THE EVOLUTION OF A PITHY PROVERB:
“With great power comes great responsibility.”
Catchphrase popularized by Spider-Man comics and movies
This now well-known line was first used in Marvel comic books featuring Spider-Man, the web-slingin’ superhero created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko in 1962. It was more widely popularized by director Sam Raimi’s hugely-popular 2002 Spider-Man film, which made it familiar to millions of people who never read a Spider-Man comic.
The line evolved from narrative text written by Stan Lee for the original Spider-Man origin story in Vol. 1, #15 of the Marvel comic Amazing Fantasy, published with the cover date August 1962 . (The official on-sale date at comic stores was June 5, 1962.)
In that story, after student Peter Parker accidentally gets his Spider-Man superpowers from the bite of a radioactive spider, he initially uses them to make money by performing in local wrestling matches and other public shows. One night, as he’s leaving a show, he sees a cop chasing a burglar. The cop wants him to help stop the criminal, but Peter refuses. Shortly thereafter, his beloved Uncle Ben Parker is murdered and Peter finds out the killer was the burglar he had refused to capture.
The final panel in the story shows a small figure of Peter in his Spider-Man costume, dejectedly walking down a city street in the dark. Lee’s text in that panel provided the inspiration for the saying that would become famous. It says:
“AND A LEAN, SILENT FIGURE SLOWLY FADES INTO THE GATHERING DARKNESS, AWARE AT LAST THAT IN THIS WORLD, WITH GREAT POWER THERE MUST ALSO COME — GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.”
In the 1987 comic Spider-Man vs. Wolverine #1, Peter remembers “With great power comes great responsibility” as a saying of his Uncle Ben’s. The first time Ben actually said it in a comic was in February 2002, in Amazing Spider-Man, Vol. 2, #38.
A few months later, on May 3, 2002 , Raimi’s Spider-Man film was released. The line was used twice in the movie, which gave it major pop culture status. It’s first spoken by actor Cliff Robertson, as Uncle Ben, and repeated at the end by Tobey Maguire, who plays Peter Parker/Spider-Man.
As noted in a post on the great Quote Investigator site, there are many similar quotes linking power and responsibility that predate the Spider-Man catchphrase.
For example, Theodore Roosevelt wrote in a 1908 letter: “I believe in a strong executive; I believe in power; but I believe that responsibility should go with power.” And, in 1945, Teddy’s relative Franklin D. Roosevelt wrote in a speech referencing World War II: “Today we have learned in the agony of war that great power involves great responsibility.”
There’s also a famous historical quip about irresponsible power-wielders: “Power without responsibility — the prerogative of the harlot throughout the ages.” That zinger was used in 1931 by UK politician Stanley Baldwin, in a speech attacking the media barons who owned British newspapers (the forerunners of modern media magnates like Rupert Murdoch).
THE RECYCLED ‘NO POWER’ MARVEL TAGLINE:
“With no power comes no responsibility.”
Tagline used in trailers and posters for the 2026 Netflix Spider Noir TV series
In this streaming series, Nicolas Cage plays an aging Spider-Man with no superpowers. The series is based on Marvel’s Spider-Man Noir comics. I wonder if the Netflix ad team knew the line “With no power comes no responsibility” was previously used in another Marvel production, the 2010 movie Kick-Ass. In that film, it’s spoken by Aaron Johnson, playing the unconventional titular superhero.
THE PRODUCT PLACEMENT VERSION:
“With Great Franchise, Comes Great Product Placement Potential”
The title of an article by Abe Sauer on BrandChannel.com, noting the many times products were placed in scenes in the 2012 movie The Amazing Spider-Man. For example, various Sony products appeared in multiple scenes.
DR. HOUSE’S OBSERVATION:
“With great power comes great micromanaging.”
Hugh Laurie, as the character Dr. Gregory House
In the “Better Half” episode of the TV show House M.D. (Season 8, Ep. 9, first aired Jan. 23, 2012).
THE U CAN HAS FREE CHEEZBURGER VERSION:
“We know that with great burgers comes great responsibility.”
A 2012 press release issued by CKE Restaurants, parent company of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, announcing that to celebrate the Fourth of July and the release of The Amazing Spider-Man film, anyone dressed as Spider-Man on July 4th would get a free Amazing Grilled Cheese Bacon Burger.
A REVIEWER’S QUIP ABOUT THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN MOVIE:
“With great power comes great responzzzzzzzZzzzzzzzzzz…”
Marty Beckerman
Author and Salon.com journalist
In his review of the Amazing Spider-Man movie on Salon.com. Beckerman considered it a snoozefest and asked the frequent question: “Is there an original idea left in Hollywood?”
Related reading and viewing…
Key Takeaways
- The phrase ‘With great power comes great responsibility’ originated from Spider-Man comics and evolved through various adaptations.
- Stan Lee wrote this line in 1962, inspired by Peter Parker’s realization of his responsibilities after Uncle Ben’s murder.
- The catchphrase gained immense popularity in the 2002 Spider-Man film directed by Sam Raimi.
- Other variations of the saying have appeared, including humorous adaptations in media and marketing campaigns.
- The concept of power linked to responsibility existed before Spider-Man, with notable references from historical figures like Theodore Roosevelt.