Adora: Light Hope said if I leave here I'll make things worse. She's right. Everyone will be better off if I just stay far away from them. It's...it's for the greater good.
Swiftwind: Well that's just stupid.
Adora: What? No it's not.
Swiftwind: Adora, I've had the ability to form complex thought for, like, a week, and even I know you can't help anyone by hiding. Where would all the horses I freed from their barns be if I just sat in a pasture and moped?
Adora: I'm not moping! I'm not, I hurt people, I ruined my friends' lives!
Swiftwind: If that's true, then why are Bow and Glimmer here trying to rescue you? Bow and Glimmer are risking their lives. Not because you're She-Ra, but because you're their friend. What good is all your power if you don't use it to help the people you love?
Swiftwind: Well that's just stupid.
Adora: What? No it's not.
Swiftwind: Adora, I've had the ability to form complex thought for, like, a week, and even I know you can't help anyone by hiding. Where would all the horses I freed from their barns be if I just sat in a pasture and moped?
Adora: I'm not moping! I'm not, I hurt people, I ruined my friends' lives!
Swiftwind: If that's true, then why are Bow and Glimmer here trying to rescue you? Bow and Glimmer are risking their lives. Not because you're She-Ra, but because you're their friend. What good is all your power if you don't use it to help the people you love?
"Isn't that how most men are? 'I'm gonna go away, never see you again, and sleep with a bunch of different women. Why? Because I love you!' I tried saying that to a woman once! She cut my balls off."
— Chester A. Bum, Bum Reviews, "The Twilight Saga: New Moon"
"He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune; for they are impediments to great enterprises, either of virtue or mischief."
— Francis Bacon, Of Marriage and Single Life
27. If the Hero tells me he wants to break up with me or quit his dangerous job for my protection, it's already too late; a kidnapping is already in the planning, and I will take all reasonable precautions against it.
You idiots. How can I save you? Do you realize you now know the most dangerous secret on Earth? Stop to think about what lengths my enemies would go to in order to learn about my private life. They would torture you. They would flay your partners and rape your children with hot knives. You'll never breathe a word of this? Not to anyone, ever? Not even in your sleep? Or when you're drunk or tired or lonely? And even if that's so, what about him? Or him? Do you trust all of them to never drag you into this ever, for as long as you live? Your lives are worthless now. They're over. Even I can't save you.
— The Plutonian after his co-workers discover and try to broadcast his Secret Identity, Irredeemable
I can't tell Isabella we're the Beak now! That would put her in danger! The life of a superhero is a lonely one Ferb. Even after only 11 minutes.
— Phineas, Phineas and Ferb "The Beak"
Savage: Ah, there's no room in my life for love, Mona.
Mona: But why, Doc?
Savage: There was a girl once. We were to be married. She was kidnapped by the men I had been pursuing — they threatened to kill her if I didn't drop the chase. I gave in. I had to. Later, when she was returned safely to me, I realized there could never be a future for us. I realized if I were to do what I had chosen with my life, there could never be a loved one who could be used against me. Or harmed because of me. Do you understand?
Mona: But why, Doc?
Savage: There was a girl once. We were to be married. She was kidnapped by the men I had been pursuing — they threatened to kill her if I didn't drop the chase. I gave in. I had to. Later, when she was returned safely to me, I realized there could never be a future for us. I realized if I were to do what I had chosen with my life, there could never be a loved one who could be used against me. Or harmed because of me. Do you understand?
How could he explain that a Space Ranger was married to his job? That there could never be room in his life for the things of which ordinary men dreamed — a woman to love, a family to raise, a house with a flying car on the roof and an A-bomb shelter in the basement. How could Proton fight the forces of evil, knowing there was a loved one who could be threatened or harmed because of him? How could he explain that his only relationships could be shallow flings based purely on sexual desire? Or rather — how could he explain without having his gonads hacked off by an angry K'mon warrior?
“If I’d had anyone close to me, Winthrop would just have used them as more leverage against me.”
—Asuka, A Crown of Stars, chapter 13
"Everything you asked for you got! And it is better this way; because I suck at this! Bad shit happens to people I care about! You understand me?"
Kara: Omigosh! I really do get to be Supergirl?!!
Superman: Maybe. First, you need to learn about this planet, the people and the culture. And until you can fully control your powers, you need to keep them secret. If my enemies could find you, they'd use you against me.
Superman: Maybe. First, you need to learn about this planet, the people and the culture. And until you can fully control your powers, you need to keep them secret. If my enemies could find you, they'd use you against me.
(As Batman and Wonder Woman are on a rooftop during a stakeout, she takes note of several couples on their own nights out.)
Wonder Woman: Don't you ever wish you were down there?
Batman: I'm down there all I need to be.
Wonder Woman: Yes, but it's just a job to you. I'm talking about going down there and having some fun. Maybe... Maybe with someone special.
Batman: (silent, continues watching the crowd yet with a depressed expression)
Wonder Woman: No, no dating for the Batman. It might cut into your brooding time.
Batman: ...One: dating within the team always leads to disaster. Two: you're a princess from a society of immortal warriors, I'm a rich kid with issues. Lots of issues. And three: if my enemies knew I had someone special, they wouldn't rest until they'd gotten to me, through her.
Wonder Woman: (crushes one of the stone statues on the rooftop) Next.
Wonder Woman: Don't you ever wish you were down there?
Batman: I'm down there all I need to be.
Wonder Woman: Yes, but it's just a job to you. I'm talking about going down there and having some fun. Maybe... Maybe with someone special.
Batman: (silent, continues watching the crowd yet with a depressed expression)
Wonder Woman: No, no dating for the Batman. It might cut into your brooding time.
Batman: ...One: dating within the team always leads to disaster. Two: you're a princess from a society of immortal warriors, I'm a rich kid with issues. Lots of issues. And three: if my enemies knew I had someone special, they wouldn't rest until they'd gotten to me, through her.
Wonder Woman: (crushes one of the stone statues on the rooftop) Next.
Dana: What's this all about?
Terry: Your safety. You know how much I care about you.
Dana: Sure. Why else keep dating for fifteen years?
Terry: You know why I can't marry you. If the—
Dana: "If the bad guys ever found out I was Batman, they'd try to get to me by hurting you." Blah, blah, blah.
Terry: It's nothing to joke about.
Dana: You're right. There could be supervillains hiding in the tall grass.
Terry: I'm poisoned, Dana. Cursed.
Dana: You're silly, McGinnis.
Terry: It's not silly for me to want to keep you safe. Every moment we're together, you're risking your life.
Terry: Your safety. You know how much I care about you.
Dana: Sure. Why else keep dating for fifteen years?
Terry: You know why I can't marry you. If the—
Dana: "If the bad guys ever found out I was Batman, they'd try to get to me by hurting you." Blah, blah, blah.
Terry: It's nothing to joke about.
Dana: You're right. There could be supervillains hiding in the tall grass.
Terry: I'm poisoned, Dana. Cursed.
Dana: You're silly, McGinnis.
Terry: It's not silly for me to want to keep you safe. Every moment we're together, you're risking your life.
—Justice League Unlimited, "Epilogue"
What am I going to tell you?
You're better off not knowing the trouble I'm in,
I don't want you to worry about what I've just seen,
About where I've just been
You don't have to be a part of this
I don't think I want you to be
You don't need this
You don't need me
You're better off not knowing the trouble I'm in,
I don't want you to worry about what I've just seen,
About where I've just been
You don't have to be a part of this
I don't think I want you to be
You don't need this
You don't need me
—Steven Universe, "Full Disclosure"
Cloud: Look, I'm involved in things. Dangerous things.
Aerith: Oh, I'm sure you are. So?
Cloud: So keep your distance.
Aerith: Oh, I'm sure you are. So?
Cloud: So keep your distance.
Giulia: Of all the places for sea monsters to visit! Portorosso?! Have you seen this town?! My father hunts sea monsters! (wishes Luca towards the door) Luca, you have to get out of here.
Luca: But... I thought we were underdogs.
Giulia: Do you think I want you to leave? This is the happiest I... (starts tearing up, then inhales) Look, it's just not worth it.
Luca: You don't understand...
Giulia: No, I don't. Risking your life for a Vespa?
—Luca
Mary Jane: I think I always knew all this time who you really were.
Peter: Then you know why we can't be together. Spider-Man will always have enemies. I can't let you take that risk. I will always be Spider-Man. You and I can never be.
Peter: Then you know why we can't be together. Spider-Man will always have enemies. I can't let you take that risk. I will always be Spider-Man. You and I can never be.
I'm not angry, I'm scared. I'm absolutely terrified. I was kidnapped from my home and made to abandon my family into a world I knew nothing about, and I've been forced to fight a world-ending threat or die trying... Despite that, I've been fortunate enough to find people that can still bring a smile to my face. Despite your sister lying about me, despite your father trying to take them away from me, despite the majority of this country hating me before I ever stepped one foot in this world... I've found happiness... And that guise as a Savior was the only security we had. So I'm scared of you even being near us, for our safety. Your sister or father could spin a story and now I'm guilty of some other crime... and even if they listen to you now, they'll find a way. If that happens..., we may have to leave this country. I've tried everything I can think of to stay in Melromarc, to protect and fix Melromarc..., but I will abandon it before it takes them from me.
— Naofumi Iwatani to Princess Melty in Chapter 30, Family of the Shield
Carmen: I can't let V.I.L.E. see me with him. But not for my safety, for his.
Player: What? Why?.
Carmen: For whatever strange reason Gray has a fresh start now. And having Carmen Sandiego back in his life would... only complicate that.
Player: What? Why?.
Carmen: For whatever strange reason Gray has a fresh start now. And having Carmen Sandiego back in his life would... only complicate that.
