No comic book quote has become as memorable, repeated or inspirational as "With Great Power, Comes Great Responsibility". But for often as it is said, how many people know the true origin of the phrase? Lets dive deep into the spoken word and recover this iconic motto.
In August of 1962, Stan Lee debuted one of comic's most popular characters in "Amazing Fantasy #15". Previous to the creation of the character in question, Amazing Fantasy was Marvel's lowest selling book and #15 was going to be it's final issue. Though his boss urged Stan not to, Stan Lee used the last issue of this book to show off his newest idea for a comic book superhero. Spider-Man was a teenaged superhero with real-life problems and the animal theme that people generally thought was gross. Seriously, a lot of people hate spiders. Spider-Man's appearance made "Amazing Fantasy #15" the best selling issue of the series and got the character an ongoing title one year later with "The Amazing Spider-Man". It was, however, at the end of "Amazing Fantasy #15" that the motto was first read. At the time, it was pronounced "With great power, there must also come great responsibility". It was a line spoken by the narrator, who had no character in the book. Spider-Man became so tethered to the quote, in a 1970's retelling of Spider-Man's origin the famous saying was said by Uncle Ben Parker. From there, every version of Uncle Ben was credited with coining the phrase. Whenever Spider-Man gives an impacting speech, he always tosses in this saying. During "Avengers vs X-Men" Spider-Man spent some time with the mutant Hope and gave her some advice which regarded the motto, but he also expanded on it with the panels above.
Though the quote has become pinned to the character, it is not the first time the line has been used. A May 8th, 1783 passage appeared in a collection of decrees made by The French National Convention, translated into English is roughly says "The people's representatives will reach their destination, invested with the highest confidence and unlimited power. They will show great character. They must also consider that great responsibility follows inseparably from great power. To their energy, to their courage, and above all to their prudence, they shall own their success and their glory". The Bible provides a saying very similar with Luke 12:48 saying "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from one who has been entrusted with much, much will be asked. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, they will ask for more". In 1858, a Masonic periodical called "The Ashlar" printed "He cannot act on their judgement, but must be governed by his own. As he has great responsibility, he has great power, and is bound by the strongest obligations to maintain that power and the dignity of his office". People like Winston Churchill, Theodore Roosevelt, and John A. Finch have spoken similar sayings, cementing the ideals of what the quote means.
The quote has been applied to other Spider-Man characters, Marvel characters, and even some DC Comics characters as the term is such a perfect representation of the superhero lifestyle. There are things on this Earth that will never be "perfect", but this quote is one of the few examples of perfection because of its simplicity and gravity. If you have the ability to cure cancer in one person, it is your obligation to cure cancer in every person. It the fine line of what you should do and what you choose not to do that determines what kind of person you are. I've always lived by the idea that there are "the right choices" and "the smart choices". What's right is what is best for everyone besides you and what's smart is what is best for yourself. Sometimes these choices crossover, sometimes they parallel, but the lesson is that every person at one time or another must choose what is right or what is smart. They have a duty to themselves as a person, but a duty to others as a person with effect, as any amount of good is a good that should be used in service, favor or love. When Stan Lee's infamous quote is ripped open, this is what it truly means.
Thank you for reading.
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Though the quote has become pinned to the character, it is not the first time the line has been used. A May 8th, 1783 passage appeared in a collection of decrees made by The French National Convention, translated into English is roughly says "The people's representatives will reach their destination, invested with the highest confidence and unlimited power. They will show great character. They must also consider that great responsibility follows inseparably from great power. To their energy, to their courage, and above all to their prudence, they shall own their success and their glory". The Bible provides a saying very similar with Luke 12:48 saying "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from one who has been entrusted with much, much will be asked. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, they will ask for more". In 1858, a Masonic periodical called "The Ashlar" printed "He cannot act on their judgement, but must be governed by his own. As he has great responsibility, he has great power, and is bound by the strongest obligations to maintain that power and the dignity of his office". People like Winston Churchill, Theodore Roosevelt, and John A. Finch have spoken similar sayings, cementing the ideals of what the quote means.
The quote has been applied to other Spider-Man characters, Marvel characters, and even some DC Comics characters as the term is such a perfect representation of the superhero lifestyle. There are things on this Earth that will never be "perfect", but this quote is one of the few examples of perfection because of its simplicity and gravity. If you have the ability to cure cancer in one person, it is your obligation to cure cancer in every person. It the fine line of what you should do and what you choose not to do that determines what kind of person you are. I've always lived by the idea that there are "the right choices" and "the smart choices". What's right is what is best for everyone besides you and what's smart is what is best for yourself. Sometimes these choices crossover, sometimes they parallel, but the lesson is that every person at one time or another must choose what is right or what is smart. They have a duty to themselves as a person, but a duty to others as a person with effect, as any amount of good is a good that should be used in service, favor or love. When Stan Lee's infamous quote is ripped open, this is what it truly means.
Thank you for reading.
Facebook: The Panel Biter
Twitter: @ThePanelBiter
Podbean: Panelbiter.podbean.com
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