History ThouShaltNotKill / Literature

* In the ''Literature/HarryPotter'' series, the rules here are… tricky. Wands are often wielded threateningly like guns, yet the actual Killing Curse, ''Avada Kedavra'', is extremely illegal, and using it ''possibly'' requires some degree of malice. (Doesn't count in case of [[spoiler:Mrs. Weasley, since she didn't use the Killing Curse, but a Stunning spell so powerful it caused heart attack in Bellatrix as per WordOfGod]], and almost certainly not for [[spoiler:Snape's mercy-killing Dumbledore]]). Nonetheless, there are numerous other spells (like [[spoiler:''Sectumsempra'']]) which would presumably also cause death under the right circumstances. In [[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows Book 7]], the disarming spell, ''Expelliarmus'', becomes Harry's pacifistic trademark, and the following conversation occurs:

** Of course, he ''was'' perfectly willing to shoot his pursuers off their brooms earlier and only stayed his hand when he recognised a familiar face in one of them ("familiar" in this case means he'd known him several years ago for a few hours). Justified still, as he has many reason to believe him to be a brainwashed stodge.
** When it comes to ultimately dealing with the BigBad, [[spoiler:[[KarmicDeath it does the trick]]]].
** The magical world apparently has extremely dim views about killing, since murder with magic can literally ''rip your soul in half''.

** Sam Vimes is a CombatPragmatist, but he also has a policeman inside his head, and he doesn't kill unless there's no choice. It's implied that, oddly enough, this is part of the reason the Assassins have stopped accepting comissions on him: an Assassin who's killed by his target can die knowing he did his best to uphold the principles of gentlemanly asassination; one who falls through a carefully trapped roof and lands in a cesspit just makes them look like twits.

** Of course, he ''was'' perfectly willing to shoot his pursuers off their brooms earlier and only stayed his hand when he recognised a familiar face in one of them ("familiar" in this case means he'd known him several years ago for a few hours), so his point is a bit shaky.

* Pulp hero Franchise/DocSavage started out killing bad guys left and right, but evolved a pragmatic "don't kill unless there's no other way" policy after the first few stories. Many a villain ended up fatally HoistByHisOwnPetard. More often than not, Doc knows this is going to happen (since he's sabotaged the weapon) and tries to warn the BigBad, who just laughs and pushes what has now become the BigRedButton.

* Taken as gospel by Gary Karkofsky in ''Literature/TheRulesOfSupervillainy'' as how superheroes should act. Notably, this idea is given a LampshadeHanging by the fact Gary is the hero of the book and frequently kills but justifies it as he's a ''supervillain.'' Plus, all of his victims are psychopathic murderers much worse than him. This, ironically, makes him identical to the NinetiesAntihero type characters he despises.

* Averted in ''Literature/Superpowereds'', as in Year 3 and onwards the heroes are taught to kill if necessary, as the life of one villain isn't worth the innocent people they kill. However, executing criminals isn't okay, any lethal force has to be justified, and the heroes are certified to prevent them abusing this. Also discussed is the propensity for heroes to leave their enemies alive but horribly wounded - half the reason the main class gets the nickname Class of Nightmares is that the results of them performing hero work would '''not''' be pretty. Chad, Shane and Britney mostly attack by cutting spines and tendons, Roy, Alice and Mary by crushing limbs, Vince's attacks are brutally powerful, and while they all do their best to leave their opponents alive so they can be healed, this doesn't mean the results are anything near pleasant to look at or experience.

* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'': Witches consider this an important part of their ideology, hence why they often use LaserGuidedKarma on their enemies. Good witches practice this because life has value, or else [[CruelMercy because death is]] [[FateWorseThanDeath too good for the villain]]. Conventional bad witches, such as the late Black Aliss, also don't kill [[IShallTauntYou because you can't rub a dead enemy's nose in your victory]]. (Even evil curses come with FantasticFragility for similar gloating-related reasons.) Actually murdering someone is treated as crossing the MoralEventHorizon by all parties nearby.

* In Creator/JRRTolkien's ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', when Gandalf tells how {{Mordor}} has learned from Gollum that the One Ring is now in the possession of hobbits, Frodo exclaims, "What a pity that Bilbo did not stab that vile creature, when he had a chance!" Gandalf admonishes him:
-->'''Gandalf:''' "Pity? It was Pity that stayed his hand. Pity, and Mercy: not to strike without need... Deserves death! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. For even the very wise cannot see all ends."
** This really comes down to the difference between killing an enemy in battle (which neither Frodo nor Gandalf shows any aversion to) and ''[[CoupDeGrace executing]]'' a defeated foe. [[spoiler:And as it turns out, Frodo fails in his quest to destroy the One Ring, with Gollum completing it for him... by accident.]] Which could tie into some translations of the trope-naming commandment using "murder" instead of "kill".
** The same mercy is shown to Grí­ma Wormtongue (twice!) and Saruman as well. [[EvilCannotComprehendGood Neither can comprehend mercy]], thinking it's a trick. [[spoiler: As a contrast, Grí­ma kills Saruman at the end.]]
** This is spoofed in the prologue to ''Literature/BoredOfTheRings'', where, after the answer to "What have I got in my pocket?" is demonstrated to be a .38 pistol, the thought behind "pity stayed his hand" is explained as "It's a pity I've run out of bullets."
* Dorden, TheMedic from Creator/DanAbnett's ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}: Literature/GauntsGhosts'' series, pledged not to kill as part of his medical oaths in the backstory. Since our setting is a CrapsackWorld with BlackAndGrayMorality, he has found the going tough, with the one time he was forced to still weighing on him books and years later.
* The Literature/SeekersOfTruth use this, as they work with the law enforcement and justice system. A couple of them violate this rule once, which as it turns out is one time too many.
* Interesting subversion in ''Literature/WarriorCats'', where the warrior code says: "An honorable warrior does not need to kill other cats to win his battles, unless they are outside the warrior code or it is necessary for self-defense.", so Thou Shalt Not Kill... unless it's in self-defense... or the person you're killing ''really'' deserves it. But you are still just considered "dishonorable" (although, being {{Proud Warrior Race Guy}}s, this is AFateWorseThanDeath for some). The rule is still important, though, and main characters have so far only killed {{Big Bad}}s, and at times have had to be restrained from killing others.

* In ''Literature/TheMysteriousBenedictSociety'' books, Kate's father, Milligan, always works to find solutions that would avoid killing his opponents (generally the vicious Ten Men) no matter how savagely they try to kill him or others. When asked about this by his daughter, Kate, he tells her simply "We're not like them." Indeed, when Kate later has the opportunity to toss a bomb at them and their leader, Mr. Curtain, she instead tosses it away into the water where it can do no harm.

* Literature/ArtemisFowl tends to avoid ''any'' killing by the good guys, regardless of possible need or justification. No character at all died in the first book, and the only deaths in the second were [[spoiler:three goblin assassins]], one by KarmicDeath in an avalanche and the other two shot in the back by their accomplice, as well as [[spoiler: the BigBad's second-in-command]] also by accidental KarmicDeath.
* Creator/BrandonSanderson's ''Literature/{{Mistborn}}''-trilogy features the Kandra. A race of [[VoluntaryShapeshifting shape-shifters]] whose own laws forbid them from killing humans. Kandra who break this law are punished by death.
** This seems to have at least slightly changed once [[spoiler: Sazed took control of Ruin and Preservation and became a god,]] as in the second era, there's at least one kandra who's killed someone that hasn't been executed, albeit in self-defense.
* In ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', the First law of Magic specifies that Thou Shalt Not Kill ''With Magic''. Violating this law generally leads to execution by the White Council, except in rare cases where the wizard responsible was judged to be acting in self-defense ''and'' another wizard is willing to mentor the killer. Killing people without magic is allowed if circumstances dictate though. The sole exception to this is [[spoiler: the Blackstaff, who is allowed to kill if it is deemed absolutely necessary]]. Also, the Law specifically states that it is illegal to kill ''humans''. Killing supernatural creatures such as faeries and vampires with magic is allowed, as the Laws only exist to protect humans.
** Technically, the law is to not use black magic, which includes mind control and the like ([[spoiler: Hence Blackstaff]]). It gets into a grey area with regard to collateral damage from magic and largely involves intent as being a key factor, thus making it closer to Thou Shalt Not Murder. Because of the nature of magic in the Dresdenverse, a person must believe in what they are doing. So using black magic and murder actually taints the soul and is very addictive. For what it is worth [[spoiler: The Blackstaff is one of the kindest people in the series, and when he starts unleashing magic to kill it is a horrifying scene. The Blackstaff is allowed to break the Laws because the staff he wields somehow prevents his soul from being tainted.]]
** The actual line of how removed magic can be from death to not count has been debated to death in the {{Fandom}}, and to avoid an eventual FlameWar you're better off not asking.

* In ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfPrydain'', Lord Pryderi taunts the enchanter Dallben, believing that he "secret to his power" is that Dallben cannot kill. Dallben says he has never killed anyone, but that doesn't mean he ''can't.'' [[spoiler:The issue is never settled, since Pryderi [[KarmicDeath dies shortly thereafter]] without Dallben's intervention.]]
* In ''Literature/SeptimusHeap'', Aunt Zelda has to remind Nicko of this when he suggests to make the Hunter remember he's not a lion tamer while he has his head in a lion's mouth.

* During ''Literature/GalaxyOfFear'', the protagonists will destroy basic speechless droids and squish beetles [[TheSwarm forming swarms]], and Zak once accidentally kills a birdlike animal and feels remorse, but anything smarter, if it dies, dies some other way. In ''Spore'', Tash flees [[spoiler: [[TheAssimilator Spore]], which is controlling the crew of a]] Star Destroyer and taking it after her into an AsteroidThicket, where it's attacked and destroyed by space slugs. Her ActualPacifist friend, who flew with her, is horrified and feels like she's killed the crew. Tash says it's not the friend's fault, she was following Tash, but also puts the blame on [[spoiler: Spore]].
* Similar to the ''Literature/WarriorCats'', ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'' downplays the trope. While the demigod heroes do kill monsters, DeathIsCheap with them. They recover in any time between weeks and centuries. On the other hand, Percy deliberately avoids killing other demigods, though it's a bit like Harry Potter's example in that many of them are duped. The views of other demigods aren't really as known but probably were not as merciful.
* ''Literature/TheExilesViolin'': Jacquie is a downplayed example; after killing her father's murderer she swore to herself that she would never kill again but kills {{mook}}s when there is no other option. [[spoiler: At the climax she kills Gunslinger because her rule is not a unbreakable rule.]]
* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'': Witches consider this an important part of their ideology, hence why they often use LaserGuidedKarma on their enemies. Good witches practice this because life has value, or else [[CruelMercy because death is]] [[FateWorseThanDeath too good for the villain]]. Conventional bad witches, such as the late Black Aliss, also don't kill [[IShallTauntYou because you can't rub a dead enemy's nose in your victory]]. (Even evil curses come with FantasticFragility for similar gloating-related reasons.) Actually murdering someone is treated as crossing the MoralEventHorizon by all parties nearby.
* In ''Literature/{{Steadfast}}'', Kate's teachers impress upon her the need to not simply call on her Elemental allies to burn her [[DomesticAbuse abusive husband]] to ash. It's not that he doesn't deserve it, but her teachers don't want her to taint the innocence of her Elementals by using them to kill humans. This is specific to Kate and her teachers; using elementals to kill is elsewhere not considered to be BlackMagic.
* In ''Literature/ABrothersPrice'' the protagonists do kill frequently when the need arises, but never with Jerin, the male protagonist, present. In one situation, a woman gives one of their enemies TapOnTheHead, and reassures Jerin that no, she didn't kill her, and she is extremely sorry that he has to witness this. [[spoiler: Later Jerin shoots a woman himself, and is shocked for moments afterwards. He did it in defense of his rescuer, Cira, and is extremely upset that he actually killed a human being.]] While reference to execution as punishement is made, a proper court proceedings beforehand is seen as preferable to killing in self-defense whenever possible. And even then, the protagonists don't like the thought of small children being executed for their mothers' crimes (as is the normal course of action, to avoid [[YouKilledMyFather revenge being taken by the surviving offspring.]])
* In ''Literature/DragonBones'', Ward, the protagonist, does kill in battle, but feels extremely bad about killing in cold blood when his life is not in immediate danger. He could have easily killed his abusive father, but never did, even though his father told him about the KlingonPromotion for which he killed Ward's grandfather. His reluctance to kill comes up later, when [[spoiler: Oreg reveals that the only possible way to prevent the villains from winning is to kill ''Oreg'' - his life is bound to the castle in which the villains currently are, and killing him will make it collapse. Ward feels it goes against his very nature to kill someone he should be protecting. In the end, he does it, but falls into a kind of grief-induced coma afterwards.]]
* In Jeramey Kraatz's ''Literature/TheCloakSociety'', the Cloak members were shocked when, in the BackStory, Lone Star killed many of them to stop their plot. They jeer at him as a killer. [[spoiler:Later, Alex learned how deeply this had scarred Lone Star.]]
* Taken as gospel by Gary Karkofsky in ''Literature/TheRulesOfSupervillainy'' as how superheroes should act. Notably, this idea is given a LampshadeHanging by the fact Gary is the hero of the book and frequently kills but justifies it as he's a ''supervillain.'' Plus, all of his victims are psychopathic murderers much worse than him. This, ironically, makes him identical to the NinetiesAntihero type characters he despises.
* The animals in ''Literature/{{Bravelands}}'' have the Code, which is "Kill to survive". All animals live by this Code. Murder is against the Code.
* In ''Literature/TheStainlessSteelRat'', the titular LovableRogue AntiHero Jim [=DiGriz=] might be a galactic criminal, but he refuses to use deadly force except in extremely rare BatmanGrabsAGun moments. As he explains, he's an [[TheAntiNihilist Anti-Nihilist]] who doesn't believe in an afterlife, so he considers it an absolute last resort to extinguish a person's existence, however awful they might be.

* In ''Literature/WearingTheCape'' Hope's expectation is that superheroes follow the Golden Age superhero code, and this is strengthened by Ajax' statement that "heroes don't use guns." But in her first fight she discovers that Atlas is perfectly willing to [[spoiler: let the bad guys kill each other]], and in the surprise-attack on Whittier Base [[spoiler: half the team breaks out automatic pistols, the better to cap their attackers]]. Hope herself [[spoiler: kills an unspecified number of terrorists in the heat of combat, then kills two ''heroes'' in the Dark Anarchist's secret base]].

* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'': Witches consider this an important part of their ideology, hence why they often use LaserGuidedKarma on their enemies. Good witches practice this because [[CaptainObvious life has value]], or else [[CruelMercy because death is]] [[FateWorseThanDeath too good for the villain]]. Conventional bad witches, such as the late Black Aliss, also don't kill [[IShallTauntYou because you can't rub a dead enemy's nose in your victory]]. (Even evil curses come with FantasticFragility for similar gloating-related reasons.) Actually murdering someone is treated as crossing the MoralEventHorizon by all parties nearby.

-->Do not hurt when holding is enough
-->Do not wound when hurting is enough
-->Do not maim when wounding is enough
-->And kill not when maiming is enough
-->The greatest warrior is he who does not need to kill

--> '''Lupin:''' "Harry, the time for Disarming is past! These people are trying to capture and kill you! At least Stun if you aren't prepared to kill!"
--> '''Harry:''' "We were hundreds of feet up! If I Stunned him and he'd fallen, he'd have died the same as if I'd used ''Avada Kedavra''!"
*** Of course, he ''was'' perfectly willing to shoot his pursuers off their brooms earlier and only stayed his hand when he recognised a familiar face in one of them ("familiar" in this case means he'd known him several years ago for a few hours), so his point is a bit shaky.

* In ''[[Literature/ElementalMasters Steadfast]]'', Kate's teachers impress upon her the need to not simply call on her Elemental allies to burn her [[DomesticAbuse abusive husband to ash]]. It's not that he doesn't deserve it, but her teachers don't want her to taint the innocence of her Elementals by using them to kill humans. This is specific to Kate and her teachers; using elementals to kill is elsewhere not considered to be BlackMagic.