You Are Better Than You Think You Are: Difference between revisions

[[File:allstarsuperman_1230allstarsuperman 1230.jpg|link=All -Star Superman|rightframe|You should trust him. After all, he's [[Superman]].]]

[[The Power of Friendship]] and [[The Power of Trust]] may come into play. Sometimes, though, you'd need a [[Magic Feather]].

For the opposite, see [[Heel Realization]]. When a character has to be constantly reminded of this, they usually suffer from [[Heroic Self -Deprecation]]. Compare [[You Are Not Alone]]. If handled well, such a situation can easily become a [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming]].

* Episode 9 of ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikersStrikerS]]'', where after various incidents begat by Teana's feelings of inadequacy from being the [[Badass Normal|normal one]] in the team which drove a fanatical need to prove herself, [[Mentor|Nanoha]] goes to have a talk with Teana, explaining to her that her skills which she felt were mediocre were powerful when used correctly, and that Nanoha did feel that Teana can stand on her own as an enforcer and had already planned to eventually train her in that direction after she had mastered the skills she specialized in and gained enough confidence in them. After this realization, Teana would go on to become [[Took a Level Inin Badass|one of the most effective members of the team]].

* Shizuo's main character arc throughout ''[[Durarara!!]]'' (particularly in the [[Light Novels]]) is learning that, while he may be a [[Hair -Trigger Temper|very]] [[Unstoppable Rage|messed-up]] [[Hero Withwith an F In Good|individual]], he isn't quite the inhuman monster he's [[I Am a Monster|resigned himself to be]]. Once that actually gets through his head, Shizuo starts gradually learning how to restrain himself and channel his violent impulses in more heroic ([[Destructive Savior|if still destructive]]) ways.

* In ''[[DragonballDragon Ball]]'', Jackie Chun, having been revealed to be a disguised Master Roshi, gives one of these speeches to Tien Shinhan during their fight in the series' second world martial arts tournament. It leads to the latter's [[Heel Face Turn]].

* Done in ''[[Onani Master Kurosawa]].'' Kurosawa attempts to convince Kitahara that she's strong enough to fight through her troubles on the train home from their school trip. {{spoiler|He's [[Break the Cutie|not exactly correct]], but then again, he's not exactly ''wrong,'' either. She just needs [[You Are Not Alone|a little help.]]}}

* In ''[[Tiger and Bunny]]'', an early episode is about a young [[Differently -Powered Individual|NEXT]] boy who used his powers to go on a rampage, because [[All of the Other Reindeer|his classmates]] [[Bullying a Dragon|bullied him]]. By the end of the episode, though, [[The Paragon|Kotetsu]] is able to convince the boy that his powers are meant to protect people. It ends up working, just as it did on Kotetsu himself when he was around the boy's age, and his childhood hero, Mr. Legend, encouraged him to be a hero.

{{quote| '''Rukia:''' If you're afraid of losing, just get stronger. If you're afraid of not being able to protect your friends, swear to get stronger until you can protect them. If you're afraid of the Hollow inside you...just get stronger until you can crush him. If you don't want to listen to others, then hold your chin up and yell those words to yourself! That's the kind of man you've been...in my heart, Ichigo!!!}}

{{quote| '''Lyra:''' You are stronger than you were yesterday.}}

* ''[[Persona 4 (Anime)|Persona 4: The Animation]]'' uses these liberally. Basically any time a hero is facing down his or her shadow, another character gives them either one of these or a [[You Are Not Alone]].

* ''[[All -Star Superman]]'' has Superman almost say this [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming|word for word]] to a [http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv205/haven_bucket/1245822166636.jpg?t=1246328571 suicidal teenager].

* Interactions between Nightcrawler and [[Wolverine]] in [[X-Men]] and Wolverine had this nuance. At one point, Nightcrawler told the manageress of a bar "the only thing that is hard to Logan's skeleton and claws, the rest is an honorable man ..."Logan is here.

== [[Fan FictionWorks]] ==

* In ''[[Kyon Big Damn Hero (Fanfic)|Kyon: Big Damn Hero]]'', Haruhi learns about her powers, meaning she also learns that the world is in constant threat of destruction because of closed spaces and how hard times Kyon has lived because of her. All of this makes her worry if she's forcing Kyon against her will if not outright breaking him. Kyon counters by mentioning her own growth and whatever trouble she's causing, it isn't intentional on her part.

* In ''[[Dragon Age: theThe Crown of Thorns]]'', {{spoiler|Frandlin Ivo gets one from the dwarven noble protagonist and does a [[Heel Face Turn]]}} that ultimately enables the latter to successfully pull off his {{spoiler|[[Zero -Approval Gambit]].}} The ironic part is that the DN {{spoiler|somehow manages to maximize the effect by giving the speech just after a [[Hannibal Lecture]].}}

* Invoked in ''[[With Strings Attached (Fanfic)|With Strings Attached]]''. Earlier on the quest for the third piece of the Vasyn, Ringo had been down on himself because he was a physical wreck after a few days of hard travel and little sleep, while the others were all fine. Though they try to convince him he's not useless, he doesn't really believe them. However, when the formerly hostile Hunter says that Ringo's mindsight is the single most valuable ability among the four, Ringo is a lot more convinced. Later, after the battle on the Plains of Death, where Ringo more than proves his worth, the Hunter claps him on the shoulder and says “Never disparage yourself again.”

* In ''[[Reconciliation (Fanfic)|Reconciliation]]'', Hanako learns that Hisao and Lilly had found and kept around the chess set Hisao gave her, even though she parted ways with them for eight years after her bad ending. Hanako suggests that they did it as a reminder of how awful she was, but Lilly then forcefully tells Hanako that she is not an awful person and they kept it because they missed her.

* ''[[ItsIt's a Wonderful Life]]'' had this as its central premise, to the point that [[Wonderful Life|the plot]] is often referenced by other works [[Whole -Plot Reference|in its entirety]].

* The 2004 ''[[Hellboy (Filmfilm)|Hellboy]]'' movie had an exchange between the newcomer to the team, John Myers, and [[The Empath]] Abe Sapien:

{{quote| '''Professor Trevor 'Broom' Bruttenholm:''' In medieval stories, there is often a young knight who is inexperienced, but pure of heart. <br />

'''John Myers:''' Oh, come on. I am not pure of heart. <br />

* ''[[Poohs Grand Adventure (Animation)|Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin]]'': "Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."

* There's a lovely moment in ''[[My Big Fat Greek Wedding (Film)|My Big Fat Greek Wedding]]'', just after her fiance's embarrassing baptism, where the main character worries that "Any second now, he's gonna say, 'Yeah, you're so not worth this,'" Only for her brother to pipe in, "Yeah you are."

{{quote| '''Kevin''': You are Kirk Lazarus. You are the whole reason I went into acting in the first place. I memorized every monologue that you had ever been in while I was in theater school.<br />

* ''[[X -Men: First Class (Film)|X Men First Class]]'' has a repeated line where Charles urges Erik to "be the better man" and work for more than just [[ItsIt's Personal|revenge]]. Erik interprets this somewhat differently than Charles intended.

{{quote| '''Charles''': There’s so much more to you than you know, not just pain and anger. There’s good in you too, and you can harness all that. You have a power that no one can match, not even me.}}

* In ''[[The Smurfs (Filmfilm)|The Smurfs]]'', Papa Smurf delivers this type of speech to Brainy Smurf to help convince him that he's up to the task of deciphering the spell that can get the Smurfs back home.

* In [[Star Trek: Nemesis]], Picard attempts to use speeches of this message to pursuadepersuade Shinzon.

* The character arc of ''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Franchisenovel)/|Harry Potter and Thethe Chamber of Secrets|Harry Potter]]''. At the end, Dumbledore learns that Harry felt unworthy of the House of Gryffindor, in part because of his [[Bad Powers, Bad People|ability to communicate with snakes]] and because he asked to be placed there, rather than letting himself be chosen. Dumbledore tells Harry that character is shown through one's choices and asks him to examine the sword he used to slay the Basilisk. When he sees it is Godric Gryffindor's sword, Harry has all the proof he needs that he truly belongs in that house.

** Near the end of the series in ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Franchisenovel)/|Harry Potter and Thethe Deathly Hallows|Harry Potter]]'', Harry returns the favor when he meets {{spoiler|Dumbledore again in a place between life and death. When Dumbledore bitterly states that his search for the Deathly Hallows in his bid to become a Master of Death meant that he was ultimately [[Not So Different]] from [[Big Bad|Voldemort]], Harry quickly refutes the claim. He mentions that at least Dumbledore didn't consider using Horcruxes. Dumbledore is able to draw a small measure of comfort from that.}}

{{quote| '''Harry:''' You've sort of made up for it tonight. {{spoiler|Getting the sword. Finishing off the Horcux. Saving my life.}}<br />

'''Ron:''' That makes me sound a lot cooler than I was.<br />

* Often said by Michael and the other Knights of the Cross to ''[[The Dresden Files]]'' lead Harry Dresden. Dresden thinks of himself as more of an antihero, but his friends all know that he is a good man.

{{quote| For the courage of her heart, which I saw face down the greatest horrors I know without breaking. For the high and hungry intelligence of her mind, which never stops asking questions, nor thinking about the answers. For the spark of her spirit, which could teach bonfires how to burn. That's three. Enough for going on with.}}

* Parodied and subverted in the first episode of ''[[Community (TV)|Community]]'', where [[Amoral Attorney]] Jeff Winger uses a speech like this to manipulate his fellow students in the study group.

* In a ''[[GilligansGilligan's Island]]'' episode, Gilligan sees his likeness on a native totem pole and comes to believe that he is descended from headhunters and is doomed to become a headhunter himself. The Professor convinces him otherwise by offering up his own head as Gilligan's first prize; when Gilligan cannot bring himself to do the deed, he realizes he doesn't have the headhunting instinct after all and returns to normal.

* In the classic James Newcomer ''[[Star Trek: theThe Next Generation]]'' episode, "The Measure of a Man," Riker is forced to argue that Data should be considered Starfleet's property, lest [[Jerkass|the judge]] rule summarily against the android. Riker gives an excellent argument for his side. Despite losing the case, Riker feels like a traitor for arguing against his friend. However, in the series' great [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming]], Data explains that he is deeply grateful to him for agreeing to prosecute, since if he had not, Data would have had no chance of victory.

{{quote| '''Data:''' That action injured you and saved me. I will not forget it.}}

* In ''[[Doctor Who (TV)|Doctor Who]]'' Donna Noble has always had a bit of low self-esteem. She had a perfectly normal life as a temp in Chiswick until the whole teleported to the TARDIS to fight the Racnoss on her wedding day thing. Later, after she joins the Doctor, she still believes herself to be normal but gets cocky. However she is still unwilling to accept that {{spoiler|she is the most important person ever. Rose Tyler crosses dimensions to tell her this and yet she continues to deny it. After she is reborn as The Doctor-Donna she gets a new level of confidence. Sadly, after Donna saves all reality... not an exaggeration... she can not recall her time with the Doctor or she will die.}}

** {{spoiler|Actually, no. The Doctor apparently gave her [[New Powers Asas the Plot Demands|mental-blast-things]] [[Crazy Prepared|just in case anything crazy, like the Master turning everyone in the world into duplicates of himself, would ever happen]].}}

** Even the Doctor gets one of these. After having destroyed his entire species to save the universe, seen countless friends and family die, and {{spoiler|come to the conclusion that the universe is better off without him, he tries to distance himself from everyone. River Song}} tells him that he's being stupid, and there are literally billions of people throughout time and space who think the universe is better because of him.

* ''[[Angel]]'' gets several of these from Buffy, Wesley and others across the course of his run on ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' and his own show. A notable one comes in ''Somnambulist'', when Cordelia convinces him he's better than Angelus or Penn, while cheerfully agreeing to "kill [him] dead" if he ever does become Angelus again.

* In season five of ''[[Dexter]]'', Deborah cries and claims that Dexter has always been the strong one of the family. Her coworker protests, telling her he thinks it's the opposite.

* Though it's never explicit, this trope's subtext is definitely present in ''[[Merlin (TV series)|Merlin]]'' where it's hinted that Arthur, despite his arrogance, suffers from low self-esteem thanks to the high expectations of his father. It's usually Merlin and Guinevere who provide the moral support needed for him to really embrace his role as a leader and future king.

* In episode 3 of ''[[The Glee Project]]'', [https://web.archive.org/web/20110829001758/http://video.oxygen.com/shows/the_glee_project/bonus_footage_16/cameron-tells-alex-hes-proud-of-him/v1336044 Cameron tells Alex he's proud of him].

{{quote| You faced the monster inside of you and you fought back. You risked everything to be a better man. And you can be. You are. You may not see it, but I do. I do. I believe in you, Spike. }}

{{quote| When I say, 'I love you', it's not because I want you or because I can't have you. It has nothing to do with me. I love what you are, what you do, how you try. I've seen your kindness and your strength. I've seen the best and the worst of you. And I understand with perfect clarity exactly what you are. You're a hell of a woman. <br />

* ''[[Farscape (TV)|Farscape]]'' episode 1 has John telling Aeryn that she can be more than just a mindless soldier

* In the second part of the second season finale of ''[[Supernatural (TV series)|Supernatural]]'', Bobby says this the Dean after he revealed that he {{spoiler|made a [[Deal Withwith the Devil]] in order to bring Sam back to life that would [[Dragged Off to Hell|drag him to hell]] in a year's time}} saying that he believed that his life actually had a meaning at that point since {{spoiler|his dad John had made the same deal to save his life earlier in the season.}} Bobby's response to Dean was how he could possibly have such a low opinion of himself.

{{quote| ''[[You Are Not Alone|Oh, no, love, you're not alone!]]''<br />

''You're watching yourself, but you're too unfair!''<br />

''You've got your head all tangle up, but if I could only make you care!''<br />

''Oh, no, love, you're not alone!''<br />

''No matter what or who you've been,''<br />

{{quote| ''You wish you were someone else''<br />

''Every night you fall to pieces''<br />

''Knowing you can't save yourself''<br />

''I can see you, I can hear you''<br />

''There's a place where the broken go''<br />

''There's a room full of second chances''<br />

''You're not stranded on your own''<br />

{{quote| ''Pretty, pretty please''<br />

''Don't you ever, ever feel''<br />

''Like you're less than f**kin' perfect''<br />

''Pretty, pretty please''<br />

''If you ever, ever feel''<br />

''Like you're nothing''<br />

* "I'll Be Your Mirror" by The [[Velvet Underground (Music)|Velvet Underground]].

* ''[[Pokémon Black and White (Video Game)|Pokémon Black and White]]'': {{spoiler|After [[Obliviously Evil|N]] has his [[Heel Realization]], he takes it pretty badly. However, he is soon reminded that Reshiram/Zekrom still recognized him as a hero by allowing itself to be caught by him.}}

{{quote| '''[[Broken Bird|Kaori]]''': That's why... That's why, I'm like this cherry tree. Unable to bloom... Just a bothersome being...<br />

'''[[AFGNCAAPFeatureless Protagonist|Protagonist]]''': That's not true ! After all, that tree is blooming. It's just blooming a little later than the others.<br />

'''Kaori''': But... Even if it's blooming...<br />

'''Protagonist''': It's fine if it's blooming late. Even if it were to hurry and bloom, if it doesn't produce a nice color and smell, it would mean nothing.<br />

'''Kaori''': ...(Ah!)<br />

* A fair bit of the Paragon choices in ''[[Mass Effect|Mass Effects]]s 1'' and ''2'' revolve around this concept, notably Jack in the second game whom Shepard repeatedly tries to convince is more than just anger and violence.

* In ''[[Tales of the Questor]]'', [https://web.archive.org/web/20120528012509/http://www.rhjunior.com/totq/00073.html Quentyn shamefully flees the successful conclusion of his first case] thinking that he blundered through it and succeeded only through dumb luck. However, just before he takes off, the local sheriff asks what he is doing and the young Racoonan confesses. At that, the Sheriff firmly tells Quentyn that he is not stupid nor a failure, but a hero who showed admirable guile, skill and courage to save the day. As Quentyn's mood lifts, the Sheriff gives him his hat noting wryly that the young Questor's career has had an excellent start. Repeated after [https://web.archive.org/web/20120520234701/http://www.rhjunior.com/totq/00214.html a heroic charge] and in this case the one doing the reassuring is an ''angel'' or close to it.

* ''[[Shortpacked (Webcomic)|Shortpacked]]'': Amber thinks she's useless, 'til Robin and Ethan both play a role in turning her around.

* [[Grey Is (Webcomic)...|Black]] thinks of himself as weak and not able to help other people, White who admires Blacks emotional strength disagrees and says something to this effect

* ''[[El Goonish Shive (Webcomic)|El Goonish Shive]]'': Grace is a genius, but when things go wrong, she always blames herself, and she thinks she's stupid.

* Done in a subtle way in ''[[Kickassia]]'' when Ma-Ti is trying to get [[The Nostalgia Critic (Web Video)|The Nostalgia Critic]] to stop being a douchebag. He tells him that he's strong and loyal, but Critic's still on his "a president has no friends" kick.

* In ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender (Animation)|Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'', Iroh tries to tell Zuko this, he's too busy wallowing in his [["Well Done, Son" Guy]] syndrome to notice.

{{quote| '''Aang''' (holding some fire): But what if I can't control it?<br />

{{quote| '''Aang''': You know, Zuko, I don't care what everyone else says. You're pretty smart.}}

* In ''[[How to Train Your Dragon (Filmanimation)|How to Train Your Dragon]]'' Astrid says this in a roundabout way to Hiccup when she explains why she asked her [[Armor -Piercing Question]], " Because I want to remember what you say, RIGHT NOW." Translated: "Because you are a powerful Viking warrior of legend in your own way, and what you say now is likely going to be the stuff of a great saga."

{{quote| '''Hiccup''': 300 years and I'm the first Viking who wouldn't kill a dragon!<br />

* In ''[[Gargoyles (Animation)|Gargoyles]]'', as the Magus dies, Goliath thanks him. The Magus can't believe that, since he was the one who cursed the clan in the first place, but Goliath insists that saving the clan's children more than makes up for it.

* The ''[[Thundercats 2011 (Western Animation)|ThunderCats (2011)]]'' episode "Omens Part One" has a nice little moment between Lion-O and Jaga.

{{quote| '''Lion-O''': It's official, they think I'm a failure. And they always will unless I can prove I'm not chasing a childish dream... But how can I do that when even Grune said there wasn't tech out there?!<br />

* Brutally subverted in [[Justice League Doom]]{{context}}

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