Anime and Manga
"True to my name, I am but a dream that lives in your heart. Therefore, I am immortal. For as long as there is fear in your heart, I will someday return."
— Nightmare, Kirby: Right Back at Ya! (Japanese version only)
Gilbert: If you said you shoot me now, what will you do when the world is once again thrown into chaos?!
Kira: I'm ready for that. I will fight!
Kira: I'm ready for that. I will fight!
— Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny, "The Chosen Future"
Comic Books
"You have won, Children of the Light. The darkness is fading, even as we watch. But remember... The darkness cannot surrender. It is always with you, always on the fringe of the dawn... and the instant you gaze at it in fear... Your time will come."
— Darkseid, The Great Darkness Saga
"As long as there is life, the universe will never be without fear!"
— Sinestro, Sinestro Corps War
Fan Works
She was here from the moment that the first human heard movement in the darkness and felt fear that it might not be just an animal but that it might be something else. The fear a child fears as she knows that there is something under the bed waiting to grab her. She is the thing in the closet, the shadow under the door. She is the scraping at the window and the shuffling sound in the graveyard. She is the thing walking in the cornfield, the monster in the walls. She has died and she has been born again, and you have given her a body far in excess of anything she could have imagined. So long as a single child hides his head under the bed, as long as people tense at the things in the dark, she will always exist.
—Alessa, Kill Them All
Rei: "Look at you. The final crisis has come and gone. You are dead, but refuse embrace your end."
Darkseid:"It doesn't matter, [...] so long there is evil, there will be a place for Darkseid."
Rei:"So long as there is a Darkseid, [...] there will be a Superman to oppose him."
Darkseid:"It doesn't matter, [...] so long there is evil, there will be a place for Darkseid."
Rei:"So long as there is a Darkseid, [...] there will be a Superman to oppose him."
— Last Child of Krypton, chapter 26
Film - Live-Action
"You think you have won! What is light without dark? What are you without me? I am a part of you all! You can never defeat me! We are brothers eternal!"
—The Lord of Darkness, Legend (1985)
"There's enough greed and lust in the hearts of men out there to keep our doors open for a very long time. Have patience, my sisters. Others will come."
— Erin, Flesh for the Beast
Literature
Daniel Webster: Mr. Stone is an American citizen, and no American citizen may be forced into the service of a foreign prince.
Mr. Scratch: Foreign? And who calls me a foreigner?
Daniel Webster: Well, I never heard the dev— of you claiming American citizenship.
Mr. Scratch: And who with better right? When the first wrong was done to the first Indian, I was there. When the first slaver put out for the Congo, I stood on the deck. Am I not spoken of, still, in every church in New England? 'Tis true, the North claims me for a Southerner, and the South for a Northerner, but I am neither. To tell the truth, Mr. Webster, though I don't like to boast of it, my name is older in the country than yours.
Mr. Scratch: Foreign? And who calls me a foreigner?
Daniel Webster: Well, I never heard the dev— of you claiming American citizenship.
Mr. Scratch: And who with better right? When the first wrong was done to the first Indian, I was there. When the first slaver put out for the Congo, I stood on the deck. Am I not spoken of, still, in every church in New England? 'Tis true, the North claims me for a Southerner, and the South for a Northerner, but I am neither. To tell the truth, Mr. Webster, though I don't like to boast of it, my name is older in the country than yours.
"I had a strange dream last night. I saw myself a hundred years from now, speaking to a man whose father has not yet been born, but who was already wearing a grey beard, and telling him that there are only two things that shall not die: God, who is good, and I, who am evil."
— Colonel Bozzo-Corona, The Black Coats
How many other old enemies were in this crowd? Percy began to realize that every battle he’d ever won had only been a temporary victory. No matter how strong or lucky he was, no matter how many monsters he destroyed, Percy would eventually fail. He was only one mortal. He would get too old, too weak, or too slow. He would die. And these monsters ... they lasted forever. They just kept coming back. Maybe it would take them months or years to re-form, maybe even centuries. But they would be reborn.
Seeing them assembled in Tartarus, Percy felt as hopeless as the spirits in the River Cocytus. So what if he was a hero? So what if he did something brave? Evil was always here, regenerating, bubbling under the surface. Percy was no more than a minor annoyance to these immortal beings. They just had to outwait him. Some day, Percy’s sons or daughters might have to face them all over again.
Seeing them assembled in Tartarus, Percy felt as hopeless as the spirits in the River Cocytus. So what if he was a hero? So what if he did something brave? Evil was always here, regenerating, bubbling under the surface. Percy was no more than a minor annoyance to these immortal beings. They just had to outwait him. Some day, Percy’s sons or daughters might have to face them all over again.
— The Heroes of Olympus: The House of Hades, Chapter LXI
"That’s what makes heroes so special. You carry the hopes of humanity into the realm of the eternal. Monsters never die. They are reborn from the chaos and barbarism that is always bubbling underneath civilization, the very stuff that makes Kronos stronger. They must be defeated again and again, kept at bay. Heroes embody that struggle. You fight the battles humanity must win, every generation, in order to stay human. Do you understand?"
— Chiron, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters
Live-Action TV
"Our firm has always been here. In one form or another. The Inquisition. The Khmer Rouge. We were there when the very first cave man clubbed his neighbor. See, we're in the hearts and minds of every single living being. And that, friend, is what's making things so difficult for you. See, the world doesn't work in spite of evil, Angel. It works with us. It works because of us."
— Holland Manners explaining Wolfram & Hart, Angel
"I WILL NEVER DIE!!! THE THOUGHT OF ME IS FOREVER, IN THE BLEEDING HEARTS OF MEN, IN THEIR VANITY AND OBSESSIONS AND LUST!!! NOTHING SHALL EVER DESTROY ME!!! NOTHING!!!"
— The Beast, Doctor Who, "The Satan Pit"
Agent Abrella: Don’t think this will end with defeating me! As long as there are people in the universe, crime will never disappear! Everyone has the same ambition as me!
Akaza "Ban" Banba: Even so, we believe that inside every living being in the universe is a heart of justice burning forever!
Akaza "Ban" Banba: Even so, we believe that inside every living being in the universe is a heart of justice burning forever!
— Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger, "Forever Dekaranger"
Where will he go next, this phantom from another time, this resurrected ghost of a previous nightmare — Chicago? Los Angeles? Miami, Florida? Vincennes, Indiana? Syracuse, New York? Anyplace, everyplace, where there's hate, where there's prejudice, where there's bigotry... he's alive. He's alive so long as these evils exist. Remember that when he comes to your town. Remember it when you hear his voice speaking out through others. Remember it when you hear a name called... a minority attacked... any blind, unreasoning assault, on a people, or any human being. He's alive because through these things we keep him alive.
Tabletop Games
Khorne is eternal. As long as man has murdered his brother, wolf has hunted prey, and planets have been consumed by the death spasms of their stars, Khorne has existed. Until such time as all these things cease, he remains.
—Black Crusade: The Tome Of Blood
...Slaanesh gains power by feeding humanity’s darkest urges, stoking the fires of all that drives men forward. Ultimately, such power is self-sustaining, for heresy begets heresy. One day, Khorne will run out of foes, Nurgle’s tally of plagues will be completed, and Tzeentch’s schemes shall reach their conclusion. None, however, can foresee a time when men shall set aside their darkest passions and selfish desires and forego that which they most crave.
—Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay: Liber Ecstasia
While one mortal lies, while envy and ambition survive, Tzeentch will work his magic as the puppet master of the universe.
—Warhammer 40,000: Codex - Chaos Daemons (4th ed)
Video Games
Count Dracula: Once again, the blood of Belmont has defeated me... Perhaps this too is part of my fate.
Richter Belmont: Death to you! The world is not yours to exist in!
Dracula: It is not by my own power that I am resurrected. It is the greed of humanity which calls me back. And thus, by might, I rule! Might becomes the one and only justice in this world!
Richter: Of all the self-serving claptrap! The same basic faith drives all people to seek, to come together, to move forward! That, surely, can't be an evil thing!
Dracula: And yet, here I am. Do you not have any desires?
Richter: Well...
Dracula: It is by your desires that you humans prosper, and it is your faith that has ruled you! Considering that, can you really call me evil?
Richter: But people cannot be ruled by power alone! The sacred, the honorable, the loved. Those things can rule humanity. Something evil will eventually fall to ruin!
Dracula: I see! Perhaps you're right, heh heh heh! We shall meet again, blood of Belmont! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!
Richter Belmont: Death to you! The world is not yours to exist in!
Dracula: It is not by my own power that I am resurrected. It is the greed of humanity which calls me back. And thus, by might, I rule! Might becomes the one and only justice in this world!
Richter: Of all the self-serving claptrap! The same basic faith drives all people to seek, to come together, to move forward! That, surely, can't be an evil thing!
Dracula: And yet, here I am. Do you not have any desires?
Richter: Well...
Dracula: It is by your desires that you humans prosper, and it is your faith that has ruled you! Considering that, can you really call me evil?
Richter: But people cannot be ruled by power alone! The sacred, the honorable, the loved. Those things can rule humanity. Something evil will eventually fall to ruin!
Dracula: I see! Perhaps you're right, heh heh heh! We shall meet again, blood of Belmont! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!
— Ending, Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles
"I... shall never die.... As long as there are humans... as long as evil exists.... I will... once again...."
— Azi Dahaka, Dragon Valor
"Nngh... Defeated again... by humans! Know this, Altean prince... That light which surrounds you is only a temporary respite. So long as the darkness in your hearts continues to sustain me... I cannot be... destroyed...... Rrraaahhh!!!"
-—Medeus, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon
"GWAH...! WHY......? WHY... HAVE I... BEEN DEFEATED... SO EASILY...? IS THIS... THE POWER... ...OF NAGA'S... SHIELD OF SEALS...? KNOW THIS, HUMANS... THIS LIGHT IS ONLY A BRIEF RESPITE... SO LONG AS EVIL LURKS WITHIN THE HEARTS OF MAN... SHOULD THIS ACCURSED SHIELD BE LOST, WE SHALL RISE FROM THE DEPTHS OF HELL... DO NOT... EVER FORGET..."
-—Medeus, Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem
"I was born... Out of the greediness of mankind. While men exists, so will I!"
-— Bacterian, Gradius III
"This is not over! We will never end! We have no beginning, so we can have no end! We will return! Don't you understand? We are humanity! We are YOU! In one form, in another form, we are always with you! You can't protect yourself because we come in many, many guises. We shall return!"
"In every heart the seed of dark abides. The makings of a lord when watered well... With hate. Sweet hate. She springs eternal. Sings... All-tempting draught. We'll drink of her again."
— Odio/Oersted's last words, Live A Live (official translation)
"Bwah ha ha ha. Your efforts are futile... I will never be defeated! As long as Mavericks exist... As long as evil exists in the minds of humans... I'll come back again and again! X, Zero... I'll pursue you to the end of the world! Bwah ha ha ha! Farewell! FOR NOW!! Bwah ha ha!"
— Sigma, Mega Man Xtreme
"Heed my words... as long as darkness exists in the hearts of humans, then I... and the nightmares... shall never be destroyed!"
— Wizeman the Wicked, during the Normal Ending of both Will and Helen's dreams, Nights Journey Of Dreams
"Take heed of what I say... as long as there is evil in the world and darkness in people's hearts... my spirit will never die... I will rise again one day... and make the world mine...."
— Nobunaga, Onimusha Tactics
"I feed off the suffering of humans. As long as there is human suffering, I will continue to exist!"
— The Terror Mask, Splatterhouse 3
(Zuul is defeated by God Mars.)
Emperor Zuul: Mars! I can't die! I won't!
Emperor Zuul: My cells are all over the universe! Somewhere out there, I will be reborn!
Takeru: What?
Emperor Zuul: Bwahahahaha! Emperor Zuul of Gishin is only a shell occupied by one of my cells!
Emperor Zuul: Mars! I can't die! I won't!
Emperor Zuul: My cells are all over the universe! Somewhere out there, I will be reborn!
Takeru: What?
Emperor Zuul: Bwahahahaha! Emperor Zuul of Gishin is only a shell occupied by one of my cells!
Ime Liard: Takeru Myojin... no, I should say Mars. Do you really think Emperor Zuul is dead?
Takeru Myojin: Huh?
Ime: He is the incarnation of all the evil in the universe. It is impossible to destroy him completely.
Takeru: You won't sway me with a lie like that! I'm not listening to you!
Takeru: And even if Zuul is still alive, I'll just destroy him again when he comes back!
Takeru: But before that, Ime Liard, I'm going to finish you!
Takeru Myojin: Huh?
Ime: He is the incarnation of all the evil in the universe. It is impossible to destroy him completely.
Takeru: You won't sway me with a lie like that! I'm not listening to you!
Takeru: And even if Zuul is still alive, I'll just destroy him again when he comes back!
Takeru: But before that, Ime Liard, I'm going to finish you!
"Today's list? Fuck. Well I didn't count on that, you caught me. What are you going to do about it? Go ahead, call your D.D.D. friends. They will never be able to finish us off, in the end we will achieve our goal."
— Doppelganger, That's Not My Neighbor
"The Monster"note never dies no matter how many times you kill it. It just sheds its skin and changes form."''
— B.J. Blazkowicz , Wolfenstein: The Old Blood
"You cannot escape me. I am... in... every... breath..."
— Sha of Doubt, World of Warcraft
"So long as violence lurks in your heart...I will return..."
— Sha of Violence, World of Warcraft
Visual Novels
"As long as blood is spilled, steel is melted, flesh is torn and bones are broken; till war continues to ravage the land, so shall I remain! The world shall never be free from the fire and brimstone of my ambition."
— Reinhard, Dies Irae
Western Animation
Wonder Woman: Give it up, Ares. It's over. You lose.
Ares: All right, this time. But I'll be back, and sooner than you think. Wherever there's prejudice, ignorance, inequality... I'll be there.
Wonder Woman: And I'll be waiting.
Ares: All right, this time. But I'll be back, and sooner than you think. Wherever there's prejudice, ignorance, inequality... I'll be there.
Wonder Woman: And I'll be waiting.
— Justice League Unlimited, "Hawk and Dove"
"To hate me is to give me breath. To fight me is to give me strength."
— Vaatu, The Legend of Korra
Real Life
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
— Edmund Burke
