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[[Cincinnatus]] is a [[Sub Trope]] about a character who is given ''temporary'' power because it is believed he will give it back after accomplishing his task. Also related to [[The Chains of Commanding]]. Compare [[Mandatory Unretirement]]. Contrast [[Unfit for Greatness]].
{{examples|Examples:}}
 
== Anime & Manga ==
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* In Megan Whalen Turner's [[The Queens Thief|The Queen's Thief]] series, {{spoiler|Eugenides}}, the {{spoiler|Thief of Eddis}}, marries the queen of {{spoiler|Attolia}} because he's in love with her, but he doesn't want to be king.
{{quote| ''"He didn't marry you to become king. He became king because he wanted to marry you."''}}
* ''The Icarus Agenda'' by [[Robert Ludlum]] has a conspiracy of [[Well -Intentioned Extremist|Well Intentioned Extremists]] who want to give America a good President, implying one who didn't seek the power for its own sake, but recognise that one such would be unlikely to volunteer for high political office or to beat the more power-hungry and politically wily candidates if he did; their solution is to find a suitable candidate and manipulate his career without his knowledge.
* Invoked in one book (sorry, can't remember author or title) when someone explains, more or less, "We want someone who has to be dragged into office kicking and screaming, but who will then do the best job he can in hopes of being let off early for good behavior."
** Sounds a bit like The Republic, where Plato writes that the philosophers who have no interest in ruling should be forced to become kings for the benefit of the people.
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** Sebastian Vael in ''[[Dragon Age II (Video Game)|Dragon Age II]]'' is another take. He envied the fact that his older brother would inherit the throne and spent most of his early life as [[The Hedonist]]. His parents put him in the Chantry to stop him embarrassing them, but he found it gave him a purpose. Then political rivals murder the rest of his family, and he spends the game trying to choose between retaking his lands or serving the Maker. You can push him one way or the other.
{{quote| "When I ''wanted'' to rule, I would have been terrible at it. Now that I might be decent, I don't know if it's the right thing to do."}}
* ''[[Fate Stay Night]]'': Saber hates having been made king, having never wanted it but doing it anyway for the good of her people. She did the best anyone could, but her dislike of being king at all (and the ensuing lack of drive) meant she was never well-loved by her followers or her people and the [[Dirty Business]] she was forced to do as a king eventually led to her kingdom tearing itself apart. She wants the Grail so she can wish for [[Heroic Self -Deprecation|a better king to take her place in history]]. In ''[[Fate Zero]]'', Rider delivers what is effectively a [["The Reason You Suck" Speech]] to her about it, claiming that her lack of desire for kingship meant she was never truly a king, just a "young girl playing at being a king".
* According to the [[Saints Row]] instruction manual, Julius claimed to be this when he started leading the 3rd Street Saints, though the Stillwater Police believe he's a natural gang leader.
** The Protagonist in the sequel, [[Saints Row 2]] however, is a subverted example, being happy with leading the Saints in Julius' place instead of just 'keeping his/her mouth shut and letting himself/herself being told what to do.' {{spoiler|He/she even outright states this when he confronts Julius, who was revealed to have rigged the boat to explode in the first game.}}
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