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Anime and Manga
"I will find my own purpose and purge this planet of all who oppose me, human and Pokémon alike. The world will heed my warning! The reign of Mewtwo will soon begin!"
— Mewtwo, Pokémon: The First Movie (English dub)
"Attention, entire world! Hear my proclamation! I am Lelouch vi Brittania, Emperor of the Holy Britannian Empire and your only ruler! Schneizel has surrendered to me. As a result of this, I am now in control of both the Damocles and the F.L.E.I.J.A. weapons, and even the Black Knights no longer possess the strength to oppose me now. If anyone dares to resist my supreme authority, they shall know the devastating power of the F.L.E.I.J.A.s! Those who could challenge my military rule no longer exist. Yes, from this day, from this moment forward, the world belongs to me! Lelouch vi Britannia commands you: obey me, subjects! Obey me, world!"
— Lelouch vi Britannia, Code Geass
"World domination, huh? It's certainly an interesting thought..."
— Ainz Ooal Gown, Overlord (2012), on the beauty of the world and how he wants to keep it safe under his control. Unfortunately, he meant it as an afterthought and Demiurge prepares for an actual Take Over the World campaign for him
Comic Books
Dr. Druid: And once you have conquered the people of Earth, what then?
Super-Adaptoid: I will rule them, Dr. Druid.
Dr. Druid: To rule means to dictate. What will you tell your billions of subjects to do?
Super-Adaptoid: I... I had not yet considered that.
Super-Adaptoid: I will rule them, Dr. Druid.
Dr. Druid: To rule means to dictate. What will you tell your billions of subjects to do?
Super-Adaptoid: I... I had not yet considered that.
— The Avengers, #290
Superman: Another illusion, or are you the real Satanis?
Lord Satanis: Lord Satanis, Superman! The ruler of future-Earth... And soon to be the ruler of all time!
Lord Satanis: Lord Satanis, Superman! The ruler of future-Earth... And soon to be the ruler of all time!
Fang-Ho: That nice gadget, placed on the back of your neck, will turn you into a faithful servant, whose only will will be... mine! Each new servant will make new devices that, in turn, will make new servants, until I have an endless army at my command! Do you know what I'll do then?
Angus: You'll take over the world?
[Beat]
Fang-Ho: There must have been an information leak!
Angus: You'll take over the world?
[Beat]
Fang-Ho: There must have been an information leak!
"I'll arrange to "accidentally" kill Luthor while capturing him after he destroys Superman with the Kryptonite Ray... A dead Luthor won't be able to reveal the truth about me! And with Superman out of the way, I'll be the mightiest person on Earth, free to conquer or destroy Earths, as I please! Ha, Ha, Ha!"
— Lesla-Lar, The Unknown Supergirl
"The Earth— The very universe itself— is ours for the taking!"
— General Zod, The Phantom Zone
"It's such a pretty world. I can't wait until it's all mine— mine to rule and do with as I please!"
Superman: "I want answers, Doom! I gather that you're up to something very big!"
Doctor Doom: "Why, of course I am! I am "up" to gaining absolute dominion over this entire planet! Can it be that this is a surprise to you?"
Doctor Doom: "Why, of course I am! I am "up" to gaining absolute dominion over this entire planet! Can it be that this is a surprise to you?"
Fan Works
"Look at this legacy your dear old dad is handing you. Not many people can say that their father's conquered the Earth, eh? Or killed the Marvel Family? No matter where we go after this, no matter what we do, nobody will be on the same level as us after this. Of course, they never were. But this time, this time, they'll all know it."
— Doctor Sivana, Here There Be Monsters
"I will reclaim my empire with her [Twilight Sparkle] as my vessel, let her watch as the light leaves her usurping compatriot’s eyes. Then I will take her to Canterlot, strike down the old gods, let the terror of my name chill the tongues of every citizen in Equestria. When the dawn comes, it will rise not over a kingdom, but an empire. My empire."
— King Sombra, Plural Possessive
Film — Animated
"I, Mojo Jojo, have a town to take over! I have a world to rule! I need to seize control of an area, and force its inhabitants to follow my way of thinking!"
— Mojo Jojo, The Powerpuff Girls Movie
"And this is how I win the world. This juncture, of course, is usually where the wheels come off, but not this time. Cutting the traitor Major Bludd's heart in half right in front of you, right here in this room, should have gotten the point across. It suited me once to appear weak and cowardly, because it motivated you people to think! But today... is a new day. There will be no move to take over my command. There will be no mistakes. There will be none, of your crap! None of it! Work with me, and I'll give you the world in less than 24 hours. Work against me, and I will gut you like a fish! Right here.. "
— Cobra Commander, G.I. Joe: Resolute
Film — Live-Action
"But Scott, who's going to take over the world when I die?"
— Dr. Evil, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
President of India: What is it you want?
Cobra Commander: ...I want it all.
Cobra Commander: ...I want it all.
"Aut Caesar aut nullus. Emperor of the world. My world."
— Adenoid Hynkel, The Great Dictator
"With a ring like that I could, dare I say it? Rule the world!"
— Professor Foot, Help!
"World domination. The same old dream. Our asylums are full of people who think they're Napoleon. Or God."
— James Bond, Dr. No
"You're missing the point. There is no 'throne'; there is no version of this where you come out on top!"
— Tony Stark on Loki's Alien Invasion, The Avengers (2012)
"I'm bored with corporations. With the information I can access, I can run things 900 to 1200 times better than any human."
— The MCP, TRON
"Magic horn is mine, mine, mine! Now all creatures will love the night, and worship goblins as divine!"
— Blix, Legend (1985)
"With its increased size, the brain waves we're sending out can be even stronger. We'll be reaching a wider audience. Soon, it will be thinking for all those morons out there."
— Dr. Anthony Blakely, The Brain (1988)
"Schmidt believes he walks in the footsteps of the gods. Only the world itself will satisfy him."
— Arnim Zola on the Red Skull, Captain America: The First Avenger
"I'll tell you what we are, sister! We're the top of the fucking food chain. The Blood God's coming and after tonight, you people are fucking history. He's a hurricane. An act of God. Anyone caught in his path will instantly be turned. Everyone you've ever known... everyone you've ever fucking loved... it won't matter who's pureblood and who's not. How you gonna cure the whole fucking world? Hm? "
— Deacon Frost, Blade (1998)
"I'm going to enslave humanity and force them to service my machines. First Green Hills, then the universe, then the multiverse, then who knows? Maybe it'll be enough. Full disclosure: You won't be there."
— Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022)
Literature
"So what's this all about, Cudgeon? And please don't say world domination."
— Foaly, Artemis Fowl and the Arctic Incident
"Sauron desired to be a God-King, and was held to be this by his servants; if he had been victorious he would have demanded divine honour from all rational creatures and absolute temporal power over the whole world."
— The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien
No less than the kingship of the world was [Ar-Pharazôn's] desire.
#203: "To conquer the earth with an army of flying monkeys" is a bad long-term goal to give to the re-enlistment NCO.
"What does it mean to conquer the world? Is there really a way to do it? Do you have to be the richest one, or the smartest one, or to beat everyone in a fight? Or just to know you could? Is it to be invincible? [...] Does it just mean to get the girl you really wanted?"
Live-Action TV
"Adolf Hitler wants to take the world, and keep it. All for himself."
— Trailer for Danger5
"Ahh, after ten thousand years I'm free! It's time to conquer Earth!"
— Rita Repulsa, Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers
"All the others before me have failed! Alexander, Caesar, Napoleon, Hitler, Lee Kuan, Krotus! ALL OF THEM ARE DUST! But I will triumph! I will make THE ULTIMATE CONQUEST!"
— Garth Of Izar, Star Trek: The Original Series, "Whom Gods Destroy"
Skagra: "Take over the Universe"!? How childish. Who could possibly want to take over the Universe?
The Doctor: Exactly! That's what I keep on trying to tell people. It's a troublesome place, difficult to administer, and as a piece of real estate it's worthless because by definition there'd be no one to sell it to.
The Doctor: Exactly! That's what I keep on trying to tell people. It's a troublesome place, difficult to administer, and as a piece of real estate it's worthless because by definition there'd be no one to sell it to.
— Doctor Who, "Shada"
Music
And I want to conquer the world,
Give all the idiots a brand new religion,
Put an end to poverty, uncleanliness and toil,
Promote equality in all my decisions
With a quick wink of the eye
And a "God you must be joking!"
Give all the idiots a brand new religion,
Put an end to poverty, uncleanliness and toil,
Promote equality in all my decisions
With a quick wink of the eye
And a "God you must be joking!"
I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
Once you go there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world"
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
Once you go there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world"
— Coldplay, "Viva la Vida"
All for freedom and for pleasure
Nothing ever lasts forever
Everybody wants to rule the world
Nothing ever lasts forever
Everybody wants to rule the world
— Tears for Fears, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"
"Tune into your favourite station
Peruse any news publication
See the state of the states and nations
Corporations, inflation, invasions
Well, I say that they could take some
Intercontinental consolidation
One flag emblazoned with my face on
And I don't plan on an application"
Peruse any news publication
See the state of the states and nations
Corporations, inflation, invasions
Well, I say that they could take some
Intercontinental consolidation
One flag emblazoned with my face on
And I don't plan on an application"
"I'd like the world in my control
You say I'm diabolical
That's me, I've got to play the role
So one dimensional"
You say I'm diabolical
That's me, I've got to play the role
So one dimensional"
—The Cog Is Dead, "Bad Guy"
Tabletop Games
"It is said that no one man can command the world, Dimitri, but I say nothing is impossible..."
—Tsar Vladimir I Nikolaievich to the Grand Prince of Kiev, St Petersburg, 1866, Dystopian Wars
"So, Wilson, how in the frack did you know the fileset was secret plans for world domination?"
"'Cause it was labeled Secret Plans for World Domination."
"'Cause it was labeled Secret Plans for World Domination."
— Netrunner, "World Domination"
"We shall inherit the earth, have no doubt of that. When the last twitching Garou has been made into a rug to rest in front of a crackling fireplace; when the last mage has been burned alive, the pages of his grimoires serving as kindling; when the last restless ghost has been laid in its grave — then will the earth belong to our kind."
— Vampire: The Masquerade — Clanbook: Lasombra
"There are countless worlds beyond the void of Chaos, endless kingdoms to conquer, cities to sack, forests to burn, warriors to slay in their millions. But by Khorne, I have chosen this world to conquer, and conquer it I shall, even if it takes a thousand millennia."
— Khastarax, Daemon Prince of Khorne, Warhammer
Video Games
"There is always some fool who wants to rule the world! Always forcing others to do what they cannot do for themselves!"
— Asura, Asura's Wrath
"Nonsense; it makes me feel great! Smarter! More aggressive! I feel like I could... like I could... like I could... TAKE ON THE WORLD!"
— Purple Tentacle, Day of the Tentacle
Mr. Zero: Tell us why you want to control the world.
Zoda: It's every bad guy's dream, of course!
Zoda: It's every bad guy's dream, of course!
FU: Hey, Damon! Let's team up and make this planet ours!
Damon: "Ours"? What do you mean?
FU: I'm talking about taking it over, duh!
Damon: "Ours"? What do you mean?
FU: I'm talking about taking it over, duh!
"In human history, not one person has successfully conquered the world. I shall be the first and last person to do just that."
— Dōgen, Senran Kagura 2: Deep Crimson
"Rulin' the world sounds like it would just a huge pain in the neck to me, man. I mean, have you ever seen the world? It's freakin' huge! Seems like a lot of responsibility to shoulder."
— Rufus win-quote against M. Bison, Street Fighter IV
"I will summon Set, the great chaos god who slew his brother Osiris with this very weapon! With Set's power and the Beast Armies of the Netherworld, I will enslave or destroy the people of the land of the living and rule this whole world!"
— Magus, telling Mathayus his plans after he acquires the Sword of Osiris, The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian
Web Original
"It was made by some guy named 'the Toymaker', who wants to rule the world or something because of course he does."
— Diamondbolt talking about the Toymaker.
"The world is a mess, and I just need to rule it!"
— Dr. Horrible, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
Western Animation
"Every villain needs an evil plot. Take Drakken. His plot? Always taking over the world. Always."
— Shego, Kim Possible
(If I ruled the world)
I would make sure my clones don't give any slack
(If I ruled the world)
I would treat people bad,
That's well known fact
Imagine that!
I would make sure my clones don't give any slack
(If I ruled the world)
I would treat people bad,
That's well known fact
Imagine that!
— Evil Doctor Carver Clone, The Proud Family Movie
Marco: What kind of madman are you?
Sparks: Oh, you know, the regular kind. World domination, the usual.
Sparks: Oh, you know, the regular kind. World domination, the usual.
— Sealab 2021, "Happy Cake"
"Just as the world will be reborn in fire, I shall be reborn as the supreme ruler of the world. From this moment on, I will be known as the Phoenix King!"
— Fire Lord Ozai, Avatar: The Last Airbender
"I have a world to conquer!"
— Master Cyclonis, Storm Hawks
Future Archmage: Soon the Sisters will bring you the talismans, and with them, the ultimate power of which you've always dreamed. What will you do with it?
Past Archmage: I hadn't thought that far in advance. Perhaps I'll conquer Scotland!
Future Archmage: Only Scotland? With so much power you can conquer the world!
Past Archmage: I hadn't thought that far in advance. Perhaps I'll conquer Scotland!
Future Archmage: Only Scotland? With so much power you can conquer the world!
—Gargoyles, "Avalon"
Real Life
"With Heaven's aid I have conquered for you a huge empire. But my life was too short to achieve the conquest of the world. That task is left for you."
— Genghis Khan's last address to his successors
"Conquering the world on horseback is easy; it is dismounting and governing that is hard."
— Yelu Chucai to the above
"As there is but one God in heaven, there ought to be but one ruler on the earth."
"I wanted to rule the world — who wouldn't have, in my place?"
"The Führer has expressed his firm belief that the Reich will one day control all of Europe. From there the road to world rule is practically laid bare. He who owns Europe has leadership of the world within his grasp."
