"The history of the Astartes is filled with defiant last stands and suicidal actions, most of which were probably unnecessary."
"(With a pleasant smile on her face) Your death was a complete and utter waste."
— Botan, YuYu Hakusho
"If any question why we died,
Tell them, because our fathers lied."
Tell them, because our fathers lied."
— Epitaphs of the War, Rudyard Kipling
"Curse the death in vain."
— Imperial Proverb, Warhammer 40,000
"We have failed. Once again we have sacrificed a world to no avail."
— King Cryos, Shadow Raiders, "Time Bomb"
"It was an amazing attack, sacrificing itself like that, but it was the only one who went down!"
— Announcer, Pokémon Battle Revolution
Weed: Smith-san died for this?!
Kagetora: Old man Smith died for nothing?!
— Concerning Kaibutsu, Ginga Densetsu Weed
They wrote in the old days that it is sweet and fitting to die for ones country. But in modern war there is nothing sweet nor fitting in your dying. You will die like a dog for no good reason.
— Notes on the Next War, Ernest Hemingway
Hiro: B-but Tadashi... you just let him die?
Callaghan: Give me the mask, Hiro.
Hiro: He went in there to save you!
"Remember, one of the ways to be successful in war is to make your enemies make all the gallant but useless sacrifices..."
— Altyrn, Cyador's Heirs
"Noble sacrifices only make sense when they solve the problem at hand."
— Roy Greenhilt, The Order of the Stick
"We won, Captain. Your death amounts to the same as your life: a zero sum."
— Arnim Zola, Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Melisandre: Her own blood knew it was the only way!
Davos Seaworth: The only way for what?! They all died anyway!
"He really did it... He actually risked every life on the planet just for...for cyber sex! I didn't Kikohou myself half to death so he could get LAID!"
— Tienshinhan after Krillin destroyed the remote that would detonate Android #18, Dragon Ball Z Abridged
''You think he's (Majin Buu) the most powerful being in the universe, and maybe he is. But just like you, he does not have true pride! I don't expect you to understand. Not you Kakarot! I sent myself into a cold oblivion and I did it on a lie! The Saiyan prince will not fall again!
— Vegeta, Dragon Ball Z, Union of Rivals
Sothe: It was the king's wish. He sacrificed himself to make Daein free. He asked Micaiah/the general to end his life.
Tauroneo: It was an honorable end for a king. Thanks to his noble sacrifice, Daein has been saved.
Almedha: Fools! Is that what you think?! Daein has not been saved!
Tauroneo: Wh-what are you saying, my queen?!
Almedha: Take a good look. The mark is still on his wrist. My son's death was in vain!
Micaiah: No! It can't be! Sothe, tell me that it isn't true...
Almedha: Murderer! Give me back my son! You took my only son! Give him back! Bring him back to me!
Tauroneo: It was an honorable end for a king. Thanks to his noble sacrifice, Daein has been saved.
Almedha: Fools! Is that what you think?! Daein has not been saved!
Tauroneo: Wh-what are you saying, my queen?!
Almedha: Take a good look. The mark is still on his wrist. My son's death was in vain!
Micaiah: No! It can't be! Sothe, tell me that it isn't true...
Almedha: Murderer! Give me back my son! You took my only son! Give him back! Bring him back to me!
"I suppose we have no choice but for me to take the field. Shakespeare, you will be the next sacrifice after the five seconds it takes him to kill me.
— Avicebron, Fate/Grand Order
Carter: [Jorge] gave his life thinking he just saved the planet. We should all be so lucky.
"BMO chose to make the ultimate sacrifice for people he barely knew. It didn't work, but that made it no less noble."
— Simon, Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake, "Jerry"
