlmightyIdiot demon]], trusting that Lemiel will be able to [[MercyKill kill him]]. Lemiel is not at all happy about this, but agrees with Licht's reasoning. Licht then goes on a rampage that almost destroys the Clover Kingdom; this is presented as a far better alternative to what would've happened if Zagred's plan had worked.]]

* ''Literature/FateZero'': In order to keep a vast majority of people from dying, Kiritsugu chooses to kill the group with fewer numbers. [[spoiler:The Holy Grail shows him, however, that [[DeconstructedTrope doing this repeatedly causes the minority to become the majority]].]]

* ''Manga/BlackClover'': [[spoiler:After the devil [[ManipulativeBastard Zagred]] orchestrates the massacre of the elves at the hands of human nobles, [[DespairEventHorizon their leader Licht is brought to the brink of despair]], which corrupts his four-leaf grimoire into a five-leaf and leaves him open to [[GrandTheftMe being possessed by Zagred]], but when his human friend [[TheArchMage Lemiel]] shows up Licht retains enough sanity to realize that he wasn't involved in the massacre. While Licht is relieved by this realization, at this point it's too late to reverse his corruption; therefore, [[DefiantToTheEnd in an effort to deny his body to Zagred]], [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique Licht uses the magic stones]] to turn himself into a [[AlmightyIdiot demon]], trusting that Lemiel will be able to [[MercyKill kill him]]. Lemiel is not at all happy about this, but agrees with Licht's reasoning.]]

* ''Manga/BlackClover'': After the devil [[ManipulativeBastard Zagred]] orchestrates the massacre of the elves at the hands of human nobles, [[DespairEventHorizon their leader Licht is brought to the brink of despair]], which corrupts his four-leaf grimoire into a five-leaf and leaves him open to [[GrandTheftMe being possessed by Zagred]], but when his human friend [[TheArchMage Lemiel]] shows up Licht retains enough sanity to realize that he wasn't involved in the massacre. While Licht is relieved by this realization, at this point it's too late to reverse his corruption; therefore, [[DefiantToTheEnd in an effort to deny his body to Zagred]], [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique Licht uses the magic stones]] to turn himself into a [[AlmightyIdiot demon]], trusting that Lemiel will be able to [[MercyKill kill him]]. Lemiel is not at all happy about this, but agrees with Licht's reasoning.

* ''Literature/FateZero'': In order to keep a vast majority of people from dying, Kiritsugu chooses to kill the group with fewer numbers. [[spoiler:The Holy Grail shows him, however, that doing this repeatedly causes the minority to become the majority.]]
* ''Anime/GodzillaThePlanetEater'' pits Godzilla Earth, a malevolent force of nature hell-bent on eradicating humanity, against Ghidorah, an extradimensional being that destroys entire planets in his wake. Godzilla is the lesser evil, and seeks to defend his planet from the interloper, but ultimately he's no friend of humanity and [[spoiler: kills the main protagonist Haruo in the finale.]]

* A minor example in ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders''. When Kakyoin and Polnareff are fighting J. Geil, they see the Hanged Man appear in people's eyes (it can hurt people by attacking their reflections -- and the human cornea is a reflective surface) on a few occasions. To their dismay, the best way to protect themselves is to kick sand in those people's eyes. It makes them look like assholes, but it beats getting stabbed or having to hurt someone innocent.
* In ''Literature/TheHeroicLegendOfArslan'', neither Sindhuran prince is a paragon of virtue, but Arslan and his group decide to help Rajendra, who is far less of a {{Jerkass}} compared to his brother Gadhevi. At least Rajendra cares for the men under his command, wishing to bring them glory and victory.

* ''LightNovel/FateZero'': In order to keep a vast majority of people from dying, Kiritsugu chooses to kill the group with fewer numbers. [[spoiler:The Holy Grail shows him, however, that doing this repeatedly causes the minority to become the majority.]]

* ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventure'': A minor example in ''Stardust Crusaders''. When Kakyoin and Polnareff are fighting J. Geil, they see the Hanged Man appear in people's eyes (it can hurt people by attacking their reflections - and the human cornea is a reflective surface) on a few occasions. To their dismay, the best way to protect themselves is to kick sand in those people's eyes. It makes them look like assholes, but it beats getting stabbed or having to hurt someone innocent.
* In ''Literature/TheHeroicLegendOfArslan'', neither Sindhuran prince are a paragon of virtue but Arslan and his group decide to help Rajendra who is far less of a JerkAss compared to his brother Gadhevi. At least Rajendra cares for the men under his command, wishing to bring them glory and victory.

* ''Series/SevenDays'': Let the world be destroyed, or give the psycho the keys to the time machine?

* ''WebComic/TheOrderOfTheStick'': Serini Toormuck, burned out and traumatized by everything she experienced as guardian of the last Snarl Gate, decides that the best course of action is letting BigBad Xykon win and take control of the Gate. Given the limited knowledge of the conflict she has, it's an understandable choice: the Order is [[DestructiveSavior Destructive Saviors]] who have been directly or indirectly responsible for the destruction of all but one of the other four Gates, which means that her Gate is now the only thing keeping the world-devouring Snarl at bay. As a consequence, she doesn't trust the Order to get anywhere near her Gate, and favors Xykon over them because he's at least not going to destroy it. Because even the despotic rule of an undead evil sorcerer is preferable to the destruction of all reality that the Snarl will cause if it gets out.

[[folder:Theater]]

* In ''Theater/{{Hamilton}}'', Hamilton ultimately is called upon in the presidential election to endorse either Aaron Burr or his hated enemy Thomas Jefferson, and ultimately picks Jefferson, reasoning that while he disagrees with all of Jefferson's principles at least Jefferson ''has'' principles.