The Twelfth Doctor was a return to the older and more seasoned Doctors such as the First, Second, and Third. Peter Capaldi played the role of Doctor Who with great excellence, bringing a sense of fatigue and emotional weight to the character that was far different from his super-enthusiastic past two selves. This Doctor just added over a thousand years to his existence, and the impact of this was obvious in the way he presented himself.
Still, this Doctor was just as inspirational and dedicated to life as his previous incarnations - perhaps more so, given his extended years. Here are ten of the Twelfth Doctor's most memorable quotes which sum up not just his character, but the accumulated knowledge and experience of all his previous regenerations as well.
Deep Breath
"I'm the Doctor. I've lived for over two thousand years, and not all of them were good. I've made many mistakes, and it's about time I did something about that. Clara, I'm not your boyfriend."
The Twelfth Doctor's regeneration left him particularly confused in comparison to many that came before, and most of it revolved around his companion Clara. This quote left her quite puzzled, especially since she never gave any hint that she was. This is evidenced in her reply "I never thought you were," to which the Doctor comically replied "I never said it was your mistake."
Into The Dalek
"Fantastic idea for a movie. Terrible idea for a proctologist."
While the Doctor was being escorted to a chamber containing a trapped Dalek, he ed by a molecular nano-scaler which was capable of shrinking down subjects proportionately so they could infiltrate small areas. The human forces confirmed that it was for medical purposes, which prompted this reply from the Doctor. It was both a nod to the classic 1980s sci-fi flick InnerSpace, and something far less pleasant!
Listen
"What's wrong with scared? Scared is a superpower! It's your superpower! There is danger in this room, and guess what? It's you. Do you feel it?"
During this episode, the Doctor discussed the nature of being scared with Rupert, and how that emotion could be a good thing. He preceded this quote with a scientific examination of fear and how it affects the human body by increasing blood flow and oxygen to the brain, heightening the senses, and utilizing adrenaline to seemingly slow down time to allow for faster reflexes. He uses this to channel Rupert's courage and make him realize that those most scared are the truly dangerous ones.
Time Heist
"Don't worry. Calories consumed on the TARDIS have no lasting effect."
The Doctor wasn't above poking a little fun at Clara at every possible opportunity, and this quote is one of the more hilarious. When she quips about grabbing a bite to eat, he mentions this little factoid which isn't actually true, at all. When Clara falls for it and asks him if he's kidding, the Doctor mocks her further by adding "Of course I'm kidding! It's a time machine, not a miracle worker!"
In The Forest Of The Night
"Stars implode, planets grow cold, catastrophe is the metabolism of the universe. I can fight monsters, I can't fight physics."
The Doctor has demonstrated that his limitations are few and far between, but even he has limits he cannot contend with. These things include naturally-occurring catastrophes for which he does not seem able to change. This quote is a reminder of that, and it may also have been a nod to Cyberman plot to destroy Earth, which inadvertently triggers the extinction-level event that destroyed the dinosaurs.
The Witch's Familiar
"I'm not sure if any of that matters. Friends. Enemies. So long as there is mercy. Always mercy."
The Twelfth Doctor was far less willing to put people in jeopardy in comparison to the Tenth Doctor, and this quote is a reference to the entire Capaldi era. This Doctor was determined to show mercy and comion wherever and whenever he could, even if his gruff exterior suggested otherwise. He would even show mercy against Davros, the creator of the Daleks, before discovering (and foiling) his master plan.
The Husbands Of River Song
"Times end, River, because they have to. Because there's no such thing as happy ever after. It's just a lie we tell ourselves because the truth is so hard."
The Twelfth Doctor was a pragmatist in the most unavoidable sense of the word, and he would make many quotes such as this one directed at River Song to suggest that being a realist was sometimes necessary in a galaxy that had grown very cold. After the events that led to the demise of the Eleventh Doctor, the Twelfth had so far lived for two-thousand years in total, and saw plenty of loss in his time. His view of immortality as a curse would eventually catch up to him.
The Pilot
"Hardly anything is evil. But most things are hungry. Hunger looks very like evil from the wrong end of the cutlery. Or do you think that your bacon sandwich loves you back?"
The Twelfth Doctor was fond of using blunt, but effective metaphors to get his point across and make people see things from an alternative viewpoint. This particular quote is one of the funniest, purely from a visual standpoint. He does make a point, however. Predators in the animal kingdom might appear evil, but they are simply trying to survive. To the victim, it must seem quite different.
Thin Ice
"Human progress isn't measured by industry. It's measured by the value you place on a life. An unimportant life. A life without privilege. The boy who died on the river, that boy's value is your value. That's what defines an age. That's what defines a species."
The Twelfth Doctor made a very poignant and important point about the nature of humanity itself, and what we as a species view as progress. While it cannot be argued that human ingenuity and a drive to succeed and compete have yielded massively beneficial results for the entire human race, it sometimes comes down to how we view the individual, rather than the collective. Do we place immense value on the person who's presence wouldn't be missed? That's the key question.
Twice Upon A Time
"I died a few hours ago and I refused to regenerate. Catches up with you, you know. It's like a big lunch."
The Twelfth Doctor was tired of regenerating, and wanted to stay in this current form so much that he willed himself to do it. It was a losing battle however, and the Doctor knew it. Coincidentally, the First Doctor went through a similar ordeal, and the two quipped together about their shared fear of turning into a brand new person. When the First Doctor said that he never itted this fear to anyone else, the Twelfth Doctor replied "Don't worry. Technically, you still haven't."