--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He [the Doctor] groaned. 'Why does it…" description: "\"“He [the Doctor] groaned. 'Why does it always have to be me?' 'Mr Rory is ill. You're the next best thing,' I [Maria] said simply. 'Thank you,' he mutt..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/212/james-goss-19280_doctor-who_he-the-doctor-groaned-why-does-it-always_2718725.jpg" --- # He \[the Doctor\] groaned. 'Why does it always have to be… ![“He [the Doctor] groaned. 'Why does it always have to be me?' 'Mr Rory is ill. You're the next best thing,' I [Maria] said simply. 'Thank you,' he muttered. He didn't sound very pleased at all at that.” quote by James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/212/james-goss-19280_doctor-who_he-the-doctor-groaned-why-does-it-always_2718725.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/212/james-goss-19280_doctor-who_he-the-doctor-groaned-why-does-it-always_2718725.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/212/james-goss-19280_doctor-who_he-the-doctor-groaned-why-does-it-always_2718725.jpg) > ““He \[the Doctor\] groaned. 'Why does it always have to be me?' 'Mr Rory is ill. You're the next best thing,' I \[Maria\] said simply. 'Thank you,' he muttered. He didn't sound very pleased at all at that.”” [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A scene where the Doctor complains about being chosen, showing reluctance despite being the next best option. **In simple terms:** The Doctor reluctantly accepts being the next best choice. Key Takeaway Accept roles even when reluctant. Themes fiction character reluctance duty Mood dramatic contemplative Type fictional character-driven When to use this quote - TV series - dialogue - character development - story arcs Key Concepts heroism choice self‑doubt Questions to Reflect On - Why do characters resist being chosen? - How does reluctance affect their growth? A Different Perspective May not capture full narrative context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doctor who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctor-who/) [Rory-williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rory-williams/) ## Related quotes > [ “How are you, Rory?' \[the Doctor\] asked. I \[Rory\]... answered him. 'It's been odd being you.' 'Isn't it?' The Doctor's smile didn't quite reach… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/how-are-you-rory-the-doctor-asked-i-rory-answered-him-it-s-been-odd/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [“At the moment, it's simply a difference of opinon between the Doctor and you.. You both want the best. You've only tried to kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/at-the-moment-it-s-simply-a-difference-of-opinon-between-the-doctor/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [“Something pretty bad's happening nearby in the space-time continuum.' the Doctor shouted over the noise. 'The TARDIS is a terrible rubbernecker - like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/something-pretty-bad-s-happening-nearby-in-the-space-time-continuum/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [“The Doctor puffed out some air and looked down to the sea. 'A very charming man. I should be more careful of very charming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/the-doctor-puffed-out-some-air-and-looked-down-to-the-sea-a-very/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [“The Doctor. He grabbed hold of Rory's ankle, dragging him protesting out from under the table. 'Rory!' he grinned, wrapping him in an enourmous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/the-doctor-he-grabbed-hold-of-rory-s-ankle-dragging-him-protesting/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [ “Rory, Rory, Rory - was it your idea to get The Sea to cure me?' \[said the Doctor.\] 'Yes,' said Rory, smiling. 'That was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/rory-rory-rory-was-it-your-idea-to-get-the-sea-to-cure-me-said-the/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [“Really, awfully, terribly, I had a sudden attack of hiccups. I was staring at the Doctor, murderously angry with him. And hiccuping... 'That's it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/really-awfully-terribly-i-had-a-sudden-attack-of-hiccups-i-was/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [ “Rory's not my pet dog!' I \[Amy\] yelled at the Doctor. 'Well, that would be better.' He was truly angry. 'Dogs I can live… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/rory-s-not-my-pet-dog-i-amy-yelled-at-the-doctor-well-that-would-be/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [ “You see, there's a drill: 1. I \[Amy\] will say 'Right then, let's go and rescue him \[Rory\].' 2. The Doctor will say 'Ah… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/you-see-there-s-a-drill-1-i-amy-will-say-right-then-let-s-go-and/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [“Don't get me started on the whole Doctor-Amy-Rory thing. It's kind of like... I dunno. Suppose you'd always fancied Ryan Reynolds. That's fine, yeah.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/don-t-get-me-started-on-the-whole-doctor-amy-rory-thing-it-s-kind-of/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [“Well, what do you want me to say?' The Doctor was so angry he was almost hovering. 'Well done on marrying the only male…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/well-what-do-you-want-me-to-say-the-doctor-was-so-angry-he-was-almost/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [ “Rory stood up with some difficulty, the chair still tied to him. He leaned over me \[Maria\] and managed to pull my ropes free.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/rory-stood-up-with-some-difficulty-the-chair-still-tied-to-him-he/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [“Maria looked at the TARDIS... 'Is that really your carriage?' She asked. 'It is not very good, monsieur. It has no wheels.' 'It doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/maria-looked-at-the-tardis-is-that-really-your-carriage-she-asked-it/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [ “Now... Just run.' \[said the Doctor.\] One of the things you learn very quickly around the Doctor is never to question him when he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/now-just-run-said-the-doctor-one-of-the-things-you-learn-very-quickly/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [ “Oh, and I \[Amy\] may also have told him that I quite fancied Dr Smith \[The Doctor\]. Which in the 1780s was probably punishable… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/oh-and-i-amy-may-also-have-told-him-that-i-quite-fancied-dr-smith-the/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) ## More by James Goss > [“Now here's Amy Pond, standing in the freezing ocean, holding the body of her imaginary friend, and shouting at the sea to make him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/now-here-s-amy-pond-standing-in-the-freezing-ocean-holding-the-body/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [ “How are you, Rory?' \[the Doctor\] asked. I \[Rory\]... answered him. 'It's been odd being you.' 'Isn't it?' The Doctor's smile didn't quite reach… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/how-are-you-rory-the-doctor-asked-i-rory-answered-him-it-s-been-odd/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [ “Oh, and I \[Amy\] may also have told him that I quite fancied Dr Smith \[The Doctor\]. Which in the 1780s was probably punishable… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/oh-and-i-amy-may-also-have-told-him-that-i-quite-fancied-dr-smith-the/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [ “You see, there's a drill: 1. I \[Amy\] will say 'Right then, let's go and rescue him \[Rory\].' 2. The Doctor will say 'Ah… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/you-see-there-s-a-drill-1-i-amy-will-say-right-then-let-s-go-and/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [ “Rory's not my pet dog!' I \[Amy\] yelled at the Doctor. 'Well, that would be better.' He was truly angry. 'Dogs I can live… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/rory-s-not-my-pet-dog-i-amy-yelled-at-the-doctor-well-that-would-be/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [ “Now... Just run.' \[said the Doctor.\] One of the things you learn very quickly around the Doctor is never to question him when he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/now-just-run-said-the-doctor-one-of-the-things-you-learn-very-quickly/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [ “I've lost the TARDIS as well.' I \[Amy\] was outraged. Considering my husband was dying and we were stranded in the past, the Doctor… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/i-ve-lost-the-tardis-as-well-i-amy-was-outraged-considering-my/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [ “Rory, Rory, Rory - was it your idea to get The Sea to cure me?' \[said the Doctor.\] 'Yes,' said Rory, smiling. 'That was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/rory-rory-rory-was-it-your-idea-to-get-the-sea-to-cure-me-said-the/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [“The Doctor. He grabbed hold of Rory's ankle, dragging him protesting out from under the table. 'Rory!' he grinned, wrapping him in an enourmous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/the-doctor-he-grabbed-hold-of-rory-s-ankle-dragging-him-protesting/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [ “Rory stood up with some difficulty, the chair still tied to him. He leaned over me \[Maria\] and managed to pull my ropes free.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/rory-stood-up-with-some-difficulty-the-chair-still-tied-to-him-he/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [“Which brings me to you, Prince Boris. And I'm sorry, but here's the thing... I think you're one of the nicest Russian aristocrats I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/which-brings-me-to-you-prince-boris-and-i-m-sorry-but-here-s-the/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [ “\[The Doctor\] pulled the thing out of Prince Boris's mouth, waving it around. 'Oh. Blimey. This is not a spatula. What is it?' I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/the-doctor-pulled-the-thing-out-of-prince-boris-s-mouth-waving-it/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [“Maria?... She's been writing all this down? Oh, bless her...' He leafed on through the pile. 'Although that's not how that happened... and no,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/maria-she-s-been-writing-all-this-down-oh-bless-her-he-leafed-on/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [“Something pretty bad's happening nearby in the space-time continuum.' the Doctor shouted over the noise. 'The TARDIS is a terrible rubbernecker - like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/something-pretty-bad-s-happening-nearby-in-the-space-time-continuum/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [I always like toast in a crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/i-always-like-toast-in-a-crisis/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) [Explore all 33 James Goss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) ## More Doctor who quotes > [The doctor who diagnosed me with ALS, or motor neuron disease, told me that it would kill me in two or three years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-doctor-who-diagnosed-me-with-als-or-motor-neuron-disease-told-me/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [Do you think that was kind? Do you think it was godlike? What would you think of a physician, if a woman came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-h-gardener/do-you-think-that-was-kind-do-you-think-it-was-godlike-what-would-you/) [Helen H. Gardener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-h-gardener/) > [Everything was so designed by Hannibal to break down Will in the first season, until Will's sanity became questionable. It's so much easier to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-fuller/everything-was-so-designed-by-hannibal-to-break-down-will-in-the/) [Bryan Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-fuller/) > [“Of course, the machinery was also operating on similar frequencies to the TARDIS, so there's a possibility that she had a hand in it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tucker/of-course-the-machinery-was-also-operating-on-similar-frequencies-to/) [Mike Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tucker/) > [“If you are an alien, how come you sound like you're from the north?' 'Lots of planets have a north!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-t-davies/if-you-are-an-alien-how-come-you-sound-like-you-re-from-the-north/) [Russell T Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-t-davies/) > [“Now here's Amy Pond, standing in the freezing ocean, holding the body of her imaginary friend, and shouting at the sea to make him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/now-here-s-amy-pond-standing-in-the-freezing-ocean-holding-the-body/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [“Because she deserved more than me. She deserved someone who could give her the whole universe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-rayner/because-she-deserved-more-than-me-she-deserved-someone-who-could-give/) [Jacqueline Rayner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-rayner/) > [The thing about 'Doctor Who' is it's chased around the world, so there's 50 fans hanging out at every location.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-riley/the-thing-about-doctor-who-is-it-s-chased-around-the-world-so-there-s/) [Tom Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-riley/) > [ “How are you, Rory?' \[the Doctor\] asked. I \[Rory\]... answered him. 'It's been odd being you.' 'Isn't it?' The Doctor's smile didn't quite reach… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-goss/how-are-you-rory-the-doctor-asked-i-rory-answered-him-it-s-been-odd/) [James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-goss/) > [God has a sense of humor though and he must see funny things in us. He must also have some love. We're still here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/god-has-a-sense-of-humor-though-and-he-must-see-funny-things-in-us-he/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [David Tennant is a massive fan, and grew up dreaming he would be the Doctor Who one day. So I did feel, when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freema-agyeman/david-tennant-is-a-massive-fan-and-grew-up-dreaming-he-would-be-the/) [Freema Agyeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freema-agyeman/) > [You've got this world, these pathologists that are, day in and day out, taking apart bodies, coming up with theories about how they died…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-ventimiglia/you-ve-got-this-world-these-pathologists-that-are-day-in-and-day-out/) [Milo Ventimiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-ventimiglia/) > [I'm over the moon to be involved in the 'Doctor Who' Christmas special. I can't quite believe it as it's a part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-jenkins/i-m-over-the-moon-to-be-involved-in-the-doctor-who-christmas-special/) [Katherine Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-jenkins/) > [“LEELA: 'To be, or not to be, that is the question.' That is a very stupid question! THE DOCTOR: It's Shakespeare. LEELA: And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dorney/leela-to-be-or-not-to-be-that-is-the-question-that-is-a-very-stupid/) John Dorney > [“History is a burden. Stories can make us fly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-gatiss/history-is-a-burden-stories-can-make-us-fly/) [Mark Gatiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-gatiss/) [Browse all 430 Doctor who quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctor-who/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He [the Doctor] groaned. 'Why does it always have to be me?' 'Mr Rory is ill. 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