Anime & Manga
"You don't destroy the world you're going to conquer!"
— Jinnai, El-Hazard: The Magnificent World
Comic Books
Thor: Since when do you care about this world?
Loki: Since its imminent demise would lead to Ragnarok, and the end of all. And being part of "all", I would much rather keep myself intact, thank you very much.
Loki: Since its imminent demise would lead to Ragnarok, and the end of all. And being part of "all", I would much rather keep myself intact, thank you very much.
"Since this has turned into the final battle of something versus nothing I'm siding with something."
Fan Works
Battle bears the energy we need to sustain this world. And when I called upon my champions, I was not aware of Materia and her champions. Who, then, would my champions battle, in order to bear that energy? [...] I called upon cruel hearts - but cruel hearts of three distinct breeds. Those who relish in destruction, and want nothing more than to deliver it to all they witness. Those who wish to conquer, to stand above all others as superior. And those who have committed such terrible sins, and would do terrible things in order to repent. Conquerors must have something to conquer, and so they would oppose destroyers. Destroyers will deliver the same destruction to a king as to a pawn, and so they would oppose conquerors. And the repentant would see their past reflected in the others, and so they would oppose both.
—Spiritus, Champions in Idleness
, a Dissidia Final Fantasy NT fanfic
, a Dissidia Final Fantasy NT fanficSet: What the hell do you want?
Varax: The same as you, I imagine; power and control over everything in existence. When I sensed your ki signature appear on the radar, I knew instantly that one of the greatest calamities the universe had ever faced had returned to the land of the living. Almost immediately after your revival, you then attempted to destroy our reality by opening a rift in space to suck everything into the void. [narrows his eyes] That is something I'm afraid I cannot allow.
Varax: The same as you, I imagine; power and control over everything in existence. When I sensed your ki signature appear on the radar, I knew instantly that one of the greatest calamities the universe had ever faced had returned to the land of the living. Almost immediately after your revival, you then attempted to destroy our reality by opening a rift in space to suck everything into the void. [narrows his eyes] That is something I'm afraid I cannot allow.
Films — Live-Action
"Don't you get it? I'm trying to save this hell of a place. Not 'cause I like it, but 'cause I'm trying to save me own skin."
— Cyrus Crabbe, Dinotopia TV movie
Rocket Raccoon: What has the galaxy ever done for you? Why would you want to save it?
Peter Quill: Because I'm one of the idiots who lives in it!
Peter Quill: Because I'm one of the idiots who lives in it!
Live-Action TV
Spike: I want to stop Angel. (chuckling) I want to save the world.
Buffy: You do remember that you're a vampire, right?
Spike: We like to talk big, vampires do. "I'm going to destroy the world." It's just tough guy talk. Strutting around with your friends over a pint of blood. The truth is, I like this world. You've got... dog racing, Manchester United. And you've got people, billions of people walking around like Happy Meals with legs. It's all right here. But then someone comes along with a vision. With a real... passion for destruction. Angel could pull it off. Goodbye, Picadilly. Farewell, Leicester Bloody Square. You know what I'm saying?
Buffy: You do remember that you're a vampire, right?
Spike: We like to talk big, vampires do. "I'm going to destroy the world." It's just tough guy talk. Strutting around with your friends over a pint of blood. The truth is, I like this world. You've got... dog racing, Manchester United. And you've got people, billions of people walking around like Happy Meals with legs. It's all right here. But then someone comes along with a vision. With a real... passion for destruction. Angel could pull it off. Goodbye, Picadilly. Farewell, Leicester Bloody Square. You know what I'm saying?
Tabletop Games
"I deal in purity, Movran. Demonic bargains are so... worldly. The Abyss doesn't care if you deal in handshakes or rape ... It's a means, not an end. Demons mire people in the here and now. They aren't my friends."
"By contrast, the Exarchs also direct Seers to protect humanity from existential threats, and renew the vault-seals of ancient horrors called the Bound. Not even the Tyrants wish to rule a kingdom of ashes."
— Mage: The Awakening 2E
Unknown to all but a few, the heart of the Zhentarim is a cabal of evil and sometimes monstrous leaders who seek to extend the Black Network’s blood-soaked reach into every assassination, black market, and illegal deal that happens in Faerûn. The order's criminal connections burrow into every major city and thieves' guild in the Western Heartlands and along the Sword Coast. Wherever a city's coinage is disastrously undermined by counterfeiting, wherever an up-and-coming business runs roughshod over its established competitors, and wherever a political struggle turns to widespread intimidation, it's a safe bet that the Zhentarim are involved.
However, engaging in mainstream corruption and wanting to see Tiamat ascend are two different things. The Zhentarim have no illusions about what the Dragon Queen's return would mean for their plans. Wanting to secretly rule the world from the shadows for themselves, the leaders of the Black Network have no desire to become agents and errand runners for some petty god and her dragon cohorts.
However, engaging in mainstream corruption and wanting to see Tiamat ascend are two different things. The Zhentarim have no illusions about what the Dragon Queen's return would mean for their plans. Wanting to secretly rule the world from the shadows for themselves, the leaders of the Black Network have no desire to become agents and errand runners for some petty god and her dragon cohorts.
Video Games
Player: I don't believe a devil cares about the fate of the world.
Korrilla: I won't pretend he's an altruist. But he's looked at the balance sheet — no world, no souls.
Korrilla: I won't pretend he's an altruist. But he's looked at the balance sheet — no world, no souls.
Ralsei: When the LIGHT is subsumed by SHADOW. When the FOUNTAINS fill the sky. All will fall into CHAOS. The TITANS will take form from the FOUNTAINS, and envelop the land in devastation. The surviving Darkners, crushed by the darkness, will slowly, one by one, turn into statues... Leaving the Lightners to fend for themselves. Lost eternally in an endless night... Is that your idea of paradise?
(Beat)
Queen: Oh Damn I Did Not Know That
Ralsei: You... didn't?! But your whole plan was to—
Queen: (laughs) I'm Just A Computer LMAO I Don't Know Everything. I Was Just Guessing Based Off The Knight's Actions. Why The Heck (Hell) Would I Want To End The World?
(Beat)
Queen: Oh Damn I Did Not Know That
Ralsei: You... didn't?! But your whole plan was to—
Queen: (laughs) I'm Just A Computer LMAO I Don't Know Everything. I Was Just Guessing Based Off The Knight's Actions. Why The Heck (Hell) Would I Want To End The World?
— Deltarune, Chapter 2
Surtr: The flames must taste the flesh of many, many more people... You may wait here while I burn them all myself. I'll show them who is king! Ha-ha-hah!
Veronica: No. I cannot allow this.
Surtr: You what?
Veronica: Askr must die. The people, however... Once this land is conquered, they will become Embla's. A ruler's duty is to the people, is it not?
Veronica: No. I cannot allow this.
Surtr: You what?
Veronica: Askr must die. The people, however... Once this land is conquered, they will become Embla's. A ruler's duty is to the people, is it not?
"After all, if the world is destroyed who do they have to threaten with villainous plots? Each other?"
— Mr. Fantastic, discussing the prospect of an Enemy Mine plan, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
"Listen up! You're saying the kingdom will vanish? NOT TODAY! THIS KINGDOM IS ALL MINE! SO YOU VANISH!"
Neku: Whaddaya say? Can you lend us a hand here? For Shibuya's sake?
Minamimoto: Hmph. The only "sake" that interests me is my own.
Neku: All the more reason to help us, then. I know you've got your sights set on the city. And you can't take over if it gets erased.
Minamomoto: Heh.
Minamimoto: Hmph. The only "sake" that interests me is my own.
Neku: All the more reason to help us, then. I know you've got your sights set on the city. And you can't take over if it gets erased.
Minamomoto: Heh.
"Let me assure you, I do not wish to destroy the world. That's where all the best slaughter takes place, you know."
— Charnel, Sacrifice
"How can I take over the city and build the Eggman Empire if there IS no city?!"
— Dr. Eggman, Shadow the Hedgehog
"After all! He has no right to destroy what I've worked so hard to conquer!"
— Risky Boots on the Pirate Master, Shantae and the Pirate's Curse
The End: Since time immemorial, I have languished here. The locks are broken. Now, I shall tear down the walls between dimension and consume all.
Dr. Eggman: No. No you don't! I'll mobilize the Egg Fleet and blow you out of the sky!
Dr. Eggman: No. No you don't! I'll mobilize the Egg Fleet and blow you out of the sky!
Sage: I can stabilize your cyber corruption for a brief time… and then, I would guide you on how to convert that corruption into power so that you may end this conflict and save Father.
Sonic: And save the world too, right?
Sage: It is his to conquer, so yes.
Sonic: And save the world too, right?
Sage: It is his to conquer, so yes.
Webcomics
"Elan, if a hero of your caliber is involved in a quest of such significance that you can't spare more than three days for your old man, then logic dictates that it probably involves trouncing some cliched scenery-chewing villain bent on world conquest. As the current ruler of one-third of the continent, I have a vested interest in you doing exactly that."
— General Tarquin, The Order of the Stick
Western Animation
This has gone too far. The Ducks almost cost us the world today. And, without the world, who would we larceny against?
— The Chairman of F.O.W.L. DuckTales
Superman: Okay, let's get these people* locked up. Sounds like we've got a fight on our hands.
Giganta: If you think you're locking us up while the whole world's under attack, you got two fights on your hands!
Batman: She's got a point. We'll need all the bodies we can throw at this.
Superman: Oh, come on, it's Lex flippin' Luthor! Why should we trust him?
Atomic Skull: Hey, it's our world, too!
Luthor: Let's be clear about this. We're not here to help you save the world; you're here to help me get revenge on Darkseid! When this is over, it's back to business as usual.
Superman: ...Wouldn't have it any other way.
Giganta: If you think you're locking us up while the whole world's under attack, you got two fights on your hands!
Batman: She's got a point. We'll need all the bodies we can throw at this.
Superman: Oh, come on, it's Lex flippin' Luthor! Why should we trust him?
Atomic Skull: Hey, it's our world, too!
Luthor: Let's be clear about this. We're not here to help you save the world; you're here to help me get revenge on Darkseid! When this is over, it's back to business as usual.
Superman: ...Wouldn't have it any other way.
— Justice League Unlimited, "Destroyer"
Alpha: An annihilated Earth would leave no populace. No one for me to rule.
Vangus: Can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.
Vangus: Can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.
Brain: Come, we have work to do.
Pinky: Oh, right, taking over the world, and all...
Brain: No, Pinky — tonight, we must save the world!
Pinky: Egad, Brain — save the world?!
Brain: YES! So it is available to take over tomorrow night.
Pinky: Oh, right, taking over the world, and all...
Brain: No, Pinky — tonight, we must save the world!
Pinky: Egad, Brain — save the world?!
Brain: YES! So it is available to take over tomorrow night.
— Pinky and the Brain, "Snowball"
"There is no profit to be made in the destruction of the planet. It is very bad for business."
— Kingpin, Spider-Man: The Animated Series
"Watchdogs, eyes up! We've got a galaxy to save, SO WE CAN CONQUER IT LATER!"
— Lord Hater, Wander over Yonder, "The End of the Galaxy"
