Top 10 Villain Quotes That Are Shrewd in Some Ways

Villains aren’t always like evil incarnations or embodiments of utter chaos. Some do appear with their own morale and shrewd philosophical school of thought. The best antagonists are often complex, so the audience can discern and try to empathize with their purpose and use their quotes.

Fans tend to lean towards villains getting attracted to charisma and wisdom. Fictional characters are crafted with the intent to appear cruel, insane, and powerful on the surface yet with flaws that make them human with inferior complex, childhood trauma & crude upbringing from sinister environments.

Spock - The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

In Star Trek II- The Wrath of Khan, The usually rational Spock who is supposed to be superior to humans is not held back by temperaments and other emotions and utters a line that personifies the brutal form of utilitarianism.

It surprises the fans due to his switch in character driven by a ruthless calculus of logic, he justifies his proposal of sacrificing the few for the greater good. This sparked a debate on ethical issues among fans who believed in his position.

Thanos - People don't think for themselves. They see what they want to see.

Thanos, the mad titan who became one of the ultimate villains with a perverse sense of justice for environmentalism. Although he had an abstruse sense of justice, he captured many fans’ hearts with his powerful nature and a strong desire to attain his goal.

Avengers Infinity War revealed Thanos’ grand purpose that somehow made people support his belief in necessary evil. Regardless of the intention to purge half of the universe, it contradicted the worldview according to people who opposed him for his radical thoughts.

The Joker - The worst part of having a mental illness is people expect you to behave as if you don't.

The Joker is one of the most iconic villains of all time from DC comics who appeared in movies such as The Dark Knight and Joker(2019) which made his character popular for Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix's unparalleled acting.

Joker’s chilling dialogues are often extreme due to his understanding of people. Apart from his mental disorder of OCD, schizophrenia, and sociopathy, his ability to discern people’s deepest part of fear and his awareness that transcends the 4th wall is what makes him formidable.

Littlefinger aka Lord Baelish - Only by admitting what we are can we get what we want.

Littlefinger, the ingenious manipulator from Game of Thrones is one of the complex characters who always seems to be plotting and making plans for the bigger picture. Although he is not a major antagonist of the show, his presence alone makes him a pivotal character in the plot.

His intriguing nature to create a mess keeps the fans on the edge of their seat. Littlefinger’s resolute mind to climb to the top of the hierarchy is what sets him apart from other cunning characters. Regardless of his evil plans he often showed his vulnerable emotions making a common person with flaws.

Killmonger - As long as some remember what it once was, there will always be someone to fight for what it could be again.

Killmongers, the antagonist of Black Panther can described as a child who met a tragic loss and was brought up in harsh conditions. His father’s death brought by his uncle, the king of Wakanda couldn't be more justifiable to make him a villain with a burning passion for vengeance.

His anger for not remembering the crucial part of the past makes his anger valid. Though his methods are rather violent, the sentiments behind his words are true and resonate with the fans and thus his right to the throne.

Syndrome (The Incredibles) - A society built on fear alone will always crumble.

Syndrome, a character from the movie The Incredibles can be considered a relatable character for the younger audience, a fan who wants to follow the path of his idol, a superhero - Mr.Incridible. His being a minor antagonist of the movie is the outcome of rejection by the society who turned their back.

Light Yagami (Death Note) - The only true nobility is found in being superior to one's self.

Light Yagami started as the protagonist and did a 180 which anime fans never foresaw. The brilliant student’s resolve to uphold justice by eradicating evil became an obsession that led him to eventually become an antagonist who dared to bear their fangs toward him.

While his methods were cruel and cunning his initial plan was to cultivate a crime-less society. His growth toward cleansing the criminals slowly gave him a god-complex and he met foes surpassing wits and intellect who took him down. Death Note depicts such an unconventional perspective.

Final Thoughts

Nevertheless, the antagonists of movies, series, anime, or graphic novels may have their sense of justice, and capability to fulfill their goals, it should be carefully considered that it is purely fiction, and only reasonable arguments are taken from their insights since it is a cautionary tale for the audience.

Written by V. Hari Shankar Raja

This article has been authored exclusively by the writer and is being presented on Eat My News, which serves as a platform for the community to voice their perspectives. As an entity, Eat My News cannot be held liable for the content or its accuracy. The views expressed in this article solely pertain to the author or writer. For further queries about the article or its content, you can contact this email address – harishankarwrk1@gmail.com