User:PicassoAndPringles/Never cruel or cowardly

The phrase "never cruel or cowardly" originated from a description of the Doctor by Terrance Dicks in the 1976 second edition of The Making of Doctor Who.

"Much has changed about the Doctor over the years but much has remained the same. Despite the superficial differences in appearance, at heart, or rather at hearts (the Doctor has two) his character is remarkably consistent.

He is still impulsive, idealistic, ready to risk his life for a worthy cause. He still hates tyranny and oppression and anything that is anti-life. He never gives in and he never gives up, however overwhelming the odds against him.

The Doctor believes in good and fights evil. Though often caught up in violent situations, he is a man of peace. He is never cruel or cowardly.

In fact, to put it simply, the Doctor is a hero. These days there aren't so many of them around."

- Terrance Dicks

Future showrunner Steven Moffat used the line in the 1996 parodic special The Curse of Fatal Death. Following the death of the Twelfth Doctor, Emma said, "He was never cruel and never cowardly, and it'll never be safe to be scared again."

During his tenure as showrunner, Moffat wrote the phrase into many of his episodes. It first appeared in Doctor Who proper in the fiftieth anniversary special The Day of the Doctor, as part of the promise that the Doctor's name represented: "Never cruel or cowardly. Never give up, never give in."

Since, it has been referenced in three other stories, all penned by Moffat. In Listen, Clara told the sleeping young First Doctor, "fear doesn't have to make you cruel or cowardly". In Hell Bent, after the Twelfth Doctor banished Rassilon, Ohila asked him, "are you just being cruel? Or just being cowardly?" Later in that episode, in his goodbyes to Clara before his memory was wiped, the Doctor told her, "Never be cruel and never be cowardly. And if you ever are, always make amends." In Twice Upon a Time, as part of the Twelfth Doctor's advice to his successor, he told her, "Never be cruel, never be cowardly, and never, ever eat pears."