View source for I'm Not a Hero, I'm X

{{trope}}{{Needs Image}}
{{quote|'''Batman:''' You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain. I can do those things because I'm not a hero, like Dent. I killed those people. That's what I can be.
'''Lt. Gordon:''' No, you can't! You're not!
'''Batman:''' I'm whatever Gotham needs me to be.
|''[[The Dark Knight Saga|The Dark Knight]]''}}

Often preceded by "You're a hero!" [[The Hero]] will respond: "I'm not a hero. I'm _____!"

Can be used in a variety of ways, including:

* [[The Hero]] is [[Rule of Cool|awesome]]. May deliver the line as "I'm no hero. I'm ____man!", "I'm not a hero; [[No Except Yes|I'm a superhero!]]" or "I'm not a hero. I'm [[Just Doing My Job]]." If delivering the line to a villain and trying to be exceptionally [[Badass]], [[The Hero]] may say: "I'm not a hero. [[I'm Your Worst Nightmare]]" or something along those lines.
* [[The Hero]] is [[Humble Hero|humble]]. Occasionally accompanied by [[Think Nothing of It]].
* [[Heroic Self-Deprecation]]. May deliver the line as "I'm not a hero. I'm [[Just Doing My Job]]." May lead to [[You Are Better Than You Think You Are]].
* [[The Hero]] attempts to [[Refusal of the Call|refuse]] or [[Ignorant of the Call|ignore the call]], but [[You Can't Fight Fate|will eventually accept it.]]
* [[The Hero]] exhibits false humility. Can lead to [[Dude, Where's My Respect?]] or [[Dude, Where's My Reward?]]. This "hero" [[Small Name, Big Ego|may not be a hero at all]]. Can provide [[An Aesop|a lesson on the importance of humility.]]
* [[The Hero]] [[Tomato in the Mirror|realized that he/she is not the hero he/she thought he/she was]], and, as a result, his/her [[Heroic Self-Deprecation|confidence is shot.]] Depending of the medium and the genre, may deliver [[An Aesop]].
* [[The Hero]] (or [[Anti-Hero]]) uses this logic to enable himself/herself to do what no one else could do, or should do, for the "greater good". Occasionally accompanied with the [[Zero-Approval Gambit]].
* [[The Hero]] may [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|not actually be a hero.]]

A subtrope of [[I Am the Trope]]. Compare [[I'm a Doctor, Not a Placeholder]]. Contrast [[The Chosen Zero]].

{{examples}}
== Advertising ==
* This trope is [[Parodied Trope|parodied]] for [[Rule of Funny|hilarious effect]] in a recently released Cox commercial that provides the page quote above.

== Anime and Manga ==
* In ''[[Code Geass]]'', Lelouch has one of these moments {{spoiler|right after Euphie ended up going on an unintentional killing spree because of his [[Power Incontinence]], when a dying old lady asks him as Zero to save them}}.
* In the Fishman Island arc of ''[[One Piece]]'', none other than  {{spoiler|Luffy himself has one. Specifically, Jinbei asks him to be the "hero" of Fishman Island, to which Luffy informs him that he's a pirate, not a hero, and has no desire to be one. Luffy then gives an analogy about how a hero would share his meat with everyone, while a pirate would simply feast on it. He ends up agreeing to help anyway when Jinbei promises to give him some meat.}}
* Jack from ''[[Pandora Hearts]]'' is very insistent that he's not a hero. It only ends up making him appear humble and sweet, not to mention more [[Estrogen Brigade Bait|tragic and cute.]]
**  {{spoiler|[[The Reveal|Then it]] [[Wham! Episode|turns out]] [[Ax Crazy|he wasn't]] [[Big Bad|lying...]]}}

== Comic Books ==
* An infamous [[Out-of-Character Moment]] from the [[Dark Fic|infamously terrible]] ''[[Cry for Justice]]'' mini-series.
{{quote|'''Ray Palmer'''<ref>Ray Palmer is the [[Alter Ego]] of the Atom. His superpower is the ability to shrink.</ref>''':''' Have you ''ever'' had a sinus headache? So torturous you thought your head would ''explode?'' What if I shrank to ''microscopic'' size, entered your skull, ''then'' began to grow. [[To the Pain|Imagine how that would feel.]] 
'''Killer Moth:''' You're heroes, you ''don't'' act that way. 
'''Ray Palmer:''' (points to [[Affirmative Action Legacy|another Atom]]) ''He's'' a hero. I'm Ray Palmer. Welcome to ''[[Cold-Blooded Torture|pain.]]'' }}
* [[Warren Ellis]]' ''[[No Hero]]'', [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin]].

== Fan Works ==
* Kairi Niko in the ''[[Knights of the Old Republic]]'' Fanfic ''Destiny's Pawn'' adamantly insists that she's "just a translator." Even after the Jedi all but shove a lightsaber into her hand, she's done some heroics looking for the Star Maps, and assembled the [[Ragtag Band of Misfits]], she still considers herself Bastila's aide. Queue ''massive'' [[Heroic BSOD]] when the truth comes out...
* Played straight in the ''[[Tamers Forever Series]]''
{{quote|'''Daemon''': ''"Why can't you be a good boy and give up!"''
'''Chaos''': ''"I'm a Virus, Daemon. I'm not a good boy."''  }}
* Also played in ''[[Harry Potter]]'' fanfic ''The Apothecary Knows Best''. Severus Snape claimed to be ''just an apothecary'' when Harry called him a hero for having defeated a "Jester". (This fanfic's Dark Lord has his followers known as "Jesters" instead of "Death Eaters". Yes, this fanfic's Dark Lord ''is'' {{spoiler|Albus Dumbledore}}. Long story.)
* In ''[[Drunkard's Walk|Drunkard's Walk II]]'', main character Doug Sangnoir finds several opportunities to say, "I'm not a superhero, I'm a soldier."

== Film ==
* In ''[[The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe|The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe]]'', upon learning of the [[Because Destiny Says So|prophecy]] that they shall be heroes, the Pevensies provide this little gem:
{{quote|'''Peter:''' I think you've made a mistake. [[Refusal of the Call|We're ''not'' heroes!]]
'''Susan:''' We're from Finchley! }}
* In the film, ''[[Twilight (novel)|Twilight]]'', Edward uses this trope to warn Bella to stay away from him.
{{quote|'''Edward:''' What if I'm not the hero? What if I'm the bad guy?
'''Bella:''' You're not. }}
* In ''[[The Dark Knight Saga|The Dark Knight]]'', Batman delivers the page quote to reveal his [[Zero-Approval Gambit]].
* Something similar is done in ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]''. "I can't be a wizard! I'm just Harry! Just Harry!"
* A variation of this occurs in in ''[[Spy Kids]] 3D''. After exiting the video game, Arnold's, Rez's, Francis's, and Juni's respective secret, non-virtual identities. Various types of this trope occur in the conversation that ensues:
{{quote|'''Juni:''' Hey, wait a second. [[Cyberspace|What happened]] [[Wish Fullfillment|to]] [[Smart Guy|Francis the Brain,]] [[Big Guy|Arnold the Strong,]] and [[Badass|Mister]] [[Lancer|Cool]]?
'''Francis:''' Well, in the real world [[Book Dumb|I'm not that smart.]]
'''Arnold:''' I'm not strong.
'''Rez:''' I'm not cool.
'''Juni:''' Reality Check!
'''Arnold:''' So, who are ''you'' out here in the real world?
'''Francesca:''' ''(to Juni)'' Special ageent, we need you.
'''Rez:''' Whoa!
'''Juni:''' I'm Juni Cortez.}}
** The above declaration by Juni is also a reference to his facade as [[The Hero|"The]] [[The Messiah|Guy,"]] which was revealed shortly before the group's exit from the game.
* Near the end of ''[[Pulp Fiction]]'', when Pumpkin and Honey Bunny are robbing the coffee shop, and the manager attempts to cooperate:
{{quote|'''Pumpkin:''' I don't know, Honey Bunny. He looks like the hero type to me!
'''Honey Bunny:''' Don't take any chances. Execute him!
'''Manager:''' Please don't! I'm not a hero. I'm just a coffee shop...<small>manager</small>... }}
** Naturally, his character according to the credits was "coffee shop."
** Of course, the robbers' definition of "hero" is "anyone stupid enough to make trouble for us." Criminals are funny like that.
* In ''[[Team America: World Police]]'', Gary decides "I'm not a hero! I'm a dick!" after a mission results in the deaths of innocent bystanders. A drunk he meets at a bar gives him a pep talk about dicks, pussies and assholes that makes him feel a little better.
* [[Monty Python's Life of Brian|He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy!]]
* Variation in ''[[The King's Speech]]'': [[Tear Jerker|"I'm not a king! I'm a naval officer."]]
* In the film adaptation of ''[[Jumper (novel)|Jumper]]'', Griffin calls Davy this; In his experience, [[Teleporters and Transporters|Jumpers]] don't have the power to save anyone, as the Paladins are willing to kill entire families as collateral damage in killing Jumpers. The best Griffin's ever accomplished is escaping with his life after killing his enemies.
{{quote|'''Griffin''': ''You're not a hero! You're a Jumper! Don't you get it? '''You don't save the girl! You lose her!'''''}}

== Literature ==
* In ''[[Gone (novel)]]'', this attitude plays a huge role in the character of Sam, the [[Designated Hero]] of the FAYZ. Phrases reminiscent of the trope are consistently repeated throughout the books.
* In ''[[Twilight (novel)|Twilight]]'', Edward uses this trope as an attempt to warn Bella to stay away:
{{quote|''What if I'm not a superhero? What if I'm the bad guy?''}}
* In the ''[[Harry Potter (novel)|Harry Potter]]'' series, Harry verbalized this trope a few times throughout the series. In ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (novel)|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' he experienced somewhat of a fleeting [[Dialogue Reversal]] with [[Achilles in His Tent|Ron]] after Ron's return and redemption.
{{quote|'''Ron:''' I'm sorry. I'm sorry I left. I know I was a -- a-- (''trails off'')
'''Harry:''' You've sort of made up for it tonight. Getting the sword. Finishing off the [[Soul Jar|Horcrux.]] Saving my life. 
'''Ron:''' [[Heroic Self-Deprecation|That makes me sound a lot cooler than I was.]] 
'''Harry:''' Stuff like that always sounds cooler than it really was. I've been trying to tell you that for years. }}
* Mat "I'm no bloody hero!" Cauthon from ''[[The Wheel of Time]]'', usually said after he does something heroic. He is the variety that thinks he can ignore the call, even though he's actively doing heroic things.

== Live-Action TV ==
* In ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' episode "The Gift":
{{quote|'''Giles:''' ...[Buffy] couldn't take a human life. She's a hero, you see. She's not like us.
'''Ben:''' ...us?
*Giles smothers Ben to prevent Glory from ever returning* }}
* In ''[[Doctor Who]]'', Donna Noble frequently puts herself down by saying "I'm nothing special; I'm just a temp from Chiswick". As it turns out {{spoiler|she's destined to become the Donna-Doctor to stop the Daleks from exterminating reality}}.
** Done again in ''"The God Complex"''. In order to save Amy Pond, The Doctor must  {{spoiler|break her faith in the idea of him as a hero.}}
{{quote|''The Doctor'': I stole your childhood and now I’ve lead you by the hand to your death. But the worst thing is, I knew. I knew this would happen. This is what always happens. Forget your faith in me. I took you with me because I was vain, because I wanted to be adored. Look at you, glorious Pond. The girl who waited for me. '''I’m not a hero.''' [[Meaningful Echo|I really am just a mad man in a box]]. And it’s time we saw each other as we really are. Amy Williams. It’s time to stop waiting.}}
* In the ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|DS9]]'' episode "Empok Nor", Garak (under the influence of drugs) has been twisting the knife about Miles O'Brien's participation in an incident which occurred while he was serving under [[Star Trek: The Next Generation|Captain Picard]]; O'Brien led an attack on a Cardassian encampment and was dubbed "the Hero of Setlik III".
{{quote|'''Garak:''' Maybe it's true... maybe you're not a soldier anymore.
'''O'Brien:''' You're right. I'm an engineer. }}
** This doubles as a  {{spoiler|[[Crowning Moment of Awesome]], when O'Brien then saves himself by activating the improvised bomb that his soldier instincts had called for and his engineering skill had built.}}
* ''[[Sherlock]]'' has a particularly scathing example in the third episode.
{{quote|Sherlock: Don't make people into heroes, John, heroes don't exist; and if they did, I wouldn't be one.}}
** This gets amped up to eleven in the series 2 finale.
* As [[Who Wants to Live Forever?|Richard Alpert]] attempts to convince her to join "[[Spy From Weights and Measures|Mittelos Bioscience]]", [[Lost|Juliet Burke]], who is going through something of an emotional breakdown, tells him: "Whatever you think I am, I'm not. I'm not a leader, Mr. Alpert. I'm a mess."

== Music ==
* ''[[The Dark Knight Saga|The Dark Knight]]'' soundtrack has a piece titled "I'm Not A Hero" and correlates with the scene in which the page quote is delivered.
* "I'm not a hero! I'm not a savior! Forget what you know/I'm just a man whose circumstances went beyond his control." Styx's "Mr. Roboto" definitely fits. "The modern man/Who hides behind a mask" indicates this is probably the [[Tomato in the Mirror]] usage.
* [[Josh Groban]] 's "In Her Eyes:" ''I am not an hero/I am not an angel/I am just a man...''
* [[My Chemical Romance]]'s ''Welcome to [[the Black Parade]]'' uses this.
{{quote|''I'm just a man, I'm not a hero''
''Just a boy who wants to sing his song''
''Just a man, I'm not a hero''
''And I don't care'' }}
* Bruce Springsteen's "Thunder Road": "Well I'm no hero, it's understood/All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood/With a chance to make it good somehow..."
* [[Nickelback|Nickelback's]] song Hero: ''"They say that a hero could save us; I'm not gonna stand here and wait... And now that the world isn't ending, it's love that I'm sending to you. [[Heroic Self-Deprecation|It isn't the love of a hero]], and that's why I fear it won't do..."''
* Kiss' "Just A Boy" from ''Music From "The Elder"'': "But I'm no hero, though I wish I could be..."

== Religion and Mythology ==
* [[The Bible]]. No, really. In the book of Obadiah. Both a [[Crowning Moment of Awesome]] and a [[Crowning Moment of Funny]].
{{quote|'''Obadiah:''' I'm not a prophet. I'm a farmer.}}

== [[Video Games]] ==
* This is practically [[Metal Gear|Solid Snake's]] motto.
{{quote|''I'm no hero. Never was, never will be.''}}
* Hercules exhibits the "loss of confidence" variant by the book in Kingdom Hearts II.
* [[Brutal Legend|Eddie Riggs]] is just a roadie.
* In ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]'', after [[Final Fantasy X|Auron]] saves Sora, Donald, and Goofy from Hades, this exchange occurs:
{{quote|'''Sora:''' You're really good? Are you some kind of hero?
'''Auron:''' No. I'm no hero. I'm just an…
'''Sora:''' Huh? }}
** After which he then gives his name.

== [[Web Original]] ==
* In the ''[[Global Guardians PBEM Universe]]'', Battlecat gave this speech to his [[Arch Enemy]], Baron Samedi, right before he dropped Baron Samedi from the roof of the Superdome.
{{quote|'''Baron Samedi:''' "We both know you're not going to kill me. You're a hero."
'''Battlecat:''' "Not tonight. I'm not a hero tonight. I'm a husband. I'm a father. That's what I am tonight."
'''Baron Samedi:''' "No... wait!" (followed by a long drop and a sudden stop) }}

== Western Animation ==
* In the ''[[Justice League]]'' Cadmus arc, [[The Question]] tries to assassinate Lex Luthor in order to avert a [[The End of the World as We Know It|dark alternate future]]. He reasons that a known [[Conspiracy Theorist]] like him could go rogue without surprising poeple, but if a ''hero'' were to breach the [[Thou Shalt Not Kill]] policy, the whole world would go to hell. (He was probably right.)
* Graveheart, the Designated Protagonist of ''[[Shadow Raiders]]'', says this a lot.
{{quote|'''Graveheart:''' I'm not the man to lead this alliance.
'''Jade:''' Aren't you?
'''Graveheart:''' C'mon, Jade, look at me! I'm just a miner.
''(lengthy [[Fully-Automatic Clip Show|clip show]] with Graveheart saying "I'm just a miner" over and over and over and over)'' 
'''Jade:''' You have no idea how ''tired'' I am of hearing you say that. }}
* ''[[Teen Titans (animation)|Teen Titans]]'': "I'm not a hero. I'm not out to save the world. [[I Just Want to Be Normal|I'm just a girl with a geometry test next period and I haven't studied]]."
* ''[[Megas XLR]]'': Look, Red, I'm no hero. I'm just a guy from Jersey.
* Elisa in ''[[Gargoyles]]'' (specifically in "High Noon") says she's no hero; she's just doing her job. Not that this stops her from fighting tooth and nail to save her friends when she ''isn't'' on the job...
* In ''[[Jackie Chan Adventures]]'', Jackie would rather doing nothing more than his job as an archaeologist and let the heroism to the authorities.

{{reflist}}
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:I Am an Index]]
[[Category:Superhero Tropes]]
[[Category:Stock Phrases]]
[[Category:Call to Adventure]]
[[Category:Hero Tropes]]