--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So is this how it works Doctor? You never…" description: "\"So is this how it works Doctor? You never interfere with the affairs of other peoples or planets, unless there are children crying?\" — Steven Moffat" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1df/steven-moffat-2328_affair_so-is-this-how-it-works-doctor-you-never_1559280.png" --- # So is this how it works Doctor? You never interfere with… ![“So is this how it works Doctor? You never interfere with the affairs of other peoples or planets, unless there are children crying?” quote by Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1df/steven-moffat-2328_affair_so-is-this-how-it-works-doctor-you-never_1559280.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1df/steven-moffat-2328_affair_so-is-this-how-it-works-doctor-you-never_1559280.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1df/steven-moffat-2328_affair_so-is-this-how-it-works-doctor-you-never_1559280.png) > “So is this how it works Doctor? You never interfere with the affairs of other peoples or planets, unless there are children crying?” [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A doctor should not meddle in others' affairs unless vulnerable children are involved, highlighting moral responsibility toward the innocent. **In simple terms:** Doctors should protect children before other concerns. Key Takeaway Prioritize helping children in crisis. Themes responsibility ethics protection Mood compassionate serious Type ethical reflective When to use this quote - medical decisions - family disputes - child welfare - conflict resolution Key Concepts moral duty caregiver instinct Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance protecting children with respecting adult autonomy? - When is it justified to intervene in others' affairs? A Different Perspective May overlook adult needs when focusing solely on children. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [Doctors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctors/) ## Related quotes > [I don't really believe you are married unless you have children. And people who only have one kid don't really have kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-gurland/i-don-t-really-believe-you-are-married-unless-you-have-children-and/) [Andrew Gurland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-gurland/) > [Unless I have to, I can't take a job for the money. Unless my children are going to be out on the street, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-smart/unless-i-have-to-i-can-t-take-a-job-for-the-money-unless-my-children/) [Jean Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-smart/) > [We thought the church had withdrawn from interfering in Italian politics... but instead there is a terrible resurgence. These are ugly signs for freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dario-fo/we-thought-the-church-had-withdrawn-from-interfering-in-italian/) [Dario Fo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dario-fo/) > [It is the individual's task to differentiate himself from all the others and stand on his own feet. All collective identities . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/it-is-the-individual-s-task-to-differentiate-himself-from-all-the/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [God is a spirit. Jesus was led up of the Spirit to be tempted of the Devil; and it is also true that spirits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradlaugh/god-is-a-spirit-jesus-was-led-up-of-the-spirit-to-be-tempted-of-the/) [Charles Bradlaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradlaugh/) > [There are those who say that trees shade the garden too much, and interfere with the growth of the vegetables. There may be something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dudley-warner/there-are-those-who-say-that-trees-shade-the-garden-too-much-and/) [Charles Dudley Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dudley-warner/) > [I refuse to buy from anybody anything however nice or beautiful if it interferes with my growth or injures those whom Nature has made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-refuse-to-buy-from-anybody-anything-however-nice-or-beautiful-if-it/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Sometimes it is best for men not to attempt to interfere with destiny. Our prayers can be answered in ways which we do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilbur-smith/sometimes-it-is-best-for-men-not-to-attempt-to-interfere-with-destiny/) [Wilbur Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilbur-smith/) > [People's opinions don't interfere with me. Ageing gracefully is supposed to mean trying not to hide time passing and just looking a wreck. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-moreau/people-s-opinions-don-t-interfere-with-me-ageing-gracefully-is/) [Jeanne Moreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-moreau/) > [More often than not, the belief that you are bad contributes to the "bad" behavior. Change and learning occur most readily when you (a)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/more-often-than-not-the-belief-that-you-are-bad-contributes-to-the/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [Emotional Literacy means being able to recognise what you are feeling, so that it doesn't interfere with thinking. It becomes another dimension to draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susie-orbach/emotional-literacy-means-being-able-to-recognise-what-you-are-feeling/) [Susie Orbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susie-orbach/) > [Not everyone likes the stable, gradual rise of our country. There are some who are using the democratic ideology to interfere in our internal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/not-everyone-likes-the-stable-gradual-rise-of-our-country-there-are/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [The voice of the natural world would be, "Could you please give us space and leave us alone to get along with our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/the-voice-of-the-natural-world-would-be-could-you-please-give-us/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [As long as the state permits itself to interfere in the affairs of literature, literature has the right to interfere with the affairs of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-brodsky/as-long-as-the-state-permits-itself-to-interfere-in-the-affairs-of/) [Joseph Brodsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-brodsky/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More by Steven Moffat > [Like most writers, I write about what has happened to me as that involves the minimum amount of research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/like-most-writers-i-write-about-what-has-happened-to-me-as-that/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [“I'm not a psychopath, I'm a high-functioning sociopath. Do your research.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/i-m-not-a-psychopath-i-m-a-high-functioning-sociopath-do-your-research/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [ The Doctor: This is bad, I don't like this. \[kicks console and yells in pain\] Never use force, you just embarrass yourself. Unless you're… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/the-doctor-this-is-bad-i-don-t-like-this-kicks-console-and-yells-in/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [Don't play games with me! You just killed someone I like, that is not a safe place to stand! I'm the Doctor, and you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/don-t-play-games-with-me-you-just-killed-someone-i-like-that-is-not-a/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [The universe is big, its vast and complicated, and ridiculous. And sometimes, very rarely, impossible things just happen and we call them miracles. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/the-universe-is-big-its-vast-and-complicated-and-ridiculous-and/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [Fascinatingly confident, rude people are great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/fascinatingly-confident-rude-people-are-great/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [ Rose: Look at you, beaming away like you're Father Christmas! The Doctor: Who says I'm not, red-bicycle-when-you-were-twelve? Rose: \[shocked\] What? The Doctor: And everybody… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/rose-look-at-you-beaming-away-like-you-re-father-christmas-the-doctor/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [River Song? Amy Pond? Hardly weak women. It's the exact opposite. You could accuse me of having a fetish for powerful, sexy women who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/river-song-amy-pond-hardly-weak-women-it-s-the-exact-opposite-you/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman are back in Cardiff, back in the box, and back in action - for one of our scariest adventures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/peter-capaldi-and-jenna-coleman-are-back-in-cardiff-back-in-the-box/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [Madge: I don't know why I keep shouting at them. The Doctor: Because every time you see them happy you remember how sad they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/madge-i-don-t-know-why-i-keep-shouting-at-them-the-doctor-because/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [If it’s time to go, remember what you’re leaving. Remember the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/if-it-s-time-to-go-remember-what-you-re-leaving-remember-the-best/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [The Doctor: 'You know when grown-ups tell you everything's going to be fine, but you really think they're lying to make you feel better?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/the-doctor-you-know-when-grown-ups-tell-you-everything-s-going-to-be/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [“Hello, old friend. And here we are. You and me, on the last page. By the time you read these words, Rory and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/hello-old-friend-and-here-we-are-you-and-me-on-the-last-page-by-the/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [“Rory: Amy. I'm gonna need a little help here. Amy: Just stop it! Rory: Just think it through, this will work. This will kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/rory-amy-i-m-gonna-need-a-little-help-here-amy-just-stop-it-rory-just/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [Brainy's the new sexy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/brainy-s-the-new-sexy/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) [Explore all 169 Steven Moffat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) ## More Affair quotes > [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. Their stories are, if they are truthful, untidy affairs, resistant to windings-up and sortings-out. They beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/histories-never-conclude-they-just-pause-their-prose-their-stories/) [Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [Our guiding principle was that design is neither an intellectual nor a material affair, but simply an integral part of the stuff of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gropius/our-guiding-principle-was-that-design-is-neither-an-intellectual-nor/) [Walter Gropius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gropius/) > [I wonder if it's possible to have a love affair that lasts forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/i-wonder-if-it-s-possible-to-have-a-love-affair-that-lasts-forever/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [For a young man to start his career with a love affair with an older woman was quite de rigueur ... Of course, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vita-sackville-west/for-a-young-man-to-start-his-career-with-a-love-affair-with-an-older/) [Vita Sackville-West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vita-sackville-west/) > [As long as the state permits itself to interfere in the affairs of literature, literature has the right to interfere with the affairs of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-brodsky/as-long-as-the-state-permits-itself-to-interfere-in-the-affairs-of/) [Joseph Brodsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-brodsky/) > [Love is mainly an affair of short spasms. If these spasms disappoint us, love dies. It is very seldom that it weathers the experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/love-is-mainly-an-affair-of-short-spasms-if-these-spasms-disappoint/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [The Fundamental Principle that governs - or ought to govern -human affairs if we wish to avoid misunderstandings, conflicts, or pointless utopias, is negotiation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/the-fundamental-principle-that-governs-or-ought-to-govern-human/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [My hope does not rest in the affairs of this world. It rests in Christ who is coming again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/my-hope-does-not-rest-in-the-affairs-of-this-world-it-rests-in-christ/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. The Eisenhower administration believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/in-1953-the-united-states-played-a-significant-role-in-orchestrating/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [Not everyone likes the stable, gradual rise of our country. There are some who are using the democratic ideology to interfere in our internal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/not-everyone-likes-the-stable-gradual-rise-of-our-country-there-are/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [The archives recall not one single incriminating incident, not one drunken escapade, not one reported affair, not one spat with a team-mate or reporter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-atherton/the-archives-recall-not-one-single-incriminating-incident-not-one/) Michael Atherton > [“I ripped the sketch from the wall. "Liar." Edward looked more ravaged than usual. "That is a terrible word, coming from you." "Yup." "And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/i-ripped-the-sketch-from-the-wall-liar-edward-looked-more-ravaged/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [For some people, a one-night stand doesn't make any difference in a seven-year love affair. I don't believe the degree of betrayal is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/for-some-people-a-one-night-stand-doesn-t-make-any-difference-in-a/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [And what is literature, Rabo," he said, "but an insider's newsletter about affairs relating to molecules, of no importance to anything in the universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/and-what-is-literature-rabo-he-said-but-an-insider-s-newsletter-about/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) [Browse all 2,218 Affair quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "So is this how it works Doctor? You never interfere with the affairs of other peoples or planets, unless there are children crying?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steven Moffat" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/so-is-this-how-it-works-doctor-you-never-interfere-with-the-affairs/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Affair" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/so-is-this-how-it-works-doctor-you-never-interfere-with-the-affairs/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1df/steven-moffat-2328_affair_so-is-this-how-it-works-doctor-you-never_1559280.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1df/steven-moffat-2328_affair_so-is-this-how-it-works-doctor-you-never_1559280.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1df/steven-moffat-2328_affair_so-is-this-how-it-works-doctor-you-never_1559280.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“So is this how it works Doctor? You never interfere with the affairs of other peoples or planets, unless…” — Steven Moffat", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Steven Moffat", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "So is this how it works...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/so-is-this-how-it-works-doctor-you-never-interfere-with-the-affairs/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/so-is-this-how-it-works-doctor-you-never-interfere-with-the-affairs/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```