Evil Virtues: Difference between revisions

{{quote|''"You wrote to me once, listing the [[Seven Heavenly Virtues|four chief virtues]]: [[The Wise Prince|Wisdom]], [[For Great Justice|Justice]], [[Determinator|Fortitude]] and [[Reasonable Authority Figure|Temperance]]. As I read the list, I knew I had none of them. But I have other virtues, father. [[Ambition Is Evil|Ambition]]. That can be a virtue when it drives us to excel. [[Trying to Catch Me Fighting Dirty|Resourcefulness]], [[Villainous Valor|Courage]] - perhaps not on the battlefield, but... there are many forms of courage. [[Incest Is Relative|Devotion]], to my family and to you. But none of my virtues were on your list. Even then it was [["Well Done, Son" Guy|as if you didn't want me for your son.]]"''|'''Commodus''' in ''[[Gladiator]]'', just before suffocating his father and framing Maximus.}}

 

 

Villains are bad, it goes without saying. However, they can't be ''all'' bad for the simple reason that a character loaded down with '''all''' of the [[Seven Deadly Sins]] (along with whatever other character flaws writers can think of) will be too lazy, gluttonous, envious, prideful, angry, lusty and miserly to ''do'' much of anything.

Contrast [[Mr. Vice Guy]], where a hero has an emblematic vice. Not to be confused with [[Villainous Valor]], though bravery could be another villain's virtue. After all, if you're trying to take over the world, you're up against pretty much ''everyone'', and thus it helps quite a bit to be able to look at an army [[Rousseau Was Right|six billion strong]], smile confidently, and say "Bring it on."

 

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Evil Tropes]]

[[Category:Omnipresent Tropes]]