Harrow: He’s down. You have to finish it, lad. You have to finish it. For a man to lie beaten, and yet breathing? It makes him a coward.

Inara: It’s humiliation.

Mal: Sure, it’s humiliating. Having to lie there while the better man refuses to spill your blood. Mercy is the mark of a great man. (lightly stabs Atherton in the stomach) Guess I’m just a good man. (stabs him again) Well, I’m all right.

Firefly — Episode 4 — “Shindig”