History Main / ItsWhatIDo

-->'''Play Loki:''' I'm sorry about that thing with the Tesseract. I just couldn't help myself. [...] I'm a trickster!

* ''Series/MacGyver'' doesn't actually say it himself, because he's busy doing what he's doing.

** SmugSnake Slade pulls off one in when Robin confronts him over his role in bringing about an apocalypse that's left the world in ruins (don't worry, [[ResetButton it gets better]])...
-->'''Robin:''' But you played a part. And just like everything else you've ever done, it's made people suffer.
-->'''Slade:''' It's what I do best.

* SmugSnake Slade pulls off one in ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' when Robin confronts him over his role in bringing about an apocalypse that's left the world in ruins (don't worry, [[ResetButton it gets better]])...

** One-off enemy The Source, in explaining an utterly pointless invasion scheme to Beast Boy involving kidnapping cows and blowing up the Earth: "It is our way."

** In another episode, the AffectionateParody of golden age heroes ''Legends'' had the Justice Guild contemplate that defeating the enemy would in fact, kill them as well. The immediate reply they gave was, "We died once to save this Earth, and we can do it again."

** Darkseid betraying the Justice League [[spoiler:and Brainiac in a fake EnemyMine {{plan}}. When Brainiac]] says, "You deceived me." Darkseid replies coolly, [[MagnificentBastard "It's what I do."]]

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' had Darkseid betraying the Justice League [[spoiler:and Brainiac in a fake EnemyMine {{plan}}. When Brainiac]] says, "You deceived me." Darkseid replies coolly, [[MagnificentBastard "It's what I do."]]
** In another episode, the AffectionateParody of golden age heroes ''Legends'' had the Justice Guild contemplate that defeating the enemy would in fact, kill them as well. The immediate reply they gave was, "We gave our lives once for this city."

!!Examples

[[folder:Anime]]

* {{Wolverine}}: "I'm the best there is at what I do. What I do ain't very nice."

--> '''Batman''': Joker, why?
--> '''Joker''': Why? Why? Because this is how it ''is'' isn't it? I do terrible, crazy things and you act all grim and gritty and stop me. And I go back to Arkham and you go back to doing whatever it is you do when I'm not around. Brooding all by yourself in the dark I suppose. That's just how we are. Or how we've grown to be. And it's never going to change.

[[folder:Film]]

-->'''Ursula:''' "My dear, sweet child...That's what I do!"
* In ''Film/VanHelsing'', Igor says this when questioned why he likes torturing things.

-->'''Doon:''' "How do you know that's what you should do?"
-->'''Sul:''' "... It's my job!"

* ''Film/MysteryMen''
-->'''Doc Heller:''' It's what the card says.

-->'''Guy de Lusignan''': [[PretextForWar Give me a war.]]
-->'''Reynald''': That is what I do.

-->"You understand your part in all this?"
-->"Do you?"
-->"[[OneLinerNameOneLiner It's what I do, darlin'.]] *beat* [[MadeMyselfSad It's what I do."]]

-->"You still don't get it, do you? He'll find her! That's what he does! It's '''all''' he does! [[{{Determinator}} You can't stop him! He'll wade through you! He'll reach down her throat and tear her fuckin' heart out!"]]
* Played with, with a TitleDrop, in ''Film/StarTrekFirstContact''.
--> '''Cochran:''' "So you're all astronauts, on some sort of ({{beat}}) Star Trek."
* ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'': Quoth Jack Sparrow in the [[Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl first film]].
-->'''Will''': You cheated!
-->'''Jack''': ''Pirate.''
* In the SciFi channel TV movie ''The Fallen Ones'', the BigBad is a fallen angel who wants to destroy mankind with an army of Nephilim giants. The about-to-be-killed mentor gives him a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech, pointing out that such an event is mentioned nowhere in the Bible or in any prophecy, and the BigBad's entire plan is doomed to fail. The BigBad simply replies "I have to try. It's what I do." At the end of the film, in an IronicEcho, the hero says the same thing to the Big Bad after the Big Bad tells the hero that he couldn't possibly stop him.
* In ''Film/HoboWithAShotgun'', Ivan walks around in ice skates to make his kicks deadly. Slick notes, "You're going to ruin your skates." Ivan smiles broadly and replies, "I ruin ''everything''!"
* From ''Film/HotFuzz'', after Nicholas is told he's being involuntarily transferred because he's making everyone look bad:
-->'''Nicholas:''' With respect, ''sir'', you can't just make people disappear.
-->'''Chief Inspector:''' ...Yes I can. I'm the chief inspector.
* In ''A Ghost of a Chance'', the ghost of Sarashina Rokubei is asked why he haunts people. He said he’s never given it any thought and tries arguing that he’s a ghost, [[DefiedTrope only to be reminded he’s human]].

* ''Film/TheDevilsAdvocate'':
-->'''Kevin Lomax''': "Lose? I don't lose! I win! I win! I'm a lawyer! That's my job, that's what I do!"
* ''Film/FieldOfDreams'': For the entire film, Creator/JDSalinger [[{{Expy}} expy]] Terence Mann has tried to justify why [[AchillesInHisTent he doesn't write anymore]]. In the denouement, he relents.
-->'''Ray:''' You're gonna write about it?
-->'''Terence:''' That's what I do.
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyTheMovie2017'': At the climax, the [[BigBad Storm King]] breaks his promise to [[TheDragon Tempest Shadow]] with this sarcastic line:
-->'''Tempest Shadow''': You promised you'd restore my horn!
-->'''Storm King''': [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness Get with the program!]] [[ILied I used you!]] [[MoodWhiplash *casually*]] [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder It's kinda what I do.]]

* In the fable "The Scorpion and the Frog," the titular scorpion asks the titular frog to carry him across a river. The frog is afraid of being stung, but the scorpion reassures him that if it stung the frog, the frog would sink and the scorpion would drown as well, so that wouldn't be logical. This sounds reasonable to the frog who agrees to take the scorpion. But halfway across the river the scorpion stings the frog anyway, and as they both sink the frog asks why the scorpion did it, and the scorpion replies:

*** Alternate quote from the scorpion:
--> "I've never NOT stung."

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* From the ''Series/DoctorWho'' special "Voyage of the Damned".
-->'''Rickston Slade:''' Hang on a minute. Who put you in charge, and who the hell are you anyway?\\

'''The Doctor:''' In that case, allons-y.
** From ''Nightmare of Eden'':
--->'''Romana''': [[AlienNonInterferenceClause I don't think we should interfere]].\\
'''The Doctor''': [[ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight Of course we should interfere]]! Always do what you're best at, that's what I say.
** From ''The Woman Who Fell to Earth'':
--> '''T'zim-sha:''' You're interfering in things you don't understand.
--> '''The Doctor:''' Yeah, well, we all need a hobby.
* From ''Series/{{House}}''

* ''Series/StargateSG1'' had this from its resident DeadpanSnarker
-->'''Ba'al:''' You dare mock me?
-->'''O'Neill:''' Baal, It's ''me.'' Of ''course'' I dare mock you.
-->'''Ba'al:''' You have one more day.
-->'''Gilmore:''' Is it really ''wise'' to provoke him?
-->'''O'Neill:''' It's what I do.
** In the ShowWithinAShow ''Wormhole X-Treme'', this is the O'Neill-a-like's signature line, which the actor practices:
--->'''Marlowe''': ''Hey'', it's what I do. ''It's'' what I do. It's what I ''do''.
** In another episode ("The Other Guys"), SG-1 is trying to escape a Goa'uld, and hesitate when they learn that the Stargate is guarded by a lot of Jaffa. The [[HeroWorshipper scientist with them]] points out, "But you're SG-1!" Though the trope name goes unsaid, the looks on the team's faces clearly imply it. And their actions cement it.
** Episode "Revelations": O'Neill agrees to help the Asgard while Hammond and Carter still argue over it with the explanation: "It's what we do, isn't it?"
* ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'' (JD is talking with a terminally ill patient about what death is like, which annoys Dr. Cox. When he leaves the room in a huff, the patient tells JD, "It's fun to annoy him, huh?" JD replies with a touch of deadpan, "It's what I do.")
** Turk has been known to say this in more than one occasion: "Well you know I do what I do what I do what I do."
** One episode featured an online review system for doctors, which was used as a sly dig at fan reactions to the show. With Turk he is shocked at how people dislike his catch phrase.
-->(reading about himself) "He says 'That's what I'm talking about' too much... but sometimes that ''is'' what I'm talking about..."
* ''Series/BoyMeetsWorld'': Upon warning Corey that Topanga is about to become more beautiful after going to a salon, Shawn tells him that she'll dump Corey and hang out with other beautiful people because "It's what we do."

--> '''Kira''': Have you got a better idea?
--> '''Dax''': I'm a science officer, it's my ''job'' to have a better idea.

* ''Series/{{CSI}}'': Ecklie, former less-competent CSI and now head administrator, has always been a thorn in the team's side, but as administrator he gets actual moments of respect, like this one: Catherine had a memory card of evidence photos stolen from her and been grilled earlier by Ecklie for it; the photos appear on the television news.
--> '''Ecklie''': "I'll have our public information officer contact his counterpart at the station. We'll also call Judge Anderson and get a warrant for the memory card, any copies, and the name of their source."
--> '''Catherine''': ''(surprised)'' "Thank you, Conrad."
--> '''Ecklie''': "It's my job."
* From ''[[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Buffy]]'':
--> '''Xander''': I never said you were gonna die! I implied that you were gonna die. It's totally different.
--> '''Buffy''': Yeah, OK. Sure...
--> '''Xander''': Besides, if you die, [[ItMakesSenseInContext I'll just bring you]] [[CleanPrettyReliable back to life]]. That's what I do.
** Also:
-->'''Teen rescued from vampire:''' How d'you do that?
-->'''Buffy:''' ItsWhatIDo.
-->'''Teen:''' But... you're just a girl.
-->'''Buffy:''' That's what I keep saying.
** After the Initiative turns out to be involved in MadScience, a disillusioned Riley Finn feels at a loss over what to do with his life. "Give me an order. It's what I do, isn't it? Follow orders?" So Buffy orders him to stop tormenting himself.
* ''Series/{{Leverage}}''
--> '''Eliot:''' You're not as useless as you look.
--> '''Hardison:''' I don't even know what you ''do''.
-->''A few scenes later, after taking out four guys by himself in the time it takes a bag Hardison dropped to hit the floor, Eliot turns to Hardison, and smiles.''
--> '''Eliot:''' That's what I do.
** Later, in the season finale, we get:
--->'''[[SixthRanger Maggie]]''': You can't just make somebody do what you want them to do.\\
'''Eliot''': Whoa!\\
''[everyone starts chuckling]''\\
'''Hardison''': T-That's what we do. I mean...\\
'''Parker''': ''[pets Maggie's head]'' You're adorable.
** In the season two episode "The Tap Out Job," Eliot drops the line again to make it clear that dishing out beatdowns is only ''part'' of what he does, explaining to Sophie why he's okay with ThrowingTheFight to protect their client:
--->'''Eliot:''' You think I'm upset 'cause I got to let this guy kick my ass? ... I can take the punishment. That's what I do.
* ''Series/{{Andromeda}}''
--> '''Captain Dylan Hunt''': Are you here to give me advice, Rev?
--> '''Rev Bem''': It's what I do.
* ''Series/MacGyver'' doesn't actually say it himself, because he's busy doing what he's doing.
--> '''Laura Fowler''': What's he doing?
--> '''Breeze''': He's tryin' to get us out of here. Just relax, that's what he does.
* From ''Series/PushingDaisies'':
-->'''Chuck:''' You can't just touch somebody's life and be done with it!\\
'''Ned:''' Yes I can. That's how I roll.
* ''Series/HerculesTheLegendaryJourneys'' - "Hercules and the Lost Kingdom":
-->'''Deianeira''': Look at yourself! Don't you have any self respect?
-->'''Waylin''': Hey, what do you want? I'm a professional slave. It's what I do!
* ''Series/{{Eureka}}'':
-->'''Carter''': Oh, wow! Personal force field! Hardly catastrophic, but very impressive. Except for the not being able to turn it off part.
-->'''Allison''': Fargo, what are you doing with that?
-->'''Fargo''': Nothing! I've never seen it before. I found it in my pocket.
-->'''Carter''': But you did turn it on?
-->'''Fargo''': Yeah.
-->'''Allison''': Why?
-->'''Fargo''': Because it's what I do?
* ''Series/{{JAG}}'': When applying to be the guardian of Mattie in 9th season episode “A Merry Little Christmas” a social service worker comes and inspects Harm’s apartment.
-->'''Watley''': Do you have a firearm in the house?
-->'''Rabb''': Yes, sir. But it’s under lock and key.
-->'''Watley''': Do you ever have cause to employ it?
-->'''Rabb''': Once or twice in the line of duty.
-->'''Watley''': Aren’t you a lawyer, Commander Rabb?
-->'''Rabb''': I’m also a war veteran, a Naval officer, and a qualified F-14 pilot.
* Happens many times in ''Series/HouseOfAnubis''
--> ''Amber'': Joy, chill, this is how we roll.
--> ''Jerome'': It's a bonding thing. Some guys go fishing... Clarkes track down priceless gems. It's how we roll.
--> ''Nina'': (About Patricia after she dumped milk on Eddie's head) Yeah... she does that.
* From the 1985 ''Series/TwilightZone'' revival:
--> ''Loser criminal'': I still got two days left! Why are you tormenting me like this?
--> ''Demon'' (with whom he's made a deal): Because, you idiot, I'm a demon! It's what I do: I torment people. That's why they call me "a demon," instead of "the Easter Bunny."
* In ''Series/PersonOfInterest'', during a flashback to just before he left the CIA, Reese's partner Kara Stanton said a line similar to this:
--> ''Kara'': This isn’t just some speech. We’re not... walking in the dark. [[HeWhoFightsMonsters We are the dark. ]]
* In the ''Series/EvenStevens'' [[TheMovie movie]], when Beans wants to use the remote control for one of Louis' pranks, Louis tells him it's not a toy, and that "this is my job - it's what I do".
* ''Series/{{Cheers}}'' did this twice at the end of one episode where Frasier brought his agoraphobia support group to the bar to acclimate them to a social situation. The group strikes up a friendship with Norm, Cliff, and Paul to the point where they mock Frasier together. Eventually, Norm convinces the group to pants Frasier. Oddly, this goes some ways towards curbing their agoraphobia, but Frasier takes the credit.
-->'''Frasier''': For I am a healer. That is what I do.\\
'''Cliff''': And we are pantsers.\\
'''Norm''': That is what ''we'' do!\\
''(Frasier runs out of the bar with Norm, Cliff, and Paul in hot pursuit.)''
* ''Series/BlakesSeven''. Vila, the only member of the crew who [[NotInThisForYourRevolution never makes a pretext of acting out of revolutionary ideals]] has an opportunity to set up on a planet with a beautiful woman far away from Blake's HopelessWar against the Federation.
-->'''Kerril:''' It's a chance to be free. You saw that place, it's beautiful.
-->'''Vila:''' But there's nothing there worth stealing. ''[Kerril sighs]'' No, listen. You know why I neutralize security systems, open safes, and break into vaults? [[MasterOfUnlocking It's because I can and most people can't.]]
-->'''Kerril:''' To satisfy your ego.
-->'''Vila:''' No, not really. It's just that, it's what makes me, me. Kerril, a thief isn't what I am, it's ''who'' I am. You wouldn't like what was left of me.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

Interestingly, both a comedic and a poignant example of this particular trope; comedic because it's the punchline to a repeated catchphrase ("Not my job!") and poignant [[spoiler:because it's not clear what happens to Sul after he helps Lina, Doon, and Poppy escape]].

-->'''Rabb''': I’m also a war veteran, a Naval officer and a qualified F-14 pilot.

--> ''Jerome'': It's a bonding thing. Some guys go fishing....Clarkes track down priceless gems. It's how we roll.
--> ''Nina'': (About Patricia after she dumped milk on Eddie's head) Yeah...she does that.

-->'''Batarian Plague Victim''': You helped me...why?

* In ''Webcomic/{{Sinfest}}'', after Fuschia burned her for being normal, [[http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=3333 Monique defends normal as her nature, and Fuschia, setting things on fire as her nature.]]

--> '''Batman''':Joker, why?

** {{Deadpool}}: "Now I'm better at doing whatever it is Wolverine does!"

-->'''Orc Minion:''' It's his thing.

** Detective Comics # 823 has Batman trying to help Poison Ivy, before discovering a recording of people she tortured and killed. When he yells at her for it, she just acts amused that he's angry because he should know who she is by now.

Characters are the sum of their tropes. Sometimes the GenreSavvy even recognize this about themselves. When another character makes a comment about their behavior that fits their character, they will usually respond with something like, "It's what I do."

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' had Darkseid betraying the Justice League [[spoiler:and Brainiac in a fake EnemyMine {{plan}}. When Brainiac]] says, "You betrayed me." Darkseid replies coolly, [[MagnificentBastard "It's what I do."]]

* ''FireEmblem: Radiant Dawn'':