"It's the age-old question. Who can spy on the spies?"
— Oliver Lacon, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
"Someone has to protect this family from the man who protects this family."
— Skyler White, Breaking Bad, "Cornered"
Vicky Redd
: This’ll be our claim to fame, Ezzie! Any idiot can save the citizens, we’ll be the first to save the superheroes!
Author’s Note: Actually it’s been done at least 400 times in the past 80 years of superhero comics. Just doesn’t make the papers.
: This’ll be our claim to fame, Ezzie! Any idiot can save the citizens, we’ll be the first to save the superheroes! Author’s Note: Actually it’s been done at least 400 times in the past 80 years of superhero comics. Just doesn’t make the papers.
— Redd
Who’s gonna investigate the man who investigates the man who investigates me?
I don’t doubt my loyalty,
But who knows just what his might be?
Who’ll check the record of the man who checks the record of the man who checks the record of mine?
Seems to me there’s gonna be an awfully long line.
I don’t doubt my loyalty,
But who knows just what his might be?
Who’ll check the record of the man who checks the record of the man who checks the record of mine?
Seems to me there’s gonna be an awfully long line.
— Harold Rome, "Who's Gonna Investigate..." (1939)
Hawkman: I can't help wondering if the world still has a place for heroes like us.
The Flash: More than ever, I'd say. The way I see it, we have a responsibility to the heroes that came after us, Carter. The people down there in the streets, the people that really matter, they look up to teams like the Titans and the League. But the Titans and the League — they look up to us.
Sentinel: Quis custodiet ipsos custodes. Who watches the Watchmen.
The Flash: More than ever, I'd say. The way I see it, we have a responsibility to the heroes that came after us, Carter. The people down there in the streets, the people that really matter, they look up to teams like the Titans and the League. But the Titans and the League — they look up to us.
Sentinel: Quis custodiet ipsos custodes. Who watches the Watchmen.
— JSA #25, "The Return of Hawkman"
"Maybe Mr. Smug can call the police against a gang banger, but who does he call against the police?"
— Penn Jillette, Bullshit, Gun Control
Pessimal: Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Your Grace.
Vimes: I know that one. "Who watches the watchmen?" Me, Mr. Pessimal.
Pessimal: Ah, but who watches you, Your Grace?
Vimes: I do that, too. All the time. Believe me.
Vimes: I know that one. "Who watches the watchmen?" Me, Mr. Pessimal.
Pessimal: Ah, but who watches you, Your Grace?
Vimes: I do that, too. All the time. Believe me.
— Thud!
The Summoning Dark: They would have killed his family! Think of the deaths they have caused! Who are you to stop me?
The Guarding Dark: He created me. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who watches the watchmen? Me. I watch him. Always. You will not force him to murder for you.
The Summoning Dark: What kind of human creates his own policeman?
The Guarding Dark: One who fears the dark.
The Summoning Dark: [smugly] And so he should.
The Guarding Dark: Indeed. But I think you misunderstand. I am not here to keep darkness out. I'm here to keep it in.
The Guarding Dark: He created me. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who watches the watchmen? Me. I watch him. Always. You will not force him to murder for you.
The Summoning Dark: What kind of human creates his own policeman?
The Guarding Dark: One who fears the dark.
The Summoning Dark: [smugly] And so he should.
The Guarding Dark: Indeed. But I think you misunderstand. I am not here to keep darkness out. I'm here to keep it in.
— Thud!
Congressman: We knew that we had to monitor our enemies. We've also come to realize that we need to monitor the people who are monitoring them.
Carla: Well, who's going to monitor the monitors of the monitors?
Carla: Well, who's going to monitor the monitors of the monitors?
"What confuses me, though, is that even after you've been wrongly accused and are on the run, you can still arrest people. In fact when the evil private cops show up to arrest you, you can arrest them back. What organisation is going to come around and pick THOSE guys up? The Criminal Police from opposite land who give talks to high school kids on how drugs are really great and everyone should take them?"
Dr. Phillips: Guards are in the same position as any policeman. They're free to do as they please unless someone watches them closely.
Miss Dietrich: Such people are difficult to supervise because they usually watch whoever's watching them.
Miss Dietrich: Such people are difficult to supervise because they usually watch whoever's watching them.
