<p>I like to think of them as purely moral choices, not at ALL for practicality.</p>

<p>In the beginning of R2, Kallen asked if she was geassed into obeying Zero, or something to that effect. Lelouch makes it clear that she followed under her own will, which presumably, he wanted for all of the Black Knights.</p>

<p>Note that he only ordered "Obey Me!!!" after the Black Knights betray him*, leaving him with no troops to command.</p>

<p>The others I see as lack of choices. For example, he didn't geass Suzaku the moment he realized he was working for the enemy (he could have very well said "Follow Zero" at that point on, and C.C. even chastises him for <strong>not doing</strong> it) but he only geasses him in a very precarious situation (when both of them were about to get killed).</p>

<p>*EDIT: Actually, there's another reason: (Lelouch thinks) <strong>NUNNALY's DEAD!</strong>. Remember he did everything for Nunnaly. With Nunnaly, Shirley, Rolo, and the Black knights gone, he has nothing left basically. So this point is pretty much a "Well, Fuck My Moral Compass", And does things more pragmatically.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-16T06:35:46.130Z
2017-04-28T05:53:58.473Z
2017-04-28T05:53:58.473Z
Secret
<p>Production-wise, it would probably be because of addition to drama. I think the production thought (and I believe us as well) would be boring to have Lelouch command "Obey me" everytime. And of course, to add limitation to the order, thus, adding an opening for conflicts in the stories. If the order "Obey me" will always be used, then Lelouch will mostly be invincible and that will prevent twists on the stories - which makes the anime more enjoyable.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-27T07:53:13.473Z
2013-12-27T07:53:13.473Z
xjshiya
<p>I agree with the <a href="https://anime.stackexchange.com/a/6344/2516">answer posed by Secret</a>. But there's another addition/modification I would like to make to it.</p>
<p>His initial motives were in line to end Charles' Hegemony and he had people in support for it, that's how he gained the support of the Black Knights.
But after the incidents in the thought chamber when he stopped Charles and Marianne, he had made a different plan with Suzaku and CC. In order to execute this plan he required an army which he could gain neither by motivating them by his motives nor by the virtue of his emperor post(since he was a usurper). Hence the Geass.</p>
<p>In summary: He had a moral compass which he later compromised for the greater good (Instead of his morality being lost after Nunnaly's death)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2015-06-20T06:56:02.267Z
2021-11-08T06:33:55.373Z
2021-11-08T06:33:55.373Z
user15181
<p><a href="https://anime.stackexchange.com/a/22614/2516">user15181's answer</a> was the best answer. His Geass wasn't yet powerful enough to do so as the Geass grow more powerful with each usage. Remember, that Lelouch thinks that other people aside from the ones he knows personally are mere pawns; he thinks that the world revolves around him and the people he wants to protect that's why he'll forsake an entire army just for Nunnally which he did both seasons. For him, who cares if all of my soldiers die, I must save Nunnally. Japan's freedom was just an excuse for him to create his ideal world. Another sign of his Narcism is thinking that he could take down Britannia even before he got Geass, and also the fact he was born royalty.</p>
<p>The clearest evidence why it's not because of his moral standards is when he made a gang at the alley act like animals for eternity just because he is sad. So that argument is refuted. The reason is that his Geass is still not yet in both of his eyes unlike after he defeated Charles. After he defeated Charles, his geass is in both of his eyes so he was able to simply say &quot;follow me&quot; by then to become emperor.</p>
<p>Notice how his commands become more complicated as the story progresses. But the most complicated was only &quot;do this when this happens&quot; before his Geass spread to both eyes. However, the whole dealing with Suzaku is something I can't relate to, I don't do bromance, ask Naruto instead.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-11-09T06:49:26.097Z
> The clearest evidence why it's not because of his moral standards is when he made a gang at the alley act like animals for eternity just because he is sad. 

This doesn't necessary refute anything though. He was sad, and therefore his moral compass at that time was compromised.
Secret
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-11-09T18:33:48.453Z
You mean he would compromise his morals when he is sad but he would not compromise his morals when he is angry? He'll do it when he is sad but not when he is about to die, Nunnally is in danger, and needs to win a battle? s1 e13 He is willing to kill a whole boat load of alies but no, he wouldn't say "follow me" just because of morals. You're saying, just geassing people with "follow me" > killing people. Life time obedience > death. Remember, if he says "follow me" it's a normal life until he makes an order.
Clyde June
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-11-13T02:05:13.170Z
He does use it when he was about to die, that's why he geasses Suzaku to live. Note how he does NOT want to geass Suzaku at the start, and CC chastises him for it. It's only in a moment of desperation, 'when he is about to die' as you put it, that he does so.
Secret
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-11-13T02:07:56.350Z
"s1 e13 He is willing to kill a whole boat load of alies". yes. Note that I'm not saying what he does is **moral**, but it makes sense for **his** moral compass. His moral compass is one of ideological morality - he wants the Black Knights to fight for him/follow him because they believe in his idea, not because he geasses them to do it. Note how he does not geass the resistance fighters in the Suzaku rescue episode, and instead waits for the people who came back out of their own will, even though he 100% had the power to do so.
Secret
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-11-06T13:59:47.483Z
2021-11-08T06:32:49.910Z
2021-11-08T06:32:49.910Z
Clyde June
<p>I think the reason is much easier than what all you guys have just said. It is likely that the obey order could not be issued because all the other people not affected by geass would have started to suspect something weird going on and they would have investigated on geass. However, this conclusion cannot be possible if the order issued was like "from now onward obey me but never tell or make any reference to who is giving you orders". </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-27T19:19:41.330Z
2016-12-27T20:00:12.840Z
2016-12-27T20:00:12.840Z
Marty
<p>Lelouch's geass power increased over time. Perhaps it was not powerful enough make someone his full-time slave until his power got to full strength. Lelouch did experiments in the beginning to test the limitations and capabilities of his geass. Surely he must have wondered what would happen if he tried the command "obey me".</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-17T09:09:26.747Z
2016-05-17T09:09:26.747Z
Crazy cat person
<p>At the <em>very</em> beginning, right after he got his powers, Lelouch may not have been sure that it was possible to give such powerful orders. This is why, for example, Lelouch ordered a female student from the academy to engrave a cross-mark on a wall every day forever: to determine how long a geass would last. Presumably, he was performing similar experiments that weren't shown to the viewer. </p>

<p>In some cases, Lelouch could be morally conflicted about geassing people. In the last episode of R2, we see him wavering on whether or not to use a geass to command Nunnally to give him the FLEIJA control device. It's possible that he felt the same way about using his geass on other people as well. (Then again, that might just be a special thing for Nunnally.)</p>

<p>Recall now that people are able to reject a geass (at least temporarily) if it is in strong conflict with their morals. Guilford, for example, would probably have found the idea of obeying Zero to be utterly repugnant, and may have resisted the geass to a degree, which could have thrown a wrench in Lelouch's plans. This could be why Lelouch instead geassed Guilford to view him as if he were Cornelia - to circumvent that issue.</p>

<p>There are probably a few other reasons, too, which hopefully other people will be able to come up with in their answers.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-12T21:03:00.820Z
Lelouch does confirm to C.C when she shows up after being killed at the start that he is experimenting with his Geass, he also did an experiment with a teacher when he found out that Kallen didn't fall under his command a second and third time, this confirms the first paragraph
Memor-X
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-12T21:12:45.847Z
Lelouch isn't exactly morally conflicted with his Geass since he was more than willing to enslave the Imperial Court, ordering Suzaku to live or using it on an noble's bodyguard, any hesitation would be more than likely that of him reserving it's use, his conflict to use it on Nunnally and to make Shirley forget about him and his despair when it was accidentally used it on Euphie was mainly because he loved all 3 of them, his own sister, the girl who fell for him and he reciprocated the feeling for and his first love
Memor-X
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-12T21:18:37.827Z
Third Paragraph is confirmed when Euphie was accidentally cast with the order to "Kill the Japanese", she resisted, as @senshin has said, Guilford being ordered to obey Zero would conflict not only with his nature but his loyalty to Cornelia which is as strong as it is because of his feelings towards her, Lelouch probably knew this and explains his order in episode 17 or R2, however, one would question why Schneizel was so willing to "Serve Zero" but it could just be that deep inside Schneizel wants to be controlled
Memor-X
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-12T21:20:38.963Z
the only other reason i can think of not worth of a separate answer would be just the famous "plot induced stupidity" but then again would the series really be enjoyable if Lelouch just went around ordering everyone to become his slave?
Memor-X
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-12T17:29:19.473Z
2013-12-12T17:29:19.473Z
senshin
<p>In the final episodes of Code Geass R2, Lelouch gave orders like "be my slave" or "obey me". This way, unlike when using the Geass, he can give them orders an unlimited number of times.</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/8Zs0b.jpg" alt="Lelouch/Zero latest orders">
(<a href="http://codegeass.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_Lelouch%27s_Orders" rel="noreferrer">Code Geass Wikia</a>)</p>

<p>So why didn't he use these orders on everyone from the beginning? This way he could've given them orders whenever he wanted!</p>

<code-geass>
Why didn't Lelouch use the "obey me" order on everyone?
# Why didn't Lelouch use the "obey me" order on everyone?
Posted by: username_0 on 2013-12-12
In the final episodes of Code Geass R2, Lelouch gave orders like "be my slave" or "obey me". This way, unlike when using the Geass, he can give them orders an unlimited number of times.

![Lelouch/Zero latest orders](https://i.sstatic.net/8Zs0b.jpg)
([Code Geass Wikia](http://codegeass.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_Lelouch%27s_Orders))

So why didn't he use these orders on everyone from the beginning? This way he could've given them orders whenever he wanted!
**Tags:** code-geass
---
## 7 answers
### Answer by username_7 on 2013-12-12. Score: 17 | Accepted answer
At the *very* beginning, right after he got his powers, Lelouch may not have been sure that it was possible to give such powerful orders. This is why, for example, Lelouch ordered a female student from the academy to engrave a cross-mark on a wall every day forever: to determine how long a geass would last. Presumably, he was performing similar experiments that weren't shown to the viewer.

In some cases, Lelouch could be morally conflicted about geassing people. In the last episode of R2, we see him wavering on whether or not to use a geass to command Nunnally to give him the FLEIJA control device. It's possible that he felt the same way about using his geass on other people as well. (Then again, that might just be a special thing for Nunnally.)

Recall now that people are able to reject a geass (at least temporarily) if it is in strong conflict with their morals. Guilford, for example, would probably have found the idea of obeying Zero to be utterly repugnant, and may have resisted the geass to a degree, which could have thrown a wrench in Lelouch's plans. This could be why Lelouch instead geassed Guilford to view him as if he were Cornelia - to circumvent that issue.

There are probably a few other reasons, too, which hopefully other people will be able to come up with in their answers.
> **Comments:**
> **username_8** (2013-12-12): Lelouch does confirm to C.C when she shows up after being killed at the start that he is experimenting with his Geass, he also did an experiment with a teacher when he found out that Kallen didn't fall under his command a second and third time, this confirms the first paragraph  
> **username_8** (2013-12-12): Lelouch isn't exactly morally conflicted with his Geass since he was more than willing to enslave the Imperial Court, ordering Suzaku to live or using it on an noble's bodyguard, any hesitation would be more than likely that of him reserving it's use, his conflict to use it on Nunnally and to make Shirley forget about him and his despair when it was accidentally used it on Euphie was mainly because he loved all 3 of them, his own sister, the girl who fell for him and he reciprocated the feeling for and his first love  
> **username_8** (2013-12-12): Third Paragraph is confirmed when Euphie was accidentally cast with the order to "Kill the Japanese", she resisted, as @senshin has said, Guilford being ordered to obey Zero would conflict not only with his nature but his loyalty to Cornelia which is as strong as it is because of his feelings towards her, Lelouch probably knew this and explains his order in episode 17 or R2, however, one would question why Schneizel was so willing to "Serve Zero" but it could just be that deep inside Schneizel wants to be controlled  
> **username_8** (2013-12-12): the only other reason i can think of not worth of a separate answer would be just the famous "plot induced stupidity" but then again would the series really be enjoyable if Lelouch just went around ordering everyone to become his slave?  
---
### Answer by username_1 on 2013-12-16. Score: 10
I like to think of them as purely moral choices, not at ALL for practicality.

In the beginning of R2, Kallen asked if she was geassed into obeying Zero, or something to that effect. Lelouch makes it clear that she followed under her own will, which presumably, he wanted for all of the Black Knights.

Note that he only ordered "Obey Me!!!" after the Black Knights betray him\*, leaving him with no troops to command.

The others I see as lack of choices. For example, he didn't geass Suzaku the moment he realized he was working for the enemy (he could have very well said "Follow Zero" at that point on, and C.C. even chastises him for **not doing** it) but he only geasses him in a very precarious situation (when both of them were about to get killed).

\*EDIT: Actually, there's another reason: (Lelouch thinks) **NUNNALY's DEAD!**. Remember he did everything for Nunnaly. With Nunnaly, Shirley, Rolo, and the Black knights gone, he has nothing left basically. So this point is pretty much a "Well, Fuck My Moral Compass", And does things more pragmatically.
---
### Answer by username_2 on 2013-12-27. Score: 2
Production-wise, it would probably be because of addition to drama. I think the production thought (and I believe us as well) would be boring to have Lelouch command "Obey me" everytime. And of course, to add limitation to the order, thus, adding an opening for conflicts in the stories. If the order "Obey me" will always be used, then Lelouch will mostly be invincible and that will prevent twists on the stories - which makes the anime more enjoyable.
---
### Answer by username_3 on 2015-06-20. Score: 1
I agree with the [answer posed by Secret](https://anime.stackexchange.com/a/6344/2516). But there's another addition/modification I would like to make to it.

His initial motives were in line to end Charles' Hegemony and he had people in support for it, that's how he gained the support of the Black Knights.
But after the incidents in the thought chamber when he stopped Charles and Marianne, he had made a different plan with Suzaku and CC. In order to execute this plan he required an army which he could gain neither by motivating them by his motives nor by the virtue of his emperor post(since he was a usurper). Hence the Geass.

In summary: He had a moral compass which he later compromised for the greater good (Instead of his morality being lost after Nunnaly's death)
---
### Answer by username_4 on 2021-11-06. Score: 0
[user15181's answer](https://anime.stackexchange.com/a/22614/2516) was the best answer. His Geass wasn't yet powerful enough to do so as the Geass grow more powerful with each usage. Remember, that Lelouch thinks that other people aside from the ones he knows personally are mere pawns; he thinks that the world revolves around him and the people he wants to protect that's why he'll forsake an entire army just for Nunnally which he did both seasons. For him, who cares if all of my soldiers die, I must save Nunnally. Japan's freedom was just an excuse for him to create his ideal world. Another sign of his Narcism is thinking that he could take down Britannia even before he got Geass, and also the fact he was born royalty.

The clearest evidence why it's not because of his moral standards is when he made a gang at the alley act like animals for eternity just because he is sad. So that argument is refuted. The reason is that his Geass is still not yet in both of his eyes unlike after he defeated Charles. After he defeated Charles, his geass is in both of his eyes so he was able to simply say "follow me" by then to become emperor.

Notice how his commands become more complicated as the story progresses. But the most complicated was only "do this when this happens" before his Geass spread to both eyes. However, the whole dealing with Suzaku is something I can't relate to, I don't do bromance, ask Naruto instead.
> **Comments:**
> **username_1** (2021-11-09): > The clearest evidence why it's not because of his moral standards is when he made a gang at the alley act like animals for eternity just because he is sad. 

This doesn't necessary refute anything though. He was sad, and therefore his moral compass at that time was compromised.  
> **username_4** (2021-11-09): You mean he would compromise his morals when he is sad but he would not compromise his morals when he is angry? He'll do it when he is sad but not when he is about to die, Nunnally is in danger, and needs to win a battle? s1 e13 He is willing to kill a whole boat load of alies but no, he wouldn't say "follow me" just because of morals. You're saying, just geassing people with "follow me" > killing people. Life time obedience > death. Remember, if he says "follow me" it's a normal life until he makes an order.  
> **username_1** (2021-11-13): He does use it when he was about to die, that's why he geasses Suzaku to live. Note how he does NOT want to geass Suzaku at the start, and CC chastises him for it. It's only in a moment of desperation, 'when he is about to die' as you put it, that he does so.  
> **username_1** (2021-11-13): "s1 e13 He is willing to kill a whole boat load of alies". yes. Note that I'm not saying what he does is **moral**, but it makes sense for **his** moral compass. His moral compass is one of ideological morality - he wants the Black Knights to fight for him/follow him because they believe in his idea, not because he geasses them to do it. Note how he does not geass the resistance fighters in the Suzaku rescue episode, and instead waits for the people who came back out of their own will, even though he 100% had the power to do so.  
---
### Answer by username_5 on 2016-12-27. Score: 0
I think the reason is much easier than what all you guys have just said. It is likely that the obey order could not be issued because all the other people not affected by geass would have started to suspect something weird going on and they would have investigated on geass. However, this conclusion cannot be possible if the order issued was like "from now onward obey me but never tell or make any reference to who is giving you orders".
---
### Answer by username_6 on 2016-05-17. Score: -1
Lelouch's geass power increased over time. Perhaps it was not powerful enough make someone his full-time slave until his power got to full strength. Lelouch did experiments in the beginning to test the limitations and capabilities of his geass. Surely he must have wondered what would happen if he tried the command "obey me".
---
