Lessons from Doctor Who

If you didn't know already, I am a huge fan of Doctor Who. It's a freaking brilliant television show. The other day, I was chatting with my dear friend Joe (who is the guy who first introduced me to Doctor Who) and we were discussing tattoos and how I really want a Doctor Who quote tattooed on me somewhere. The only trouble is there are so many great quotes from Doctor Who that I'm not sure I could pick just one.

The thing is Doctor Who provides a lot of really great lessons/ideas/whatever you want to call them and I'm convinced if people watched Doctor Who and took those lessons/ideas/whatever to heart, I think (cliche aside) the world would be better. So here are some quotes from Doctor Who that have inspired me the most (and some I just like for the hell of it).


Can it be that I have the world entirely wrong?

Not wrong. There's just more to learn.

–Charles Dickens & The Doctor, "The Unquiet Dead"

1941. Right now, not very far from here, the German war machine is rolling up the map of Europe. Country after country, falling like dominoes. Nothing can stop it, nothing. Until one tiny, damp little island says "No. No, not here." A mouse in front of a lion. You're amazing, the lot of you. I don't know what you did to Hitler, but you frighten the hell out of me.

–The Doctor, "The Empty Child"

Then prove yourself, Doctor! What are you? Coward, or killer?
Coward. Any day.

–Dalek Emperor & The Doctor, "The Parting of Ways" 

The universe has to move forward. Pain and loss, they define us as much as happiness or love. Whether it's a world or a relationship, everything has its time. And everything ends.

–Sarah Jane, "School Reunion"

Some things are worth getting your heart broken for.

–Sarah Jane, "School Reunion"

Don't worry Reinette, it's just a nightmare. Everyone has nightmares; even big scary monsters from under the bed have nightmares, don't you, monster?
What do monsters have nightmares about?
Me! Ha!

–The Doctor & Reinette, "The Girl in the Fireplace"

What's a horse doing on a spaceship?
Mickey, what's pre-revolutionary France doing on a spaceship? Get a little perspective!

–Mickey & The Doctor, "The Girl in the Fireplace"

One may tolerate a world of demons for the sake of an angel.

–Reinette, "The Girl in the Fireplace"

They're people.
They were. 'Til they had all their humanity taken away. It's a living brain jammed inside a cybernetic body. With a heart of steel. All emotions removed.
Why no emotion?
Because it hurts.

–Rose & The Doctor, "Rise of the Cybermen"

How do we do that?
Oh, I'll think of something.
You're just making this up as you go along.
Yep. But I do it brilliantly.

–Mickey & The Doctor, "The Age of Steel"

But if this is the original, does that make it real? Does that make it the actual Devil?
Well, if that's what you want to believe. Maybe that's what the Devil is in the end: an idea.

–Ida & The Doctor, "The Satan Pit"

I've seen fake gods and bad gods and demi-gods and would-be gods. Out of all that, out of that whole pantheon, if I believe in one thing–just one thing–I believe in her.

–The Doctor, "The Satan Pit"

I believe I haven't seen everything, I don't know. It's funny, isn't it? The things you make up—the rules. If that thing had said it came from beyond the universe I'd believe it, but before the universe... that's impossible. It doesn't fit in my rules. Still, that's why I keep traveling. To be proved wrong.

–The Doctor, "The Satan Pit"

So, there you go. Turns out I've had the most terrible things happen. And the most brilliant things. Sometimes, well, I can't tell the difference. They're all the same thing. They're just me.

–Elton, "Love & Monsters"

When you're a kid, they tell you it's all "Grow up. Get a job. Get married. Get a house. Have a kid," and that's it.But the truth is, the world is so much stranger than that. It's so much darker. And so much madder...And so much better.

–Elton, "Love & Monsters"

Doctor, they've got guns.
And I haven't. Which makes me the better person, don't you think? They can shoot me dead but the moral high ground is mine.

–Rose & The Doctor, "Army of Ghosts"

You are proof...That emotions destroy.
Yeah, I am. Mind you, I quite like hope. Hope's a good emotion.

-Cyberman & The Doctor, "Doomsday"

You step on a butterfly, you change the human race.
Then don't step on any butterflies. What do you have against butterflies?

–Martha & The Doctor, "The Shakespeare Code"

Some people live more in twenty years than others do in eighty. It's not the time that matters, it's the person.

–The Doctor, "The Lazarus Experiment" 

There's no such thing as an ordinary human.
–The Doctor, "The Lazarus Experiment"

People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect. But actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint, it's more like a big ball of wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey... stuff.

–The Doctor, "Blink"

Mankind doesn't need warfare and bloodshed to prove itself. Everyday life can provide honour and valour. Let's hope that from now on this country can find its heroes in smaller places. In the most ordinary of deeds.

–John Smith (The Doctor), "Human Nature"

Name?
General Staal of the Tenth Sontaran Battle Fleet. "Staal The Undefeated!"
Oh that's no good. What if you get defeated? "Staal The Not-Quite-So-Undefeated-Any-More-But-Never-Mind?"

–The Doctor & General Stall, "The Sontaran Stratagem" 

We always have a choice.

–The Doctor, "The Doctor's Daughter"

You want weapons? We're in a library! Books! The best weapons in the world!

–The Doctor, "Silence in the Library"

I never land on Sundays. Sundays are boring.

–The Doctor, "Silence in the Library"

I'm not scared.

'Course you're not! You're not afraid of anything. Box falls out of the sky, man falls out of the box, man eats fish custard. And look at you, just sitting there. So you know what I think.
What?
Must be a hell of a scary crack in your wall.

–Amelia & The Doctor, "The Eleventh Hour"

One little girl crying. So?
Crying silently. i mean children cry because they want attention. 'Cause they're hurt or afraid. When they cry silently it's 'cause they just can't stop.

–Amy & The Doctor, "The Beast Below"

What are you going to do?
What I always do. Stay out of trouble. Badly.

–Amy & The Doctor, "The Beast Below"

Now then. Rory. We need to talk about your fiancée. She tried to kiss me. Tell you what though, you're a lucky man. She's a great kisser...Funny how you can say something in your head and it sounds fine.

–The Doctor, "Vampires of Venice"

Anywhere you want. Any time you want. One condition: it has to be amazing.

–The Doctor, "Vampires of Venice"

That's the one thing that doesn't make sense. Let's go poke it with a stick.

–The Doctor, "Amy's Choice"

Excuse me, I'm making perfect sense. You're just not keeping up.

–The Doctor, "The Hungry Earth"

Lovely place to grow up 'round here.
I suppose. I want to live in the city one day. As soon as I'm old enough I'll be off.
I was the same way where I grew up.
Did you get away?
Yeah...
Do you ever miss it?
So much.

–The Doctor & Elliot, "The Hungry Earth"

Have you met monsters before?

Yeah.
Are you scared of them?
No. They're scared of me.

Elliot & The Doctor, "The Hungry Earth"

You know, it seems to me there's so much more to the world than the average eye's allowed to see. I believe, if you look hard, there are more wonders in this universe than you could ever have dreamed of.

–Vincent Van Gogh, "Vincent and the Doctor"

The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things. The good things don't always soften the bad things, but vice versa. The bad things don't necessarily spoil the good things or make them unimportant. And we definitely added to his pile of good things.

–The Doctor, "Vincent and the Doctor"

Has anyone ever told you that you're a bit weird?

They never really stop.

–Craig & The Doctor, "The Lodger"

Never ignore a coincidence. Unless you're busy. In which case always ignore a coincidence.

–The Doctor, "The Pandorica Opens"

People fall out of the world sometimes but they always leave traces. Little things we can't quite account for. Faces in photographs. Luggage. Half-eaten meals. Rings. Nothing is ever forgotten, not completely. And if something can be remembered it can come back.

–The Doctor, "The Pandorica Opens"

The Universe is big. It's vast and complicated and ridiculous. And sometimes—very rarely—impossible things just happen and we call them miracles.

–The Doctor, "The Pandorica Opens"

Your girlfriend isn't more important than the whole universe.

She is to me!

–The Doctor & Rory, "The Big Bang"

You'll remember me a little. I'll be a story in your head. That's okay. We're all stories in the end. Just make it a good one, eh? 'Cause it was, you know. It was the best.

–The Doctor, "The Big Bang"

I hate you.
No you don't.

–River Song & The Doctor, "The Impossible Astronaut"

Yeah, right. Cursed. It's big with humans. It means bad things are happening but you can't be bothered to find an explanation.

–The Doctor, "The Curse of the Black Spot"

Biting's excellent! It's like kissing. Only there's a winner.

–Idris, "The Doctor's Wife"

You want to be forgiven.

Don't we all?

–Amy & The Doctor, "The Doctor's Wife"

Then you stole me. And I stole you.
I borrowed you.
Borrowing implies the eventual intention to return the thing that was taken. What makes you think I would ever give you back?

–Idris & The Doctor, "The Doctor's Wife"

Okay, right. I don't... I really don't know what to do. That's a new feeling.

–The Doctor, "The Doctor's Wife"

You didn't always take me where I wanted to go.
No, but I always took you where you needed to go.

–The Doctor & Idris, "The Doctor's Wife"

Look at you pair. It's always you and her isn't it? Long after the rest of us have gone. A boy and his box off to see the universe.
Well, you say that as if it's a bad thing. But honestly it's the best thing there is.

–Amy & The Doctor, "The Doctor's Wife"

Yes, it's insane. And it's about to get even more insaner. Is that a word?

–The Doctor, "The Rebel Flesh"

Doctor I am frightened. I'm properly, properly scared.

Don't be. Hold on. We're coming for you, I swear. Whatever happens, however hard, however far, we will find you.

–Amy & The Doctor, "The Almost People"

The anger of a good man is not a problem. Good men have too many rules.
Good men don't need rules. Today is not the day to find out why I have so many.

Madame Kovarium & The Doctor, "A Good Man Goes to War"

My whole brain just went "What the hell."

–The Doctor, "A Christmas Carol"

Oh, you should always waste time when you don't have any. Time is not the boss of you. Rule 408.

–The Doctor, "Let's Kill Hitler"

Don't run. Now I know you're scared. But never run when you're scared. Rule 7. Please.

–The Doctor, "Let's Kill Hitler"

That's what it's called. Pantophobia. Not fear of pants though, if that's what you're thinking. It's the fear of everything. Including pants, I suppose. In that case... Sorry. go on.

–The Doctor, "Night Terrors"

You know when sometimes you meet someone so beautiful and then you actually talk to them and five minutes later they're as dull as a brick? Then there's other people, when you meet them you think, "Not bad. They're okay." And then you get to know them and... and their face just sort of becomes them. Like their personality's written all over it. And they just turn into something so beautiful.

–Amy, "The Girl Who Waited"

It goes up, tiddly up! It goes down, diddly down. For only £49.99, which I personally think is a bit steep. But then again, it's your parent's cash and they'll only waste it on boring stuff like lamps and vegetables. Yawn!

–The Doctor, "Closing Time"

Doctor, are you going to kiss me?
Yes, Craig. Yes I am. Would you like that? Bit out of practice but I've had some wonderful feedback.

–Craig & The Doctor, "Closing Time"

Yeah, you always win. You always survive.
Those were the days.

–Craig & The Doctor, "Closing Time"

You could be anything. You could walk amongst the stars. They don't actually look like that you know. They're a lot more impressive.You know when I was little like you I dreamt of the stars. Yeah. I think it's fair to say, in the language of your age, that I lived my dream. I owned the stage. Gave it a hundred and ten percent. I hope you have as much fun as I did, Alfie.

–The Doctor, "Closing Time"

You went back in time. That means you used up your hours. what about Exidor?
What about you being in trouble with Sophie when she comes back? I couldn't let that happen.
You used up your time for me?
Of course I did. You're me mate.

–Craig & The Doctor, "Closing Time"

You mentioned a woman.
Yes. I'm getting to her.
What's she like? Attractive, I assume.
Hell. In high heels.

–Winston Churchill & The Doctor, "The Wedding of River Song"

Why would you do this? Of all the things you've told me, this I find hardest to believe. Why? To invite your friends to see your death?
I had to die. I didn't have to die alone.

–Winston Churchill & The Doctor, "The Wedding of River Song"

However dark it got, I'd turn around an there they'd be. If it's time to go, remember what you're leaving. Remember the best. My friends have always been the best of me.

–The Doctor, "The Wedding of River Song"

And you are forgiven. Always and completely forgiven.

–The Doctor, "The Wedding of River Song"

Love you.

Mean it.