History Main / ComesGreatResponsibility

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[[quoteright:350:[[ComicBook/SpiderMan https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cgr.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[Franchise/SpiderMan Where it all began.]]]]

->''"This is the crystace [blade] they shall sheathe in my heart if... I use these powers for capricious or selfish purposes."''
-->-- '''Part of the Sentinel's oath''', as given in ''[[Literature/FirebirdTrilogy Fusion Fire]]''

{{Super Hero}}es are expected to have a higher moral standard. No abusing your powers for personal gain. Sometimes this is enforced by the authority that granted their abilities, but most often, even if they are aware of the MundaneUtility, it is self-imposed.

What constitutes "abuse"? That gets into a nebulous area. This trope usually involves the more [[BadPowersBadPeople obviously violent powers]] that could kill someone in a few seconds or [[MindOverManners violate a person's integrity]], but even [[GoodPowersBadPeople good powers can make bad people]]. However, if your family is down on their luck financially, what's a little arm wrestling wager at the pub going to [[AmbitionIsEvil hurt]]?

Mostly this is a moral stance superheroes took early in their career to make sure they never hit the slippery slope to evil-dom. This happens [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope fast;]] arm-wrestling for money at the pub will often signal temptation to evil within a few episodes, if not that very one.

This was [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] in an episode of ''Series/{{Bewitched}}'' where Samantha used her powers to do something but was seen by a mortal who wasn't supposed to see her. So she's considering "freezing" them until she can figure out what to do about it. But to do that, she would have to freeze others who would miss them if they weren't around for a few weeks while the person was gone, so they'd have to be frozen. She sort of realizes the ridiculousness of this when she considers maybe she should just freeze the entire human race, i.e. all mortals. Once you get started with potentially bad actions, each subsequent one becomes easier until you've [[MoralEventHorizon crossed every line]].

In the hands of a poor writer, it is easy for this to turn into a FamilyUnfriendlyAesop or FantasticAesop. For instance, a character CursedWithAwesome powers and unable to enjoy them in any way, trapped in a life they didn't choose can easily become YouCantFightFate and HardWorkHardlyWorks, and is usually a one way ticket to {{Wangst}}-ville. It can also degenerate into the idea that [[PersonalGainHurts benefiting from one's own talents or skills is wrong]], and that [[BystanderSyndrome trying to help others will only end in disaster]], but that you are still [[SamaritanSyndrome obligated to do so]] even knowing that FailureIsTheOnlyOption. The weight of the responsibility of the said great powers is often why heroes have ChronicHeroSyndrome.

Superheroes who follow this trope often become TheCape.

Outside the superhero genre, this is not often a trope relating to the main characters, but many a ReasonableAuthorityFigure is deeply aware of the responsibilities that come with his post. Indeed, one way to detect whether such a figure is good is how he regards the misery or deaths of the faceless masses; even not knowing any of them, the ReasonableAuthorityFigure will not regard them as AMillionIsAStatistic and if he [[TheNeedsOfTheMany must sacrifice them]], will regard it as DirtyBusiness.

Contrasted by MugglePower and WithGreatPowerComesGreatPerks. If the powers result in the character losing any sense of responsibility, see DrunkWithPower and WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity.
----
!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Trope Namer]]
* The TropeNamer, of course, is ComicBook/SpiderMan, who initially took advantage of his bestowed powers purely for profit, competing as a wrestler. However, by failing to catch the criminal who would eventually kill his Uncle Ben, he takes up crime fighting, learning that his inhuman powers have a price. The only concession he makes is to take pictures of himself in action to pay the bills.
** The phrase people most often think of, "With great power comes great responsibility" (heard in, among other things, [[Film/SpiderMan1 the 2002 film]]), is actually a BeamMeUpScotty: The ''original'' quote came from a narration box in the final panel of "Spider-Man!" in ''Amazing Fantasy #15'', with the narrator telling the viewer how Peter has learned that "with great power there must also come -- great responsibility!" The first time this was contracted this way and attributed in-page to Uncle Ben was in Creator/ChristopherPriestComics' ''Spider-Man vs. Wolverine #1''.
** The multiple phrasing is discussed during ''ComicBook/SpiderVerse''. During one story, a very angry ComicBook/SpiderGirl confronts an Uncle Ben who gave up being a Spider because his world's Green Goblin killed his May and Peter. May, already angry that her brother was in the hands of the Inheritors, snaps at Ben for abandoning his role as a hero. She starts to use the motto before Ben corrects her with the real phrasing and uses it as the reason why he quit. Also in ''ComicBook/SpiderVerse'', Ben reminds everyone that the actual quote is 'With great power there '''must also''' come great responsibility', implying that responsibility is at once a ''choice'', and an inherent part of the package with great power.
** It is also the aesop of the first arc of ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'', an expanded version of the classic origin story. Ben explained the concept to Peter, and cited the phrase, which was actually coined by Richard Parker, Peter's late dad. Peter was very angry at the time, and run away from him. He eventually realized that he was right, and returned home to apologize himself and reveal his new powers. The thief scene played out in a similar way, but added a NeverGotToSayGoodbye to the mix.
** That phrase, Spider-Man's trademark, is parodied in ''VideoGame/MarvelUltimateAlliance'' in a conversation with Spider-Man:
--->"With great power comes--"\\
"Don't you ''dare'' finish that line, or you'll have so much webbing in your hair you'd have to shave yourself bald."
** Played straight with the actual character in-game, however, where he has the passive "Great Responsibility," which gives him a chance to protect an ally from an enemy attack. If he does, it switches to "Great Power," which increases his damage. Once he attacks, it changes back to "Great Responsibility."
** A ''ComicBook/WhatIf'' story depicts Spider-Man stopping the burglar for self serving reasons--he know he'll get good publicity off of it. As a result, Peter Parker becomes a pampered movie star and millionaire with beautiful women jumping into his bed on a nightly basis. He doesn't learn the "with great power..." lesson until ComicBook/{{Daredevil}} sacrifices his own life to protect him.
** Ezekiel, a person with powers similar to Peter, poses a question to Spider-Man.
--->"And what comes with great responsibility?"\\
"What?"\\
"If great power comes with great responsibility, what comes with great responsibility? Power? Freedom? Guilt?"\\
(Peter points a finger at the City's view) "You want to know what comes with great responsibility? This all."
** In an issue of Universe X, an older, fatter Parker answers this when he declares that he had the maxim backwards all along:
----> "It's [[TheFettered responsibility that brings power]]. It's knowing what needs to be done that brings strength. And courage. That's my daughter... and I won't let her remain a mindless slave of the Skull."
** In the evilest ending of ''VideoGame/SpiderManWebOfShadows'', Peter has [[FallenHero fallen]] so far that he rejects his former motto, claiming that he never knew what power was and he ''likes'' it.
-->'''Black Suit!Spider-Man''': I was told that with great power comes great responsibility.
-->'''Symbiote!Black Cat''': And now?
-->'''Black Suit!Spider-Man''': I never knew what power ''was''!
** In ''VideoGame/SpiderManEdgeOfTime'' the Alchemax CEO, an evil 2099 version of Peter Parker, has his own twisted version after falling to despair over losing everything he loved.
--> "With great power comes great responsibility, and great opportunity. And the only way to live up to all that responsibility, is to use every opportunity to get all the power."
** This is the underlying moral of the 50th Anniversary storyline, "Alpha": a ordinary teenager is given incredible powers by an accident caused by a disgruntled worker. Peter, as himself and Spidey, attempts to reel him in, but his ego gets the better of him, turning him into a celebrity who'd willingly cheat on the girl he was crushing on and deciding to emancipate himself from his parents after the Jackal kidnaps them in a plot, not to save them, but because they were cramping his style. Spidey pulls the plug on Alpha's fun once and for all after a fight with Terminus nearly causes hundreds of deaths when his powers short circuit airplanes all over New York, two of those near-victims being Aunt May and her husband, Jay Jameson (JJJ's dad).
** It's also the underlying moral of the ''ComicBook/SuperiorSpiderMan'' storyline: Doc Ock takes over Peter's body before his gives out and decides he can be a better Spidey than Peter ever was. While he creates his own company, gets his degree and creates an army to protect New York City with, it ends up alienating him from virtually everyone because of his massive ego. When the Goblin King brings everything down around his ears, Otto's forced to accept that Peter was the better Spidey because he allowed himself to have those chances to be better slip away because he felt he didn't deserve them.
*** This is turned on its head in Nick Spencer's first issue of ''Amazing Spider-Man'' as a TakeThat towards everything after that - Peter is exposed as a plagiarist when it's revealed that a paper Otto wrote to get his diploma in Empire State University was similar to what Otto actually wrote (in ''Superior'', a man caught note of what "Peter" had done, but Otto stops him by using one of his old devices to pretend Otto had convinced him to accept it). After he's fired from the ''Daily Bugle'', laughed at by Mary Jane and [[IHaveNoSon brushed off by Aunt May]], Peter comes to realize that he screwed up big time - he should have dumped everything Otto had built up (he even admits the paper Otto wrote was on a subject ''he knew about just as well'') and by taking in everything Otto built, he wasn't taking responsibility for it.
** Then it's subverted in the ''ComicBook/SecretWars2015'' story ''ComicBook/RenewYourVows'' [[spoiler:as Peter gives up being Spider-Man to protect MJ and their daughter Annie, making him the last superhero alive in a world ruled by the mysterious Regent. Even more, he goes so far as to ignore cries for help just to deal with his kid.]]
** Referenced and PlayedForLaughs in an issue of [[Comicbook/SpiderGirl Spider-Girl]]:
--->'''May Parker:''' But daddy, it's my responsibility...\\
'''Peter:''' Don't give me the responsibility shtick, young lady. '''I ''invented'' the responsibility shtick!'''
** Gert has her own opinion of the motto in ''{{Comicbook/Runaways}}''.
--->'''Victor:''' But... but I have '''powers'''! And in that book '''Webs''', your photographer friend said your motto is, "With great power, there must also come great responsibility!"\\
'''Gert:''' Really? That's '''inane'''. Most people in life don't '''have''' great power, and the few that do are almost never responsible with it. The people who have the greatest responsibility are the kids with '''no power''' because we're the ones who have to keep everybody else in check.\\
'''Spider-Man:''' [[SarcasmMode Wow. You are totally going to be an Avenger when you grow up.]]
** Parodied in the 2018 relaunch of ''ComicBook/FantasticFour''. Spidey attempts to psyche up Franklin Richards, who is afraid his power isn't enough to stop the BigBad of the storyline, using his motto, but the Thing, annoyed Spidey's going this route, grabs him by the back of his shirt, lifts him aside, and psyches up his godchild his own way.
** Deconstructed in the storyline ''ComicBook/{{Hunted}}'' as Curt Conners tells him that while Spidey does understand the idea of that, he doesn't understand it from the eyes of a parent, which is why he's willing to let loose the Lizard to save his son.
** ''Comicbook/SpiderManNoir'' has its own turn on the concept with a lesson Peter learned from his Uncle Ben, who was a pilor in WWI:
--->''If those in '''power''' cannot be trusted, it is the '''responsibility''' of the people to remove them.''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* Nozomi, TheDitz of ''Anime/YesPrecure5'', wanted to use the Dream Collet's any-wish-your-heart-desires to do all her homework for her.
* In ''Anime/MaiHiME'', the applications of the [=HiMEs=]' powers were explicitly unrestricted, which DarkMagicalGirl Nao used to justify using her powers to rob unsuspecting men, posing as a child prostitute.
* ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}''
** In ''Anime/TurnAGundam'' Loran feels this way about the titular mobile suit. He's even unhappy about using the ''beam saber'' when he first finds it, long before he learns that [[spoiler:he's piloting the most powerful mobile suit ever built]].
** In ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED Gundam SEED]]'', [[TheAce Mu La Flaga]] throws this at Kira near the beginning, one of the prime reasons Kira continues to take up arms and fight.
* The final episodes of ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' carry this theme in the revelation that reckless use of [[AwesomenessIsVolatile Spiral Energy can potentially destroy the universe.]]
* ''Manga/IWish'' has Wye talk about how Dee is in desperate need to learn this lesson. She's too carefree and willing to flaunt her magic powers on everything and everyone and it often leads to causing more problems than help. He's afraid that she'll eventually go down the same path as he once did, [[spoiler:using his magic to resurrect people, become feared by previous admirers and ultimately doing something that ''could'' lead to the end of the world]] if she were not stopped. Dee does learn the lesson [[spoiler:when her love-obsessed, stalking servants try to kill her and Wye [[HeroicSacrifice takes the hit for her]] to keep her safe]] and she is much more responsible.
* In ''Manga/{{Alice19th}}'', Alice is encouraged to use her powers to help her studies. However, in a side story, a character loses her powers when she tries to charge money for the water she created using them.
* Something interesting -- fansub group Janime translates a line from ''Anime/YuGiOhGX'' as "With great responsibility comes great power." The speaker is not referring to any superpower, but Judai's super-charisma and inherent ability to inspire people and get them to follow him just by being himself. [[{{Deconstruction}} That's not as good as it sounds]].
* It's kind of subverted in the anime ''Anime/EdenOfTheEast'', in which twelve people called Seleçao are enrolled in a "game" where they get 10 billion yen and [[VoiceWithAnInternetConnection a concierge that allows them to do almost anything they want with it]]. It is later revealed the the goal of the "game" is for one of the Seleçao to use the money responsibly to "become a Messiah" who will "save Japan": Those who fail to do so are killed when they run out of money ([[ThereCanBeOnlyOne or killed when one of the others win]]). "Noblesse Oblige" and "The abuse of greatness is when it disjoins remorse from power" are ArcWords in the story.
* Averted early in the Chuunin Exam Arc of ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', wherein everyone in the room is subtly encouraged to use their ninja abilities to cheat on the written portion, which is so impossibly hard that this is the only way they will be able to finish. They were really being marked on their ability to cheat without being caught.
* [[TheKidWithTheRemoteControl Joey Jones]] from ''Manga/{{Heroman}}'' struggles with this once he get's the titular [[HumongousMecha robot]]. Comes with the territory seeing as the series is the brainchild of none other than Creator/StanLee.
* ''Manga/InuYasha'': Inuyasha isn't allowed to obtain Tessaiga without learning that he must protect humans if he wants to wield it. Thereafter, his ability to strengthen and master Tessaiga goes hand in hand with his increasing compassion.
** Sesshoumaru has to learn the same lesson. In his case, he is forced to inherit [[HealingShiv Tenseiga]] as a way of forcing him to learn the value of compassion. Only after he has learned this lesson is he able to realise his [[PersonOfMassDestruction full potential]] and obtain [[ChainReactionDestruction Bakusaiga]].
* In ''Manga/SaintSeiyaTheLostCanvas'', the Saints are absolutely forbidden from using their Clothes for personal gain, having to don them exclusively to protect [[BigGood Athena]] and humankind. If they ''do'' use their Clothes for personal gain, Sanctuary law has it that they shall be executed.
** This is also present in [[Manga/SaintSeiya the original series]]: at the start the protagonist Saints are using their Clothes to fight in the Galaxy Tournament, and the Sanctuary, upon hearing of this, sends another powerful Saint (Hyoga in the manga, Ikki in the anime) to execute the lot of them.
* ''Anime/DevilSurvivor2'' has main protagonist Hibiki Kuze feel this way about his savant-like ability to summon the powerful demon Byakko.
* Inverted in ''Anime/NadiaTheSecretOfBlueWater'': After the secret is revealed Nadia's firm belief in this trope combined with her own self-hatred [[DrivenToSuicide leads her to attempt suicide]] because she's convinced she could never handle such power responsibly.
* In ''Manga/MobPsycho100'', Mob has an incredibly mundane, mediocre life...and god-like PsychicPowers. However, he almost never uses his powers because when he was younger, his future mentor Reigen told him that he shouldn't ever view himself as superior to ordinary people, and that misusing his abilities would be like misusing a knife (but on a much grander scale). An early story arc introduces a ShadowArchetype character who actually does use his powers to basically rule his school; [[spoiler:After getting [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomped]] by Mob, he undergoes a HeelFaceTurn and becomes much more humble.]]
* The protagonist of ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable'', Josuke Higashikata, despite his ChronicHeroSyndrome is originally content to allow his older nephew Jotaro handle the Stand-using SerialKiller that is menacing his town. After his grandfather is murdered and he realizes his HealingHands cannot solve all his problems, he resolves to rid Morioh of evil Stand users.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* in the 2014 run of Young Avengers, Wiccan obtains the ultimate power of the Demiurge and monologues a bit about how he could do anything with it, and how he has the responsibility to use that power. He then promptly concludes that he’s way to irresponsible for that at the moment, and stops at killing the villain of the week.
* Franchise/{{Superman}}:
** In ''Comicbook/WarWorld'', after helping him find Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}, Comicbook/TheSpectre reminds Clark that power must be used responsibly.
--->'''Superman:''' Thank you, Spectre. You have taught me a great lesson here — and I won't forget it! Fate has granted us great power — But power for power's sake is utterly worthless! Power is meaningless... until it is tempered with conscience!
** Used in ''ComicBook/AllStarSuperman'', although not spelled out. [[spoiler:Comicbook/LexLuthor gains Superman's powers at the end and goes on a rampage, stopping every so often as his SuperSenses give him new insights on the universe. Just as his powers run out, he declares that life is beautiful and everyone needs to stick together - implying that anybody with Superman's godlike perspective would naturally choose to become an altruist. The WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue implies that Luthor mellowed out considerably after the experience.]] Although [[spoiler: Luthor is smart and would be capable of recognizing the beauty of the universe with his new SuperSenses... and it didn't completely stop him from trying to defeat Superman anyway. If anything it's a combination of Superman's godlike perspective and being raised well that makes Clark Kent who he is.]]
** Superman isn't above using his powers to get a good news story if doing so doesn't interfere with fighting evil. In one of the earliest comics he scooped Lois on a story about a dam bursting by outrunning her train, stopping the flood, and phoning the story in. Sort of justified in that his heroing makes his job more difficult far more often than it makes it easier — like Peter Parker, the guy deserves a break.
* Occasionally averted in ComicBook/XMen when a mutant is shown using their powers to aid in doing their day job. For example, Colossus used his superhuman strength and endurance to work as a farmer (in the comics) and a construction worker (on the TV series) before joining the team. While he is using his powers to do productive work for society, it is clear that he ''is'' getting paid for it.
** This was (and still is) a common trait of Communist superheroes (and supervillains!) in comics. Most if not all of them are on the government payroll. It's superhumans from non-autocratic countries who have the ''freedom'' to use their powers as they choose.
** This was also demonstrated in the 1990s ''ComicBook/{{Sleepwalker}}'' comics with AntiVillain Spectra. Her initial criminal schemes give her amazing superhuman powers and transform her into a supervillain, and she seems ready to become a criminal, but by the next time Sleepwalker runs into her she's using her light-projecting abilities to [[CutLexLuthorACheck make a living working for a glassware manufacturer]].
* Various versions of Comicbook/IronMan usually wrestle with this - Tony Stark's fortune is built on his engineering genius, but in the film, Tony decides to get his company out of the munitions business after seeing that his weapons were being sold in dirty deals to terrorists and criminals. In the comics, Stark quit selling weapons years ago, but he still frets about villains stealing and abusing his armor designs, sometimes to the level of paranoia that he manipulates, deceives and attacks his own friends.
* A bit of a subversion and Aesop in Franchise/TheDCU. [[Comicbook/DoomPatrol Rita Farr's]] inability to control her size-changing abilities ended her film career. The only movie she made after it was a knockoff of "The Incredible Shrinking Woman." Likewise, her adopted son (Gar "Beast Boy" Logan) also went into acting, and had a good run on a Franchise/StarTrek knockoff, using his shapechanging ability to play an alien...however, neither of them were able to find more acting work, since their reputations as "freaks" made them un-castable in anything else. Other DCU examples were Victor "Cyborg" Stone and Cliff "Robot Man" Steele. Their {{Emergency Transformation}}s enhanced them, but also rendered them ineligible to participate in the athletic abilities they loved because their cybernetics were considered cheating. For all of the above, it's arguable that they're in the hero business because they ''can't'' do anything else.
* A recent issue of Comicbook/NewAvengers has superhuman mobster ComicBook/TheHood (who is a villainous deconstruction of the Marvel teenage superhero, and whose name happens to be Parker) explaining to his gang that they owe their enhanced abilities to him:
-->'''Hood''': With power like this comes responsibility.
* In the print- and webcomic ''ComicBook/PS238'', the private school [[http://ps238.nodwick.com/?p=735 Praetorian Academy]] is founded on the ideals of teaching this to its (grade-school level) students. Their somewhat draconian methods of [[ExplosiveLeash enforcing these ideals]] contrast it sharply to [=PS238=] itself, which is more of a normal grade school (with a curriculum modified thereafter) for kids that happen to have superpowers.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* ''Fanfic/ACrownOfStars'': During their conversations with Shinji and Asuka, [[GodEmperor Daniel and his wife Rayana]] explain to them the more powerful you are the more responsible you must be, especially if you are a god. You have great powers so you MUST use them to help people because is the right thing to do, but you have to be careful because if you interfere with their lives too much or start to punish whoever displeases you, you risk going down the slippery slope (how happened to Daniel a long time ago).
* Harry in the Literature/HarryPotter x WesternAnimation/{{Ben 10}} crossover [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9240413/1/Harry-Tennyson Harry Tennyson]] plays with this. Despite Grandpa Max's wishes, he doesn't see having the Omnitrix to mean he has to fight every criminal he finds and rush into every dangerous situation to help people. Instead he believes using the Omnitrix responsibly means making sure he doesn't get anyone hurt with his recklessness. [[RefusalOfTheCall He outright states that he has no interest in being a hero]] and is only interested in helping someone if the police/firemen/etc. can't help them.
* In ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'' story ''Fanfic/HellsisterTrilogy'', the reason because Superman thinks his cousin shouldn't go on retirement:
-->'''Superman:''' What I'm trying to remind her of is that our powers place us in a certain position. And it's one of obligation. No one on Earth can do what we can, and very often, to protect it and other planets, we are required to do everything we're capable of.
* ''Fanfic/TheInfiniteLoops'': [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Twilight Sparkle]] takes to this attitude as soon as she realizes Equestria is stuck in a [[GroundhogDayLoop time loop]]. It swiftly expands to the inhabitants of the ''entire looping multiverse''.
* While not clearly stated or defined in ''Fanfic/KoihimeMusouTalesOfTheArmoredWarGods'', all the Riders seem to have an understanding of this as none of them have ever abused their powers or used them for personal gain other than to make a living (usually as bandit hunters, but that is more of a public service)
* ''Fanfic/LastChildOfKrypton'': Shinji decides to use [[Franchise/{{Superman}} his powers]] to help people because he thinks it is his responsibility to use them wisely and he does not like seeing people hurt.
* ''Fanfic/SOE2LoneHeirOfKrypton'': After being shown [[spoiler:[[Film/{{Superman}} Jor-El's message]]]] Asuka strives to live up to the ideal of hope that [[spoiler:Kal-El could have been.]] The responsibility of being a superhero is also one of the major overarching themes of the story.
* In ''Fanfic/TheBridge'', Godzilla Jr. states that because he's so powerful, it is his job to assure the safety of those around him, to face threats that he can fight but they cannot.
* ''Roleplay/DCNation'': Fauna points out to a couple of her fellow (non-powered) activists that if someone obtains metahuman abilities, their options are surprisingly few. Try to hide them? Well, you don't have any control or training, so your abilities end up using you instead ''and'' you're a target for people who want to exploit you. Embrace them, but still don't take up the hero position? Well, if someone could have been helped by your abilities and you refused to use them, good luck dealing with the guilt. You can't get rid of them most of the time, even if you want to, and it ''still'' makes you a target. Heroism is a dirty, dangerous job, but at least you're not a lone target, and you might be able to eke some good out of it.
* Very much averted in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8233288/34/Faery-Heroes Faery Heroes]]'' with the idea of Harry teaching students Defense Against the Dark Arts. He instructs only a handful of students and when the two Hufflepuff among them try to insist that he's obligated to teach everyone because he's so good at it, Harry retorts that it's the professors jobs to teach. He's doing this out of the goodness of his heart and doesn't have time to tutor more than a few students.
* In ''Fanfic/TheKeysStandAlone: The Soft World'', Paul utters a cynical variation of this: “With great power comes a lot of people pestering you to use it on their behalf.”
* {{Deconstructed}} in ''Fanfic/PokemonResetBloodlines''. When Sabrina first discovered her PsychicPowers, her father told her it was her responsibility to use them to help people and make the world a better place. However, over time people in her hometown began taking advantage of her goodwill and came asking for her help in very mundane tasks out of laziness, she grew more and more disgusted. [[ALessonLearnedTooWell It all went downhill when she decided to push them to improve themselves through fear, and began using her powers to terrorize them.]]
* {{Deconstructed}} in ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/14750820/chapters/34105899 To Intervene]]'' with regards to Spider-man. Tony quickly realizes that Peter is consumed with the need to help anyone he possibly can, no matter how much it endangers himself. As a result, Tony does his best to train Peter, provide him with better gear, and talk to him about his guilt complex so he doesn't one day kill himself trying to save others.
* ''FanFic/ItsOverIsntItItsOnlyJustBegun'' [[{{Deconstructed}} Deconstructs]] this as well. In the wake of All-Might's HeroicSacrifice, a culture of martyrdom begins to crop up among those who want to follow in his footsteps. Endeavor deliberately exploits this to encourage the heroes and interns in his employ to push themselves beyond their breaking points, which ''infuriates'' Nighteye when he finds out:
-->'''Endeavor:''' "Don't talk to me of compassion when you know perfectly well that sacrifices must be made for the sake of peace—"\\
'''Nighteye:''' "'''You are sacrificing nothing!''' Forcing burdens on someone else is not a sacrifice. It's cowardice."
* Deconstructed in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11157943/13/I-Still-Haven-t-Found-What-I-m-Looking-For I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For]]''. Harry spent [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld fifteen hundred years]] saving the world from whatever dark witch or wizard was currently threatening it, to the point that the Wizarding World was completely reliant on him. When an accident with a Time Turner sends him two hundred years into the future, Harry finds that the world has been ravaged by a war between two dark wizards. After Harry kills them both, the Wizarding World blames him for not having stepped in sooner to save them. In the present, Harry still helps people but only if he takes an interest in them or if the situation hits close to home, such as helping out Ahsoka or rescuing a number of slaves.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film]]
* Not using TimeTravel for personal gain was one of Dr. Emmett Brown's self-imposed policies on his and Marty's trips in the ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture'' trilogy. In the [[Film/BackToTheFuturePartII second movie]], Marty considered making easy money with a time machine, but Biff Tannen beat him to using a future sports almanac to gamble on past events, which resulted in drastic changes in the timeline. However, like other rules - not using information from the future and avoiding one's other selves - Doc eventually disregarded this rule anyway after finding his love in 1885.
** Possibly [[JustifiedTrope justified]] by the fact she was supposed to have died. Removing her from the timeline would probably cause less damage to history than not.
** In ''Film/BackToTheFuturePartIII'', Doc constructed a giant machine with the sole purpose of creating ice cubes before the technology became common, which sounds like something one would do if they were ''trying'' to randomly change the timeline. That's all it does too; no ChekhovsGun here.
*** He probably had no intention of publicizing his inventions anyways, and nobody in town would probably figure out how it worked.
** ...And that information from the future saved Doc's life in the [[Film/BackToTheFuture first film]].
* ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan'':
** Somewhat deconstructed:
--->'''Uncle Ben:''' You're a lot like your father. You really are, Peter, and that's a good thing. But your father lived by a philosophy, a principle really. He believed that... that if you could do good things for other people, you had a moral obligation to do those things. That's what at stake here. Not a choice, responsibility.\\
'''Peter:''' That is nice. That's really... that's great. That's all well and good, so where is he?\\
'''Uncle Ben:''' What?\\
'''Peter:''' Where is he? Where's my dad? He didn't think it was his responsibility to be here and tell me this himself?\\
'''Uncle Ben:''' Oh, come on! How dare you?\\
'''Peter:''' How dare ''I''? How dare ''you''?!
** This theme is explored in the parallel between Spidey and the Lizard. Both believe in this, but they disagree on what their responsibility is. Peter believes that his responsibility is to help other people and to take care of Aunt May. Connors believes that his responsibility is to give everyone else his powers.
** More explored in ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan2'', where [[PsychoElectro Max]] uses all of his power as Electro to try to make everyone else feel as powerless as he once felt before getting his powers. Harry Osborn also refuses to accept any responsibility for his actions or for his condition. In reality, there ''is'' no one to blame for Harry's disease, but Harry blames Spider-Man and Menken for his crappy life, especially after he becomes the Goblin. Specifically, Menken had in fact framed Harry for Electro's creation so he can take over Oscorp, which still isn't a good way to handle responsibility of running a company, but Spider-Man's case, [[spoiler: his apparent refusal to help him]] was only using his own responsibility to protect his friends and family, including Harry. Who still becomes the Green Goblin and [[spoiler: decides to kill Gwen in retaliation.]] By the end, seems Harry now plans to use his power to [[spoiler: create the future that Oscorp envisioned, starting with forming the Sinister Six]].
* ''Film/TheSpecials'' plays it for laughs:
-->'''Deadly Girl:''' Ted might have been right about some things. Like drinking; last week I got drunk at a bar mitzvah, unthinkingly summoned forth demons and... they... ate a kid.
* ''Film/KickAss'' sums it up with "''[[WithGreatPower With no power]] [[SubvertedTrope comes no responsibility]]. [[DoubleSubversion Except that's]] [[DeconReconSwitch not true]].''"
* Used in ''Film/DiaryOfAWimpyKid'' for the Safety Patrol.
* The film version of ''Film/{{Superman}}'' borrows the trope and plays it straight, when Pa Kent tries to lecture the teenage Clark about not showing off. "You are here for a reason," he says...
** [[spoiler:Right before he dies of a heart attack [[TearJerker that Clark can't prevent]].]]
* The eldest immortal of the ''Film/Underworld2003'' series feels that it is his responsibility to clean up after his kid's messes but the protagonist says that if he was really being responsible then he'd have stopped his offspring along time ago, as he's the only one capable of doing so.
* Inverted for parodic effect in ''Film/ClerksII'' tagline: "With no power comes no responsibility."
* Parodied in ''Film/KungFuHustle'' - in the original Mandarin, one of the dying Kung Fu masters says this line... ''in English''. The people surrounding him say they don't speak English, what is he saying? (The English Dub replaces this with a joke about repeating iconic movie lines.)
* In ''Film/IronMan1'' after building his Iron Man suit, Tony understands that its power must be used to help people and begins an [[CharacterDevelopment arduous transition]] from a glorified [[JerkAss douchebag]] ArmsDealer to a humanitarian hero and champion of world peace. ...Who is [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold still kind of a douchebag]].
* ''Film/ManOfSteel'':
** Jonathan tells the young Clark that he has to decide what kind of man he wants to be, since with his powers he can change the world.
** Though Jor-El's primary concern is his son's survival, he's not ignorant of the implications Kal-El's superpowers will have on Earth, among humans, so he [[spoiler: or his avatar]] tells him to live in humanity's service. Though Clark was already helping people due to his own morals, but not yet as a career.
** Martha offers a beleaguered Clark a different twist on this come the events of ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice''; where she explicitly tells him to be everything the world wants him to be or be ''none'' of it, that he's under no obligation to do what he does and that in the end he must do what he does because he ''chooses'' to.
* In ''Film/Shazam2019'', Billy initially uses his powers to goof off and become famous. However, Freddy eventually calls him out on his selfish behavior, causing him to realize he needs to accept responsibility to become a real hero.
* In ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'', Xavier coming to terms with the responsibilities of his powers and his role as mutant leader (and the personal sacrifice it requires) is a major plot point.
* In ''Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay'', John realizes this when the Terminator almost kills someone after he orders it to fight off the two guys who came to see if he was ok after he had just screamed for help. [[MoodWhiplash In the span of about thirty seconds]], John goes from [[PowerHigh thinking about how cool it was]] to have his own KillerRobot to [[HeelRealization realizing that it meant that he literally had the power of life and death at his fingertips]] and [[EstablishingCharacterMoment lecturing it about not killing]]. His second official order [[note]] the first being that it help him rescue his mom [[/note]] is ThouShaltNotKill.
* In ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'', Peter Parker essentially condenses this trope and his origin story to one simple phrase:
--->"When you can do the things that I can, but you don't... and then the bad things happen, they happen because of you."
* This is going to be a main theme in ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'' after Peter nearly gets an entire ferry filled with people killed, Tony Stark reads him the riot act and demands his suit back. When Peter claims that he's nothing without the suit, Tony tells him that if he needs the suit to be a hero and a better person, then he shouldn't have it to begin with.
* ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'' revisits the idea as Peter finds himself being thrust into the spotlight as Tony Stark's successor. [[spoiler:Feeling that the responsibility is too great for him to wield the power of EDITH, Tony's posthumous gift to him, Peter relinquishes it to Quinton Beck. Unfortunately, Beck proceeds to use that power to endanger the lives of everyone in London (including his classmates), forcing Peter to take responsibility for Beck misusing such power.]]
* The main theme of ''Film/BruceAlmighty'' is Bruce learning to use his omnipotence to help others, rather than just himself.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* The noblest of the Literature/{{Deryni}} show a great awareness of this trope:
** Alaric Morgan [[LampshadeHanging hangs another lampshade]] in ''The Bishop's Heir'':
--> Dhugal, I may have access to more and other kinds of power than most men, but I must answer for the use of that power to the same God and king that you do—or that any of the priests and bishops do—and to my own conscience as well, which can be a far sterner taskmaster. Because I've been given far greater abilities, I've had to contend with far greater responsibilities. I didn't ask for them, but I have them. All I can do is serve the best way I know how.
** Explicitly invoked in the Healer's ''Adsum Domine'', a Gabrielite hymn in the Literature/{{Deryni}} works. Rhys Thuryn sings it in the short story "Healer's Song", and Duncan [=McLain=] sings it during the dedication of Camber's chapel in ''King Kelson's Bride''. The English translation of the first verse makes the point:
--> Here am I, Lord:\\
Thou hast granted me the grace to Heal men's bodies.\\
Here am I, Lord:\\
Thou hast blessed me with the Sight to See men's souls.\\
Here am I, Lord:\\
Thou hast given me the might to bend the will of others.\\
O Lord, grant strength and wisdom to wield all these gifts only as Thy will wouldst have me serve...
* In Creator/CSLewis's ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheDawnTreader'', half invoked. Lucy uses her access to cast a spell to find out what your friends think of you, but when Aslan rebukes her, it is not the personal gain, but the eavesdropping. He explicitly says that spying on people by magical means is still spying. So with great power comes -- more chances to do things that would be wrong regardless of how you do them.
* The [[http://seeferelliot.com/awesome-6th-grade-reading-level-books/ middle school novels]] of {{Seefer Elliot}} are heavily influenced by this trope. In the first book, the hero, Seefer, must overcome the urge to take his newly found powers and flee to safety. He ultimately decides to use them to save his peers, despite the fact they tormented him for years.
* In Creator/GrahamMcNeill's TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} Literature/{{Ultramarines}} novel ''The Warriors of Ultramar'', Uriel explicitly thinks that the Inquisitor considers the population he is willing to sacrifice as [[AMillionIsAStatistic numbers]], while Uriel thinks of them as people.
* In Creator/JohnCWright's ''Literature/ChroniclesOfChaos'', Victor's BackStory includes a time where he made a worm and discarded it and was sternly rebuked: the stronger must protect the weaker, or those who are still stronger than they will treat them in the same manner. In the story itself, as the oldest child (with Amelia, the next oldest), he watches over and protects the younger children. [[spoiler:At the climax, he makes his declaration of love to Amelia and regrets that he has nothing to offer her but himself; he had wanted to wait until he could [[UnableToSupportAWife provide]] for her.]]
* Given a stranger spin in the final part of ''Literature/TufVoyaging'', where the main character, after twice failing to solve a planet's problems in spite of his CoolShip's godlike powers, concludes that to give them a permanent solution to their situation, he must accept the [[AGodAmI responsibility and authority of a god alongside the powers of one]].
* The wizards of ''Literature/YoungWizards'' have to swear an Oath before they get their power, and intentionally breaking it will result in the power being taken back.
* Sarah in ''Literature/TalesOfAnMazingGirl'' feels, this given her awesome powers. However it really cuts around into her lounging around time.
* The ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' agree to an unwritten code of conduct in the way they use their powers: don't use them to steal, don't morph sentient beings, and so on. In early books they're fairly studious about this code, aside from their tendency to [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveSupernaturalPowers use their powers for opening-chapter hijinks]]. Later in the David Trilogy they break the rules for the first time, leading to new SixthRanger David deciding to take that idea and run with it. In the aftermath, the Animorphs swear to follow their code more strictly. [[spoiler:They don't.]]
** Jake also notes in MM3 that their power traps them in a bind: they have enough power to fight and make them responsible, but they don't have enough power to actually ''win''.
* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles''
** Wizard Harry Dresden embraces this trope, saying that he "follows the Tao of Peter Parker." He means it, too. Thomas Raith comments on this in the Dresdenverse story ''Backup'', saying that Harry has a "half-divine, half-insane philosophy" about responsibility that "he's cobbled together from the words of saints and comic books."
** Subverted by many other wizards of the White Council. As long as they do not use black magic, they are free to use their powers for personal gain. If the White Council did not allow it, it would cause a civil war among the wizards.
** The Merlin, head of the White Council, however accepts this trope; he just interprets responsibility differently than Harry.
** [[spoiler:Molly Carpenter arguing against her mother]] cites the Parable of Talents as a reason for her to continue practicing magic. Harry immediately points out to a Father this trope says the same idea, only simpler. The Father agrees but notes that "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility" is harder to work into a sermon.
** ArchangelUriel and other angels hint at the idea of this trope. Uriel is one of God's strongest and most dangerous servants. However, as his Duty is the protection of Free Will, then respecting the choices mortals make, even if they are crimes of horrendous evil or just stupid, must be respected. Uriel states he has the power to destroy galaxies, but when a mortal villain mouths off to him and flicks the angel's nose, Uriel can only stand still.
* Creator/{{Virgil}} used this trope as the [[AncientRome Roman]] ideal, making it OlderThanFeudalism:
-->Other peoples may yet\\
more skillfully teach bronze to breathe,\\
leading outward and loosing\\
the life lying hidden in marble;\\
Some may plead causes better,\\
or using the tools of science\\
better predict Heaven's moods\\
and chart the stars changing courses.\\
But Roman, remember you well\\
that your own arts are these others:\\
to govern the nations in power;\\
to dictate their rule in peace;\\
to raise up the peoples you have conquered,\\
and throw down the proud who resist.
-->''Translation: Some peoples' [[PlanetOfHats hat]] is art, for others it's science, for us, it's being in charge. Don't screw it up.''
* In C. S. Goto's Literature/BloodRavens trilogy, the amnesiac Rhamah's first serious doubts about Ahriman stem from his actions -- and Rhamah's rebuke is that knowledge brings power, and power brings responsibility.
* Literature/TheBible in the Parable of the Faithful Servant: "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."
* The Literature/FirebirdTrilogy: The Sentinels are well aware of the dangers their PsychicPowers entail, and therefore hold themselves to [[MindOverManners a high moral standard]].
* The Knights Radiant of ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'' had this as part of their [[BadassCreed oath]]. Specifically, "strength before weakness" is a pithy way of saying that those with power have an obligation to use it for the benefit of those without.
* In Creator/JohnHemry's Literature/TheLostFleet novel ''Invincible'', when discussing his options with Geary, Rione ironically observes that some people think that great power means doing what you want to, and not what you don't want to.
* In Creator/SeananMcGuire's ''Literature/VelveteenVs the Junion Super Patriots'', this is alluded to when talking about how she got her powers.
* Tris from Creator/TamoraPierce's ''Literature/CircleOfMagic'' series, Tris has the most dangerous ambient magic out of the four kids, namely, weather magic. This includes the ability to create lightning and alter weather patterns (and later extends to geology). As a result, Tris has to learn iron-willed control ''very'' fast and can't support herself with her magic: she doesn't want to be a war mage, and being a weather mage would mean fouling up the weather patterns everywhere ''around'' the region she might work for.
** Sandry also comes from a noble family, and maintains the beliefs that the nobles are obligated to help those less fortunate and powerful than themselves. She sticks to this pretty well, to, although she does occasionally get a selfish streak.
* In Pierce's ''Literature/SongOfTheLioness'' quartet, Alanna is told early on that she can't hide from her magic and that she has an obligation to use her Gift for healing to make up for the lives she will take as a knight.
* ''Literature/TheHouseOfNight'':
** Said verbatim to Zoey by her grandmother in ''Marked.''
** Stevie Rae doesn't use her powers to "rule the world or anything crazy like that", because of this trope. Stevie Rae also reads comic books.
* ''Literature/JurassicPark'': [[http://www.stjohns-chs.org/english/Seventeenth/jur.html Ian Malcolm talks about how a hypothetical martial artist, by the time he can kill someone with his bare hands, should also have learned the wisdom not to do so recklessly]]. He says that most other forms of power are similar. He then compares it to science, which allows people "to stand on the shoulders of giants" without developing the necessary wisdom. [[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107290/quotes?item=qt1464414 The film had a similar speech]], though it could be summarized by the line
-->...Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they ''could'' that they didn't stop to think if they ''should''.
* Creator/AstridLindgren's ''Literature/PippiLongstocking'' states: ''If you are terribly strong, you must be terribly nice''.
* Artist Ian Hugo, the husband of Anais Nin, wrote this in an article about engraving:
-->Every artist owes it as a duty to himself and to the world to know what messages he is conveying. Above all he should know when he is a free agent and when he is a prisoner of his own obsessions or of anything else. For the power of an image-maker is the power of a god or a goddess and with that power go responsibilities.
* [[Literature/LastMage Elijah Valentine]] could, theoretically, save the starving by magical means, but the world is made of connections - change one thing, you break another. So he mostly avoids using his powers, citing responsibility, and helps people in mundane ways.
* In the ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' books, the Iron Throne is a CoolChair [[ThroneMadeOfX made from the thousand swords of Aegon the Conquerer's enemies]]. It's incredibly uncomfortable to sit on and is rumoured to have killed Aegon's son, Maegor. The entire point is to remind anyone who sits on it that supreme power is supremely dangerous, not something to be trifled with and one can never slouch and grow complacent while they sit in the throne. The overwhelming majority of people in these books [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatPerks completely miss]] [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity this point]].
* The reason Creator/{{Rudyard Kipling}}'s controversial poem "The White Man's Burden" falls under the heading of FairForItsDay is because while culturally supremacist, it still acknowledges that Westerners owe other peoples respect.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* In ''Series/{{Charmed|1998}},'' the sisters were prohibited from using their power for "personal gain" to the point where they couldn't even use it to save Piper's life when she was about to die from natural causes, even though it would preserve their special Power-of-Three-ness and presumably save many lives in the long run. Later on, the writers played with this trope a bit.
** In S6 Phoebe's empath power is taken away because the Elders feel she abused it.
** In S7 the sisters use their powers to help the avatars try and create utopia but this comes at a heavier price than they realise and then they have to put things right.
** Towards the end of S8 the magical community turns on the sisters for not living up to their responsibilities.
* ''Series/DeadLikeMe'': If the reapers abuse their powers they face supernatural consequences. When George tries to directly speak to her mother she finds she can no longer remember memories she could talk about to prove she really is Joy's daughter (her appearance is altered to the living). Also when George tries to mess with fate, weird and unpleasant things start happening to her.
* The original Franchise/PowerRangers were explicitly instructed not to use their powers for anything but fighting evil. This was actually subverted in the later ''Mystic Force'' season, though they were punished for it and technically later teams never had Zordon's three rules.
** Even the [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic Theme Song]] says so. ''They know the fate of the world is lying in their hands. They know to only use their weapons for defense.''
** Dustin of ''Series/PowerRangersNinjaStorm'' got a light scolding from Sensei for using his abilities to stop a crime - an orchestrated hit on a store. Apparently they really are only supposed to fight the MonsterOfTheWeek and nothing else. Years earlier, [[Series/PowerRangersTurbo Justin]] got scolded for teleporting to safety ''when he was falling out of a tree'' and could have broken his neck (or otherwise been seriously injured).
** Appropriately, ''Super Sentai'', and by extent ''Power Rangers'', was inspired by Japanese ''[[Series/SpiderManJapan Spider-Man]]''.
* Hiro Nakamura, of ''Series/{{Heroes}}'', has explicitly quoted this trope, in full "Spider-Man" glory, to his more mercenary friend Ando -- and was proved correct when Ando's argued-for cheating at cards got them in serious trouble. (Just because nobody knows ''how'' you're cheating doesn't mean they can't tell you're cheating!) And the other hero who exemplifies this philosophy is named [[ShoutOut Peter P.]]
* ''Series/TheInvisibleMan'': The Official frequently tries to impress this upon Darien. He wants him to use his invisibility gland to help protect the country. Occasionally if he feels Darien is out of line he goes so far as to withhold the counteragent that prevents Darien from going mad.
* Michael from ''Series/{{Roswell}}'' has been known to use his telekinetic powers to cheat at dice games.
* Gary from ''Series/EarlyEdition'' once uses the paper to bet on horse races. He was so busy making money that he didn't read the part about a friend of his who died in a car crash.
* ''Series/SuperhumanSamuraiSyberSquad'' occasionally used their powers for fun and games, including a game of Internet hide-and-seek.
* In ''Series/{{Smallville}}'', Clark naturally feels compelled to use his powers to help others. Jonathan once had a line like that too. [[spoiler:Chloe Sullivan too, after she received the meteor power of [[EmpathicHealer Empathic Healing]], she insists on healing a dying Lex even though it killed her the first time. It killed her ''again'', but she has ResurrectiveImmortality.]] Many others with powers, don't.
* Poor President Bartlet from ''Series/TheWestWing'' has a very strong sense of this trope that invariably leads to enormous guilt, to the point of declaring that he would not be able to stomach the prospect of remaining President if he ever walked willingly to a bunker during a crisis. The trope was not just limited to his personal feelings: it screwed him over badly on numerous occasions, most sadistically in the third season finale, because it's part of his ''job''.
* In "True Q" on ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', when trying to justify killing Amanda if she were a half human/Q hybrid, Q states "With unlimited power comes responsibility." Being that it's Q, you can't be sure if he isn't being disingenuous, but the episode still does make the point when Amanda is forced to face the fact that living as a human would mean not making use of her powers.
* ''Series/KamenRider'' has this baked into the premise thanks to Creator/ShotaroIshinomori's fondness for the PhlebotinumRebel trope. In every single series, the Riders' powers come from the same source as their enemies, but the Riders ''choose'' to do good with them. This got special notice in the [[PostScriptSeason Post-Script Episodes]] of ''Series/KamenRiderWizard'', where the villain tries to claim that the Riders [[AtLeastIAdmitIt hide behind a facade of "justice"]] [[NotSoDifferent but are no better than the monsters they slay]]; the Riders [[ShutUpHannibal counter]] by saying that they fight to protect humanity's peace and freedom against those who would destroy both, rather than for some arbitrary definition of justice.
** In ''Series/KamenRiderGaim'', Takatora Kureshima believes in this in the form of ''noblesse oblige''; later in the series, [[spoiler: his brother]] deconstructs it while they fight each other:
--> '''[[spoiler: Micchy]]''': What was that you were always droning about? Noblesse oblige? That the most gifted should be the first to sacrifice. In that was true nobility. [.] What is "nobility" then? To get hurt for others' sake, to let them use you... You expect anyone to be happy about that?
** In ''Series/KamenRiderDrive'', [[SixthRanger Gou/Kamen Rider Mach]] uses the same [[TimeStandsStill Density Shift]] powers as the [[MonsterOfTheWeek Roidmudes]] to intimidate some criminals for information; Shinnosuke[=/=]Drive chews him out for this, saying that they have a responsibility to be better than that. It helps that Shinnosuke was a ByTheBookCop even before he became Drive.
* In ''Series/{{Powers}}'', Walker gives [[spoiler: Calista]] this speech in season 2 when she takes up [[spoiler: Retro Girl]]'s moniker.
* ''Series/JessicaJones2015'': Jessica gives a rebuttal to someone who tries to pull this sort of remark on her, saying, "If you say ‘with great power comes great responsibility’, I swear I’ll throw up on you.”
* The ''Series/HerculesTheLegendaryJourneys'' episode "[[WholeEpisodeFlashback Regrets... I've Had A Few]]" features this. Shortly after the ''Series/YoungHercules'' PilotMovie, Hercules has become brash and arrogant, acting bored and too good for Cheiron's lessons. One of the local gangs attempts to initiate a new member (Bartoc) by siccing him on Hercules. During the confrontation, Hercules treats it as a joke and just messes with Bartoc, until he accidentally breaks the guy's neck. It's a wake-up call for Herc, and he spends the remaining flashbacks dealing with the fallout (including delivering the news to Bartoc's family).
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/GeniusTheTransgression'' calls its KarmaMeter "Obligation". High Obligation, you're a ReasonableAuthorityFigure and ScienceHero. Low Obligation, you're either a cackling lunatic or Mengele. The Peerage's view on it subverts it slight; you ''do'' have a responsibility, but it's a responsibility to keep your head down, remain quiet and don't do anything too insane. To them, a Genius trying to help has the risk of [[HeWhoFightsMonsters getting carried away]] and having [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans weird ideas on what helping means]].
* In the ''TabletopGame/NewWorldOfDarkness'':
** {{Muggles}} can win free points on the KarmaMeter for exceptional acts of heroism, whereas the various supernatural splats always have to spend ExperiencePoints for the same. This is explicitly explained as a responsibility of the powerful to tend to the well-being of their own souls.
** ''TabletopGame/MageTheAwakening'':
*** The KarmaMeter is enforced more harshly for mages than for {{Muggles}}. Mages are blocked from the highest levels of Wisdom just for using magic for its MundaneUtility, {{Magic Misfire}}s are worse for low-Wisdom mages, and [[OurSpiritsAreDifferent Spirits]] dislike low-Wisdom mages on sight.
*** Mages need to be careful about the spells they cast, because flagrantly throwing around extremely obvious magic threatens the various {{Magic Misfire}}s of Paradox.
*** This belief is what separates the Silver Ladder from the [[AncientConspiracy Seers of the Throne]]. The Silver Ladder believe they're supposed to rule over [[{{Muggles}} Sleepers]], but that this rulership is for the Sleepers' own good -- they're supposed to guide Sleepers towards enlightenment and generally rule well. Seers don't believe that control over Sleepers has any real responsibilities apart from not spooking the herd, and abuse both mystical and manipulative power for personal gain on a grimly regular basis.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Ironclaw}}'s'' section on [[WildMagic Necromancy]] states "with unlimited power comes unlimited irresponsibility."
* In ''Sparks of Light'', one of the issues suffered by the Light is the question of "grey magic," or the use of the Light for personal benefit (ranging from using the Light to refresh yourself after an all-night study session, to rigging the stock market in your favor). The Courts of Light say "don't do that, ever," but no magical girl obeys that rule perfectly (and the Courts don't really have any means of strictly enforcing it). The Twilight Courts broke away from the Light because they saw the Light's position as LawfulStupid. However, there's a reason for the rules, because there ''is'' a slippery slope to worry about, and a lot of Twilight girls eventually fall to the Dark.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Videogames]]
* Cole from ''VideoGame/InFAMOUS''. And everything [[BigBad Kessler]] puts you through? [[spoiler:Preparation for when the shit really hits the fan.]] Of course, with the game's [[KarmaMeter moral choice system]], it's up to the player whether or not Cole embraces this trope or if he rejects it and is only looking out for himself.
* Learning this is part of Good Delsin's CharacterDevelopment in ''VideoGame/InFAMOUSSecondSon''.
* Spoofed in ''VideoGame/{{Psychonauts}}''. After Ford Crueller teaches Raz how to use pyrokinesis, he tells him not to use it unless it's REALLY important, or unless it's REALLY funny. The dev team ensured it would [[RuleOfFunny always be funny]], [[strike:encouraging]] guaranteeing a [[IncrediblyLamePun flagrant]] [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential abuse of the power]].
* Mentioned during King Terenas' voiceover about his son Arthas in the ''[[VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft Wrath Of the Lich King]]'' intro:
-->"Our line has aways ruled with wisdom and strength. I know you will show restraint when exercising your great power."
::: However, this line is juxtaposed against Arthas resurrecting an undead dragon.
* In ''VideoGame/TheGodfather'' game, Tom Hagen tells you as Aldo Trapani that becoming Capo is an honour that comes with great responsibility, should you speak with him immediately after the promotion cutscene. Given that Aldo's at best a SociopathicHero and at worst an out-and-out VillainProtagonist, though, one wonders if there was meant to be any moral behind it...
* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', this was how the hero's father, Malcolm, viewed being a mage.
* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' has [[TeamMom Wynne]] asking the PC point-blank what it means to be a Grey Warden, and the rest of the conversation is more or less Wynne's Uncle Ben moment.
* Subverted in ''VideoGame/DriverSanFrancisco''. Chapter 1 is even called ''With great power...'' but the first thing Tanner does with his ability to BodySurf into the drivers of other vehicles is gleefully abuse said power with precisely zero repercussions.
* ''VideoGame/{{Dishonored}}'':
** The Outsider grants his gifts of magic to people purely because he finds them interesting and wants to see what they'd do with an extra catalyst. He even tells Corvo outright that what he choses to do with his newfound powers is entirely up to him.
** In a meta sense, Corvo's (and the player's) actions throughout the game drastically alter the tone of the setting. It could thus be said that this trope is the entire game's [[AnAesop moral]].
* In ''VideoGame/AtelierMeruruTheApprenticeOfArland'', [[spoiler:Meruru and the Masked G will [[ConversedTrope have a discussion]] about this if the player qualifies for the requirements of the Strongest Princess ending. Meruru is excited about being the "strongest princess," but comes to wonder just what power is and why it is or isn't important.]]
* In ''VideoGame/AtelierFirisTheAlchemistAndTheMysteriousJourney'', after Ilmeria decides [[spoiler:to open an atelier of her own]] and sends a letter to her parents informing them of such, she receives a letter back stating that [[spoiler:alchemy brings great power, so wielding it without purpose would be a foolish thing to do. However, by choosing her own path, she has become a respectable alchemist.]]
* In Lament Mirror in the UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 UpdatedRerelease of ''VideoGame/EternalSonata'', Salsa is alone with Frederic and hankering for some food. She asks Frederic why he doesn't use his magic powers to magic up a steak for them. He replies that "Magic is not a tool of convenience," and continues that even if such a thing were possible, their first thought should be of the children starving in the cities. Salsa is not persuaded by this logical argument, and breaks down in a tantrum, causing Frederic to FacePalm.
* Mentioned in ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'', but only under rather specific circumstances -- [[spoiler:if you kill Papyrus, but aren't going full KillEmAll, Sans will meet you in the Last Corridor and insinuate he knows about your SaveScumming, and ask, if you have a special power, doesn't that mean you also have a responsibility to do the right thing? Regardless of what your response is, it leads to him calling you out for killing Papyrus.]]
* Naturally this comes up in ''VideoGame/SpiderManPS4'', but with a cruel subversion at the end of the game; [[spoiler: it's a mentally corrupted and freshly-defeated Otto Octavius, having gone mad with vengeance and infected Manhattan with a deadly bioweapon, declaring that he and Peter Parker have a responsibility to do what's best for people in an attempt to get Peter to help him. At first Otto seems to be describing this very trope, but he perverts the very concept right after by proclaiming it's to do it for [[SuperSupremacist "those beneath us, whether they understand it or not."]] Peter, already beside himself in grief over his father-figure and mentor in this continuity [[BrokenPedestal becoming such a twisted man]], immediately flips his lid.]]
* In ''Videogame/{{Geneforge}}'', this is a major theme of the Shapers. While they're not good guys (GrayAndGreyMorality rules the roost), they know exactly how dangerous Shaping is, and while they ''use'' this technology as the basis of their civilization, they consider containment procedures and keeping Shaping under control to be just as important as continuing to develop the art for the good of their people. Their black labs have security procedures that make the CDC look lax, and they forbid the use of [[UpgradeArtifact Upgrade Artifacts]] because a core element of their philosophy is that developing one's power naturally means developing the ''discipline'' to use this power wisely, while giving power to amateurs before they're ready will lead to chaos.
* In ''VideoGame/StarCraft'', [[DefiedTrope defying this trope]] is the entire motivation of the ultimate BigBad of the series. [[spoiler:Amon enjoyed the power that came with becoming a Xel'Naga, but balked when he realized that the Xel'Naga aren't gods, but shepherds.]]
* In ''VideoGame/MegaManZX'', it's noted at multiple points that the [[TheChosenMany Chosen Ones]] who become Mega Men have the potential to change the very state of the world with the power of their Biometals. The heroes are the ones who choose to use that power to protect the innocent from Mavericks to keep them from suffering [[DoomedHometown the same fates their own loved ones suffered]] or for the sakes of those who helped them when no one else would, while most of the villains want to use their powers [[WellIntentionedExtremist to rule the world and institute their own brands of order on it for their past traumas]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* ''Webcomic/EightBitTheater'':
** Black Mage turns this trope [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2002/05/06/episode-145-opening-weekend-delight/ completely and unapologetically upside down]].
** [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2005/05/28/episode-556-the-gangs-all-here/ As does Sarda.]]
* ''Webcomic/BobAndGeorge'': [[http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/050103 How to get George to fight for a minor character? Remind him he's a superhero!]]
* ''Webcomic/TheDreamlandChronicles'': [[http://www.thedreamlandchronicles.com/the-dreamland-chronicles/todays-dreamland-chronicles-577/ It's not easy, being queen.]]
* [[http://eheroes.smackjeeves.com/comics/1888400/to-be-used-only-for-good/ Parodied]] in ''Webcomic/EverydayHeroes'', when Carrie gets Summer out of doing chores by using the power of her PuppyDogEyes.
* ''Webcomic/{{Freefall}}'':
** [[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff800/fv00776.htm To his misfortune, Sam discovers that the absolute power of a starship captain comes with absolute responsibility.]]
** The "responsibility" part is why [[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff1800/fc01733.htm Sam doesn't want to hold Florence's remote control and "reset" scent vial.]]
--->'''[[UpliftedAnimal Florence]]:''' Don't you want to keep these?\\
'''[[LoveableRogue Sam]]:''' Heck, no. With great power comes great responsibility, and who wants that?
* In ''Webcomic/KeychainOfCreation'', Misho was a Solar of the First Age, and therefore one of the rulers of Creation. Unlike many of his brethren, he ruled wisely and well. However, one day he saw the Loom of Fate, and due to his [[EideticMemory perfect memory]], he could never forget it. He spent the rest of his First Age incarnation working non-stop, since with his power he knew every single second of his time could save hundreds of lives. It's implied that when the [[TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized Usurpation]] came he didn't even notice until he was actually ''killed''.
* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' parodies it.
-->'''Elan''': "With moderate power comes moderate responsibility."
* Isaac brings [[{{Webcomic/Paranatural}} Max]] with him to a secret location, and gets a surprisingly effective speech considering it's [[http://paranatural.net/index.php?id=139/ coming from someone with a doorknob for a face]].
* Inverted in ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'' by the [=AnthroPCs=] which are [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=668 fine with having no civil rights]] because having power would mean having to take responsibility ForTheLulz. Given how most of them seem free to run around doing whatever they please instead of serving as an actual computer, it seems like they've gotten the better part of the deal.
** Also, Hannelore points out that [[CorruptCorporateExecutive her mom]] could have never gotten to where she was as a businesswoman if she believed that.
* ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'' sees [[DeusEstMachina Petey]] say this to the Rev (who identifies it as "the Gospel of Uncle Benjamin"). Given that Petey's put himself in charge of a defensive war, and understands that (directly) helping his friends can impact it even indirectly, he seems to believe it.
* Those with [[ElementalPowers powers]] in ''Webcomic/{{Pacificators}}'' are forced to either train and become T-Pacificators, or be labeled as renegades. There's no TakeAThirdOption at all.
* After promising her husband that she won't let their inventions fall into the hands of the military, [[Webcomic/LadySpectraAndSparky Lady Spectra]] decides to use them to become a superhero instead.
* Parodied in ''Webcomic/XKCD'': German physicist Georg Ohm [[http://xkcd.com/643/ never forgot]] the words of his dying uncle who told him, "With great Power comes Great Current squared times Resistance" and crafted that wisdom into the foundation of modern electrical engineering. Translated, that means that with high levels of Power one has the Responsibility to deal with the [[{{Overheating}} waste heat]] if one doesn't want their device to burn up.
* ''Webcomic/{{Erfworld}}'' is set in an RPGMechanicsVerse where this trope is a game mechanic: "Commander" units feel a sense of "Duty", which motivates them to use their talents for the betterment of their Faction, even to the point of enabling a ZerothLawRebellion if they doubt their Ruler's ability to act in their Faction's best interests.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Originals]]
* In the ''Roleplay/GlobalGuardiansPBEMUniverse'', this was the standard code of behavior for all player characters. The standard mantra was "If your character lacks a Code Against Killing, you need to ask yourself why not."
* WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall mocks this whenever it is encounter. "That's right people, don't have anything unique or special about you, perhaps it's not "normal""
* Many characters in ''Roleplay/MarvelsRPG'', especially Spider-Man, as is to be expected.
* ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'': Lots of examples, including the headmistress of [[SuperheroSchool Whateley Academy]], but Stormwolf (Adam Ironknife) is probably the best example. He's so devoted to the concepts of justice and law that he's letting bad stuff happen because he doesn't have proof of it. Also, every single person in the school club Future Superheroes of America is this way by definition.
** On the other hand, all of Team Kimba use their powers to make their lives easier, doing everything from Fey magically drying her long hair every morning, to Generator using her powers to earn money working in the Whateley Academy sewers.
** While Phase has few compunctions about using his powers to benefit himself through MundaneUtility, he is also ''very'' self-conscious about both the risks of misusing them and obligation to use them constructively, to the level of ChronicHeroSyndrome at times. While he explicitly denies wanting to be a superhero, he's been called out at least once for espousing this position in [[SesquipedalianLoquaciousness a lot more words]].
* ''Roleplay/{{Glowfic}}'' has some form of this/plays with this trope somehow.
** Bells use their power to give themselves all kinds of neat perks, such as TheNeedless and LivingLieDetector and ResurrectiveImmortality and such but they also always without exception use their FunctionalMagic or other AppliedPhlebotinum to improve worlds/people's lives, for example terraforming mars and setting up portals to it and filling it with houses and free magical healing items and free food replicators, and they fix malaria and persuade everyone around them with any power to do the same.
* ''WebOriginal/HowToHero'' riffs on this concept when the guide reminds its readers that "if you’ve got great powers you’re basically morally responsible to do lots of good stuff with them." The parenthetical voice then asks any readers with a catchier way of saying that to send them a telegram.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' (TheMovie), which is a detailed telling of their OriginStory, the girls learn the hard way what using their full power can do to an innocent town; a game of tag wrecks many buildings and streets, and generally panics the citizens. At the end, the message is subverted, and by the time of the series, the ridiculously large amount of collateral damage the girls wreak on Townsville is [[UnusuallyUninterestingSight accepted by everyone]] as the cost of safety.
* ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' has [[BadassNormal no superhuman abilities]], but her ability to call in favors comes close. She can usually line up global transport and any needed equipment from people she had helped in the past, at any hour of the day, to anywhere on Earth. She is reluctant to use it for her personal gain from an ethical standpoint, but in a more practical sense, she knows that abusing this ability might make it go away, since it's tied to her character and reputation.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode "Cool Hand Peter", Peter, Joe, Quagmire, and (a visiting) Cleveland decide to take a roadtrip down south to get away from their wives for a bit. While traveling, they're pulled over by a CorruptCop who arrests them on trumped up charges simply because Cleveland is black. When it looks like their stay in prison may be indefinite, the gang opts to escape on their own, back to Quahog. When they arrive, it turns out the police force followed them, only for Joe to reveal that he anticipated this and called in Quahog's police force. The episode ends when Joe gives a speech [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped that a lot of people, in-universe and out, should listen to]].
-->'''Joe:''' You took an oath, just the same as me, Sheriff. To protect and serve, not to harass and douche. Just because you have a badge doesn't mean you can treat people anyway you like, and as a law enforcement professional, you have an obligation to be more ethically upstanding the average man, not less. ''Now get the hell out of my town!''
* In ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'', Danny has occasionally used his powers to retaliate against bullies. However, when he really lays on Dash, he comes to regret it when a nerdish ghost confuses him as a bully.
** Danny using his powers for ''any'' personal gain never works out well and sometimes [[NiceJobBreakingItHero puts Amity Park and its people in world-ending danger]]. In an alternate future he created by cheating on an ersatz SAT turned Danny into a monster after his family was killed in an extremely unlikely accident... because his English teacher wanted to make a point. Averted with Vlad who used his powers to amass a fortune through clearly unethical means... yet played staight in that he's a lonely and bitter man who wants to be loved. Well, that's what he says as he tries to repeatedly kill Jack Fenton and endangers innocent people on a regular basis. You would think Vlad alone would be enough of an example to not need the other Aesops, but Danny can be an IdiotHero on occasion.
* Averted in ''WesternAnimation/{{Ben 10}}''. Ben uses the Omnitrix for personal gain or personal amusement every chance he gets. His idiocy, however, usually brings about the worst possible result.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{WITCH}}'' episode "The Stone Of Threbe", the girls have trouble getting the smelly character Blunk to take a bath, so they decide to transform to make it easier to catch him. A few minutes after doing so, their powers are stripped away by a side-effect of the [[PlotCoupon Stone of Threbe's]] presence, and they spend the rest of the episode wishing they'd used their powers more responsibly. The loss of the girls' powers isn't directly related to their misuse, but it seems like [[CantGetAwayWithNuthin Karma chose to bite them in the butt]].
** Which leads to FridgeLogic and a BrokenAesop since cleaning Blunk up was supposed to keep his stink from hurting Hay Lin's family-owned restaurant's business; since the restaurant's basement acts as the Guardian's HQ and Hay's grandmother/WITCH's mentor lives there it's in the best interests of the ''entire universe'' that it stay open. Karma does pay them back at the end when Blunk [[spoiler: rolls into a car wash and gets clean]].
** The girls usually experience similar cosmic backlash when they [[MesACrowd use their Astral Drop clones to make life a bit easier for them]]. In the third volume of the original comic, overuse of the Astral Drops actually leads to the girls' lives getting wrecked for a while, while in the second season animated series episode "H is for Hunted", Nerissa uses her powers to make one of Will's Astral Drops a living, breathing person... with [[TearJerker heartrending consequences]].
*** Also in "H is for Hunted" they transform to decorate their gym for the farewell party of one of their teachers and mostly get away with it, though they do come close to getting caught. The more realistic Aesop ("Don't neglect your responsibilities") is mixed in with the FantasticAesop fairly well and the Astral Drops are not used at all for the rest of the season, though more likely because of Nerissa's ability instead of the girls actually learning their lesson.
* [[WesternAnimation/SheZow SheZow]] has a pretty strict set of over 2000 rules that must be followed.
* ''WesternAnimation/SheRaPrincessOfPower'': Bow learned this lesson when he abused the power of a wand he took from Shadow Weaver in "Bow's Magical Gift". However, the biggest problem wasn't how he used the power but how often he used it.
* ''Avatar: WesternAnimation/{{The Legend of Korra}}'' establishes that the Avatar Cycle exists primarily because Wan came down with Spider-Man Syndrome.
* [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E10PrincessSpike S5E10]] of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' has Spike attempting to let Princess Twilight have a few hours of sleep after being up for several days in a row. As a result, he ends up making decisions in her name, eventually calling himself [[TitleDrop Princess Spike]]. Only near the end, after he had been warned by Princess Cadance, does Spike realize the consequences of his decisions, as the room where the convention was supposed to take place is completely flooded thanks to something that Spike wanted done later.
* On ''WesternAnimation/EllaTheElephant'', Ella can use her magic hat to help others, but it will start acting funny and not work properly if she tries to use it do something like getting out of doing work.
* The Canadian short ''WesternAnimation/HotStuff'' is about the responsibility of using fire and what could happen if one's careless with it.
* On two occasions in ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperMarioBrosSuperShow'', Mario and Luigi have a chance to return to their home in New York. They end up going back to the Mushroom Kingdom however when they realize that King Koopa would seize the opportunity to cause trouble (once in the Mushroom Kingdom and once in their own world). Also both times, they offer the Princess a chance to go with them, she firmly declines due to her responsibility to her people.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Real Life]]
* Creator/{{Voltaire}} actually came up with the quote, making him the TropeNamer in spite of the iconic usage of the quote in ''Spider-Man'' being far more well-known. This mantra is often used on forums to explain how its leaders should act.
* The doctrine of ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noblesse_oblige noblesse oblige]]'' teaches that the wealthy and powerful are expected to hold themselves to a higher standard and contribute more to society than those in less powerful or less fortunate positions.
* The philosophy of UsefulNotes/{{Objectivism}} devised by Creator/AynRand specifically defies this trope. Objectivism defines the pursuit of one's own material self-interest (without ever resorting to "force, fraud, or coercion") as morally good, and defines things which prevent people from doing so (such as the "oppressive" idea that you should act to save the lives of others when you do not want to do that) as evil. To an Objectivist, one's degree of power does not alter this fundamental moral principle: with power, comes no responsibility to do anything but [[ItsAllAboutMe advance your own material greed]] without resorting to "force, fraud, or coercion": [[Literature/AtlasShrugged "I swear ... that I will never live for the sake of another man, *nor ask another man to live for mine*"]] establishes that ''everyone'' has the same and no greater responsibility than to seek their own self-interest without violating the rights of others.
* The [[UsefulNotes/EconomicTheories political-economic doctrine]] of Social Darwinism also defies this trope, saying that when everyone acts selfishly and government does not force the powerful to help the weak (through taxing them to provide public education, road works, healthcare etc) and allows the powerful to prey upon the weak (through charging them rents for housing, utilities, transport, etc), the 'Invisible Hand' of 'The Free Market' perfectly ensures that the objectively 'valuable' and hardworking people in society become powerful/rich and the 'worthless' and lazy become weak/poor. In other words, Social Darwinism claims that when 'government gets out of the market' then the world operates according to LaserGuidedKarma. ComesGreatResponsibility is evil in the eyes of Social Darwinism because there is no such thing as "the undeserving poor": the 'Invisible Hand' perfectly allocates wealth, so poor people are poor because they are morally bankrupt and/or objectively worthless to the economy. Preventing the so-called "needy" from dying only hurts the economy and society as a whole.
* US Christianity has the so-called "[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosperity_theology Prosperity Theology]] movement which maintains that health and wealth are perfectly allocated to people in accordance with God's will. Consequently, Prosperity Theology defies ComesGreatResponsibility because helping the sick or poor literally goes against God's will. Other schools of US Christian theology, and most foreign ones, regard this message as inimical to the core values of Christianity (which they believe plays ComesGreatResponsibility straight) [[FlameBait and we're going to leave it at that.]]
* UsefulNotes/WinstonChurchill was credited with the saying "The price of greatness is responsibility", which is close enough to the Spider-Man line to make one wonder if Stan Lee might not have come across that quote when creating Spider-Man.
* Soldiers, police officers, judges, and others in similar positions are often required to swear oaths to never abuse their powers. This does not prevent said powers from being abused either with or without official sanction. [[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment We don't need specific examples.]]
* Any weapons or combat sport class will drill into their students' heads that they have an obligation to use their skills and tools in a safe and responsible manner. As noted in the ''Literature'' folder above, martial artists are trained from Day 1 to only use their powers in self-defense and defense of others, and the Eastern martial arts especially place great value on discipline and honorable actions. As with the example above, however, that's not to say that there aren't unfortunate instances of the ArrogantKungFuGuy in real life.
* The opinion of the Supreme Court in ''Kimble v. [[Creator/MarvelComics Marvel Entertainment, LLC]]'', 576 U.S. ___ (2015), invalidating a licensing agreement related to a Spider-Man toy since the underlying patent expired, quoted the line word for word in its conclusion:
-->What we can decide, we can undecide. But ''stare decisis'' teaches that we should exercise that authority sparingly. Cf. S. Lee and S. Ditko, Amazing Fantasy No. 15: "Spider-Man," p. 13 (1962) ("[I]n this world, with great power there must also come--great responsibility").
* Parenting is a mundane but common expression of this. You made (or adopted) a kid - that's great! You have a HUGE degree of power over this younger, smaller person. However, with all that power comes a responsibility to make sure their physical and psychological needs are met and that they develop into an independent, capable, socially functional and morally upstanding person capable of taking care of themselves and being considerate of others over the course of the next (at least) twenty years: In effect, you have ''the responsibility to develop your child into the best person you can make him be''.
* Used as a quote in an official U.S. Department of Justice press release by Manny Muriel, the Special Agent in Charge of the IRS' Criminal Division, when announcing the 5.5-year prison sentence of former Detroit-area trash hauling CEO Charles B. Rizzo on conspiracy to commit bribery and conspiracy to commit wire fraud charges.
-->With power comes great responsibility. When you willingly choose to use your power to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars and commit bribery, know that IRS-CI will be there to hold you accountable. [[IncrediblyLamePun IRS - CI Special Agents will comb through any rubbish to find evidence of a crime]] - in this case, shell companies and phony legal settlement agreements, especially one as egregious and offensive as this.
[[/folder]]
----
->''"[[Music/WeirdAlYankovic If you missed it, don't worry\\
They'll say the line\\
Again and again and again]]"''

* This really cuts into sarahs Lounging around time in ''Literature/TalesOfAnMazingGirl''

'''Nighteye:''' "''You are sacrificing nothing!''' Forcing burdens on someone else is not a sacrifice. It's cowardice."

-->'''Joe:''' You took an oath, just the same as me, Sheriff. To protect and serve, not to harass and douche. Just because you have a badge doesn't mean you can treat people anyway you like, and as a law enforcement professional, you have an obligation to be more ethically upstanding the average citizen, not less. ''Now get the hell out of my town!''

* Deconstructed in ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/14750820/chapters/34105899 To Intervene]]'' with regards to Spider-man. Tony quickly realizes that Peter is consumed with the need to help anyone he possibly can, no matter how much it endangers himself. As a result, Tony does his best to train Peter, provide him with better gear, and talk to him about his guilt complex so he doesn't one day kill himself trying to save others.
[[/folder]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' (TheMovie), which is a detailed telling of their OriginStory, the girls learn the hard way what using their full power can do to an innocent town; a game of tag wrecks many buildings and streets, and generally panics the citizens. At the end, the message is subverted, and by the time of the series, the ridiculously large amount of collateral damage the girls wreak on Townsville is [[NoBigDeal accepted by everyone]] as the cost of safety.

** Dustin of ''Series/PowerRangersNinjaStorm'' got a light scolding from Sensei for using his abilities to stop a crime - an orchestrated hit on a store. Apparently they really are only supposed to fight the MonsterOfTheWeek and nothing else.

* ''Fanfic/DCNation'': Fauna points out to a couple of her fellow (non-powered) activists that if someone obtains metahuman abilities, their options are surprisingly few. Try to hide them? Well, you don't have any control or training, so your abilities end up using you instead ''and'' you're a target for people who want to exploit you. Embrace them, but still don't take up the hero position? Well, if someone could have been helped by your abilities and you refused to use them, good luck dealing with the guilt. You can't get rid of them most of the time, even if you want to, and it ''still'' makes you a target. Heroism is a dirty, dangerous job, but at least you're not a lone target, and you might be able to eke some good out of it.

* The reason Creator/{{Rudyard Kipling}}'s controversial poem "The White Man's Burden" falls under the heading of FairForItsDay is because while culturally supremacist, it still acknowledges that Westerners owe other peoples respect.

** In ''Comicbook/WarWorld'', after helping him find Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}, Comicbook/TheSpectre remembers Clark that power must be used responsibly.

----

* ''TabletopGame/GeniusTheTransgression'' calls its KarmaMeter "Obligation". High Obligation, you're a ReasonableAuthorityFigure and ScienceHero. Low Obligation, you're either a cackling lunatic or Mengele.

* US Christianity has the so-called "[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosperity_theology Prosperity Theology]] movement which maintains that health and wealth are perfectly allocated to people in accordance with God's will. Consequently, Prosperity Theology defies ComesGreatResponsibility because helping the sick or poor literally goes against God's will. Other schools of US Christian theology, and most foreign ones, regard this message as inimical to the core values of Christianity (which they believe plays ComesGreatResponsibility straight) [[FlameBait and we're going to leave it at that that.]]

* Creator/AstridLindgren 's ''Literature/PippiLongstocking'' states: ''If you are terribly strong, you must be terribly nice''.