Being Good Sucks/Quotes

"If we lived in a State where virtue was profitable, common sense would make us good, and greed would make us saintly. And we'd live like animals or angels in the happy land that needs no heroes. But since in fact we see that avarice, anger, envy, pride, sloth, lust, and stupidity commonly profit far beyond humility, chastity, fortitude, justice, and thought, and have to choose, to be human at all... why then perhaps we must stand fast a little- even at the risk of being heroes."

—Thomas More, A Man for All Seasons

The king knew with certainty that the knight who had crossed the bridge was far better than any other, for no one who harboured Cowardice within himself, which shames those who have it more than Nobility brings them honour, would dare to cross. Nobility cannot accomplish as much as Cowardice and Sloth, for it is the truth - and never doubt it - that evil can be more easily done than good.

—Chretien De Troyes, Lancelot, or the Knight of the Cart

"I try to be a good husband and you took my wife away. I tried to be a good father and now my son hates me! The people at my job torture me every day leaving me coming home battered and bruised crying myself to sleep! What did I do to deserve this? Am I not a good person?! Can't you just give me a break for once in my miserable fucking life?!"

—Breakfast Duck, on Christmas Eve, shortly before being struck by lightning.

Clark Kent: What's that on your face?
Billy Batson: Eh, it's [a bruise from a punch] what you get for trying to be good. Should of just kept my mouth shut. 'Be good and good will follow'. That's what my parents used to always tell me. But, you know, Mr. Kent, I was good before they were taken from me. I was good at the foster home. And I was good fifteen minutes ago. I'm starting to think being good isn't good for me.

Clark Kent: It seems that way sometimes, doesn't it? But that's because good is hard. Bad is always easy.

—Conversation from Superman/Shazam: The Return of Black Adam

Wish I'd never met you, Doctor. I was much better off as a coward.

—Jack Harkness as he kisses the Doctor goodbye, "The Parting of the Ways"

I believe there's a Hero inside all of us, even if it means we have to give up the thing we want the most. Even our dreams.

—Aunt May, Spider-Man 2

You know what you get for being a hero? Nothin'. You get shot at. You get a little pat on the back, blah, blah, blah, attaboy. You get divorced. Your wife can't remember your last name. Your kids don't want to talk to you. You get to eat a lot of meals by yourself. Trust me, kid, nobody wants to be that guy.

—John Mcclane , Live Free or Die Hard

Conscience do cost.

—Butchie, The Wire