"Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves."
"What's so funny about Truth, Justice, & the American Way?"
— By Clark Kent, Daily Planet, January 2001.
"You offer one hand, but arm the other. Wise, Shepard."
Lien: So, given the ninja's attraction to Elan—
Therkla: How did you know about that?!?
Lien: Uh, I have eyes? Good, not dumb. Anyway, given that, we kept a close eye on Elan, waiting for you to make contact.
Elan: Why didn't you tell me anything about it, though?
Lien: Because we wanted it to work! Seriously, how many times do I need to go over the "Good, not dumb," thing?
Therkla: How did you know about that?!?
Lien: Uh, I have eyes? Good, not dumb. Anyway, given that, we kept a close eye on Elan, waiting for you to make contact.
Elan: Why didn't you tell me anything about it, though?
Lien: Because we wanted it to work! Seriously, how many times do I need to go over the "Good, not dumb," thing?
"Trust, but verify."
"Good Is Not Nice, polite, well-mannered, self-righteous, or naïve, though good characters may be some of these things."
— Dungeons & Dragons, The Book of Exalted Deeds
"I didn't get to be the world's richest duck by being stupid!"
Splinter (about Leatherhead): His scars run deep, but they protect a genuine heart; When he awakens, Michelangelo, you must find a way to befriend him. [...]
Donatello: But we are still chaining him up, right?
Splinter: Of course! I am compassionate, not insane!
Donatello: But we are still chaining him up, right?
Splinter: Of course! I am compassionate, not insane!
"I will help all who request it. No matter what, I am here to heal. If anyone requests my aid, I will help them, no matter how I feel about them or what they have done in the past. Now, I don't have to be stupid about it — if a dangerous creature seeks my aid, I can take precautions to protect myself and my friends even as I administer that aid, and I don't always necessarily need to give aid in the particular manner requested. But I am here because people are hurting, and to allow that pain to continue is to betray my Calling."
— Princess: The Hopeful, First Oath of a Mender Princess
Picard: Maxwell was right. Those ships weren't carrying scientific equipment, were they? A "research" station within arm's reach of three Federation sectors? Cargo ships running with high energy subspace fields that jam sensors?
Gul Macet: If you believed the transport ship carried weapons, why didn't you board it as Maxwell requested?
Picard: I was here to protect the peace, a peace I firmly believe is in the interests of both our peoples. But if I had attempted to board that ship, I am quite certain that you and I would not be sitting here now. And that ships on both sides would be arming for war. Take a message to your leaders, Gul Macet: We know. We'll be watching. We'll be ready.
Gul Macet: If you believed the transport ship carried weapons, why didn't you board it as Maxwell requested?
Picard: I was here to protect the peace, a peace I firmly believe is in the interests of both our peoples. But if I had attempted to board that ship, I am quite certain that you and I would not be sitting here now. And that ships on both sides would be arming for war. Take a message to your leaders, Gul Macet: We know. We'll be watching. We'll be ready.
"If an enemy asks a favour, do not scorn his request. Only keep on your guard, for he is no different from a dog."
— Epicurus
SpongeBob: You just want to be friends so you can get your hands on a Krabby Patty! And I bet it's not even your birthday tomorrow!
Plankton: Gee, and I thought you were stupid.
Plankton: Gee, and I thought you were stupid.
"You think I'm weak, don't you? All those years ago when we first fell in love... your father would say I was too sweet for my own good. Maybe he was right. You tell me that it's a cruel world... and we're all just running around in circles. I know that. I've been on this earth just as many days as you. When I choose to see the good side of things, I'm not being naive. It is strategic and necessary. It's how I learned to survive through everything. I know you see yourself as a fighter. Well, I see myself as one too. This is how I fight."
— Waymond Wang, Everything Everywhere All at Once
"We're compassionate, not stupid."
—Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW)
"I am an honorable man, not an honorable fool. Otherwise we'd not be sitting in Goldengrove now."
—Ser Tytos Clegane, The King Nobody Wanted