History ShutUpHannibal / Literature

** An understated, but no less impressive, one occurs in ''Maskerade'', when Granny Weatherwax and Death play cards for the life of an infant. This being [[DontFearTheReaper the Death of the Disc]], the "Hannibal" part is heavily downplayed, but the symbolism in the following exchange still breathes the trope.

* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles''
** In ''Literature/DeathMasks'' the powerful villain Nicodemus gives Harry a brutal breaking speech, [[spoiler:Harry refuses Nicodemus' offer with the quote "[l]ead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." This is followed by Harry's usual eloquence for declarative statements, when Nicodemus asked if he was sure, "Fuck off, Nick."]]
** When he verbally shuts down [[spoiler: Queen Mab]] at the end of ''Literature/GhostStory''. When [[spoiler: she brings him back to life]], Harry says he will honor his word, but must do it ''his'' way, or else he becomes a mindless thug, exactly what [[spoiler: Mab]] ''doesn't'' want. In a partial subversion, the recipient is both furious and elated at this statement.

* In Franchise/TolkiensLegendarium:
** ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'':
*** Gandalf does this to Saruman in ''The Two Towers'', [[spoiler:and destroys Saruman's staff for good measure]].
*** Théoden does this to Saruman right before Gandalf does; Gandalf just has a bit more oomph to it.
*** In ''The Return of the King'' Gandalf is being lectured by Sauron's messenger, who tells Gandalf "Those are the terms. Take them or leave them!" Gandalf, knowing that the messenger is lying, saying "These we will take!" and then zaps the messenger and takes Frodo's gear.
** ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'' does this as well:
*** Húrin to Morgoth.
---->[[ThatLiarLies "You lie!"]]
*** There's an attempted but failed one from [[CosmicPlaything Túrin]] to [[TheDragon Glaurung]] when they first meet. Glaurung releases Túrin from his spell and giving him a BreakingSpeech with him stuck to the spot by hypnosis and then gives him another when the spell is lifted. Túrin comes forward to try to stab his eyes out with his sword, but Glaurung "towers above him", puts him back [[MagnificentBastard under his spell and resumes the lecture.]]

* Detailed further in this trope's quote page is the gem from the climax of ''[[Literature/TheActsOfCaine Blade of Tyshalle]]''.
-->'''BigBad:''' Come, then: Let us meet as men, standing face-to-face, for the surrender of the sword. I applaud your sense of ceremony: Grant and Lee at Appomattox Courthouse, rather than Brutus at the feet of Ant--\\
'''Caine:'''''(points [[AbsurdlySharpBlade Kosall]] at him)'' You talk too fucking much.
* In ''[[Literature/{{Conqueror}} Bones of the Hills]]'', when the Mongols have razed the Assassins' fortress, the Old Man of the Mountains attempts to break Genghis Khan by telling him he doesn't understand anything, that he only knows destruction, and that nobody will remember him after he's gone. The gurkhan just laughs and orders Tsubodai to kill him.
* ''Literature/RedDragon'':
** Will Graham calls one of Lecter's bluffs by ''walking away'' when he tries to get a lecture rolling.
** He later comes about as close as anyone gets to giving Hannibal Lecter himself this treatment. Granted, he says it out loud to a written letter, but it shows exactly what he thinks about having the same motivations as a deranged serial killer.
* [[DeadpanSnarker John]] gives an epic one in ''[[Literature/TheDevilsOnlyFriend The Devil's Only Friend]]'', cutting off an enemy by ''shooting [[ItMakesSenseInContext the corpse he's talking through]] in the jaw'', rendering it unable to talk. Even better, it works, pushing Rack into a VillainousBreakdown at [[AGodAmI being disrespected]] and [[spoiler:forcing him to possess the corpse John poisoned specially for him in order to talk again.]]
--->'''Rack:''' Do you really think that little thing will d-
--->'''John:''' ''[fires]'' No. I was just getting tired of your evil villain monologue.
* In ''Literature/ShadowPuppets'' by Orson Scott Card, Achilles has [[spoiler:stolen Bean's test tube babies]] and blackmails him into [[spoiler:coming onto his home turf unarmed]]. Even trying to ransom them, using one as a shield saying he wouldn't dare hurt it, to which Bean responds by crushing it beneath his foot. Then [[spoiler:Achilles realizes he's been betrayed by his 'compatriots'. Suddenly Bean has a gun and Achilles has a knife.]]
-->'''Achilles:''' [[spoiler:You can't just kill a man in cold blood, no matter how much you hate him. It's not in you to do that]].\\
'''Bean:''' [[spoiler:Yes it is. (shoots Achilles in the face)]]
* In ''Literature/{{Felidae}}'' by Akif Pirincci, Francis delivers this to Pascal/Claudandus shortly before their final battle.
-->'''Francis:''' 'Everyone wants to rule the world', I said, filled with sorrow. 'Really, absolutely everyone. That's what it's all about, isn't it? That's what it's always about in the end. And every species believes that it's number one. Every individual is firmly convinced that he or she alone has the right to ascend to the throne and issue orders to get rid of others. And in reality everyone is fooling themselves, because up there on the throne it's lonely and cold. We don't have anything more to say to one another, my friend. I understand the reasons why you unleashed this nightmare, and I don't want to conceal from you either that I harbour certain feelings of sympathy for your remorselessly cruel plans. But not at this price, no, not at this terrible price! I will fight you and do everything in my power to destroy your life's work. This I swear as sure as I am standing here. And I'm going to begin by deleting this unspeakable program. I'm sorry...'
* In ''Literature/WarOfTheDreaming'' by Creator/JohnCWright, the heroes deliver a magnificent rebuttal against a PhysicalGod insisting that HumansAreBastards: [[spoiler: Azrael ''revokes'' his power, and tells him to sit down and shut up.]]

* In the novelisation of ''Film/IronMan 2'', Tony throws Ivan's words about being a thief and murderer back in the latter's face by pointing out that the latter has himself taken lives.

* Near the end of the Literature/TimeScout series, Kit Carson shuts up Senator Caddrick then goes back to bed.
* Literature/SisterhoodSeries by Creator/FernMichaels: In the book ''Under The Radar'', the Prophet Harold Evanrod gives his followers of the pedophile polygamist sect Heaven On Earth a speech about how the outsiders who have invaded their homes are doomed to damnation and that the Heaven On Earth people are righteous and will prevail. Kathryn Lucas responds, "Cut the bullshit, you creep, and do what this guy tells you, or you'll be picking your brains off your upper lip." That makes him shut up.
* In the Creator/DaleBrown novel ''Shadows of Steel'', Admiral Tufayli tries to call Madcap Magician killers and doesn't live to regret it. In ''Shadow Command'', [[PresidentEvil Leonid Zevitin]] tries to lecture [[spoiler: Patrick [=McLanahan=]]] on becoming a killer because ItsPersonal. He doesn't live to get away with it.

* ''Literature/WarriorCats'':
** In ''The Last Hope'', Blackstar delivers an epic one to Redwillow after the former's TheReasonYouSuckSpeech and kills him. After all that, he just says: "I'm still leader of this Clan. And you have betrayed us all."
*** And he gives ''another one'' to Shredtail, who snarls at him for killing his loyal warrior. All Blackstar says is "I killed one traitor, and I'm fixing to kill another one."
** In ''After The Flood'', Billystorm does the same to Sol about being a daylight warrior...minus the killing, of course.
* In ''Literature/CityOfGlass'', Valentine avoids this by using a magic rune to keep Clary quiet ''so he can monologue without interruption''. [[spoiler: She eventually gives a rebuttal by writing in the dirt]].
* In Creator/RuthFrancesLong's ''Literature/TheTreacheryOfBeautifulThings'', the piper tells Jenny that Jack has nothing common with ''them''. She spits back that she's nothing like him, and neither is Jack, and aren't they blessed in that?

* In ''[[Literature/WingsOfFire Darkness of Dragons]]'', the BigBad claims he only wanted to be loved. Qibli, [[GoodCounterpart who knows how that feels]], reminds him that he ''was'' loved by Clearsight and Fathom, and he threw that away to brainwash them into mindless followers.
* ''Literature/TheTeresaKnightTrilogy'': When the villain in ''Strip Poker'' starts to rationalize what he did, Teresa cuts it off instantly, uninterested by any speech of his.
* ''Literature/BazilBroketail'':
** When the Doom of Tummuz Orgmeen has him brought before it and tries to sway him to its side, Bazil pretty much tells it to screw itself, outraged that a being which spends its time abusing, killing and enslaving innocent people -- humans and dragons alike -- has the gall to pretend its his friend and give him an offer to join its side.
** He gives a short but effective one to [[spoiler:Waakzaam]] when he considers breeding some dragons of his own, impressed by his opponent's might.
--->'''Bazil:''' Dragons will never kill for someone like you.

* In "Literature/{{Manfred}}" by Creator/LordByron, the title character gives a verbal curb stomp to the devils who show up to drag him to hell:

** In ''Death Masks'' the powerful villain Nicodemus gives Harry a brutal breaking speech, [[spoiler:Harry refuses Nicodemus' offer with the quote "[l]ead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." This is followed by Harry's usual eloquence for declarative statements, when Nicodemus asked if he was sure, "Fuck off, Nick."]]

* Mara Jade gives an ''awesome'' one in ''[[Literature/JediAcademyTrilogy I, Jedi]]'', mockingly comparing the villain-of-the-week to Darth Vader and Palpatine.

** Vimes to Carcer Dun at the end of ''Literature/{{Nightwatch|Discworld}}'':

** Vimes to Carcer Dun at the end of ''Literature/NightWatchDiscworld'':

* Shows up from time to time in the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' books. Granny Weatherwax delivers one to the Queen of Fairies in ''Discworld/LordsAndLadies'', and even turns it around by ''[[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech lecturing the fairies themselves]]''.

** Carrot also steps on the BigBad's BreakThemByTalking quite beautifully in ''Discworld/MenAtArms'' by [[spoiler:just walking up to him and impaling him with a sword]].

** Death in ''Discworld/{{Hogfather}}''

** Near the end of ''Discworld/WyrdSisters'', Lady Felmet is in a middle of a rant about how the "good people" of Lancre are too cowardly to stand up to her when Nanny knocks her out cold with a prop cauldron mid-speech.

** Vimes to Carcer Dun at the end of ''Discworld/NightWatch'':

** Played with in ''Discworld/AHatFullOfSky'', where Tiffany mentally prepares [[CharacterFilibuster a long and scathing retort]] to [[AlphaBitch Anagramma]] chastising her for missing an opportunity to show up Granny Weatherwax, but decides [[IgnoredEpiphany the other girl just wouldn't get it]]. So Tiffany settles for giving Anagramma a meaningful smirk and telling her "Oh, shut up."

* In ''Literature/TheSilverChair'', Puddleglum gives an unusually verbose but still epic version of this trope. Bonus points for verbally kicking ass ''even after conceding to everything the BigBad said''.
-->'''Puddleglum''': One word, Ma'am. ''[coming back from the fire; limping, because of the pain]'' One word. All you've been saying is quite right, I shouldn't wonder. I'm a chap who always liked to know the worst and then put the best face I can on it. So I won't deny any of what you said. But there's one thing more to be said, even so. [[AllJustADream Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things]]—trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and [[CrystalDragonJesus Aslan himself]]. Suppose we have. Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones. Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world. Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one. And that's a funny thing, when you come to think of it. We're just babies making up a game, if you're right. But four babies playing a game can make a play-world which licks your real world hollow. That's why I'm going to stand by the play-world. I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it. I'm going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn't any Narnia. So, thanking you kindly for our supper, if these two gentlemen and the young lady are ready, we're leaving your court at once and setting out in the dark to spend our lives looking for Overland. Not that our lives will be very long, I should think; but that's small loss if the world's as dull a place as you say.

--> "I am not thy dupe nor am thy prey
--> Back ye baffled fiends
--> The hand of death is on me
--> But not yours."

-->'''Puddleglum''': One word, Ma'am. ''[coming back from the fire; limping, because of the pain]'' One word. All you've been saying is quite right, I shouldn't wonder. I'm a chap who always liked to know the worst and then put the best face I can on it. So I won't deny any of what you said. But there's one thing more to be said, even so. [[AllJustADream Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things]]—trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and [[CrystalDragonJesus Aslan himself]]. Suppose we have. Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones. Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world. Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one. And that's a funny thing, when you come to think of it. We're just babies making up a game, if you're right. But four babies playing a game can make a play-world which licks your real world hollow. That's why I'm going to stand by the play-world. [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it.]] I'm going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn't any Narnia. So, thanking you kindly for our supper, if these two gentlemen and the young lady are ready, we're leaving your court at once and setting out in the dark to spend our lives looking for Overland. Not that our lives will be very long, I should think; but that's small loss if the world's as dull a place as you say.

* Gandalf does this to Saruman in ''[[Literature/LordOfTheRings The Two Towers]]'', [[spoiler:and destroys Saruman's staff for good measure]].
** Théoden does this to Saruman right before Gandalf does; Gandalf just has a bit more oomph to it.
** In ''[[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings The Return of the King]]'' Gandalf is being lectured by Sauron's messenger, who tells Gandalf "Those are the terms. Take them or leave them!" Gandalf, knowing that the messenger is lying, saying "These we will take!" and then zaps the messenger and takes Frodo's gear.
* ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'' does this as well:
** Húrin to Morgoth.
-->[[ThatLiarLies "You lie!"]]
** There's an attempted but failed one from [[CosmicPlaything Túrin]] to [[TheDragon Glaurung]] when they first meet. Glaurung releases Túrin from his spell and giving him a BreakingSpeech with him stuck to the spot by hypnosis and then gives him another when the spell is lifted. Túrin comes forward to try to stab his eyes out with his sword, but Glaurung "towers above him", puts him back [[MagnificentBastard under his spell and resumes the lecture.]]

** Nanny Ogg gets one near the end of ''Discworld/WyrdSisters'', when she smashes the Dutchess on the back of the head with a cauldron mid-speech.

-->"The machine ain't broken, Carcer. The machine is waiting for you. The city will kill you dead. The proper wheels'll turn. It'll be fair, I'll make sure of that. Afterward you won't be able to say you you didn't have a fair trial."

* In one of the most surprising examples of this trope, ''Aibileen'', of all people, interrupts Miss Hilly's attempts to threaten her at the end of TheHelp and then proceeds to ''blackmail'' her:

* In "Literature/{{Manfred}}" by LordByron, the title character gives a verbal curb stomp to the devils who show up to drag him to hell:

* In ''Literature/MalazanBookOfTheFallen'' High King Kallor (an ancient warrior king cursed with immortality - [[BlessedWithSuck but NOT eternal youth]]) fires off a BadassBoast to his dismissive allies: "I walked this land when the T'lan Imass were but children. I have commanded armies a hundred thousand strong. I have spread the fire of my wrath across entire continents, and sat alone upon tall thrones. Do you grasp the meaning of this?" Fellow immortal Caladan Brood immediately shoots back with "Yes. You never learn."

-->'''Puddleglum''': One word, Ma'am. ''[coming back from the fire; limping, because of the pain]]'' One word. All you've been saying is quite right, I shouldn't wonder. I'm a chap who always liked to know the worst and then put the best face I can on it. So I won't deny any of what you said. But there's one thing more to be said, even so. [[AllJustADream Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things]]—trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and [[CrystalDragonJesus Aslan himself]]. Suppose we have. Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones. Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world. Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one. And that's a funny thing, when you come to think of it. We're just babies making up a game, if you're right. But four babies playing a game can make a play-world which licks your real world hollow. That's why I'm going to stand by the play-world. [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it.]] I'm going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn't any Narnia. So, thanking you kindly for our supper, if these two gentlemen and the young lady are ready, we're leaving your court at once and setting out in the dark to spend our lives looking for Overland. Not that our lives will be very long, I should think; but that's small loss if the world's as dull a place as you say.

-->"One word, Ma'am," he said, coming back from the fire; limping, because of the pain. "One word. All you've been saying is quite right, I shouldn't wonder. I'm a chap who always liked to know the worst and then put the best face I can on it. So I won't deny any of what you said. But there's one thing more to be said, even so. [[AllJustADream Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things]]—trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and [[CrystalDragonJesus Aslan himself]]. Suppose we have. Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones. Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world. Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one. And that's a funny thing, when you come to think of it. We're just babies making up a game, if you're right. But four babies playing a game can make a play-world which licks your real world hollow. That's why I'm going to stand by the play-world. [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it.]] I'm going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn't any Narnia. So, thanking you kindly for our supper, if these two gentlemen and the young lady are ready, we're leaving your court at once and setting out in the dark to spend our lives looking for Overland. Not that our lives will be very long, I should think; but that's small loss if the world's as dull a place as you say."

* Mara Jade gives an ''awesome'' one in ''Literature/IJedi'', mockingly comparing the villain-of-the-week to Darth Vader and Palpatine.

-->Francis: 'Everyone wants to rule the world', I said, filled with sorrow. 'Really, absolutely everyone. That's what it's all about, isn't it? That's what it's always about in the end. And every species believes that it's number one. Every individual is firmly convinced that he or she alone has the right to ascend to the throne and issue orders to get rid of others. And in reality everyone is fooling themselves, because up there on the throne it's lonely and cold. We don't have anything more to say to one another, my friend. I understand the reasons why you unleashed this nightmare, and I don't want to conceal from you either that I harbour certain feelings of sympathy for your remorselessly cruel plans. But not at this price, no, not at this terrible price! I will fight you and do everything in my power to destroy your life's work. This I swear as sure as I am standing here. And I'm going to begin by deleting this unspeakable program. I'm sorry...'

* In ''[[Literature/EndersGame Shadow Puppets]]'' by Orson Scott Card, Achilles has [[spoiler: stolen Bean's test tubes babies]] and blackmails him into [[spoiler:coming onto his home turf unarmed]]. Even trying to ransom them, using one as a shield saying he wouldn't dare hurt it to which Bean responds by crushing it beneath his foot. Then [[spoiler: Achilles realizes he's been betrayed by his 'compatriots'. Suddenly Bean has a gun and Achilles has a knife.]]

* In ''[[{{Conqueror}} Bones of the Hills]]'', when the Mongols have razed the Assassins' fortress, the Old Man of the Mountains attempts to break Genghis Khan by telling him he doesn't understand anything, that he only knows destruction, and that nobody will remember him after he's gone. The gurkhan just laughs and orders Tsubodai to kill him.

** And how can we forget Death in ''Discworld/{{Hogfather}}''?

* ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'': Puddleglum does this to TheVamp, narrowly preventing her from [[BrainWashed brainwashing]] him and the rest of the heroes.
-->"[[AllJustADream Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things]]—trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and [[CrystalDragonJesus Aslan himself]]. Suppose we have. Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones. Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world. Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one. And that's a funny thing, when you come to think of it. We're just babies making up a game, if you're right. But four babies playing a game can make a play-world which licks your real world hollow. That's why I'm going to stand by the play-world. [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it.]] I'm going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn't any Narnia."
** Bonus points for Puddleglum, because he managed to achieve a Shut Up, Hannibal! even after ''conceding to everything she'd said''.

* In ''Literature/RedDragon'', Will Graham comes about as close as anyone gets to giving Hannibal Lecter himself this treatment. Granted, he says it out loud to a written letter, but it shows exactly what he thinks about having the same motivations as a deranged serial killer.
** Earlier in the book, he calls one of Lecter's bluffs by ''walking away'' when he tries to get a lecture rolling.

* In ''[[Literature/TheMortalInstruments City Of Glass]]'', Valentine avoids this by using a magic rune to keep Clary quiet ''so he can monologue without interruption''. [[spoiler: She eventually gives a rebuttal by writing in the dirt]].