History Main / CodeOfHonour

* As revealed in ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', the Ferengi Alliance has a code of honor known as the "Rules of Acquisition", which outlines how to live a profitable life.

* In ''Literature/MoDaoZuShi'', no other sect matches the Lan sect for scope: they carve all their rules on the giant Wall of Discipline at the entrance of the Cloud Recesses. In his time studying there, Wei Wuxian noted that there were three thousand-plus rules crammed onto the wall. In the thirteen years since he [[FirstEpisodeResurrection died]], a thousand more were added...

** Boba Fett has one as well. He considers himself a law-abiding being, but also tries to remain honorable in his dealings with his clients, and at one point is shown trying to figure out how to respond to an offer from a Hutt ''not'' to honor a bounty to kill someone while still satisfying his code.

* JustifiedTrope in ''Fanfic/JerichoMLP''. The titular [[FirstPersonSmartass Jeri]][[SociopathicHero cho]] has a very simple one, with only two specific entries about rules he must not break. Jericho explains that they exist to keep him from becoming an irredeemable monster, since Jericho ''is'' a [[TheSociopath sociopath]]. The code is:
** ''"Harm not children. Commit not rape."''

* Justified in ''Fanfic/{{Jericho}}''. The titular [[FirstPersonSmartass Jeri]][[SociopathicHero cho]] has a very simple one, with only two specific entries about rules he must not break. Jericho explains that they exist to keep him from becoming an irredeemable monster, since Jericho ''is'' a [[TheSociopath sociopath]]. The code is:

** ... in some editions. 3E downgraded it to not allowing aid if said aid would be used for chaotic purposes, and it became even more flexible in 4E and 5E.

* Lawyers, being lawyers, know that [[AmoralAttorney some in their profession]] will want to, erm, [[RulesLawyer lawyer]] their way around any Code, have come up with very complicated Codes that either leave little room for wiggling or limit how useful to the lawyer or damaging to others the wiggling can be. The American [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Bar_Association_Model_Rules_of_Professional_Conduct Model Rules of Professional Conduct]] (applied in some form in all states except California, which has slightly different rules) are a good example. (Incidentally, this code contains Rule Number 1 for lawyers: "[[StealingFromTheTill Touch your client's money and you're done]].")

* In ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' TheFairFolk ''live'' by this. All their actions, both benign and malign, fall under this. Any debt incurred ''must'' be repaid in kind. Any injury ''must'' have an appropriate response. To claim a Fae has violated this is a grave insult. Another dangerous action is ''giving'' them a gift because they do not like being forced into being a debtor. The prospect of reneging on a debt owed to a mortal, because if the mortal is dead the debt cannot be repaid, is enough to make a powerful Fae assassin halt and listen to the request for repayment and then act on it. If the mortal was still targeted once the repayment happened, the assassin would finish the job then.

* In ''Franchise/TheWitcher'' series, Geralt [[spoiler:pretends he]] has one of these and will often bring it up when he refuses a job or stays neutral in any given conflict. [[spoiler:There actually is a code, but all it really covers is not sharing Witcher secrets and lore and preserving the secrecy of the mutagens that allow them to do their jobs. So Geralt is just bullshitting people when he quotes the Witcher Code when he doesn't want to do something.]]

* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40K'':

** Also, the Igors in ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' have a Code which requires such things as "The Marther is always right." and "Don't ask [big] questions." At one point in ''Discworld/ThiefOfTime'', an Igor has to answer a question he cannot due to the Code. He simply says "I would be unable to say that." They must also not betray the Master but at the same time the Code doesn't forbid them from leaving right before the villagers come with torches and pitchforks.

* The Code of Thundera in ''WesternAnimation/ThunderCats'': "Justice, Truth, Honor, and Loyalty."

-->-- '''[[IGaveMyWord Oath of]] [[AncientGreece Athenian soldiers]]'''

* In ''Franchise/TheWitcher'' series, Geralt [[spoiler:pretends he]] has one of these and will often bring it up when he refuses a job or stays neutral in any given conflict. [[spoiler:There actually is a code but all it really covers is not sharing Witcher secrets and lore and preserving the secrecy of the mutagens that allow them to do their jobs. So Geralt is just bullshitting people when he quotes the Witcher Code when he doesn't want to do something.]]

* The Code of The Schoolyard mentioned in an early episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{TheSimpsons}}''. After Bart is beaten up, he won't tell a teacher because that would violate the code.

** WordOfGod holds that among the Predicons, Trechary was not a dishonorable act cowardly act (This version of Megatron has at most two loyal followers, neither at the same time) and in fact, Megatron values it. The catch here is that treachery was used as a test of good leadership. A good leader, would be able to stop treachery, either through inspiring loyalty or by preventing treacherous underlings from a successful challenge. Meanwhile, subotdinantes could achieve leadership by successful coups and were expected to challenge authority by betraying leadership if they felt leadership was poor, however, they should anticipate that their leader would be able to counter their machiations.

* The Code of The Schoolyard mentioned in an early episode of ''WesternAnimanimation/{{TheSimpsons}}''. After Bart is beaten up, he won't tell a teacher because that would violate the code.

** In "Return of the Skyband", the Phantom tells the other Defenders about an incident where his grandfather encountered an all-female band of SkyPirates, but was unable to fight them because of a Code of Honour which forbids those who assume the Phantom title from harming women.

* The Code Of Honor was/is the defining trait of Wrestling/RingOfHonor. It used to be a five point law that could earn one severe penalties if they violated it, put in place to cut back on {{t|ryingtocatchmefightingdirty}}he [[EasilyDistractedReferee usual]] [[GlassJawReferee antics]] [[RageQuit that]] go on in professional wrestling. For two years it seemed to be working, with even most of the {{heel}}s subscribing to it at least partially. But then its obvious flaw became apparent; if most of the roster decides to violate it, are you going to suspend them all? Having strayed from its super indie roots, finding replacements in time for the next show would prove nigh impossible, so Gabe Sapolsky did away with the code. After he left the company it was brought back, although simplified to what amounted to "play nice" as there were no longer penalties for violators.

* The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushido bushido code]] of the samurai class ([[YoungerThanTheyThink written after the samurai had ceased being an active warrior class]]).
* The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight#Chivalric_code chivalric code]] of medieval knights ([[YoungerThanTheyThink most variants written after the knights had ceased being an active warrior class]]).

* The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushido bushido code]] of the samurai class.
* The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight#Chivalric_code chivalric code]] of medieval knights.

[[TheOrder Orders]] and {{Ancient Tradition}}s are very likely to possess one of these. The ObstructiveCodeOfConduct is the most important (or just first) article of The Code. TheCommandments are a very brief Code presented in the form of an enumerated list. The BigBookOfWar is a written-down Code that pertains specifically to war. HonorBeforeReason is what happens when someone insists on following The Code even when this is obviously a really stupid thing to do.