Quotes / Motive Decay

Comic Books

Yes, I suppose I am [a monster]. I became one a long time ago. At first in order to save the world. Now merely for the sake of vengeance.

— Herr Starr, Preacher

I once told Optimus I killed for the sake of killing. I wanted him to hurt me, you see — because when he hurts others, he hurts himself. And the thing is, when the words were in my head I didn’t think I meant them; but when they left my mouth, I realized that I did.

—Megatron, The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye

Fan Works

Once upon a time I believed the White Fang existed because of a desire for equality, to fight the cruelty of the humans that have oppressed us. I had not realized we'd become the official Blake Belladonna Fan Club, or that our main purpose for invading Beacon was to get some pussy!

— Sienna Khan, Headmaster Arc

Fury: Hm. Papillon. What do we have on him? Do we have any idea what his objective is?
Clint: Honestly? I don't think it matters. Pretty obvious he's got one short-term goal — grab these Miraculous things from Ladybug and Chat Noir. If he manages to get that far...
Tony: Then it doesn't matter what he thinks he's after. Trust me, I know the type. This is a guy who doesn't see people, he sees tools for getting what he wants. People like that don't let go of power once they've got it. If he gets Ladybug and Chat Noir's Miraculous – well, it's not going to take long before he starts thinking things like, what else can I get away with, now that there's no one to stop me? Thus far, he's been too focused on going after Ladybug and Chat Noir directly to pull anything else. Take them out of the picture, though, and there's going to be trouble.

— What the Cat Dragged In

Live-Action TV

I thought it was about my brother. It should have been about my brother. Somewhere along the way, my priorities... decayed. I realised I'd become more concerned with my own image and career.

— Bialar Crais, Farscape

Professional Wrestling

"For two years, for two years, I was with you and with Jimmy and with Roddy and at first The Decade had a purpose, we had meaning. And somewhere along the way you lost that sense of meaning. You lost it because you were too obsessed with Steve Corino. And it's that obsession that cost me the biggest match of my life against Jay Briscoe, it's that obsession that caused me to lose match, after match, after match! It's that obsession that makes me want to tear you limb, from limb! But the whole time you were worried about Steve, the man you should have been worried about was me. Because from the moment that we met the time was ticking, that I would stand up to you and cut you out of my life. When there is a cancer, you cut it out."

— Adam Page, Supercard Of Honor X

Tabletop Game

"So if I get the institute to apologize for laughing at your research will you destroy the killbots? No? Do you even know what you want?!"

—Graces stereotype toward Geniuses, Princess: The Hopeful

Video Games

"Actually... Why do we have to leave right now?"

— Wheatley, after spending half the game helping Chell escape, Portal 2.

Can you even remember why you came here?

— A loading screen in Spec Ops: The Line

Konrad: You were never meant to come here.
Flashback!Walker: We have our orders: leave the city, radio Command from outside the storm wall. They send in the cavalry, we go home.
Walker: What happened here was out of my control...
Konrad: Was it? None of this would have happened if you'd just stopped. But on you marched...

— Spec Ops: The Line

"And then what happens? Well, I suppose you could do what I did after Mohan killed Lakshmana. Oh, you didn't know that? Yes, your father killed your half-sister and then your mother killed him in return. I simply continued where she left off. I've killed so many people for them... but then I realized, I was only using Lakshmana's death as an excuse to do whatever I wanted to do. Just as you use those ashes as an excuse to do whatever you want to do. God damn if it isn't fun."

— Pagan Min, Far Cry 4

"You know what!? FUCK this war, I just want you dead!"

—Senator Steven Armstrong, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Web Animation

Alien AI: Why have you come here, meddler?
Locus: To kill the simulation troopers.
Alien AI: Will this secure your victory over their forces?
Locus: No...
Alien AI: Then what purpose will it serve?
Locus: I don't know...
Alien AI: Then why are you trying?
Locus: I don't know...
Alien AI: What do you know?
Locus: I don't know!

— Red vs. Blue

"It's time we got what we deserve."
[...]
"It's time I got what I deserve."

—Adam Taurus, RWBY

Web Original

So, if I'm understanding this right, the Head-Staplers wanted to be off the planet, but once they got what they wanted, they decided to get revenge. Just read that again and realize how stupid this plot truly is. This film didn't need a rewrite; it needed a bullet between the eyes.

— The Agony Booth, addressing the motives of the Son'a in their recap of Star Trek: Insurrection

"Hard-libertarians and Randians gild themselves as enlightened individuals most in tune with reason, when in reality, they are so full of shit it's leaking out of their ears: No matter how much they pretend to care about scientific evidence, 'moral clarity', etc. they're somehow perfectly willing to believe in the fantastical myths of limitless growth and limitless profit, that history needs to somehow stop in its tracks and move backwards to move forwards, i.e. eliminate everything that's been gained with democratic government, placing all of the power into the hands of a few transcendent John Galt supermen, creating a situation that, in reality, would probably be akin to the inhuman power structures of ancient Egypt, or Putin's Russia that they pretend to hate but likely envy. They see no problem at all in letting advertisers use whatever tricks they can think of to hoodwink the public (fostering public irrationality is perfectly fine so long as it's only fucking things up for 99.9999% of the population)."

—Rational Wiki on Vulgar libertarianism

Web Video

Italia: Buon Giorno, Signore! It took you 21 episodes, but you finally have enough energy for your mission.
Beryl: Mission?
Italia: Yes, your mission!
Beryl: I-I have a mission?

— Sailor Moon Abridged

Kayaba: Congratulations on beating the game.
Kirito: So, how come you wanted to trap thousands of people in this game?
Kayaba: Pffft, I dunno.
Kirito: Seems legit.

—Sword Art Online IN 5 MINUTES

Jackal: "Ha ha ha, it's so funny watching the representation of the woman I love, melting away. Say, what was my motivation for becoming a villain, again?"

—Atop the Fourth Wall on The Clone Saga

Western Animation

I used to have goals. They were evil goals, but they were goals.

— Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz, Phineas and Ferb

You're probably looking forward to one of my erudite speeches about me, Megaframe, the new viral dawn, et cetera et cetera. But I'm afraid I'm going to have to disappoint you. There is no grand scheme here. This is about revenge.

— Megabyte, ReBoot

Gargamel: Preposterous! I want to turn Smurfs into gold, not kill them.
Brainy Smurf: I thought you wanted to eat the Smurfs.
Gargamel: Actually, I've never been all that clear on my motivations.

— Robot Chicken, "Atta Toy"

Lois: You humiliated your own wife! And for what? To get that crazy Mr. Fargus back in the classroom?
Peter: Who?

— Family Guy, "Running Mates"

No, I got my eyes on the prize. The hood ornament I desperately want for reasons I can no longer remember.

— Bart Simpson, 'Scuse Me While I Miss The Sky

Real Life

Fanaticism consists of redoubling your efforts when you have forgotten your aim.

— George Santayana

”The ‘party of small government’ wants the state to be able to tell you to stay in a marriage, if you can get married, what pronouns you’re allowed to use, what clothes you may wear, what medications you can take, what books you can read, and what god you can worship. Am I missing anything?”

—jsonitsac, Fundies Say the Darndest Things

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