Evil Virtues: Difference between revisions

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{{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.}}
 
{{quote|''"Look at them. Can you not hear their souls crying out?! You abandoned them! [[True Companions|Your real family!]] You threw them away like trash. Fool. If you turned your back on something you wanted, {{spoiler|'''[[Wham! Line|YOU DON’T DESERVE TO CALL YOURSELF "GREED"!]]'''"''}}|'''{{spoiler|Ling Yao}}''', ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist (Mangamanga)|Fullmetal Alchemist]]''}}
 
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.
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* '''Resourcefulness.''' Another 50/50 split, resourceful villains are ''exceedingly'' dangerous because they will defy heroes [[Trying to Catch Me Fighting Dirty]].
* '''Selflessness.''' Most villains who try to create a better world don't do it for themselves. They rarely expect thanks for bearing all the difficulties and many accept it that they [[No Place for Me There|may not even be able to enjoy the results]]. Yet they are often willing to sacrifice their popularity and even their life for the greater good.
* '''[[Villainous Valor|Valor]].''' To quote [[Highlander (Film)|The Kurgan]] (and [[Neil Young]]): ''"It's better to burn out than to fade away!"'' Villains despise weakness. So even when they know they're probably going to lose and the odds are in the hero's favor, he's not going down without a fight.
 
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."