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Comic Books
The mystery frightens and disgusts me. I will kill it. Make all as hollow as I. Dead and dark as I. And then I will be ALONE.
—The One Below All, Immortal Hulk
Literature
"The universe is a dark forest. Every civilization is an armed hunter stalking through the trees like a ghost, gently pushing aside branches that block the path and trying to tread without sound. Even breathing is done with care. The hunter has to be careful, because everywhere in the forest are stealthy hunters like him. If he finds other life — another hunter, an angel or a demon, a delicate infant or a tottering old man, a fairy or a demigod — there's only one thing he can do: open fire and eliminate them. In this forest, hell is other people. An eternal threat that any life that exposes its own existence will be swiftly wiped out. This is the picture of cosmic civilization. It's the explanation for the Fermi Paradox. But in this dark forest, there's a stupid child called humanity, who has built a bonfire and is standing beside it shouting, 'Here I am! Here I am!'"
— Luo Ji, The Dark Forest
Death: Down in the deepest kingdoms of the sea, where there is no light, there lives a type of creature with no brain and no eyes and no mouth. It does nothing but live and put forth petals of perfect crimson where none are there to see. It is nothing but a tiny yes in the night. And yet... And yet... It has enemies who bear it a vicious, unbending malice, who wish not only for its tiny life to be over but also that it had never existed. Are you with me so far?
Susan: Well, yes, but—
Death: Good. Now, imagine what they think of humanity.
Susan: Well, yes, but—
Death: Good. Now, imagine what they think of humanity.
— Hogfather, on the Auditors of Reality
1. THEIR SURVIVAL WILL BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN OUR SURVIVAL. If an alien species has to choose between them and us, they won't choose us. It is difficult to imagine a contrary case; species don't survive by being self-sacrificing.
2. WIMPS DON'T BECOME TOP DOGS. No species makes it to the top by being passive. The species in charge of any given planet will be highly intelligent, alert, aggressive, and ruthless when necessary.
3. THEY WILL ASSUME THAT THE FIRST TWO LAWS APPLY TO US.
2. WIMPS DON'T BECOME TOP DOGS. No species makes it to the top by being passive. The species in charge of any given planet will be highly intelligent, alert, aggressive, and ruthless when necessary.
3. THEY WILL ASSUME THAT THE FIRST TWO LAWS APPLY TO US.
— Richard Tuna, The Killing Star
They flew out of the cloud.
They saw the staggering jewels of the night in their infinite dust and their minds sang with fear.
For a while they flew on, motionless against the starry sweep of the Galaxy, itself motionless against the infinite sweep of the Universe. And then they turned round.
"It'll have to go," the men of Krikkit said as they headed back for home.
On the way back they sang a number of tuneful and reflective songs on the subjects of peace, justice, morality, culture, sport, family life and the obliteration of all other life forms.
They saw the staggering jewels of the night in their infinite dust and their minds sang with fear.
For a while they flew on, motionless against the starry sweep of the Galaxy, itself motionless against the infinite sweep of the Universe. And then they turned round.
"It'll have to go," the men of Krikkit said as they headed back for home.
On the way back they sang a number of tuneful and reflective songs on the subjects of peace, justice, morality, culture, sport, family life and the obliteration of all other life forms.
"[Coexistence] is a contradiction in terms. There is only one universe, it can contain only one life. Me!"
Live-Action TV
"EXTERMINATE!"
"Evil? No, no, I will not accept that. They are conditioned simply to survive. They can survive only by becoming the dominant species. When all other life-forms are suppressed, when the Daleks are the supreme rulers of the universe — then, you will have peace."
— Davros on his creations, Doctor Who, "Genesis of the Daleks"
Henry van Statten: I thought you were the great expert, Doctor. If you're so impressive, then why not just reason with this Dalek? It must be willing to negotiate. There must be something it needs, everything needs something.
Ninth Doctor: What's the nearest town?
van Statten: Salt Lake City.
Ninth Doctor: Population?
van Statten: One million.
Ninth Doctor: All dead. If the Dalek gets out, it'll murder every living creature, that's all it needs.
van Statten: But why would it do that?!
Ninth Doctor: Because it honestly believes they should die. Human beings are different, and anything different is wrong. It's the ultimate in racial cleansing, and you, van Statten, you've let it loose!
Ninth Doctor: What's the nearest town?
van Statten: Salt Lake City.
Ninth Doctor: Population?
van Statten: One million.
Ninth Doctor: All dead. If the Dalek gets out, it'll murder every living creature, that's all it needs.
van Statten: But why would it do that?!
Ninth Doctor: Because it honestly believes they should die. Human beings are different, and anything different is wrong. It's the ultimate in racial cleansing, and you, van Statten, you've let it loose!
— Doctor Who, "Dalek"
Dalek Supreme: You are an enemy of the Daleks!
Missy: Yes, well, anyone who's not a Dalek is an enemy of the Daleks, so that was an easy guess!
Missy: Yes, well, anyone who's not a Dalek is an enemy of the Daleks, so that was an easy guess!
Music
Let's be xenophobic! It's really in this year
Let's find a nasty, slimy, ugly alien to fear
There's no more cutesy stories 'bout E.T. phoning home
Let's learn to love our neighbors, like the Christians learned in Rome!
We know we ought to hate 'em; they're different, you see
We've seen they're mean and ugly on movies and TV
The folks that ought to know have told us how it's got to be
The gospel truth is found in scenes from Alien and V
Let's wipe out any lifeform that seems to be a threat
We'll serve 'em up a genocide they never will forget
Cause if we miss a couple, they'll breed a couple more!
And soon we'll all be hating twice as many as before
You see, aliens can never be as good as humankind
A more delightful race than us you'll never, ever find
So step aside, you star slime, we're ready for your worst!
We know you want to beat us, enslave us and defeat us
Oppress us and browbeat us, unless we get you first!
Let's find a nasty, slimy, ugly alien to fear
There's no more cutesy stories 'bout E.T. phoning home
Let's learn to love our neighbors, like the Christians learned in Rome!
We know we ought to hate 'em; they're different, you see
We've seen they're mean and ugly on movies and TV
The folks that ought to know have told us how it's got to be
The gospel truth is found in scenes from Alien and V
Let's wipe out any lifeform that seems to be a threat
We'll serve 'em up a genocide they never will forget
Cause if we miss a couple, they'll breed a couple more!
And soon we'll all be hating twice as many as before
You see, aliens can never be as good as humankind
A more delightful race than us you'll never, ever find
So step aside, you star slime, we're ready for your worst!
We know you want to beat us, enslave us and defeat us
Oppress us and browbeat us, unless we get you first!
— Bill Sutton, "Xenophobia"
Tabletop Games
"To call the Imperium of Man xenophobic is something of an understatement. The Imperium believes in the manifest destiny of the human race to rule the galaxy; the preachers of the Ministorum tell the unwashed masses to abhore and fear the vile alien, and Crusades to purge planets, star systems, or even entire sectors of xenos races are common-place. Whether this attitude is abhorrent or laudable is debatable — there are many xenos races who are just as eager to destroy the Imperium as the Imperium is to destroy them. In any case, non-humans are manifestly unwelcome in the Imperium."
— Rogue Trader supplement Into the Storm (on playing xenos characters)
"The void is an unutterably vast and inhuman place, a place of ancient dangers and unknown perils. In this cold darkness have bred things as obscene, terrible, and dangerous as any daemon of the warp... In the face of such dire knowledge, you must hold onto this single truth: it is mankind’s destiny to rule the stars and rule them alone."
"Orcs and Goblins are our enemies, for they are are the defilers of glades and murderers of our folk.
Beastmen, the children of Chaos and Long Night are our enemies. They fight us for our right to exist in the woodlands and forests.
Skaven of the Underworld are our enemies, for they gnaw the roots of the world and bring pestilence and death to our forests.
Dwarfs are our enemies for they cut down trees to fill their furnaces and to power their infernal machines, and many times they have waged war against us.
Kegh-mon, the hairy Humans are our enemies, for they are war-like and greedy, and would drive us from our homes if they could. Many, many of them have turned to worship of the Dark Powers.
Halflings are our enemies, for they clear away trees for their fields to grow crops which they then consume with unsatisfiable hunger. They would eat the whole world if they could.
Elves of Naggaroth and Ulthuan are our enemies, for they have turned their backs on Isha and Kurnous, and betrayed their Elf heritage.
These are your enemies, child. Know them well and keep your bow and arrow ready."
Beastmen, the children of Chaos and Long Night are our enemies. They fight us for our right to exist in the woodlands and forests.
Skaven of the Underworld are our enemies, for they gnaw the roots of the world and bring pestilence and death to our forests.
Dwarfs are our enemies for they cut down trees to fill their furnaces and to power their infernal machines, and many times they have waged war against us.
Kegh-mon, the hairy Humans are our enemies, for they are war-like and greedy, and would drive us from our homes if they could. Many, many of them have turned to worship of the Dark Powers.
Halflings are our enemies, for they clear away trees for their fields to grow crops which they then consume with unsatisfiable hunger. They would eat the whole world if they could.
Elves of Naggaroth and Ulthuan are our enemies, for they have turned their backs on Isha and Kurnous, and betrayed their Elf heritage.
These are your enemies, child. Know them well and keep your bow and arrow ready."
— Wood elf mother, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay
Video Games
"The Grox are machines with absolutely no sense of humor! They destroy entire races and never offer an explanation of what it is that ticks them off!"
— Blocks of Chance, Spore
"There is no need to be afraid. The destruction of your species is part of something greater, and the will to live, which compels you to resist, will persist through lifeforms who were meant to exist."
— Fanatic Purifier empires, Stellaris
"This galaxy is unworthy of its Gods; overrun by arrogant, ignorant slaves. It is time to teach them all their place in the great scheme: They will learn to serve their betters... or die."
— Zuul Dominus, Sword of the Stars
"They are not 'lifeforms' or 'xeno-sapients'. They are demons incarnate. They and the traitors who support them will face our judgement."
— Colonel Hanse Castillo, Terra Invicta
Webcomics
Ob'enn Adjutant: Talking to a lesser race beats being blown up by them.
Ob'enn Captain: Don't let the chaplain hear you say that.
Ob'enn Captain: Don't let the chaplain hear you say that.
Web Original
Dr. ██████: Now, why did you kill those farmers?
SCP-682: [no verbal communication]
Dr. ██████: If you don't talk now, we will remove you from this attempt and place you back into—
SCP-682: [incomprehensible]
Dr. ██████: Pardon? [motions to move microphone closer]
SCP-682: [incomprehensible]
Dr. ██████: Speak up. [to Personnel D-085] Move the mic up closer.
SCP-682: ...they were [incomprehensible]
Dr. ██████: [to Personnel D-085] That microphone has only so much gain, move it closer to it!
Personnel D-085: His throat's messed up, man, look at it! He ain't talking— [gasps and screams]
SCP-682: [appearing to assault D-085's body] ...they were... disgusting.
Dr. ██████: [retreats from the room]
SCP-682: [no verbal communication]
Dr. ██████: If you don't talk now, we will remove you from this attempt and place you back into—
SCP-682: [incomprehensible]
Dr. ██████: Pardon? [motions to move microphone closer]
SCP-682: [incomprehensible]
Dr. ██████: Speak up. [to Personnel D-085] Move the mic up closer.
SCP-682: ...they were [incomprehensible]
Dr. ██████: [to Personnel D-085] That microphone has only so much gain, move it closer to it!
Personnel D-085: His throat's messed up, man, look at it! He ain't talking— [gasps and screams]
SCP-682: [appearing to assault D-085's body] ...they were... disgusting.
Dr. ██████: [retreats from the room]
Western Animation
"We are not kind of anything. Highbreed are the only kind."
— Reinrassic III, Ben 10: Alien Force, "Alone Together"
