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* ''Series/{{Dexter}}'': [[Characters/DexterDexterMorgan Dexter Morgan]] knows without the Code he'd slip into the darkness completely and become like his brother.
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** Suzaku Kururugi starts out like this, refusing to support Zero even though their shared goal is to liberate Japan from discriminatory (and lethal) oppression, believing that change has to be received by due process or it eventually results in pointless chaos; he tried to do things the rebel way [[spoiler:by killing his father]] and screwed things up. Unfortunately, the power of Geass proves that the wisest people can be coerced into doing stupidly ''genocidal'' things (or even ''chose'' to do them of their own free will), and ends up joining his archrival once the level of insanity reaches his armpits.
** Once Euphemia goes insane [[spoiler:and dies]], he starts [[MotiveDecay selling out]] and slowly reaches a level of power that he could never have obtained as an ordinary citizen. From there, things go horribly wrong.
** Schnizel then [[spoiler:turns Suzaku's act of trust into a total betrayal, which drives Lelouch paranoid and unwilling to take him seriously, straps a warhead to Suzaku's mech and orders him into the line of fire (knowing that Suzaku's brainwashing will inevitably force him to fire it, killing millions), and then uses Lelouch's (fake confessions) in the wrong context to convert the entire Black Knights to his side]]. It really shows that principled acts can be used by the highest authority into freestyle bastardy.
** It's also implied that Suzaku found ''something'' at Ground Zero that caused him to lose his mind. He starts taking things pragmatically from that point on, rather than choosing based on principles.
** And this reaches a breaking point when he discovers [[spoiler:that Lelouch's parents intend to destroy identity and free will by lobotomizing the collective unconsciousness' brain stem]]. Lelouch convinces him that even the AssimilationPlot is run by selfish people who hog all the control. By then, he's literally at a loss of principle because no human principle invented has involved [[spoiler:breaking into heaven and brainwashing ''God'']]. ''By accident''.
* Light Yagami of ''Manga/DeathNote'' believes in justice. This belief leads him to kill thousands of people and manipulate everyone around him. Granted, his idea of [[TautologicalTemplar justice]] does shift slightly over time...

to:

** [[Characters/CodeGeassSuzakuKururugi Suzaku Kururugi Kururugi]] starts out like this, refusing to support Zero even though their shared goal is to liberate Japan from discriminatory (and lethal) oppression, believing that change has to be received by due process or it eventually results in pointless chaos; he tried to do things the rebel way [[spoiler:by killing his father]] and screwed things up. Unfortunately, the power of Geass proves that the wisest people can be coerced into doing stupidly ''genocidal'' things (or even ''chose'' to do them of their own free will), and ends up joining his archrival once the level of insanity reaches his armpits.
** *** Once Euphemia goes insane [[spoiler:and dies]], he starts [[MotiveDecay selling out]] and slowly reaches a level of power that he could never have obtained as an ordinary citizen. From there, things go horribly wrong.
** *** Schnizel then [[spoiler:turns Suzaku's act of trust into a total betrayal, which drives Lelouch paranoid and unwilling to take him seriously, straps a warhead to Suzaku's mech and orders him into the line of fire (knowing that Suzaku's brainwashing will inevitably force him to fire it, killing millions), and then uses Lelouch's (fake confessions) in the wrong context to convert the entire Black Knights to his side]]. It really shows that principled acts can be used by the highest authority into freestyle bastardy.
** *** It's also implied that Suzaku found ''something'' at Ground Zero that caused him to lose his mind. He starts taking things pragmatically from that point on, rather than choosing based on principles.
** *** And this reaches a breaking point when he discovers [[spoiler:that Lelouch's parents intend to destroy identity and free will by lobotomizing the collective unconsciousness' brain stem]]. Lelouch convinces him that even the AssimilationPlot is run by selfish people who hog all the control. By then, he's literally at a loss of principle because no human principle invented has involved [[spoiler:breaking into heaven and brainwashing ''God'']]. ''By accident''.
* [[Characters/DeathNoteLightYagami Light Yagami Yagami]] of ''Manga/DeathNote'' believes in justice. This belief leads him to kill thousands of people and manipulate everyone around him. Granted, his idea of [[TautologicalTemplar justice]] does shift slightly over time...



** ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'': After his CharacterDevelopment in ''[[Anime/DragonBallZ Z]]'', Vegeta will ''not'' abandon his Saiyan {{pride}} or his love of his family for anything, even if it means he'll never achieve his lifelong goal of surpassing Goku. He'd rather die than throw away who he is. He contrasts himself to Toppo in this regard, who casts aside his belief in justice when the going gets rough.

to:

** ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'': After his CharacterDevelopment in ''[[Anime/DragonBallZ Z]]'', Vegeta [[Characters/DragonBallVegeta Vegeta]] will ''not'' abandon his Saiyan {{pride}} or his love of his family for anything, even if it means he'll never achieve his lifelong goal of surpassing Goku. He'd rather die than throw away who he is. He contrasts himself to Toppo in this regard, who casts aside his belief in justice when the going gets rough.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


** Suzaku Kururugi starts out like this, refusing to support Zero even though their shared goal is to liberate Japan from discriminatory (and lethal) oppression, believing that change has to be received by due process or it eventually results in pointless chaos; he tried to do things the rebel way [[spoiler:by killing his father]] and screwed things up. Unfortunately, the power of Geass proves that the wisest people can be coerced into doing stupidly ''genocidal'' things (or even ''chose'' to do them of their own free will), and ends up joining his archrival once the level of insanity reaches his armpits.
** Once Euphemia goes insane [[spoiler:and dies]], he starts [[MotiveDecay selling out]] and slowly reaches a level of power that he could never have obtained as an ordinary citizen. From there, things go horribly wrong.
** Schnizel then [[spoiler:turns Suzaku's act of trust into a total betrayal, which drives Lelouch paranoid and unwilling to take him seriously, straps a warhead to Suzaku's mech and orders him into the line of fire (knowing that Suzaku's brainwashing will inevitably force him to fire it, killing millions), and then uses Lelouch's (fake confessions) in the wrong context to convert the entire Black Knights to his side]]. It really shows that principled acts can be used by the highest authority into freestyle bastardy.
** It's also implied that Suzaku found ''something'' at Ground Zero that caused him to lose his mind. He starts taking things pragmatically from that point on, rather than choosing based on principles.
** And this reaches a breaking point when he discovers [[spoiler:that Lelouch's parents intend to destroy identity and free will by lobotomizing the collective unconsciousness' brain stem]]. Lelouch convinces him that even the AssimilationPlot is run by selfish people who hog all the control. By then, he's literally at a loss of principle because no human principle invented has involved [[spoiler:breaking into heaven and brainwashing ''God'']]. ''By accident''.
* Light Yagami of ''Manga/DeathNote'' believes in justice. This belief leads him to kill thousands of people and manipulate everyone around him. Granted, his idea of [[TautologicalTemplar justice]] does shift slightly over time...

to:

** [[Characters/CodeGeassSuzakuKururugi Suzaku Kururugi Kururugi]] starts out like this, refusing to support Zero even though their shared goal is to liberate Japan from discriminatory (and lethal) oppression, believing that change has to be received by due process or it eventually results in pointless chaos; he tried to do things the rebel way [[spoiler:by killing his father]] and screwed things up. Unfortunately, the power of Geass proves that the wisest people can be coerced into doing stupidly ''genocidal'' things (or even ''chose'' to do them of their own free will), and ends up joining his archrival once the level of insanity reaches his armpits.
** *** Once Euphemia goes insane [[spoiler:and dies]], he starts [[MotiveDecay selling out]] and slowly reaches a level of power that he could never have obtained as an ordinary citizen. From there, things go horribly wrong.
** *** Schnizel then [[spoiler:turns Suzaku's act of trust into a total betrayal, which drives Lelouch paranoid and unwilling to take him seriously, straps a warhead to Suzaku's mech and orders him into the line of fire (knowing that Suzaku's brainwashing will inevitably force him to fire it, killing millions), and then uses Lelouch's (fake confessions) in the wrong context to convert the entire Black Knights to his side]]. It really shows that principled acts can be used by the highest authority into freestyle bastardy.
** *** It's also implied that Suzaku found ''something'' at Ground Zero that caused him to lose his mind. He starts taking things pragmatically from that point on, rather than choosing based on principles.
** *** And this reaches a breaking point when he discovers [[spoiler:that Lelouch's parents intend to destroy identity and free will by lobotomizing the collective unconsciousness' brain stem]]. Lelouch convinces him that even the AssimilationPlot is run by selfish people who hog all the control. By then, he's literally at a loss of principle because no human principle invented has involved [[spoiler:breaking into heaven and brainwashing ''God'']]. ''By accident''.
* [[Characters/DeathNoteLightYagami Light Yagami Yagami]] of ''Manga/DeathNote'' believes in justice. This belief leads him to kill thousands of people and manipulate everyone around him. Granted, his idea of [[TautologicalTemplar justice]] does shift slightly over time...



** ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'': After his CharacterDevelopment in ''[[Anime/DragonBallZ Z]]'', Vegeta will ''not'' abandon his Saiyan {{pride}} or his love of his family for anything, even if it means he'll never achieve his lifelong goal of surpassing Goku. He'd rather die than throw away who he is. He contrasts himself to Toppo in this regard, who casts aside his belief in justice when the going gets rough.

to:

** ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'': After his CharacterDevelopment in ''[[Anime/DragonBallZ Z]]'', Vegeta [[Characters/DragonBallVegeta Vegeta]] will ''not'' abandon his Saiyan {{pride}} or his love of his family for anything, even if it means he'll never achieve his lifelong goal of surpassing Goku. He'd rather die than throw away who he is. He contrasts himself to Toppo in this regard, who casts aside his belief in justice when the going gets rough.
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** {{Parodied}} in [[http://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/evil-ethics "Evil Ethics"]]: A kid espouses [[ForTheEvulz evil]] deontology, which involves purposefully finding bad things to do based on the fact that it's based on a moral principle, like finding life-saving lies you could tell and refusing to do it on principle. (The other kid is an [[TotalitarianUtilitarian evil utilitarian]].) It's a parody of this concept but couldn't be a straight example because the consequences 'do'' matter, just in a reverse way.

to:

** {{Parodied}} in [[http://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/evil-ethics "Evil Ethics"]]: A kid espouses [[ForTheEvulz evil]] deontology, which involves purposefully finding bad things to do based on the fact that it's based on a moral principle, like finding life-saving lies you could tell and refusing to do it on principle. (The other kid is an [[TotalitarianUtilitarian evil utilitarian]].) It's a parody of this concept but couldn't be a straight example because the consequences 'do'' ''do'' matter, just in a reverse way.

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* ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'': Batman can sometimes fall into this, especially when it comes to why he doesn't kill the Joker (or at least allow him to die). He is adhering to ThouShaltNotKill, and is somewhat justified in being afraid of not being able to stop once he crosses that line, but how many people have died at the hands of the Joker, thanks to his principles?

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* ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'': Batman can sometimes fall into this, especially when it comes to why he doesn't kill the Joker ComicBook/TheJoker (or at least allow him to die). He is adhering to ThouShaltNotKill, and is somewhat justified in being afraid of [[HeWhoFightsMonsters not being able to stop once he crosses that line, line]], but how many people have died at the hands of the Joker, thanks to his principles?principles?
** Some stories have a more optimistic take on his views. In ''[[ComicBook/LegendsOfTheDeadEarth Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight]]'' and ''ComicBook/TheKillingJoke'', it's shown that Batman's adamant refusal to use lethal force is because he's a firm believer in RousseauWasRight as he thinks that everyone short of [[GodOfEvil Darkseid]] has the potential to be better, and killing them [[HeelFaceDoorSlam would rob them of that chance]]. He's proven right in the latter, as he came close to redeeming ''Joker'' of all people until he regretfully decided IveComeTooFar.

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-->-- '''Rorschach''', ''Comicbook/{{Watchmen}}''

A character who cares too much about their principles, often at the expense of caring about the results of their actions. While many characters believe in ideals like [[WillNotTellALie truth]], [[ForScience knowledge]] and [[ByTheBookCop the rule of law,]] these folks take it to uncomfortable levels. May be PlayedForLaughs, or played straight in [[SlidingScaleOfUnavoidableVersusUnforgivable one way]] or [[StrawCharacter another.]]

A person who WillNotTellALie, for example, crosses over into Principles Zealot when they maintain truthfulness even in the face of horrible consequences that they know could be averted by telling a [[MetaphoricallyTrue Jedi Truth]]--or force everyone to tell the truth [[DisproportionateRetribution lest they suffer dire consequences]]. A hero who will commit any atrocity rather than [[IGaveMyWord break a promise,]] even if they were tricked into making it, is a Principles Zealot. Please note that such a Principles Zealot isn't necessarily more ''principled'' than someone who normally WillNotTellALie but can make exceptions in extreme cases. The difference is that the zealot refuses to see the big picture, clinging blindly to the principle and the principle only. This has a certain bloody-minded logic: the threat of looming negative consequences could always be a trick or illusion, or there might be an [[TakeAThirdOption escape route,]] but once you tell the lie to avoid it, there's a 100% certainty that you are now a liar. Psychologically, categorical imperatives can also be a source of immense power.

to:

-->-- '''Rorschach''', ''Comicbook/{{Watchmen}}''

''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}''

A character who cares too much about their principles, often at the expense of caring about the results of their actions. While many characters believe in ideals like [[WillNotTellALie truth]], [[ForScience knowledge]] and [[ByTheBookCop the rule of law,]] law]], these folks take it to uncomfortable levels. May be PlayedForLaughs, or played straight in [[SlidingScaleOfUnavoidableVersusUnforgivable one way]] or [[StrawCharacter another.]]

another]].

A person who WillNotTellALie, for example, crosses over into Principles Zealot when they maintain truthfulness even in the face of horrible consequences that they know could be averted by telling a [[MetaphoricallyTrue Jedi Truth]]--or Truth]] -- or force everyone to tell the truth [[DisproportionateRetribution lest they suffer dire consequences]]. A hero who will commit any atrocity rather than [[IGaveMyWord break a promise,]] promise]], even if they were tricked into making it, is a Principles Zealot. Please note that such a Principles Zealot isn't necessarily more ''principled'' than someone who normally WillNotTellALie but can make exceptions in extreme cases. The difference is that the zealot refuses to see the big picture, clinging blindly to the principle and the principle only. This has a certain bloody-minded logic: the threat of looming negative consequences could always be a trick or illusion, or there might be an [[TakeAThirdOption escape route,]] route]], but once you tell the lie to avoid it, there's a 100% certainty that you are now a liar. Psychologically, categorical imperatives can also be a source of immense power.



* The setting of ''Literature/AvestaOfBlackAndWhite'' outright enforces this mindset for the characters with the BlackAndWhiteInsanity that permeates the series. The Commandments especially requires someone to stick to their principles like glue lest they suffer divine punishment, regardless whether it is a good idea or not. [[spoiler:A big part of the closing chapters is breaking this farce of a world that they call home to end this pointless war for good]].



* Suzaku Kururugi from ''Anime/CodeGeass'' starts out like this, refusing to support Zero even though their shared goal is to liberate Japan from discriminatory (and lethal) oppression, believing that change has to be received by due process or it eventually results in pointless chaos; he tried to do things the rebel way [[spoiler:by killing his father]] and screwed things up. Unfortunately, the power of Geass proves that the wisest people can be coerced into doing stupidly ''genocidal'' things (or even ''chose'' to do them of their own free will), and ends up joining his archrival once the level of insanity reaches his armpits.

to:

* ''Anime/CodeGeass'':
**
Suzaku Kururugi from ''Anime/CodeGeass'' starts out like this, refusing to support Zero even though their shared goal is to liberate Japan from discriminatory (and lethal) oppression, believing that change has to be received by due process or it eventually results in pointless chaos; he tried to do things the rebel way [[spoiler:by killing his father]] and screwed things up. Unfortunately, the power of Geass proves that the wisest people can be coerced into doing stupidly ''genocidal'' things (or even ''chose'' to do them of their own free will), and ends up joining his archrival once the level of insanity reaches his armpits.



** And this reaches a breaking point when he discovers [[spoiler:that Lelouch's parents intend to destroy identity and free will by lobotomizing the collective unconsciousness' brain stem]]. Lelouch convinces him that even the AssimilationPlot is run by selfish people who hog all the control. By then, he's literally at a loss of principle because no human principle invented has involved [[spoiler:breaking into heaven and brainwashing ''god'']]. ''By accident''.

to:

** And this reaches a breaking point when he discovers [[spoiler:that Lelouch's parents intend to destroy identity and free will by lobotomizing the collective unconsciousness' brain stem]]. Lelouch convinces him that even the AssimilationPlot is run by selfish people who hog all the control. By then, he's literally at a loss of principle because no human principle invented has involved [[spoiler:breaking into heaven and brainwashing ''god'']].''God'']]. ''By accident''.



* Chi-Chi in ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' she seems so caught up in wanting the best for her family that she fails to see the big picture. Her principles include believing that education and having a good source of income is so important to the point that she seems so narrow-minded. She means well, but her delving on this trope doesn't solve anything (while not wise, some of her viewpoints come off as justified since HeroismWontPayTheBills in their world).
* ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'': After his CharacterDevelopment in ''[[Anime/DragonBallZ Z]]'', Vegeta will ''not'' abandon his Saiyan {{pride}} or his love of his family for anything, even if it means he'll never achieve his lifelong goal of surpassing Goku. He'd rather die than throw away who he is. He contrasts himself to Toppo in this regard, who casts aside his belief in justice when the going gets rough.
-->'''Vegeta:''' Only a failure abandons his principles and pride! Do you actually think I'd let you stop me!?

to:

* ''Franchise/DragonBall'':
**
Chi-Chi in of ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' she seems so caught up in wanting the best for her family that she fails to see the big picture. Her principles include believing that education and having a good source of income is so important to the point that she seems so narrow-minded. She means well, but her delving on this trope doesn't solve anything (while not wise, some of her viewpoints come off as justified since HeroismWontPayTheBills in their world).
* ** ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'': After his CharacterDevelopment in ''[[Anime/DragonBallZ Z]]'', Vegeta will ''not'' abandon his Saiyan {{pride}} or his love of his family for anything, even if it means he'll never achieve his lifelong goal of surpassing Goku. He'd rather die than throw away who he is. He contrasts himself to Toppo in this regard, who casts aside his belief in justice when the going gets rough.
-->'''Vegeta:''' --->'''Vegeta:''' Only a failure abandons his principles and pride! Do you actually think I'd let you stop me!?



* ''ComicBook/CaptainAmerica'': Captain America is generally a subversion of this, DependingOnTheWriter. While known for his integrity, he also knows that sometimes it's absolutely necessary to resort to lies and trickery. Other times, he refuses to compromise his ideals even when it will result in suffering.
** A retcon claimed that Cap had never killed anyone ''ever''. [[BeyondTheImpossible Even during the Second World War when he was in the thickest of fighting]]. This supposedly gave him the moral high ground over ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}, allowing him to take offense concerning Wolverine's bloody record. Normally, Cap is portrayed as ''preferring'' not to kill, but accepting it can sometimes be necessary. If he has to choose between letting the Red Skull escape or killing him, for example, he's generally willing to kill because he knows the Skull will just keep on causing suffering.

to:

* ''ComicBook/CaptainAmerica'': ''ComicBook/CaptainAmerica'':
**
Captain America is generally a subversion of this, DependingOnTheWriter. While known for his integrity, he also knows that sometimes it's absolutely necessary to resort to lies and trickery. Other times, he refuses to compromise his ideals even when it will result in suffering.
** A retcon claimed that Cap had never killed anyone ''ever''. [[BeyondTheImpossible Even during the Second World War when he was in the thickest of fighting]]. This supposedly gave him the moral high ground over ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}, allowing him to take offense concerning Wolverine's bloody record. Normally, Cap is portrayed as ''preferring'' not to kill, but accepting it can sometimes be necessary. If he has to choose between letting the Red Skull escape or killing him, for example, he's generally willing to kill because he knows the Skull will just keep on causing suffering. suffering.
* ''ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse'': A parody of ''Les Miserables'' brings Javert's attitude to the logical extreme... by having Scrooge Valjean being pardoned, with Javert continuing the chase ''to tell him he was now a free man''. To Javert, the law is akin to divine justice, and if the law now said Valjean was as if he had never been a criminal, he couldn't allow him to think himself as one and live on the run.
* In ''ComicBook/EndsOfTheEarth'', ComicBook/SpiderMan goes out of his way to rescue Doctor Octopus right after Ock tried to wipe out most of humanity in a particularly pathetic attempt to be remembered for ''something''. What made this especially galling was that Silver Sable, a heroine who was helping him, was '''drowning''' in another room, but Spidey still opted to save the monster Ock instead of going back for her.



* ''ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse'': A parody of ''Les Miserables'' brought Javert's attitude to the logical extreme... By having Scrooge Valjean being pardoned with Javert continuing the chase ''to tell him he was now a free man'': to Javert, the law is akin to divine justice, and if the law now said Valjean was as if he had never been a criminal he couldn't allow him to think himself as one and live on the run.
* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': In ''ComicBook/EndsOfTheEarth'', Spider-Man goes out of his way to rescue Doctor Octopus right after Ock tried to wipe out most of humanity in a particularly pathetic attempt to be remembered for ''something''. What made this especially galling was that Silver Sable, a heroine who was helping him, was '''drowning''' in another room, but Spidey still opted to save the monster Ock instead of going back for her.
* ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'': Rorschach follows this trope consistently. This is probably because he's TheAntiNihilist; he believes that the world has no other meaning than the one we impose upon it. If he abandoned his principles, he'd have nothing. [[spoiler: The page quote is literal. He would rather let the world perish than neglect one of his moral principles just once.]] His reaction to [[spoiler: Ozymandias's plan to save the world is a perfect example. He knows Veidt's attempt at utopia will be a lie built upon a foundation of corpses and cannot let that injustice pass, and thus welcomes death by Dr. Manhattan's hand because he can no longer abide living in a morally bankrupt world where injustice must prevail in order to save lives.]]

to:

* ''ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse'': A parody of ''Les Miserables'' brought Javert's attitude to the logical extreme... By having Scrooge Valjean being pardoned with Javert continuing the chase ''to tell him he was now a free man'': to Javert, the law is akin to divine justice, and if the law now said Valjean was as if he had never been a criminal he couldn't allow him to think himself as one and live on the run.
* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': In ''ComicBook/EndsOfTheEarth'', Spider-Man goes out of his way to rescue Doctor Octopus right after Ock tried to wipe out most of humanity in a particularly pathetic attempt to be remembered for ''something''. What made this especially galling was that Silver Sable, a heroine who was helping him, was '''drowning''' in another room, but Spidey still opted to save the monster Ock instead of going back for her.
* ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'': Rorschach follows this trope consistently. This is probably because he's TheAntiNihilist; he believes that the world has no other meaning than the one we impose upon it. If he abandoned his principles, he'd have nothing. [[spoiler: The [[spoiler:The page quote is literal. He would rather let the world perish than neglect one of his moral principles just once.]] His reaction to [[spoiler: Ozymandias's [[spoiler:Ozymandias's plan to save the world is a perfect example. He knows Veidt's attempt at utopia will be a lie built upon a foundation of corpses and cannot let that injustice pass, and thus welcomes death by Dr. Manhattan's hand because he can no longer abide living in a morally bankrupt world where injustice must prevail in order to save lives.]]lives]].



* In the ''Blog/BetterBonesAU'' Spiderleg is very loyal to the warrior code and is consequentially loyal to the possessed Bramblestar, to the point of willingly taking a punishment from "Bramblestar" himself while condemning other cats for being unwilling to atone.

to:

* In the ''Blog/BetterBonesAU'' ''Blog/BetterBonesAU'', Spiderleg is very loyal to the warrior code and is consequentially loyal to the possessed Bramblestar, to the point of willingly taking a punishment from "Bramblestar" himself while condemning other cats for being unwilling to atone.atone.
* [[https://1d4chan.org/wiki/File:Fucklaw.jpg This fan comic]] of ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' from [[Website/FourChan /tg/]] features a [[PoliticalOfficer Imperial Commissar]] killing anyone for minor offences (including [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking jaywalking]]), [[spoiler:even including the ''GodEmperor of Mankind'' for [[FelonyMisdemeanor going to the bathroom]]]].



* Walter Sobchak in ''Film/TheBigLebowski''. He is so thoroughly principled that he converted to Judaism for his wife and refuses to abandon it even after their divorce. He also rather notoriously threatens to shoot a man because he didn't take a penalty during a bowling game.
-->'''Walter:''' Saturday, Donny, is Shabbos, the Jewish day of rest. That means that I don't work, I don't drive a car, I don't fucking ride in a car, I don't handle money, I don't turn on the oven, and I sure as shit ''don't fucking roll''!
* In ''Film/TheBridgeOnTheRiverKwai'', Col. Nicholson almost gets himself and his officers killed by the Japanese because he insisted on compliance to the Geneva Conventions which forbids officers to do manual labor.
* The main plot point and FatalFlaw of Carlito in ''Film/CarlitosWay''. Carlito is completely dedicated to the street code of honor that he grew up with, to the point that he ignores all the common-sense signs of trouble around him, including how several people close to him (especially one guy in particular that Carlito has an IOweYouMyLife sort of debt to) are planning to use and betray him. Even the warnings of his own girlfriend, (who isn't as street savvy, but clearly sees the writing on the wall) go unheeded in many situations.



* Nicholas Angel, the hero of ''Film/HotFuzz'', takes ByTheBookCop to zealot [[PlayedForLaughs levels]]. [[CharacterDevelopment He gets better.]] The [[spoiler:Neighborhood Watch Alliance as a whole]] also counts considering they're willing to kill innocent people just to preserve Sanford's reputation as the perfect village.



* [[BigBad Harry]] from ''Film/InBruges'' snarls that if he ever killed a child, he would stick his gun in his mouth and pull the trigger then and there. [[spoiler:At the end of the film, when he believes he ''has'' shot a kid, he follows through on his claim.]]
* Walter Sobchak in ''Film/TheBigLebowski''. He is so thoroughly principled that he converted to Judaism for his wife and refuses to abandon it even after their divorce. He also rather notoriously threatens to shoot a man because he didn't take a penalty during a bowling game.
-->'''Walter:''' Saturday, Donny, is Shabbos, the Jewish day of rest. That means that I don't work, I don't drive a car, I don't fucking ride in a car, I don't handle money, I don't turn on the oven, and I sure as shit ''don't fucking roll''!
* In ''Film/ManOfSteel'', Pa Kent took keeping young Clark's identity a secret very, ''very'' seriously, to the point of [[spoiler:willingly letting himself die to protect it]].
* In ''Film/TheBridgeOnTheRiverKwai'', Col. Nicholson almost gets himself and his officers killed by the Japanese because he insisted on compliance to the Geneva Conventions which forbids officers to do manual labor.
* The main plot point and FatalFlaw of Carlito in ''Film/CarlitosWay''. Carlito is completely dedicated to the street code of honor that he grew up with, to the point that he ignores all the common-sense signs of trouble around him, including how several people close to him (especially one guy in particular that Carlito has an IOweYouMyLife sort of debt to) are planning to use and betray him. Even the warnings of his own girlfriend, (who isn't as street savvy, but clearly sees the writing on the wall) go unheeded in many situations.
* In ''Film/TheHauntedMansion2003'', Ramsley's principles about honor and distinction are the reason why [[spoiler: he killed Elizabeth to stop Master Gracey from marrying a woman of such low social status]].
* ''Film/JudgeDredd'': Although an effective officer in curbing crime and doling out proper justice, Judge Joseph Dredd is an ardent [[BrokenSystemDogmatist dogmatist]] of The Law of the Megacities, claiming it is the only thing that matters to a Street Judge (even presenting it with a subtext as if it was a Bible), even though it does not recognize extenuating circumstances or evidence, leading to false arrests for people who had no choice, or they are metaphorically left holding the bag. However, Dredd gets a metaphorical slap-in-the-face about this when the very supposedly airtight system he sought to defend and praise has him arrested for the presumed murder of a news critic and his wife since the DNA imprint on the weapon matched his. ([[spoiler:It was actually Dredd's brother, Rico, who fired the weapon]].) Herman "Fergie" Ferguson, a harmless repeat offender that Dredd arrested earlier in the film[[note]][[AllCrimesAreEqual for hacking a public service droid and hiding in its casing to protect himself during a gang shootout]][[/note]], temporarily wakes him up to the problems inherent in The Law, as they travel to the prison:

to:

* In ''Film/TheHauntedMansion2003'', Ramsley's principles about honor and distinction are the reason why [[spoiler:he killed Elizabeth to stop Master Gracey from marrying a woman of such low social status]].
* Nicholas Angel, the hero of ''Film/HotFuzz'', takes ByTheBookCop [[PlayedForLaughs to zealot levels]]. [[CharacterDevelopment He gets better]]. The [[spoiler:Neighborhood Watch Alliance as a whole]] also counts considering they're willing to kill innocent people just to preserve Sanford's reputation as the perfect village.
* [[BigBad Harry]] from ''Film/InBruges'' snarls that [[WouldntHurtAChild if he ever killed a child, he would stick his gun in his mouth and pull the trigger then and there.there]]. [[spoiler:At the end of the film, when he believes he ''has'' shot a kid, he follows through on his claim.]]
* Walter Sobchak in ''Film/TheBigLebowski''. He is so thoroughly principled that he converted to Judaism for his wife and refuses to abandon it even after their divorce. He also rather notoriously threatens to shoot a man because he didn't take a penalty during a bowling game.
-->'''Walter:''' Saturday, Donny, is Shabbos, the Jewish day of rest. That means that I don't work, I don't drive a car, I don't fucking ride in a car, I don't handle money, I don't turn on the oven, and I sure as shit ''don't fucking roll''!
* In ''Film/ManOfSteel'', Pa Kent took keeping young Clark's identity a secret very, ''very'' seriously, to the point of [[spoiler:willingly letting himself die to protect it]].
* In ''Film/TheBridgeOnTheRiverKwai'', Col. Nicholson almost gets himself and his officers killed by the Japanese because he insisted on compliance to the Geneva Conventions which forbids officers to do manual labor.
* The main plot point and FatalFlaw of Carlito in ''Film/CarlitosWay''. Carlito is completely dedicated to the street code of honor that he grew up with, to the point that he ignores all the common-sense signs of trouble around him, including how several people close to him (especially one guy in particular that Carlito has an IOweYouMyLife sort of debt to) are planning to use and betray him. Even the warnings of his own girlfriend, (who isn't as street savvy, but clearly sees the writing on the wall) go unheeded in many situations.
* In ''Film/TheHauntedMansion2003'', Ramsley's principles about honor and distinction are the reason why [[spoiler: he killed Elizabeth to stop Master Gracey from marrying a woman of such low social status]].
* ''Film/JudgeDredd'': Although an effective officer in curbing crime and doling out proper justice, Judge Joseph Dredd is an ardent [[BrokenSystemDogmatist dogmatist]] of The Law of the Megacities, claiming it is the only thing that matters to a Street Judge (even presenting it with a subtext as if it was a Bible), even though it does not recognize extenuating circumstances or evidence, leading to false arrests for people who had no choice, or they are metaphorically left holding the bag. However, Dredd gets a metaphorical slap-in-the-face about this when the very supposedly airtight system he sought to defend and praise has him arrested for the presumed murder of a news critic and his wife since the DNA imprint on the weapon matched his. ([[spoiler:It was actually Dredd's brother, Rico, who fired the weapon]].) Herman "Fergie" Ferguson, a harmless repeat offender that who Dredd arrested earlier in the film[[note]][[AllCrimesAreEqual film ([[AllCrimesAreEqual for hacking a public service droid and hiding in its casing to protect himself during a gang shootout]][[/note]], shootout]]), temporarily wakes him up to the problems inherent in The Law, as they travel to the prison:



* In ''Film/ManOfSteel'', Pa Kent took keeping young Clark's identity a secret very, ''very'' seriously, to the point of [[spoiler:willingly letting himself die to protect it]].



* Galad Damodred in ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'' is described as someone who "always does what's right, no matter who it hurts," which also indicates a very peculiar idea of what constitutes "right." He does, though, very specifically and ''especially'' include himself in "no matter who."

to:

* Galad Damodred in ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'' is described as The setting of ''Literature/AvestaOfBlackAndWhite'' outright enforces this mindset for the characters with the BlackAndWhiteInsanity that permeates the series. The Commandments especially requires someone who "always does what's right, no matter who to stick to their principles like glue lest they suffer divine punishment, regardless whether it hurts," is a good idea or not. [[spoiler:A big part of the closing chapters is breaking this farce of a world that they call home to end this pointless war for good]].
* Investigator Paula Myo from the ''Literature/CommonwealthSaga'' was apparently genetically engineered with the inability to tolerate any breach of the law, regardless of context.
* The Knights of the Cross in ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' are a lighter example of this: they have principles and beliefs from
which also indicates a very peculiar idea they will not (and cannot) stray. If one of what constitutes "right." He does, though, very specifically their most hated enemies repents, falsely or not, then they must accept that as a form of redemption and ''especially'' include stop all hostile activities, something that almost infuriates Harry, whose moral compass is much more malleable. That being said, the code of the Knights of the Cross is vague and open to interpretation: as long as they are doing God's work, He doesn't seem to mind ''how'' they do it: Sanya's preferred weapon is not his sword, but rather an assault rifle.
* Tarl Cabot of ''Literature/{{Gor}}'' gets in trouble at least twice when he is arrested/captured and refuses to defend
himself in "no or tell even a simple and plausible lie.
* In Prosper Mérimée's ''Matteo Falcone'', the titular boy's father unflinchingly executes the kid by blowing his brains out with a shotgun for the crime of treason (read: He promised an escaped convict that he wouldn't tell the police where he was [[TheStoolPigeon and then he did]]). It doesn't
matter who."that everybody else praises the kid's action, the father is ''[[HonorRelatedAbuse pissed]]'' that the kid [[HonorBeforeReason besmirched the family honor]] [[IGaveMyWord for going back on a promise]].
* InspectorJavert from ''Literature/LesMiserables'' named a trope because of this: to him the law equals morality and divine justice, so anyone breaking it is evil and must be punished. [[spoiler:When the criminal Jean Valjean saves his life fully knowing who he is and that Javert has been chasing him for years he can't reconcile the contradiction nor the fact the law says he must still chase Valjean even if he owes him his life, and this [[DrivenToSuicide prompts him to kill himself]]]].



* In the ''Literature/{{Xanth}}'' novel ''Man from Mundania'', Grey Murphy is so Lawful that he feels obligated to honor the promise his father, the [[spoiler:exiled Evil Magician Murphy that previously attempted to conquer Xanth]] made to the evil Com Pewter, a machine which wanted a human to aid in its world conquest plans. He only escapes by finding an overriding law concerning [[spoiler:taking the place of Humphry, Magician of Information, service to whom overrides any and all prior obligation.]]
* In ''Literature/BrothersInArms'', Miles Vorkosigan and Duv Galeni discuss this while being held captive by Duv's [[YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters Komarran-rebel father]]. Miles mentions how his mother has always argued that one should put people before principles, and Duv observes that his father has always been a very principled man.
* Investigator Paula Myo in Peter F. Hamilton's ''Literature/CommonwealthSaga'' was apparently genetically engineered with the inability to tolerate any breach of the law, regardless of context.
* Tarl Cabot of ''Literature/{{Gor}}'' gets in trouble at least twice when he is arrested/captured and refuses to defend himself or tell even a simple and plausible lie.
* In Prosper Mérimée's ''Matteo Falcone'', the titular boy's father unflinchingly executes the kid by blowing his brains out with a shotgun for the crime of treason (read: He promised an escaped convict that he wouldn't tell the police where he was [[TheStoolPigeon and then he did]]). It doesn't matter that everybody else praises the kid's action, the father is ''[[HonorRelatedAbuse pissed]]'' that the kid [[HonorBeforeReason besmirched the family honor]] [[IGaveMyWord for going back on a promise]].
* The Knights of the Cross in ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' are a lighter example of this: they have principles and beliefs from which they will not (and cannot) stray. If one of their most hated enemies repents, falsely or not, then they must accept that as a form of redemption and stop all hostile activities, something that almost infuriates Harry, whose moral compass is much more malleable. That being said, the code of the Knights of the Cross is vague and open to interpretation: as long as they are doing God's work, He doesn't seem to mind ''how'' they do it: Sanya's preferred weapon is not his sword, but rather an assault rifle.
* ''Literature/{{Victoria}}'' gives us John Rumford, who is willing to kill hundreds of thousands to support his traditional society. His introduction is interrupting a remembrance ceremony for fallen Marines rather than allow a woman to say "Iwo Jima". No women fought on Iwo, so no woman has the right to honor the war dead. When offered the choice of a public apology or getting discharged, he chooses the latter.



* InspectorJavert from ''Literature/LesMiserables'' named a trope because of this: to him the law equals morality and divine justice, so anyone breaking it is evil and must be punished. [[spoiler:When the criminal Jean Valjean saves his life fully knowing who he is and that Javert has been chasing him for years he can't reconcile the contradiction nor the fact the law says he must still chase Valjean even if he owes him his life, and this [[DrivenToSuicide prompts him to kill himself]]]].

to:

* InspectorJavert from ''Literature/LesMiserables'' named a trope because of this: to him the law equals morality and divine justice, so anyone breaking it is evil and must be punished. [[spoiler:When the criminal Jean Valjean saves his life fully knowing ''Literature/{{Victoria}}'' gives us John Rumford, who he is and that Javert has been chasing him for years he can't reconcile the contradiction nor the fact the law says he must still chase Valjean even if he owes him his life, and this [[DrivenToSuicide prompts him willing to kill himself]]]].hundreds of thousands to support his traditional society. His introduction is interrupting a remembrance ceremony for fallen Marines rather than allow a woman to say "Iwo Jima". No women fought on Iwo, so no woman has the right to honor the war dead. When offered the choice of a public apology or getting discharged, he chooses the latter.
* In the ''Literature/VorkosiganSaga'' book ''Brothers in Arms'', Miles Vorkosigan and Duv Galeni discuss this while being held captive by Duv's [[YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters Komarran-rebel father]]. Miles mentions how his mother has always argued that one should put people before principles, and Duv observes that his father has always been a very principled man.
* Galad Damodred in ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'' is described as someone who "always does what's right, no matter who it hurts", which also indicates a very peculiar idea of what constitutes "right". He does, though, very specifically and ''especially'' include himself in "no matter who".
* In the ''Literature/{{Xanth}}'' novel ''Man from Mundania'', Grey Murphy is so Lawful that he feels obligated to honor the promise his father, the [[spoiler:exiled Evil Magician Murphy who previously attempted to conquer Xanth]] made to the evil Com Pewter, a machine who wanted a human to aid in its world conquest plans. He only escapes by finding an overriding law concerning [[spoiler:taking the place of Humphry, Magician of Information, service to whom overrides any and all prior obligation]].



* In ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'', Seven of Nine has this attitude to her [[BlueAndOrangeMorality ideals of perfection]]. Janeway also drifts into this territory sometimes, when it's ''her'' principles that are at stake. Many of Seven's earlier episodes did a good job displaying that while she'd been separated from the Collective she still exercised a Borg's way of thinking and acting as a matter of principle. She has no problem sacrificing herself for the good of her "new collective" and will obey the choices of the larger whole despite her own opinions.
* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'': In "Homeward", Captain Picard (and thus his crew) chose to let an entire civilization die, one that they could easily have saved. They commit this genocide-through-inaction for the simple reason that [[AlienNonInterferenceClause the rules say so]]. Of course, it doesn't take long before [[TheProfessor Nikolai Rozhenko]], Worf's foster brother, goes all WhatTheHellHero on them. Specifically, he could easily have saved ''some'' of the planet's inhabitants, although there was no way to save all of them. It's almost certainly impossible to transplant a civilization without destroying it, so the question is whether you let all of them die or let most of them die. In this case, when one of the people who were illegally and unknowingly rescued discovers what had happened, the implications of everything they had left behind and lost drove him to suicide (presumably at least some others in their culture would have responded similarly).
* Not to be outdone, in the ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' episode "Dear Doctor", Archer actually does let an entire civilization die slowly and painfully from a disease while they've spent the entire episode begging him for help, due to a specific set of principles [[InsaneTrollLogic that don't even exist yet and wouldn't apply to this specific civilization even if they did.]]
* ''Series/DoctorWho'' is utterly committed to his role as a peaceful explorer and scientist. As a result of CantArgueWithElves, he tends to be very {{pride}}ful and uncompromising, going to extreme lengths to uphold his ChaoticGood values.
** This came to a head during the Time War, where he kept on exploring and sciencing while billions died in the conflict he couldn't settle. In the end, the Eighth chose to regenerate as the War Doctor, an AntiHeroSubstitute who didn't have those principles. There was a lot more death in a shorter period of time [[spoiler: (except there really wasn't due to the intervention of his future selves)]], and he hated himself for a long time afterwards, but since he couldn't settle the conflict, he ''ended'' it.

to:

* In ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'', Seven of Nine has this attitude to her [[BlueAndOrangeMorality ideals of perfection]]. Janeway also drifts into this territory sometimes, when it's ''her'' principles that are at stake. Many of Seven's earlier episodes did a good job displaying that while she'd been separated from the Collective she still exercised a Borg's way of thinking and acting as a matter of principle. She has no problem sacrificing herself for the good of her "new collective" and will obey the choices of the larger whole despite her own opinions.
* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'': In "Homeward", Captain Picard (and thus his crew) chose to let an entire civilization die, one that they could easily have saved. They commit this genocide-through-inaction for the simple reason that [[AlienNonInterferenceClause the rules say so]]. Of course, it doesn't take long before [[TheProfessor Nikolai Rozhenko]], Worf's foster brother, goes all WhatTheHellHero on them. Specifically, he could easily have saved ''some'' of the planet's inhabitants, although there was no way to save all of them. It's almost certainly impossible to transplant a civilization without destroying it, so the question is whether you let all of them die or let most of them die. In this case, when one of the people who were illegally and unknowingly rescued discovers what had happened, the implications of everything they had left behind and lost drove him to suicide (presumably at least some others in their culture would have responded similarly).
* Not to be outdone, in the ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' episode "Dear Doctor", Archer actually does let an entire civilization die slowly and painfully from a disease while they've spent the entire episode begging him for help, due to a specific set of principles [[InsaneTrollLogic that don't even exist yet and wouldn't apply to this specific civilization even if they did.]]
* ''Series/DoctorWho''
''Series/DoctorWho'':
** The Doctor
is utterly committed to his role as a peaceful explorer and scientist. As a result of CantArgueWithElves, he tends to be very {{pride}}ful and uncompromising, going to extreme lengths to uphold his ChaoticGood values.
**
values. This came to a head during the Time War, where he kept on exploring and sciencing while billions died in the conflict he couldn't settle. In the end, the Eighth chose to regenerate as the War Doctor, an AntiHeroSubstitute who didn't have those principles. There was a lot more death in a shorter period of time [[spoiler: (except [[spoiler:(except there really wasn't due to the intervention of his future selves)]], and he hated himself for a long time afterwards, but since he couldn't settle the conflict, he ''ended'' it.



* From ''Series/TheGoodPlace'':

to:

* From ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
** As in [[Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire the original novels the show was based on]], Stannis Baratheon is this, refusing to compromise to the point of insanity. Most tellingly, he plunges blindly into battle after battle despite being ridiculously outnumbered, refusing to surrender his claim to his younger brother despite the latter's far greater popularity[[note]]Renly is so much more attractive as a potential king that the vast majority of the Baratheon bannerman chose to support him, despite knowing they were committing treason by doing so[[/note]], and likewise refusing to concede to the North's desires to secede from the Iron Throne. It doesn't matter to him that he's already caught in a war with the Lannisters and the inbred bastards falsely claiming his family name, or that he's so hugely outnumbered; Renly and Robb Stark are traitors and ''must'' be crushed, rather than made peace with. He likely figures that as long as all three are working against each other they're actually doing him a favor. That said, there's also a case of AmbitionIsEvil melded in, as his drive to achieve his goals ultimately leads to him committing some pretty morally murky things in his hopes of achieving them. [[spoiler:Like burning his daughter alive as a HumanSacrifice.]] It gets so bad that his already-meager forces desert him in disgust, ultimately leading to his death.
** Eddard Stark is a downplayed version of the same. Whilst he's not as blind to its dangers as Stannis, his honor and the immense pride he takes in preserving his honor, leads to him making some very unwise decisions that ultimately get him killed.
** Aeron Greyjoy's very first line is a strong-worded "The law is clear!" when Yara suggests that she rules by default after Balon's death. Aeron is as big on tradition as one would expect from a holy man.
** Jon Snow takes after his father with his "no lies" policy, claiming that enough secrets and lies cause people's very purpose to become upholding those same secrets and lies at the cost of everything else. He's forced to acknowledge that some secrets must be kept from one's enemies, but he still tells enough people the horrifying truth that [[spoiler:he's the ''legitimate'' heir to the Iron Throne due to Rhegar Targaryen legally marrying Lyanna]]. [[SanitySlippage This ends badly]].
*
''Series/TheGoodPlace'':



* In ''Series/{{JAG}}'', [[Characters/{{JAG}} Harmon Rabb]] defends Rear Admiral Thomas Boone (played by Creator/TerryOQuinn) who is accused of [[UsefulNotes/TheLawsAndCustomsOfWar war crimes]] during UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar. While the old officer doesn't plead guilty, he does nothing to defend himself or help the defense. It turns out that he is innocent but believes that no matter the cost he can never break a vow of silence once it's given.

to:

* In one episode of ''Series/{{JAG}}'', [[Characters/{{JAG}} Harmon Rabb]] Rabb defends Rear Admiral Thomas Boone (played by Creator/TerryOQuinn) who is accused of [[UsefulNotes/TheLawsAndCustomsOfWar war crimes]] during UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar. While the old officer doesn't plead guilty, he does nothing to defend himself or help the defense. It turns out that he is innocent but believes that no matter the cost he can never break a vow of silence once it's given.given.
* One episode of ''Series/LawAndOrder'' centers around this: Brisco and Green catch a SerialKiller, and said killer refuses to give up the location of bodies of his previous victims (or even how many they were), vowing to drag out the process for as long as he can ForTheEvulz. The killer tells his rookie public defender where the bodies are located. The rookie finds the bodies where the killer said they were[[note]]an incredibly stupid move, as actually going there makes him an accomplice after the fact to his client's crimes[[/note]] but refuses to break attorney-client privilege, even when he's removed as the killer's defender and when he knows it might end his career. Serena Southerland even says to him no one would blame him for breaking privilege in those circumstances. His response: "Really? Shame on them!"
* ''Franchise/StarTrek'':
** In the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS7E12Homeward Homeward]]", Captain Picard (and thus his crew) chooses to let an entire civilization die, one that they could easily have saved. They commit this genocide-through-inaction for the simple reason that [[AlienNonInterferenceClause the rules say so]]. Of course, it doesn't take long before [[TheProfessor Nikolai Rozhenko]], Worf's foster brother, goes all WhatTheHellHero on them. Specifically, he could easily have saved ''some'' of the planet's inhabitants, although there was no way to save all of them. It's almost certainly impossible to transplant a civilization without destroying it, so the question is whether you let all of them die or let most of them die. In this case, when one of the people who were illegally and unknowingly rescued discovers what had happened, the implications of everything they had left behind and lost drove him to suicide (presumably at least some others in their culture would have responded similarly).
** In ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'', Seven of Nine has this attitude to her [[BlueAndOrangeMorality ideals of perfection]]. Janeway also drifts into this territory sometimes, when it's ''her'' principles that are at stake. Many of Seven's earlier episodes do a good job displaying that while she's been separated from the Collective, she still exercises a Borg's way of thinking and acting as a matter of principle. She has no problem sacrificing herself for the good of her "new collective" and will obey the choices of the larger whole despite her own opinions.
** In the ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekEnterpriseS01E13DearDoctor Dear Doctor]]", Archer actually does let an entire civilization die slowly and painfully from a disease while they've spent the entire episode begging him for help, due to a specific set of principles [[InsaneTrollLogic that don't even exist yet and wouldn't apply to this specific civilization even if they did]].



* An episode of ''Series/LawAndOrder'' centered around this: Brisco and Green caught a serial killer and said killer refused to give up the location of bodies of his previous victims (or even how many they were), vowing to drag out the process for as long as he could ForTheEvulz. The killer told his rookie public defender where the bodies were located. The rookie finds the bodies where the killer said they were[[note]]an incredibly stupid move, as actually going there made him an accomplice after the fact to his client's crimes[[/note]], but refuses to break attorney-client privilege, even when he's removed as the killer's defender and when he knows it might end his career. Serena Southerland even says to him no one would blame him for breaking privilege in those circumstances. His response: "Really? Shame on them!"
* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
** As in the original novels the show was based on, Stannis Baratheon is this, refusing to compromise to the point of insanity. Most tellingly, he plunges blindly into battle after battle despite being ridiculously outnumbered, refusing to surrender his claim to his younger brother despite the latter's far greater popularity[[note]]Renly is so much more attractive as a potential king that the vast majority of the Baratheon bannerman chose to support him, despite knowing they were committing treason by doing so[[/note]], and likewise refusing to concede to the North's desires to secede from the Iron Throne. It doesn't matter to him that he's already caught in a war with the Lannisters and the inbred bastards falsely claiming his family name, or that he's so hugely outnumbered; Renly and Robb Stark are traitors and ''must'' be crushed, rather than made peace with. He likely figures that as long as all three are working against each other they're actually doing him a favor. That said, there's also a case of AmbitionIsEvil melded in, as his drive to achieve his goals ultimately leads to him committing some pretty morally murky things in his hopes of achieving them. [[spoiler:Like burning his daughter alive as a HumanSacrifice.]] It gets so bad that his already-meager forces desert him in disgust, ultimately leading to his death.
** Eddard Stark is a downplayed version of the same. Whilst he's not as blind to its dangers as Stannis, his honor and the immense pride he takes in preserving his honor, leads to him making some very unwise decisions that ultimately get him killed.
** Aeron Greyjoy's very first line is a strong-worded "The law is clear!" when Yara suggests that she rules by default after Balon's death. Aeron is as big on tradition as one would expect from a holy man.
** Jon Snow takes after his father with his "no lies" policy, claiming that enough secrets and lies cause people's very purpose to become upholding those same secrets and lies at the cost of everything else. He's forced to acknowledge that some secrets must be kept from one's enemies, but he still tells enough people the horrifying truth that [[spoiler:he's the ''legitimate'' heir to the Iron Throne due to Rhegar Targaryen legally marrying Lyanna]]. [[SanitySlippage This ends badly]].



* This is a common criticism of Kant's moral philosophy: when he discusses the example of a murderer standing at your door and asking you whether you're hiding his to-be victim (who is, indeed, in your house), Kant seems to indicate that it is not morally permissible for you to lie to the murderer. This is, of course, debated by philosophers.

to:

* This is a common criticism of Immanuel Kant's moral philosophy: when he discusses the example of a murderer standing at your door and asking you whether you're hiding his to-be victim (who is, indeed, in your house), Kant seems to indicate that it is not morally permissible for you to lie to the murderer. This is, of course, debated by philosophers.



* In ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', Bahamut the Platinum Dragon is a LawfulGood deity, the most commonly worshiped GodOfGood in the Forgotten Realms, and generally a pleasant and peaceful fellow. However, Bahamut has followers called the Platinum Talons who take his stance against evil to an extreme. The Talons fight and kill anybody they deem unworthy of the Platinum Dragon's attention, including other worshipers of Bahamut, on the grounds that they aren't "loyal" enough or broke some part of Bahamut's teachings. This makes the Talons {{hypocrite}}s, since one of Bahamut's core tenants is not willingly doing any evil action, and killing innocent people while being {{Knight Templar}}s that act HolierThanThou with BlindObedience is pretty evil.



* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'': Pretty much every single "good" member of the [[TheEmpire Imperium of Man]] that isn't a direct member of the local ChurchMilitant should be like this. Especially the soldiers and doubly so for the [[ThePoliticalOfficer Commissars]]. It's to the point that if you disobey an order but win a battle, where obeying an order would lose the entire war, you will be ''court-martialed and executed''. During active combat, so much as ''suggesting an alternate route'' could be, at officer's discretion, punishable by death.
* In ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', Bahamut the Platinum Dragon is a LawfulGood deity, the most commonly worshiped GodOfGood in the Forgotten Realms, and generally a pleasant and peaceful fellow. However, Bahamut has followers called the Platinum Talons who take his stance against evil to an extreme. The Talons fight and kill anybody they deem unworthy of the Platinum Dragon's attention, including other worshipers of Bahamut, on the grounds that they aren't "loyal" enough or broke some part of Bahamut's teachings. This makes the Talons {{hypocrite}}s, since one of Bahamut's core tenants is not willingly doing any evil action, and killing innocent people while being {{Knight Templar}}s that act HolierThanThou with BlindObedience is pretty evil.
* The Hellknights of ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'' are feared for their complete, unflinching dedication to the law. They don't care if the law was put in place by a kindly ruler or a tyrannical despot, whether it asks them to lay down their own lives for a beggar or execute an entire village over a single stolen coin, if the law tells them to do something they ''will'' do it.
** The Hellknights of the Order of the Nail are particularly feared since they believe there are no such things as minor crimes and major crimes - [[AllCrimesAreEqual only order and anarchy]].

to:

* The Hellknights of ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'' are feared for their complete, unflinching dedication to the law. They don't care if the law was put in place by a kindly ruler or a tyrannical despot, whether it asks them to lay down their own lives for a beggar or execute an entire village over a single stolen coin, if the law tells them to do something they ''will'' do it. The Hellknights of the Order of the Nail are particularly feared since they believe there are no such things as minor crimes and major crimes -- [[AllCrimesAreEqual only order and anarchy]].
* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'': Pretty much every single "good" member of the [[TheEmpire Imperium of Man]] that who isn't a direct member of the local ChurchMilitant should be like this. Especially this, especially the soldiers and doubly so for the [[ThePoliticalOfficer Commissars]]. It's to the point that if you disobey an order but win a battle, where obeying an order would lose the entire war, you will be ''court-martialed and executed''. During active combat, so much as ''suggesting an alternate route'' could be, at officer's discretion, punishable by death.
* In ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', Bahamut the Platinum Dragon is a LawfulGood deity, the most commonly worshiped GodOfGood in the Forgotten Realms, and generally a pleasant and peaceful fellow. However, Bahamut has followers called the Platinum Talons who take his stance against evil to an extreme. The Talons fight and kill anybody they deem unworthy of the Platinum Dragon's attention, including other worshipers of Bahamut, on the grounds that they aren't "loyal" enough or broke some part of Bahamut's teachings. This makes the Talons {{hypocrite}}s, since one of Bahamut's core tenants is not willingly doing any evil action, and killing innocent people while being {{Knight Templar}}s that act HolierThanThou with BlindObedience is pretty evil.
* The Hellknights of ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'' are feared for their complete, unflinching dedication to the law. They don't care if the law was put in place by a kindly ruler or a tyrannical despot, whether it asks them to lay down their own lives for a beggar or execute an entire village over a single stolen coin, if the law tells them to do something they ''will'' do it.
** The Hellknights of the Order of the Nail are particularly feared since they believe there are no such things as minor crimes and major crimes - [[AllCrimesAreEqual only order and anarchy]].
death.



* ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment'' gives us Vhailor, a Mercykiller avatar of Justice. Even death didn't slow him down -- [[BlackAndWhiteInsanity he didn't even notice his]], but continued his work as he possessed his old battle armour. Not even the protagonist is safe from his swift justice if he happens to realize who the Nameless One is...
* If Shirou follows this, it can lead to an infamous bad end in the ''Heaven's Feel'' route of ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight''.

to:

* ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment'' gives us Vhailor, a Mercykiller avatar This is the main problem of Justice. Even death didn't slow Andrew Ryan, the antagonist of ''VideoGame/BioShock1''. Ryan had self-imposed principles of personal responsibility, hard work, and ruthless capitalism that allowed him down -- [[BlackAndWhiteInsanity he didn't even notice his]], but continued his work as he possessed his old battle armour. Not even the protagonist is safe from his swift justice if he happens to realize who the Nameless One is...
* If Shirou follows this, it can lead to an infamous bad end
rise up in the ''Heaven's Feel'' route of ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight''.world and become a SelfMadeMan. Unfortunately, these principles failed spectacularly when he attempted to apply them to an entire city he built; a downtrodden working class immediately was formed who were being exploited and mistreated by the rich. Ryan simply expected them to pull themselves up like he did, ignoring that the system he put in place made it impossible for them to do so.



** The [[ProudWarriorRace Qunari]] adhere to a rigid code, the Qun and will ''never'' compromise if the "demands of the Qun" aren't met. Thus, under it, one is assigned a role at birth, and this is all they may do - a farmer will always be a farmer. The only other alternative is death: "existence is a choice.. and we can refuse it."

to:

** The [[ProudWarriorRace [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Qunari]] adhere to a rigid code, the Qun and will ''never'' compromise if the "demands of the Qun" aren't met. Thus, under it, one is assigned a role at birth, and this is all they may do - -- a farmer will always be a farmer. The only other alternative is death: "existence "Existence is a choice..choice... and we can refuse it."



*** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII,'' Ketojan submits to the Qun despite its consequences for him, and regardless of Hawkes' actions, [[spoiler: willingly chooses death]]. An Arvaarad attempts to kill Hawke even if Hawke has his respect [[spoiler: because Hawke ''may'' be "corrupted"]].
*** In the same game, the Arishok will not leave without [[spoiler: the relic ''and'' Isabela]] despite Hawke's willingness to let it all end peacefully. [[spoiler: He and his men will leave peacefully if Hawke hands said party member over.]]

to:

*** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII,'' ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', Ketojan submits to the Qun despite its consequences for him, and regardless of Hawkes' actions, [[spoiler: willingly [[spoiler:willingly chooses death]]. An Arvaarad attempts to kill Hawke even if Hawke has his respect [[spoiler: because [[spoiler:because Hawke ''may'' be "corrupted"]].
*** In the same game, the Arishok will not leave without [[spoiler: the [[spoiler:the relic ''and'' Isabela]] despite Hawke's willingness to let it all end peacefully. [[spoiler: He [[spoiler:He and his men will leave peacefully if Hawke hands said party member over.]]



* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'', the Corel prison warden, while nominally a regular guy, absolutely refuses to let the party leave, even to plead their innocence. More to the point, he refuses to let them go even when [[ScaryBlackMan Barret]] is waving a [[MoreDakka gatling gun]] in his face, valuing enforcing his prison rules ''more than his own life.''
* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'':

to:

* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'', the Corel prison warden, while nominally a regular guy, absolutely refuses to let the party leave, even to plead their innocence. More to the point, he refuses to let them go even when [[ScaryBlackMan Barret]] is waving a [[MoreDakka gatling gun]] in his face, valuing enforcing his prison rules ''more than his own life.''
* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'':
''Franchise/{{Fallout}}'':



* This is the main problem of Andrew Ryan, the antagonist of the first ''VideoGame/BioShock''. Ryan had self-imposed principles of personal responsibility, hard work, and ruthless capitalism that allowed him to rise up in the world and become a SelfMadeMan. Unfortunately, these principles failed spectacularly when he attempted to apply them to an entire city he built; a downtrodden working class immediately was formed who were being exploited and mistreated by the rich. Ryan simply expected them to pull themselves up like he did, ignoring that the system he put in place made it impossible for them to do so.

to:

* This is In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'', the main problem of Andrew Ryan, Corel prison warden, while nominally a regular guy, absolutely refuses to let the antagonist of party leave, even to plead their innocence. More to the first ''VideoGame/BioShock''. Ryan had self-imposed principles of personal responsibility, hard work, and ruthless capitalism that allowed him point, he refuses to rise up in the world and become a SelfMadeMan. Unfortunately, these principles failed spectacularly let them go even when he attempted to apply them to an entire city he built; [[ScaryBlackMan Barret]] is waving a downtrodden working class immediately was formed who were being exploited and mistreated by the rich. Ryan simply expected them to pull themselves up like he did, ignoring that the system he put [[GatlingGood gatling gun]] in place made it impossible for them to do so.his face, valuing enforcing his prison rules ''more than his own life''.



* ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment'' gives us Vhailor, a Mercykiller avatar of Justice. Even death didn't slow him down -- [[BlackAndWhiteInsanity he didn't even notice his]], but continued his work as he possessed his old battle armour. Not even the protagonist is safe from his swift justice if he happens to realize who the Nameless One is...



* If Shirou follows this, it can lead to an infamous bad end in the ''Heaven's Feel'' route of ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight''.



[[folder:Web Animation]]
* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': While all members of the Ace-Ops are firmly loyal to General Ironwood and follow his orders without question, Harriet Bree takes it to full-blown zealotry. Best displayed in Volume 8, when Ironwood announces his intent to [[NukeEm bomb Mantle]] just to get Team RWBY to hand over Penny; while the rest of the Ace-Ops and even Winter, Ironwood's most loyal soldier, [[EveryoneHasStandards balk at going that far]] and instantly turn on him, Harriet not only continues to support him, but goes so far as to try to carry out the plan herself. When Vine calls her out on it, pointing out that it's completely pointless to do so, Harriet defends her actions by claiming it's a matter of principle.
[[/folder]]



* In the setting of ''Webcomic/AnecdoteOfError'', girls who are designated as housekeepers aren't allowed to go out in public without an escort. When one such housekeeper, the main character Atshi, [[spoiler:sneaks out to infiltrate an enemy base]], she's caught by Shimei, her classmate and bully, who insists on going with her despite her objections and despite Shimei not gaining anything at all from this, because she absolutely will not stand by and let a housekeeper break the rules.



* In the setting of ''Webcomic/AnecdoteOfError'', girls who are designated as housekeepers aren’t allowed to go out in public without an escort. When one such housekeeper, the main character Atshi, [[spoiler:sneaks out to infiltrate an enemy base]], she’s caught by Shimei, her classmate and bully who insists on going with her despite her objections and despite Shimei not gaining anything at all from this, because she absolutely will not stand by and let a housekeeper break the rules.



[[folder:Web Original]]

to:

[[folder:Web Original]]Originals]]
* The Saint of Swords from ''Literature/APracticalGuideToEvil'' would rather die than compromise with even the series more reasonable villains. In her words; "There can be... no truce with the enemy."
* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': While all members of the Ace-Ops are firmly loyal to General Ironwood and follow his orders without question, Harriet Bree takes it to full-blown zealotry. Best displayed in Volume 8, when Ironwood announces his intent to [[NukeEm bomb Mantle]] just to get Team RWBY to hand over Penny; while the rest of the Ace-Ops and even Winter, Ironwood's most loyal soldier, [[EveryoneHasStandards balk at going that far]] and instantly turn on him, Harriet not only continues to support him, but goes so far as to try to carry out the plan herself. When Vine calls her out on it, pointing out that it's completely pointless to do so, Harriet defends her actions by claiming it's a matter of principle.



* The Saint of Swords from Literature/APracticalGuideToEvil would rather die than compromise with even the series more reasonable villains. In her words; "There can be... no truce with the enemy."
* [[https://1d4chan.org/wiki/File:Fucklaw.jpg This fan comic]] of ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' from [[Website/FourChan /tg/]] features a [[PoliticalOfficer Imperial Commissar]] killing anyone for minor offences (including [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking jaywalking]]), [[spoiler:even including the ''GodEmperor of Mankind'' for [[FelonyMisdemeanor going to the bathroom]]]].



* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'': Parodied with the Clock King, whose BlueAndOrangeMorality make him a [[TheFundamentalist fundamentalist]] ScheduleFanatic willing to [[FelonyMisdemeanor kill someone for something worse than a crime]]: making him late.
* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'', Mrs. Puff has a flashback to the unfortunate day that she met [=SpongeBob=]. She's just opening her new boating school and gives her word that she will accept ANY student and never give up on them. Cue [=SpongeBob=]'s arrival. In a later episode, the entire plot revolves around Mrs Puff's increasingly blatant desire and attempts to get [=SpongeBob=] ''killed'' in a destruction derby accident. She would sooner ''commit murder'' than go back on her word and just kick him out of the school.

to:

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'': Parodied with the [[Recap/BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE25TheClockKing The Clock King, whose King]]'s BlueAndOrangeMorality make him a [[TheFundamentalist fundamentalist]] ScheduleFanatic willing to [[FelonyMisdemeanor kill someone for something worse than a crime]]: making him late.
* In one episode The Land of ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'', Mrs. Puff has a flashback Dreams residents of the ''WesternAnimation/TheDreamstone'' value the process of dream making and consider Zordrak and all his Urpney minions absolutely reprehensible for trying to sabotage them into nightmares, [[NoSympathy never once taking notice]] to the unfortunate day fact that she met [=SpongeBob=]. She's just opening her new boating school and gives her word that she will accept ANY student and never give up on them. Cue [=SpongeBob=]'s arrival. In a later episode, the entire plot revolves around Mrs Puff's increasingly blatant desire and attempts to get [=SpongeBob=] ''killed'' in a destruction derby accident. She would sooner ''commit murder'' than go back on her word and just kick him most of his army are [[TheDragAlong unwilling cowards]] who only work for Zordrak [[TrappedInVillainy out of fear of torture and execution]]. Later episodes tone down the school.heroes to be less outspokenly priggish and violent about it, and give them a more proportionate provocation for fending the Urpneys off, [[HorribleJudgeOfCharacter though they still consider them standard bad guys in spite of their behaviour otherwise]].



* The Land of Dreams residents of the ''WesternAnimation/TheDreamstone'' value the process of dream making and consider Zordrak and all his Urpney minions absolutely reprehensible for trying to sabotage them into nightmares, [[NoSympathy never once taking notice to the fact]] [[TheDragAlong most of his army are unwilling cowards who only work for Zordrak]] [[TrappedInVillainy out of fear of torture and execution]]. Later episodes toned down the heroes to be less outspokenly priggish and violent about it, and gave them a more proportionate provocation for fending the Urpneys off, [[HorribleJudgeOfCharacter though still considered them standard bad guys in spite of their behaviour otherwise]].

to:

* The Land of Dreams residents of the ''WesternAnimation/TheDreamstone'' value the process of dream making and consider Zordrak and all his Urpney minions absolutely reprehensible for trying Mao Mao from ''WesternAnimation/MaoMaoHeroesOfPureHeart'' is LawfulGood to sabotage them into nightmares, [[NoSympathy never once taking notice a fault, obsessed with justice to the fact]] [[TheDragAlong most of point where he nearly abandoned [[WhatTheHellHero Badgerclops]] so he could respond to a public disturbance...all because his army are unwilling cowards who only work for Zordrak]] [[TrappedInVillainy best friend was a former bandit.
* [[HumongousMecha Armagedroid]] from ''WesternAnimation/MyLifeAsATeenageRobot'' is programmed to destroy dangerous weaponry in the name of peace. He was built to fight off an AlienInvasion, which he did, but [[AIIsACrapshoot his simplistic programming]] caused him to start attacking everything around him that ''might'' be a weapon, on the logic that anything that could possibly harm a person is a threat to peace. He's so slavishly devoted to his principles of peace through destruction that when Jenny points
out of fear of torture and execution]]. Later episodes toned down the heroes that [[YouAreWhatYouHate he qualifies as a weapon himself]], his ''immediate'' response is to be less outspokenly priggish and violent about it, and gave them a more proportionate provocation for fending the Urpneys off, [[HorribleJudgeOfCharacter though still considered them standard bad guys in spite of their behaviour otherwise]].'''kill himself'''.



** [[Characters/TheSimpsonsLisaSimpson Lisa Simpson]] is a SoapboxSadie that believes fervently in being truthful at all times and standing for what she believes in, even if that means seeking out the truth and exposing it and destroying the lives of other people as a side-effect (and occasionally her own as well, although pretty obviously ''[[{{Hypocrite}} that]]'' wasn't part of her plan). On a couple of occasions this meant (unknowingly) dodging literal bullets. The only time she knowingly compromised on this (and even then, it was a last-second decision) was when she discovered the truth about Jebediah Springfield, since telling everyone that he was a murderous pirate would have effectively destroyed what little pride Springfield had.
** Parodied ''and'' played straight in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', "Homer Vs. The Eighteenth Amendment": When a Prohibition law enacted 200 years ago is discovered in Springfield's Constitution, alcohol is outlawed. Unfortunately, this causes the same sociopolitical climate of the 1920s to return, with speakeasies and alcohol smuggling cropping up, including Homer, who is at the center of the crime ring, sneaking beer inside of hollow bowling balls through a complex system of pipes leading to Moe's Tavern. When Chief Wiggum is discovered, drunk, in the tavern, he's fired from the police force. When the police are unable to enforce the law, Rex Banner, a parody of Elliot Ness, with a no-nonsense humorless personality, from ''Series/TheUntouchables'', is brought in. When Homer's Duff supply runs out, he decides to make his own liquor, which starts failing after a while as well. Chief Wiggum, when found later, begs Homer to let him capture him. Homer agrees, but the punishment for breaking the prohibition law is by expulsion by catapult, out of town. When Marge steps up to try to defend Homer, [[StrawmanPolitical Banner starts to lecture the town about how the law should not be dictated by popularity]] (despite how the prohibition law actually caused ''more'' problems than it solved, much like the real-life Prohibition of the 1920s.), while not knowing that he's accidentally stepped into the bucket. When Wiggum has had enough, and decides that Banner has started talking out of his ass, he has the catapult launched, expelling Banner. The town clerk then finds that the law was repealed one year after it was passed, [[CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot meaning that all this strife and agony could have been avoided.]] In the same episode we get another example for Lisa, who makes clear that she is in favor of the dry law when everybody else in her family (including Maggie) are against it and is sent to her room in response.

to:

** [[Characters/TheSimpsonsLisaSimpson Lisa Simpson]] is a SoapboxSadie that who believes fervently in being truthful at all times and standing for what she believes in, even if that means seeking out the truth and exposing it and destroying the lives of other people as a side-effect (and occasionally her own as well, although pretty obviously obviously, ''[[{{Hypocrite}} that]]'' wasn't part of her plan). On a couple of occasions occasions, this meant means (unknowingly) dodging literal bullets. The only time she knowingly compromised compromises on this (and even then, it was it's a last-second decision) was is in "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS7E16LisaTheIconoclast Lisa the Iconoclast]]", when she discovered discovers the truth about Jebediah Springfield, since telling everyone that he was a murderous pirate would have effectively destroyed what little pride Springfield had.
** Parodied ''and'' played straight in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', "Homer Vs. The "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS8E18HomerVsTheEighteenthAmendment Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment": Amendment]]". When a Prohibition law enacted 200 years ago is discovered in Springfield's Constitution, alcohol is outlawed. Unfortunately, this causes the same sociopolitical climate of the 1920s to return, with speakeasies and alcohol smuggling cropping up, including Homer, who is at the center of the crime ring, sneaking beer inside of hollow bowling balls through a complex system of pipes leading to Moe's Tavern. When Chief Wiggum is discovered, drunk, in the tavern, he's fired from the police force. When the police are unable to enforce the law, Rex Banner, a parody of Elliot Ness, Ness from ''Series/TheUntouchables'' with a no-nonsense humorless personality, from ''Series/TheUntouchables'', is brought in. When Homer's Duff supply runs out, he decides to make his own liquor, which starts failing after a while as well. Chief Wiggum, when found later, begs Homer to let him capture him. Homer agrees, but the punishment for breaking the prohibition law is by expulsion by catapult, out of town. When Marge steps up to try to defend Homer, [[StrawmanPolitical Banner starts to lecture the town about how the law should not be dictated by popularity]] (despite how the prohibition law actually caused ''more'' problems than it solved, much like the real-life Prohibition of the 1920s.), while not knowing that he's accidentally stepped into the bucket. When Wiggum has had enough, and decides that Banner has started talking out of his ass, he has the catapult launched, expelling Banner. The town clerk then finds that the law was repealed one year after it was passed, [[CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot meaning that all this strife and agony could have been avoided.]] In the same episode we get another example for Lisa, who makes clear that she is in favor of the dry law when everybody else in her family (including Maggie) are against it and is sent to her room in response.response.
* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'', Mrs. Puff has a flashback to the unfortunate day that she met [=SpongeBob=]. She's just opening her new boating school and gives her word that she will accept ''any'' student and never give up on them. Cue [=SpongeBob=]'s arrival. In a later episode, the entire plot revolves around Mrs. Puff's increasingly blatant desire and attempts to get [=SpongeBob=] ''killed'' in a destruction derby accident. She would sooner ''commit murder'' than go back on her word and just kick him out of the school.



--->'''Connie:''' Mom! I really, really, really need that sword!\\

to:

--->'''Connie:''' -->'''Connie:''' Mom! I really, really, really need that sword!\\



''[One of the mutants in an outside hallway rams the door]]''\\

to:

''[One ''[one of the mutants in an outside hallway rams the door]]''\\door]''\\



* [[HumongousMecha Armagedroid]] from ''WesternAnimation/MyLifeAsATeenageRobot'' is programmed to destroy dangerous weaponry in the name of peace. He was built to fight off an AlienInvasion, which he did, but [[AIIsACrapshoot his simplistic programming]] caused him to start attacking everything around him that ''might'' be a weapon, on the logic that anything that could possibly harm a person is a threat to peace. He's so slavishly devoted to his principles of peace through destruction that when Jenny points out that [[YouAreWhatYouHate he qualifies as a weapon himself]], his ''immediate'' response is to '''kill himself'''.
* Mao Mao from ''WesternAnimation/MaoMaoHeroesOfPureHeart'' is LawfulGood to a fault, obsessed with justice to the point where he nearly abandoned [[WhatTheHellHero Badgerclops]] so he could respond to a public disturbance...all because his best friend was a former bandit.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
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* In ''VideoGame/BaldursGateIII'', this is part of BarbarianHero Minsc's CharacterDevelopment. [[spoiler:After being saved by the party he wants to go on a crusade against TheDon Nine-Fingers Keene, but is talked down after seeing that she's actually ALighterShadeOfGrey and instead resolves to help her reform. Later on he confides in the PlayerCharacter that he's worried that this and the things he did while BrainwashedAndCrazy makes him a {{hypocrite}}. One of the options to reassure him is to point out that [[DumbMuscle being good is one of the few things he knows]].]]

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* In ''VideoGame/BaldursGateIII'', this is part of BarbarianHero Minsc's CharacterDevelopment. [[spoiler:After being saved by the party he wants to go on a crusade against TheDon Nine-Fingers Keene, but is talked down after seeing that she's actually ALighterShadeOfGrey and instead resolves to help her reform. Later on he confides in the PlayerCharacter that he's worried that this and the things he did while BrainwashedAndCrazy makes him a {{hypocrite}}.{{hypocrite}} and a [[HeWhoFightsMonsters bad guy]]. One of the options to reassure him is to point out that [[DumbMuscle being good is one of the few things he knows]].]]

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* ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment'' gives us Vhailor, a Mercykiller avatar of Justice. Even death didn't slow him down -- he didn't even notice his, but continued his work as he possessed his old battle armour. Not even the protagonist is safe from his swift justice if he happens to realize who the Nameless One is...

to:

* In ''VideoGame/BaldursGateIII'', this is part of BarbarianHero Minsc's CharacterDevelopment. [[spoiler:After being saved by the party he wants to go on a crusade against TheDon Nine-Fingers Keene, but is talked down after seeing that she's actually ALighterShadeOfGrey and instead resolves to help her reform. Later on he confides in the PlayerCharacter that he's worried that this and the things he did while BrainwashedAndCrazy makes him a {{hypocrite}}. One of the options to reassure him is to point out that [[DumbMuscle being good is one of the few things he knows]].]]
* ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment'' gives us Vhailor, a Mercykiller avatar of Justice. Even death didn't slow him down -- [[BlackAndWhiteInsanity he didn't even notice his, his]], but continued his work as he possessed his old battle armour. Not even the protagonist is safe from his swift justice if he happens to realize who the Nameless One is...

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None


* ''Series/DoctorWho'': The Doctor is utterly committed to his role as a peaceful explorer and scientist. This came to a head during the Time War, where he kept on exploring and sciencing while billions died in the conflict he couldn't settle. In the end, he chose to regenerate as the War Doctor, an AntiHeroSubstitute who didn't have those principles. There was a lot more death in a shorter period of time [[spoiler: (except there really wasn't due to the intervention of his future selves)]], and he hated himself for a long time afterwards, but since he couldn't settle the conflict, he ''ended'' it.

to:

* ''Series/DoctorWho'': The Doctor ''Series/DoctorWho'' is utterly committed to his role as a peaceful explorer and scientist. As a result of CantArgueWithElves, he tends to be very {{pride}}ful and uncompromising, going to extreme lengths to uphold his ChaoticGood values.
**
This came to a head during the Time War, where he kept on exploring and sciencing while billions died in the conflict he couldn't settle. In the end, he the Eighth chose to regenerate as the War Doctor, an AntiHeroSubstitute who didn't have those principles. There was a lot more death in a shorter period of time [[spoiler: (except there really wasn't due to the intervention of his future selves)]], and he hated himself for a long time afterwards, but since he couldn't settle the conflict, he ''ended'' it. it.
** The Tenth Doctor was especially prone to this. In "[[Recap/DoctorWho2005CSTheChristmasInvasion The Christmas Invasion]]", he self-righteously overthrows the IronLady Prime Minister [[NiceJobBreakingItHero and prevents the British golden age]] out of moral outrage to her causing a SurrenderBackfire for a group of aliens planning to decimate the Earth. In "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E16TheWatersOfMars The Waters of Mars]]" he says ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight and [[TimeCrash jeopardizes all of spacetime]] to save one woman, an act that even the OmnicidalManiac [[EvenEvilHasStandards Daleks refused to do]].

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Updating Links, Alphabatizing


* Rorschach in ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'' follows this trope consistently. This is probably because he's TheAntiNihilist; he believes that the world has no other meaning than the one we impose upon it. If he abandoned his principles, he'd have nothing. [[spoiler: The page quote is literal. He would rather let the world perish than neglect one of his moral principles just once.]] His reaction to [[spoiler: Ozymandias's plan to save the world is a perfect example. He knows Veidt's attempt at utopia will be a lie built upon a foundation of corpses and cannot let that injustice pass, and thus welcomes death by Dr. Manhattan's hand because he can no longer abide living in a morally bankrupt world where injustice must prevail in order to save lives.]]
* ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'' is in many ways a parody of this, with Judge Death as a parody of the parody. While Judge Dredd is a KnightTemplar ByTheBookCop and Judge Death an OmnicidalManiac HangingJudge, they are still the same kind of Principles Zealot.
* Franchise/{{Batman}} can sometimes fall into this, especially when it comes to why he doesn't kill the Joker (or at least allow him to die). He is adhering to ThouShaltNotKill, and is somewhat justified in being afraid of not being able to stop once he crosses that line, but how many people have died at the hands of the Joker, thanks to his principles?
** Many superheroes fall into this, especially when their villains become more murderous. [[Franchise/{{SpiderMan}} Spider-Man]], for example, once went out of his way to rescue Doctor Octopus right after Ock tried to wipe out most of humanity in a particularly pathetic attempt to be remembered for ''something''. What made this especially galling was that Silver Sable, a heroine who was helping him, was '''drowning''' in another room, but Spidey still opted to save the monster Ock instead of going back for her.
* ''ComicBook/CaptainAmerica'' is generally a subversion of this, DependingOnTheWriter. While known for his integrity, he also knows that sometimes it's absolutely necessary to resort to lies and trickery. Other times, he refuses to compromise his ideals even when it will result in suffering.

to:

* Rorschach in ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'' follows this trope consistently. This is probably because he's TheAntiNihilist; he believes that the world has no other meaning than the one we impose upon it. If he abandoned his principles, he'd have nothing. [[spoiler: The page quote is literal. He would rather let the world perish than neglect one of his moral principles just once.]] His reaction to [[spoiler: Ozymandias's plan to save the world is a perfect example. He knows Veidt's attempt at utopia will be a lie built upon a foundation of corpses and cannot let that injustice pass, and thus welcomes death by Dr. Manhattan's hand because he can no longer abide living in a morally bankrupt world where injustice must prevail in order to save lives.]]
* ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'' is in many ways a parody of this, with Judge Death as a parody of the parody. While Judge Dredd is a KnightTemplar ByTheBookCop and Judge Death an OmnicidalManiac HangingJudge, they are still the same kind of Principles Zealot.
* Franchise/{{Batman}}
''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'': Batman can sometimes fall into this, especially when it comes to why he doesn't kill the Joker (or at least allow him to die). He is adhering to ThouShaltNotKill, and is somewhat justified in being afraid of not being able to stop once he crosses that line, but how many people have died at the hands of the Joker, thanks to his principles?
** Many superheroes fall into this, especially when their villains become more murderous. [[Franchise/{{SpiderMan}} Spider-Man]], for example, once went out of his way to rescue Doctor Octopus right after Ock tried to wipe out most of humanity in a particularly pathetic attempt to be remembered for ''something''. What made this especially galling was that Silver Sable, a heroine who was helping him, was '''drowning''' in another room, but Spidey still opted to save the monster Ock instead of going back for her.
* ''ComicBook/CaptainAmerica'' ''ComicBook/CaptainAmerica'': Captain America is generally a subversion of this, DependingOnTheWriter. While known for his integrity, he also knows that sometimes it's absolutely necessary to resort to lies and trickery. Other times, he refuses to compromise his ideals even when it will result in suffering.



* Twilight Sparkle became one in one issue of ''ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDW'', where she utterly refused to use any magic, either offensively ''or'' defensively, against some foes because they were "non-magical residents of Equestria". Needless to say, this drove the entire conflict of the comic and resulted in a lot of property damage and a ''lot'' of injuries to her friends and civilians.
* The ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse made a parody of ''Les Miserables'' and brought Javert's attitude to the logical extreme... By having Scrooge Valjean being pardoned with Javert continuing the chase ''to tell him he was now a free man'': to Javert the law is akin to divine justice, and if the law now said Valjean was as if he had never been a criminal he couldn't allow him to think himself as one and live on the run.

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* ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'': Judge Dredd is in many ways a parody of this, with Judge Death as a parody of the parody. While Judge Dredd is a KnightTemplar ByTheBookCop and Judge Death an OmnicidalManiac HangingJudge, they are still the same kind of Principles Zealot.
* ''ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDW'':
Twilight Sparkle became one in one issue of ''ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDW'', issue, where she utterly refused to use any magic, either offensively ''or'' defensively, against some foes because they were "non-magical residents of Equestria". Needless to say, this drove the entire conflict of the comic and resulted in a lot of property damage and a ''lot'' of injuries to her friends and civilians.
* The ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse made a ''ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse'': A parody of ''Les Miserables'' and brought Javert's attitude to the logical extreme... By having Scrooge Valjean being pardoned with Javert continuing the chase ''to tell him he was now a free man'': to Javert Javert, the law is akin to divine justice, and if the law now said Valjean was as if he had never been a criminal he couldn't allow him to think himself as one and live on the run.run.
* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': In ''ComicBook/EndsOfTheEarth'', Spider-Man goes out of his way to rescue Doctor Octopus right after Ock tried to wipe out most of humanity in a particularly pathetic attempt to be remembered for ''something''. What made this especially galling was that Silver Sable, a heroine who was helping him, was '''drowning''' in another room, but Spidey still opted to save the monster Ock instead of going back for her.
* ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'': Rorschach follows this trope consistently. This is probably because he's TheAntiNihilist; he believes that the world has no other meaning than the one we impose upon it. If he abandoned his principles, he'd have nothing. [[spoiler: The page quote is literal. He would rather let the world perish than neglect one of his moral principles just once.]] His reaction to [[spoiler: Ozymandias's plan to save the world is a perfect example. He knows Veidt's attempt at utopia will be a lie built upon a foundation of corpses and cannot let that injustice pass, and thus welcomes death by Dr. Manhattan's hand because he can no longer abide living in a morally bankrupt world where injustice must prevail in order to save lives.]]
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[[folder:Philosophy]]
* This is a common criticism of Kant's moral philosophy: when he discusses the example of a murderer standing at your door and asking you whether you're hiding his to-be victim (who is, indeed, in your house), Kant seems to indicate that it is not morally permissible for you to lie to the murderer. This is, of course, debated by philosophers.
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** Lisa Simpson is a SoapboxSadie that believes fervently in being truthful at all times and standing for what she believes in, even if that means seeking out the truth and exposing it and destroying the lives of other people as a side-effect (and occasionally her own as well, although pretty obviously ''[[{{Hypocrite}} that]]'' wasn't part of her plan). On a couple of occasions this meant (unknowingly) dodging literal bullets. The only time she knowingly compromised on this (and even then, it was a last-second decision) was when she discovered the truth about Jebediah Springfield, since telling everyone that he was a murderous pirate would have effectively destroyed what little pride Springfield had.

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** [[Characters/TheSimpsonsLisaSimpson Lisa Simpson Simpson]] is a SoapboxSadie that believes fervently in being truthful at all times and standing for what she believes in, even if that means seeking out the truth and exposing it and destroying the lives of other people as a side-effect (and occasionally her own as well, although pretty obviously ''[[{{Hypocrite}} that]]'' wasn't part of her plan). On a couple of occasions this meant (unknowingly) dodging literal bullets. The only time she knowingly compromised on this (and even then, it was a last-second decision) was when she discovered the truth about Jebediah Springfield, since telling everyone that he was a murderous pirate would have effectively destroyed what little pride Springfield had.
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* ''Film/{{Charulata}}'': Bhupati is very much a purist, who insists that his newspaper (which he is publishing in 1879 Calcutta, Bengal, India) must be all in English, and must not have any "silly news" or "gossip" but must only contain deadly serious coverage of the issues of the day. Of course, since he's actually one of the IdleRich and the paper is a vanity project it doesn't matter. It's a big character growth moment near the end, when he agrees with Charulata that they can work together on a re-launched paper that combines political news in English with literature in Bengali.

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[[folder:Fanfiction]]

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* In the ''Blog/BetterBonesAU'' Spiderleg is very loyal to the warrior code and is consequentially loyal to the possessed Bramblestar, to the point of willingly taking a punishment from "Bramblestar" himself while condemning other cats for being unwilling to atone.

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