Line #5 Main/JusticeWillPrevail


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4	->''"Hey, relax. We're the good guys. Justice will prevail and all that stuff... right, Samus?"''
5	-->-- '''Rundas''', ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime3Corruption''
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7	%% One quote is sufficient. Please place additional entries on the quotes tab.
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9
10	The underlying principle of all series on the idealistic end of the SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: [[TheGoodGuysAlwaysWin the good guys will always win in the end]]. Most of the drama in the show comes from the sacrifices they will have to make to this end, and sometimes from their lack of faith in this principle, though usually TheHero, The LoveFreak, [[MentorArchetype The Mentor]] or MessianicArchetype will be there to serve as an endless supply of optimism for the ultimate victory of their cause.
11
12	May come as a package deal with RightMakesMight, but not necessarily. If the show is idealistic enough or targeted to a very young audience, Justice Will Prevail without a single drop of blood being shed -- indeed, justice usually prevails with the aid of [[KarmicDeath karma]], and the heroes won't actually have to beat anyone into submission. If it's cynical enough, the word 'justice' becomes propaganda that both sides of a conflict use to justify violent/controversial/misc shade of grey actions.
13
14	Compare ForGreatJustice, when this is explicitly stated in the opening, narration, or cutscenes. Contrast ConceptsAreCheap, for when this is just thrown in dialog, without actually meaning much. See also AsLongAsThereIsOneMan.
15
16	----
17	!!Examples:
18
19	[[foldercontrol]]
20
21	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
22	* ''Manga/OnePiece'': This is the stated goal of the Marines (good and evil) and most of the people who oppose them, with the main conflict being "Absolute" (DisproportionateRetribution) or Moral (ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin). The Marines even have "Justice" printed on their uniforms.
23	** A memorable quote from '''Donquixote Doflamingo''' (which also incorporates WrittenByTheWinners):
24	--->''"Pirates are evil? The Marines are righteous? These terms have always changed throughout the course of history! [[BlueAndOrangeMorality Kids who have never seen peace and kids who have never seen war have different values!]] Those who stand at the top determine what's wrong and what's right! This very place is neutral ground! Justice will prevail, you say? But of course it will! [[MightMakesRight WHOEVER WINS THIS WAR... BECOMES JUSTICE!]]"''
25	** In the Marineford arc (which contains the above quote), the war between Whitebeard (the commander of the world's most powerful pirate fleet) and the Marines brings the theme of "which kind of justice?" to the forefront.
26	** This is a pretty blasphemous statement to make in a {{shonen}} manga, where clearly defined clashes between good and evil are usually major themes. So when a character basically says that good and evil are just labels the winning side in a conflict uses to justify its actions, it's a moment to take note of as this is rarely seen in a shounen genre.
27	* Said right after "I am Justice" by characters in ''Manga/DeathNote''. The audience can be sure that Justice will prevail. The question is only: ''whose'' brand of justice?
28	** The series' position on the SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism makes a ZigZaggingTrope out of it.
29	** Close to the end, it brings up the idea that justice will always prevail -- not because it's right or good, but because [[MightMakesRight whoever is victorious]] [[WrittenByTheWinners will claim it]].
30	--->'''Light:''' If we catch Kira, he is evil. If he succeeds, he is justice.
31	** And then [[spoiler:nobody prevails. Nothing changes, and they're all dead]]. Therefore, the question of "whose justice was real justice" becomes [[ShootTheShaggyDog completely moot]].
32	* ''Literature/{{Slayers}}'':
33	** Amelia often makes speeches along these lines, but isn't taken very seriously. One particularly warped bit of reasoning on her part comes when trying to figure out whether Lina or another individual is the guilty party:
34	--->'''Amelia:''' Justice always prevails! Therefore, whichever of you survives must be the good guy! FIREBALL!
35	** Oh, and technically, ''both'' sides survive that blast. Whether this has implications as to her philosophy... well....
36	** As time goes on, she seems to realise how silly she looks and does this less often, though she can still pump out the HotBlood for, say, her father or the "Senile Sentai Squad".
37	* Played straight and subverted in ''Anime/MartianSuccessorNadesico''. It's one of the catchphrases of the ShowWithinAShow ''Anime/{{Gekiganger 3}}''...[[spoiler:and a slogan of the Jovian Armed Forces]].
38	* ''Anime/MazingerZ'': "Take this! Bossborot the Great's Iron Fist of Justice!"
39	* The Student Council President from ''Manga/{{Onidere}}'' is practically invulnerable as long as he believes he is fighting for ''justice''. He even has a statue of some... thing... that he refers to as the 'statue of justice' and is commonly seen praying to it and making sure it stays clean.
40	* ''Manga/TheLawOfUeki''. [[DrinkingGame/TVTropes If you had a shot for the number of times that word is mentioned, you'd be dead drunk after a few episodes]].
41	* Lampshaded in ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'', where Maria Ross, during a broadcast, claimed that Roy Mustang and his party were specifically fighting for justice. Some comments from the less gullible flock:
42	--> "'Justice' was an excellent word choice. The people will eat that up."\
43	"Justice is about as vague word as there is."\
44	"Please, it was great. It has a great ring to it. 'Justice'. It's beautiful."\
45	"Yup. Whoever uses the word first has the advantage."
46	* In ''[[Toys/MachineRobo Machine Robo: Revenge of the Chronos]]'', this is the whole basis of Rom Stoll's speeches, emphasizing to the villains that justice always prevails, and that they don't deserve to know his name for being so evil.
47	* America from ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers'' is obsessed with being TheHero, and as a result often says things like this.
48	* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'': This is Kaname Tosen's schtick. He claims to follow the path to justice despite betraying Soul Society to a would be OmnicidalManiac. It turns out he did so to avenge his long dead friend who was killed by a Shinigami who went unpunished. Tosen notes that forgiving the Shinigami would be beautiful and virtuous, but it wouldn't be ''Just''.
49	* ''Manga/FairyTail'': Fukuro [[LargeHam loudly]] talks like he's a superhero, claiming that he's a Knight of Justice who will destroy the forces of evil, and referring to his opponents as evildoers. He does this even though he's an assassin who eats people alive.
50	* ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'':
51	** Zamasu proclaims that as the supreme god he will bring justice to the universe; by eradicating not only all the mortals but also every other gods that stands in his way including his own teacher. Nevermind the fact that he is exactly like or even worse than the mortals he hates or the fact that he is fully willing to steal Goku's body and kill him and his family for no reason other than petty revenge.
52	** The superhero inhabitants of Universe 11 constantly talk about justice, especially Toppo.
53	* ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'': All Might believes this, and he sees it as his job as the symbol of peace to make the masses believe it as well. According to All Might, heroes will always fight harder than villains because of their drive to protect others.
54	--> "There's so much... so much we heroes have to protect. And that's why we don't lose!"
55	[[/folder]]
56
57	[[folder:Arts]]
58	* ''Art/SevenVirtues'': The iconography of "Justice at Arms" became established in the 14th century, perhaps with the aim of vindicating the principle of sure penalty as a guarantee of peace and good government, or to indicate the righteous use of power. Hence, this portrayal of Justice having a sword at hand.
59	[[/folder]]
60
61	[[folder:Asian Animation]]
62	* ''Animation/FlowerAngel'': In the Season 1 finale, goddess Pupra tells Dark Queen Yajia that "the darkness of evil will never defeat the light of justice".
63	[[/folder]]
64
65	[[folder:Comic Books]]
66	* Name a superhero. If they've been around for more than a year, they've probably said it or some variation. Some are more driven by the idea than others, though.
67	* Inverted in a ''ComicBook/JusticeLeague'' storyline about a villain named Prometheus, who is obsessed with the ''eradication'' of justice. His plan to destroy the League involves disguising himself as a superhero named Retro, whose catch phrase is "here comes justice!" After disabling half the League and revealing his true identity, Prometheus [[IronicEcho repeats the phrase]] one more time, this time with malicious sarcasm.
68	* The second graphic novel collection of ''ComicBook/PS238'' is titled "''To The Cafeteria... FOR JUSTICE!''"
69	[[/folder]]
70
71	[[folder:Literature]]
72	* In the Literature/MissMarple book ''Literature/APocketFullOfRye'', Helen [=McKenezie=] insists that the man responsible for her husband's death will be punished and that, "No question is ever settled until it is settled right." She claims to be quoting Kipling but doesn't give a source (it's [[http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ella_Wheeler_Wilcox Ella Wheeler Wilcox]], Poems of Pleasure).
73	* In ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' faith in this concept is part of the mindset of two Knights of the Cross who, at different times, wield ''Fidelacchius'', aka The Sword of Faith.
74	** One is a police officer who believes in Justice, that the bad people will be stopped and good will thrive. Her belief in the pursuit of Justice allows [[spoiler:an Angel of the Lord to speak through her when facing ancient hordes of vampires who will now receive some well-deserved retribution for their centuries, and in some cases millennia, worth of evil actions]].
75	** The other is [[spoiler:a Star Wars geek, who before reawakening the Sword's dormant powers, believing Good will triumph over evil and that one person can make a difference, runs into a fight with the sole intention of delaying an enemy attack. His Faith in Justice and these other concepts causes the Sword to be reforged into a symbol of his faith; a beam of angelic light emitting a low thrum as light pulsed from it]].
76	[[/folder]]
77
78	[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
79	* The stable Wrestling/TheShield claims that they are on a mission to bring Wrestling/{{WWE}}'s evildoers to justice, but everybody knows this is a lie because all they do is ambush the {{face}}s and give them {{No Holds Barred Beatdown}}s, while helping {{heel}}s win. Or more specifically, they see the fans dictating the direction of the company as an injustice, everyone else sees that as "logical business". This changed however when Wrestling/TripleH's [[Wrestling/TheAuthority Authority]] targeted the semiretired Wrestling/JerryLawler, which they saw as an even greater injustice, turning them into the baby faces they once despised.
80	* Declared by Leva Bates, who felt opposing whatever Portia Perez's designs for the SHINE promotion might be was her civic duty as a {{superhero}}. It was more "stand for right" than "justice" but same idea.
81	* Much more subtly implied by Wrestling/{{Daffney\| Unger}} after Wrestling/MercedesMartinez vowed to eliminate all the members of Daffney's All Star Squad, one by one.
82	[[/folder]]
83
84	[[folder:Roleplay]]
85	* Josephine from ''Roleplay/DawnOfANewAgeOldportBlues'' has a strong craving for justice as a result of [[DarkAndTroubledPast being bullied in her youth]]. She can't stand by while others suffer, especially at the hands of bullies.
86	[[/folder]]
87
88	[[folder:Tabletop Game]]
89	* An ''exceedingly'' dark example in ''TabletopGame/{{Ravenloft}}''. The Darklords are nigh-omnipotent, the civilians suffer under their rule, and the players most likely won't be able to significantly change the status quo. But in the grand scheme of things, the Darklords ''are'' being punished; They have been granted whatever they wished for, except for their one true heart's desire. Many try to break out of this vicious cycle, but The Dark Powers actively intervene and foil the Darklords' attempts, ensuring that they shall never escape their well-deserved punishment.
90	[[/folder]]
91
92	[[folder:Theatre]]
93	* In Creator/WilliamShakespeare's plays, innocent people are likely to die, but villains are practically ''certain'' to get punished. "Truth will come to light; murder cannot be hid long; a man's son may, but in the end truth will out." (''Theatre/TheMerchantOfVenice'', act 2 scene 2)
94	** Or as ''Theatre/RosencrantzAndGuildensternAreDead'' put it: "The bad end unhappily, the good unluckily. That is what tragedy means."
95	[[/folder]]
96
97	[[folder:Video Games]]
98	* Inverted in ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear'', where keeping [[BigBad Justice]] from prevailing is the entire goal of the game. [[ChurchMilitant Ky Kiske]] attempts to say the phrase in his ending, only to get his words thrown back into his face.
99	** SpiritualSuccessor ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'' however plays it straight in form of Bang Shishigami. Even if he's usually the ButtMonkey.
100	* Xianghua of ''VideoGame/SoulCalibur'' plays with this trope, as this is one of her win quotes, but she adds a "[[IWasJustJoking ...just kidding!]]" to the end of it. Interesting, as she is the one character who can wield the eponymous holy sword in its true form.
101	** And quite arguably the only LawfulGood character [[spoiler:aside from [[ActionMom Sophitia]].]]
102	** It's implied that the fact that she doesn't take justice so seriously -- but just practices it as a matter of course, without getting high and mighty -- is exactly why she is the purest character in the lineup.
103	** Xianghua's daughter, Leixia, has inherited this trait from her mother: she concludes her [[LimitBreak Critical Edge]] attack with an energetic "Justice will prevail!"
104	* One of the more frequently recited Dwarven Vows in ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'' is dwarven vow number seven; "Justice and love will always win!" (Or "goodness and love", depending on whether you ask Lloyd or Colette). Despite his idealism, Lloyd cannot hear or recite this line without pointing out how cheesy it sounds.
105	** The line "Justice will prevail" is in the sequel. It is to note that the ''villains'' of Dawn of the New World seem to think "justice" is what they're trying to achieve.
106	--> '''Lloyd:''' Don't even start spewing the word "justice"!
107	* In ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea\|HourOfDarkness}}'', this is literally the catchphrase of '''CAPTAIN GORDON, DEFENDER OF EARTH!''' Can be made especially hilarious when he yells it while fighting humans [[spoiler:and angels]].
108	* Ma Chao in ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors'' lives, eats and breathes this trope, [[LargeHam with all of the series' subtlety and understatement... or lack thereof.]]
109	* Azai Nagamasa of ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara'' is no different from Ma Chao, with the added bonus of being a literal KnightInShiningArmor.
110	* ''VideoGame/FatalFury'': Kim Kaphwan because ''[[ThisIsUnforgivable "Evil is unforgivable!"]]''
111	** And from the past, there's also [[VideoGame/SamuraiShodown Galford D. Weiler]], [=McNinja=] of Justice.
112	* ''VideoGame/MetalWolfChaos'': Justice is always victorious in the end! [[PatrioticFervor Long live the USA!]]
113	* Minsc from ''VideoGame/BaldursGate'' is quite obsessed with goodness and justice, with whatever little he has in his brain. "Butt-kicking '''FOR GOODNESS!!!'''"
114	** Stand back, '''FOR JUSTICE'''.
115	* This is word-for-word Captain America's voiced victory message in the ''VideoGame/MarvelSuperHeroes''/''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom'' fighting games.
116	* Slightly more cynical version from ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime3Corruption'', in which Rundas comes up with this line when the hunters are all arguing with one another: "Hey, relax. We're the good guys, remember? Justice will prevail, and all that stuff. Right, Samus?" [[spoiler:He's right in that Samus will make justice prevail by the end, but that's after she's avenged his and the other Hunters' [[BrainwashedAndCrazy Phazon corruption]] and [[KilledOffForReal deaths]] by [[BigBad Dark Samus]]]].
117	* This is pretty much the catchphrase of the eponymous heroine of ''VideoGame/YggdraUnion''. [[spoiler:Because the game is [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism on the cynical side]], she learns that it's not justice that's winning her battles, it's power alone--and she's misused hers believing she has an OmniscientMoralityLicense. [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone Oops]].]]
118	* One of the few characters to ever beat Calypso at his own game in ''VideoGame/TwistedMetal'' is Agent Shepard in ''Head-On''. He doesn't make a wish. He doesn't do anything stupid. He wins the tournament, gets out of his car, and ''arrests Calypso outright''.
119	* [[LawfulGood The Spirit of Justice]] from the [[VideoGame/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening Awakening]] expansion for ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' will cry out "Let justice prevail!" during combat.
120	** Subverted by ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', as the same Justice, corrupted to Vengeance, seems a bit cynical about himself prevailing at all. And in the best-case ending of the game, no one can say that Justice was done.
121	* In the ''VideoGame/SamuraiWarriors'' series, Kanetsugu Naoe's character focuses solely on justice, bordering LargeHam territories. Most of his lines are about how sheer force of will can beat all odds and how "another has been slain in the name of JUSTICE!"
122	* [[BigGood Tyrael]] of the ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'' series wants justice to be done into Sanctuary, and, after three games, succeeds.
123	* The Jedi Consular from ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'':
124	** [[SeekerArchetype A Jedi will always seek the truth]]. I will study the mysteries of the Force, [[TheStoic and act with calm and clarity]]. I will expose the dark side's deceit... [[HopeBringer to unite our allies]], and with the Force on our side... Justice Will Prevail!
125	* In ''VideoGame/MegamanAndBass'', this turns out to be [[spoiler:[[WellIntentionedExtremist King]]'s motivation]]. After being defeated, he laments "Why won't justice prevail?".
126	* ''VideoGame/MegaManPoweredUp'' portrays Fire Man as a HotBlooded and [[CloudCuckoolander kind of loopy]] self-proclaimed robot hero, even when he's been reprogrammed by Dr. Wily--apparently there are some things mind control can't change. He insists that he's on the side of good and that justice always wins, and he manages to be one of the most entertaining things in the game because of it.
127	** [[VideoGame/MegaMan8 Duo]] is also very much convinced of this trope. Probably helps that he's [[RightMakesMight powered by Justice Energy]].
128	* MUGEN fighting game ''Shades Of Manhattan 2'' features this quote if you pit idealistic AntiVillain Apollo (who says the trope name verbatim) against [[BadassNormal Detective Garret Laurel.]] Laurel's response is to flash his badge and go "Justice? You're ''looking'' at justice, kid."
129	* In the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis version of the ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' game, whenever the Megazord strikes down an opponent, when it goes for the final blow, you'll hear the team cry out "JUSTICE SHALL OVERCOME!" just as they strike.
130	* Deconstructed in ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment.'' Vhailor is the embodiment of justice itself, proclaiming himself as the hand of justice. But he takes [[KnightTemplar so far,]] even other Mercykillers are terrified of him. Just look at his quote at the [[Quotes/JusticeWillPrevail Quotes]] page.
131	[[/folder]]
132
133	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
134	* [[VisualNovel/AceAttorney Apollo Justice]] will do anything to live up to his surname. So will Phoenix Wright.
135	** '''"Here comes justice!"'''
136	* ''VisualNovel/SpiritHunterNG'':
137	** Ooe joined the force due to her strong sense of justice - if playing rough, bending the rules, or outright breaking them is required to see that justice through, then so be it.
138	** The Killer Peach was a dietwoman in life who sought to investigate and expose the crimes of society. When she was killed by a group of criminals that she was trying to expose, she took her revenge on them as a spirit. When she kills, she proclaims that 'Justice is served'.
139	[[/folder]]
140
141	[[folder:Western Animation]]
142	* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' has an alternate reality set in what amounts to the Golden Age of comics. The heroes were fond of catchphrases like "Let justice prevail!" The Justice League found the lines rather corny, but in the end it's shown that these are still ''heroes'' giving these lines, no matter how cheesy the setting is. [[spoiler:They all willingly die to take down the villain maintaining an illusory world after a nuclear war ruined the world, knowing that they too are mere illusions. They give their catch phrase one last time before going into their last fight.]]
143	* This seems to be WesternAnimation/TheTick's motive, giving us such gems as "EVILDOERS! EAT MY JUSTICE!" It would be easier to take this idea seriously if he wasn't completely insane.
144	* ''WesternAnimation/{{The Hunchback of Notre Dame\|Disney}}'': Esmeralda speaks of this concept in her condemnation of Judge Frollo and his actions towards Quasimodo. At the time, she has no idea Frollo is also Quasimodo's adoptive father.
145	--> '''Esmeralda:''' You mistreat this poor boy the same way you mistreat my people! You speak for justice but you are cruel to those that that need your help!\
146	'''Frollo:''' [[ShutUpKirk SILENCE!]]\
147	'''Esmeralda:''' [[ShutUpHannibal JUSTICE!]]
148	[[/folder]]
149
150	[[folder:Other]]
151	* A famous lawyer's joke: An attorney succeeds in getting a court judgment in his favor. He wires his client: "JUSTICE HAS PREVAILED". The client wires back: "APPEAL IMMEDIATELY".
152	* * In the Legend of Zelda crossover Bonus Links, the BoTW era Link explains that, while the Calamity ravaged Hyrule, it still survives in his era and that Demise’s curse will lose every time.
153	[[/folder]]
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Context Main / JusticeWillPrevail