History EvenEvilHasStandards / Literature

* In ''RumoAndHisMiraculousAdventures'', there are the [[{{Cyclops}} Demonocles]], who positively thrive on TheSoundOfScreaming, prefer to eat prey alive, and will beat their friends to death [[ForTheEvulz over nothing]] and then [[WhyDidYouMakeMeHitYou blame them for it]]. [[spoiler:Break [[BizarreAlienBiology the intricate bony structure in one's huge, complex tongue]]...and not only have you effectively crippled him, but you've demoralized any Demonocles who witnessed the sight.]] After all...
-->'''The Demonocles''': How could any living creature do anything so cruel to another?

-->"How could any living creature do anything so cruel to another?"

* In the novelization of ''DemolitionMan'' [[AxCrazy Simon Phoenix]] is shocked that Cocteau had Associate Bob ''castrated'' to curb Bob's ambition. Phoenix is a murderous bastard, but taking a guy's balls just isn't right!

* Tom Walker in Washington Irving's story ''The Devil and Tom Walker'' is pretty much lacking in redeeming qualities, but when he first makes his DealWithTheDevil and the Devil proposes that he serve him through the slave trade, Tom immediately refuses, saying he won't have anything to do with that. He then eagerly accepts the Devil's second proposal, which is that he become a ruthless LoanShark who ruins the lives of those around him. It's been suggested that this might have been satirical toward a reference to the stereotypical Northern businessman who like Tom was a greedy miser, but abhorred slavery.

* This is present in the background in Washington Irving's story ''The Devil and Tom Walker'' given its historical context, but in this case, the author realizes how hypocritical this kind of distinction is. The character making the DealWithTheDevil was meant to satirize ruthless Northeastern businessmen who still claimed to be good Calvinists, and is thus shown refusing to participate in the slave trade but then gladly becomes a usurer who ruins his fellow citizens.

* In KungFuPanda2, [[EvilAlbino Lord]] [[BigBad Shen's]] [[TheDragon dra]][[BigBadassWolf gon]] refuses to fire on his [[{{Mooks}} own men]] and [[spoiler: gets killed for it.]] [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] as wolves are pack animals, and will not kill their own.

* In ''[[AlexRider Scorpia Rising]]'', while Zeljan is discussing his XanatosGambit with the rest of Scorpia, he calls [[DrugsAreBad Damian]] [[WellIntentionedExtremist Cray]] a madman.

** On a lesser scale, Harry's aunt Petunia was a close-minded bigot who considered all wizards (including her sister and nephew) abominations and maltreat Harry to no end; nevertheless, she still accepted him in her family in order to protect him from certain death, thus exposing her family to considerable danger, raised him as a normal-functioning child and never rejected him despite the incessant torrent of calamities that befell her family.

* In ''Literature/RainbowSix'', TheDragon Dmitriy Popov is a RenegadeRussian former KGB intelligence offer who abets three terrorist attacks, including [[spoiler: an attack on the wives of Clark and Ding]], commits two murders of his own during the story's length and has no qualms about stealing. Finding out the truth of the BigBad's plan horrifies him enough that [[spoiler: he tells on it to Clark and the FBI]].

* [[TheWheelOfTime "I dare the truth, Elaida," Egwene said quietly. "You are a coward and a tyrant. I'd name you Darkfriend as well, but I suspect that the Dark One would perhaps be embarrassed to associate with you."]] Granted, it's not a ''moral'' standard...

* [[TheWheelOfTime "I dare the truth, Elaida," Egwene said quietly. "You are a coward and a tyrant. I'd name you Darkfriend as well, but I suspect that the Dark One would perhaps be embarrassed to associate with you."]] Granted, it's not a ''moral'' standard...

* In Moliere's play ''DonJuan'', the title character shows this in one scene where he (unknowingly) saves the life of the brother of one of his abandoned conquests when he sees him being attacked and grossly outnumbered by a group of bandits. This turns out to be an EmbarrassingRescue for the brother who is supposed to kill Juan.

** Godelot Sr, writer of ''Magick Moste Evile'', wouldn't touch the subject of Horcruxes. The notes in ''Tales of Beedle the Bard'' indicate that he was a CardCarryingVillain.
** On a lesser scale, Harry's aunt Petunia was a close-minded bigot who considered all wizards (including her sister and nephew) abominations and maltreat Harry to no end; nevertheless, she still accepted him in her family in order to protect him from certain death, thus exposing her family to considerable danger, raised him as a normal-functioning child and never rejected him despite the incessant torrent of calamities that befell her family.

** In ''Discworld/{{Hogfather}}'' the head of the Ankh-Morpork branch is horrified by the excesses of PsychopathicManchild Jonathan Teatime and frightened by his unpredictable actions.

** In ''Eric'', Astfgl's attempts to run Hell like a corporation disgust even the other demons.

* TerryPratchett likes doing this in ''{{Discworld}}'', especially with his Assassins' Guild. Like Leon, they do not accept contracts to "inhume" [[WouldntHitAGirl women]] or [[WouldntHurtAChild children]], nor do they ''ever'' work for free, and they cannot accept contracts on someone who cannot defend themselves (though a wealthy enough person is considered capable).

** Demons like Crowley also have this view about Satanists. Most of them (like the [[Sister Mary and the other nuns ItMakesSenseInContext]]) are actually harmless--having been raised in the faith for generations they're basically like your average non-observant Christian, acting ordinary six days per week and then attending a token black sabbath without being particularly devout. ''Some'' Satanists, on the other hand, like the ones you sometimes hear about on the news...

* TerryPratchett likes doing this in ''{{Discworld}}'', especially with his Assassins' Guild. Like Leon, they do not accept contracts to "inhume" [[WouldntHitAGirl women]] or [[WouldntHurtAChild children]], nor do they ''ever'' work for free, and they cannot accept contracts someone who cannot defend themselves (though a wealthy enough person is considsered capable).

* In {{IT}}, [[CompleteMonster Henry Bowers]] and his fellow gang members just barely allow Patrick Hocksetter to hang with them, even though he [[ColdBloodedTorture fucking]] [[DepravedBisexual terrifies]] [[PsychopathicManchild them]]. Bowers eventually has enough and tells Hocksetter that he's quite well aware of the abandoned fridge that he kills animals with, which eventually leads to Hocksetter getting attacked and devoured by It.

** "A scoundrel I may be, but I ain't an assassin, and you will comb my memoirs in vain for a mention of Flashy as First Murderer." (Flashman's response to a clear hint that, if all else fails to turn him aside, Flashman is to bump off [[spoiler: John Brown]].

* In ''RainbowSix'', TheDragon Dmitriy Popov is a RenegadeRussian former KGB intelligence offer who abets three terrorist attacks, including [[spoiler: an attack on the wives of Clark and Ding]]. Finding out the truth of the BigBad's plan horrifies him enough that [[spoiler: he tells on it to Clark and the FBI]].

*** That is to say that dragons ''did'' burn and torture and rip one another apart, they just [[AtLeastIAdmitIt never called it a "good" thing.]]

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* Played for laughs in the foreword to HarryPotter parody ''BarryTrotter'' ''and the shameless parody''. The foreword includes a message from the publisher describing the work as 'satanic', a message from {{Satan}} who also thinks the book is SoBadItsHorrible and refuses to take the blame for it. A message from the church follows, stating that anything so reviled by satan must be the ultimate work of good and encouraging the public to buy it en masse.