Basically saying do it or don't,it just matters on what happens on one of those choices. If you or someone else is not really wanting to do something, but at the same time you technically can do that thing, that's where the phrase "You either do or don't" comes into play.
Example 1: Someone that works can get up to go to work, but they don't want to, if someone else says or that person remembers the phrase "You either do or don't", they will think about the outcomes of either decision, therefore proceeding with one of the choices depending on how they want it to play out.

Example 2: Have better eating habits to better your health or keep up bad eating habits and then your health declines
by FiienXD June 29, 2022
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Coined in the movie "The Dark Knight Rises" by Harvey Dent, A.k.a. Two-Face.

It is the philisophical summary that, no matter what good you intend to do, as long as you live and continue, you will bring about just as much evil as good, if not more through accident or intent. Death becomes a saving grace, providing vindication for their actions and preventing a worsening of certain outcomes through inactivity.
Examples include:
Falling to the same corrupton you sought to eliminate. ( Anakin Skywalker from Star Wars, Lois Griffin from Family Guy)
Prolonged exposure to evil, despite good intentions. (Frodo from Lord of the Rings, Ice King from Adventure Time)
Narrow minded destruction in belief of a greater goal. (Harvey Dent from "The Dark Knight Rises")

You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.
by TheAllKnowingOne November 23, 2013
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When you only try to see good in people, always help others, be everyone’s favourite, and suddenly die somehow, vut everyone remembers you as a Hero. Or you have lived enough to see how the world really works, you’ve seen a lot of times that you can’t trust anyone, people use people who have a good heart. You need to be heartless to survive in this world. The ‘Hero’ would be eaten alive by this world if they still lived. They would have been a doormat to everyone.
Elly had the biggest heart. She always said yes, she forgave everyone who hurt her and always tried to see the good in people. But they used her kindness, the world broke her and she gave up on life.

Ren has seen the world and people in it. She has been hurt, but she only got stronger and smarter. She knows not to be too kind. She knows when to say no. You can’t trust anyone around you. You have to be cold-hearted to survive in this cold-hearted world.

You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.
by Karma Black October 30, 2022
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A quote from Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight by the character Harvey Dent in reference to Julius Caesar and Batman. Repeated by Batman at the end of the film.

There are several possible meanings:

1. Absolute power eventually corrupts (as in the case of Julius Caesar).
2. Being consistently heroic is difficult if not impossible, circumstances will eventually push you towards villainy (as in the case of Harvey Dent and Batman).
3. Public opinion can easily change and will eventually change. Many people have the tendency find faults even when there are none. It can also be easily manipulated. You might adhere to your code despite 1. and 2., you can still be painted as a villain by your enemies (as in the case of what Joker did to Batman).
4. Villainy and Heroism are relative and not absolute. "Good" will change with time. Different people have different concepts of "good" (the actions of Julius Caesar can be judged very differently by different people throughout the different ages). In many situations, the line between the two concepts can be very blurry (following the law versus vigilantism).
You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain
by Project Book July 15, 2015
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