History Quotes / TheChainsOfCommanding

%%If it turns out that it wasn't Ganyu who said this, then do correct the quote.

%%If it turns out that it wasn't Ganyu who said this, then do correct the quote.

->Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.
-->--'''UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln'''

'''Iella''': He would. Our profile on him says he's [[FanBoy one of your biggest admirers]]. But now he's [[TheWomanWearingTheQueenlyMask locked behind the ruler's mask]] and can never admit it.

->"It's so easy for you, isn't it? You're just going to stand there angry and hold a grudge against me, but I have to look out for the safety of ''everyone'' under my command! Do you know how strong the enemy is? Melissa might die out there next time, or Mr Weber! You have absolutely no idea what it's like for me while I'm sitting in that Captain's chair!"
-->--'''Captain Testarossa''', ''[[LightNovel/FullMetalPanic Full Metal Panic: The Second Raid]]''

-->--''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing''

-->--'''King Sweyn Forkbeard''', ''Manga/VinlandSaga''

->Isn't it strange, G'Kar? When we first met, I had no power and all the choices I could wish to make. Now I have all the power I could ever want, and no choices at all. No choices at all.
-->--'''Londo''', ''Series/BabylonFive'' ("The Fall of Centauri Prime")

->You know, there are days when I really hate this job.
-->--'''Admiral William Adama''', ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|2003}}''

'''Joan:''' Got news for you - [[ItNeverGetsAnyEasier it doesn't get any easier.]]
-->--''Series/CovertAffairs''

->Must be a nice place to sit, at the top of the pyramid. And also pretty uncomfortable.
-->--'''Anthony [=DiNozzo=]''', ''Series/{{NCIS}}''

->All due respect, you got no fuckin' idea what it's like to be Number One. Every decision you make affects every facet of every other fuckin' thing. It's too much to deal with almost. And in the end you're completely alone with it all.
-->--'''Tony Soprano''', ''Series/TheSopranos''

->My personal opinion says "yes" but the government policies under which I must weight my decision say "no."
-->--'''General Hammond''', ''Series/StargateSG1''

->"You bet I'm 'tired!' You bet! I'm tired of being responsible for two hundred and three lives and I'm tired of deciding which mission is too risky and which isn't and who's going on the landing party and who doesn't. And who lives... and who dies."
-->--'''Captain Pike''' to his doctor, ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'', "The Cage"

->"The man on top walks a lonely street. The chain of command is often a noose."
-->--'''Dr. [=McCoy=]''', regarding ''his'' captain, ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'', "The Conscience of the King"

-->--''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine''

->'''[[HotBlooded Worf:]]''' Life is a lot more complicated in this red uniform...\\
'''[[BaldOfAuthority Sisko:]]''' Wait 'till you get ''[[TheCaptain four]]'' [[TheCaptain pips]] on your collar! You'll wish you had gone into ''botany''.
-->--''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine''

->"None of you can appreciate what it means to be in command of a ship until that responsibility rests squarely on your shoulders, as it does on mine. It has been suggested that I take an action which would require me to disobey an order, and knowingly put this crew into a life threatening situation. In general, I believe it demonstrates faulty leadership to be guided by the emotions of a distraught crew. However, as Captain, I must not ignore the sensibilities of those I command. We will contact the Vidiians. This is my decision and mine alone. You are all absolved of responsibility in the matter. I will accept any consequences which may ensue."
-->--'''Acting Captain Tuvok''', ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'', "Resolutions"

->"You will find little joy in your command. But, with luck, you will find the strength to do what needs to be done. Kill the boy, Jon Snow. Winter is almost upon us. ''Kill the boy''...and let ''the man'' be born."
-->--'''Maester Aemon Targaryen''', ''Series/GameOfThrones'', "Kill The Boy"

'''Bartlet:''' ''(disappointed)'' Ah.
-->--''Series/TheWestWing'', "Five Votes Down"

->"It ain't enough that I gotta be the one thinking this whole shit through. That I gotta be the one looking out for this shit and that shit, checking up on this, making sure this shit is done. No, that's not enough, no? That's why they be paying them fucking [=CEOs=] so much damn money. Because when the shit fall bad, it ''all'' fall bad on them. Everybody else can be ducking and hiding, doing what they fucking wanna do. But when push come to shove, I'm the one who's got to take that responsibility, and y'all are leaving me very little to work with right now!"
-->--'''Stringer Bell''', ''Series/TheWire''

->'''Stoick:''' It isn't. But you do it. You do it when your heart is torn in two, you do it when you're just wanting to smack some sense into everyone, you just ''do it.

-> '''Claude''': "Nobles start the war, but the commoners always spill blood first."

'''The President:''' These past few hours have been the longest, darkest of my life. [[TheNeedsOfTheMany How does one weigh human life? One million civilians against eighty one hostages.]] And in the middle, Frank Hummel. That we have ignored, abandoned, or marganilized a great solider like Frank Hummel and that American boys have paid for that neglect in blood is equally real and equally tragic. (''[[GlassesPull Takes off his glasses]]'') We are at war with terror, fighting a war means casualties. This is the worst call I've ever had to make. (''Picks up phone'') Air strike approved.

->''"First rule of leadership... everything is your fault."''

->Don’t become an archduke, kids. You can’t even walk through your own city without needing a thousand layers of excuses and an elaborate plot.
-->--'''The archduke of Ehrenfest''', ''LightNovel/AscendanceOfABookworm''

-> '''Ferdinand''': "After our battle with the Agarthans, I had hoped your feelings on Edelgard would have burgeoned. Why did you approve her execution?”\\

'''Byleth''': “If I’m honest, Ferdinand, I was opposed to this. [...] However, what do you expect me to tell the nobility of Faerghus that suffered under the rule of Cornelia, something [[KnightTemplar Edelgard was directly responsible for?]] [[EasilyForgiven That she fought on our side for a battle or two, so she should be pardoned?]] ‘[[SarcasmMode Oh, don’t mind the fact that I was her former teacher and close friend, that is completely unrelated]].’ [[DefiedTrope You’re the expert on noble relations, Ferdinand]]. [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome I don’t have to ask you what results that would have]].”

-> '''Cyril''': "[[AccidentallyAccurate Be nice if someone like your father was a king]]."

->'''Princess Henrietta:''' I’m sorry, Louise. Are you alright?\\
'''Louise:''' ...no. But I cannot afford that. The army at the gates is slain but another marches soon and I must be ready. Dead fiances and murder cannot occupy my mind.\\

-> '''Cyril''': "Your father ? I thought ya said you came from a military family."

[...]
'''Byleth''': “If I’m honest, Ferdinand, I was opposed to this. However, what do you expect me to tell the nobility of Faerghus that suffered under the rule of Cornelia, something [[KnightTemplar Edelgard was directly responsible for?]] [[EasilyForgiven That she fought on our side for a battle or two, so she should be pardoned?]] ‘[[SarcasmMode Oh, don’t mind the fact that I was her former teacher and close friend, that is completely unrelated]].’ [[DefiedTrope You’re the expert on noble relations, Ferdinand]]. [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome I don’t have to ask you what results that would have]].”

--''Roleplay/{{Communication}}''

->"It ain't enough that I gotta be the one thinking this whole shit through. That I gotta be the one looking out for this shit and that shit, checking up on this, making sure this shit is done. No, that's not enough, no? That's why they be paying them fucking CEOs so much damn money. Because when the shit fall bad, it ''all'' fall bad on them. Everybody else can be ducking and hiding, doing what they fucking wanna do. But when push come to shove, I'm the one who's got to take that responsibility, and y'all are leaving me very little to work with right now!"

'''[[BaldBlackLeaderGuy Sisko:]]''' Wait 'till you get ''[[TheCaptain four]]'' [[TheCaptain pips]] on your collar! You'll wish you had gone into ''botany''.

->He did of course invite his officers quite often, and although in the present anxious unsettled state of his affairs he dared not keep the lavish table of earlier, richer days, it was rare that Pullings and a midshipman did not breakfast with him, while the officer of the forenoon watch and a youngster or a Marine would often share his dinner: and the wardroom entertained him once a week. Breakfast and dinner, then, were reasonably companionable; but Jack dined at three, and since he was not a man who turned in early that left a great deal of time, far more than the concerns of a ship on blockade could fill, a ship with a thoroughly efficient first lieutenant, plying to a fro off Toulon, all decisions taken by the flag.

-->--'''[[HiddenDepths Michelangelo]]''', about Leonardo, ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles''

-->-- '''Hopper''', ''WesternAnimation/ABug'sLife

[[folder:Fan Works]]

[[folder:Fan Fiction]]

-->--''[[Fanfic/TiberiumWars Tiberium Wars]]'', Chapter XVIII

[[folder:Web Comics]]

-->--'''[[HiddenDepths Michelangelo]]''', about Leonardo, ''[[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]''