The Wisdom Of Leonard McCoy: Why We Still Love Trek’s Country Doctor

"You treat her like a lady, and she'll always bring you home."

By David Wharton | Updated 1 year ago

McCoy On That Pointy-Eared Bastard

Your blood pressure is practically nonexistent, assuming you call that green stuff in your veins blood.
– “The Naked Time”

Spock: “Your attempt to improve the race through selective breeding.”
McCoy: “Oh, now wait a minute. Not ‘our’ attempt, Mr. Spock. A group of ambitious scientists’. I’m sure you know the type. Devoted to logic, completely unemotional…”
– “Space Seed”

“Jim, I think I liked him with a beard better. It gave him character. Of course, almost any change would be a distinct improvement.”
– “Mirror Mirror”

Scott: “Captain, thank heaven!”
Spock: “Mister Scott, there was no deity involved. It was my cross-circuiting to B that recovered them.”
McCoy: “Well, then, thank pitchforks and pointed ears!”
– “Obsession”

“Did you see the love light in Spock’s eyes? The right computer finally came along.”
– “The Ultimate Computer

McCoy: “Once, just once, I’d like to be able to land someplace and say, ‘Behold, I am the Archangel Gabriel!'”
Spock: “I fail to see the humor in that situation, Doctor.”
McCoy: “Naturally. You could hardly claim to be an angel with those pointed ears, Mister Spock. But say you landed someplace with a pitchfork…”
– “Bread and Circuses”

McCoy: “You mean I have to die to discuss your insights on death?”
Spock: “Forgive me, Doctor. I am receiving a number of distress calls.”
McCoy: “I don’t doubt it!” – McCoy and Spock
– Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

McCoy: “It’s a song, you green-blooded Vulcan. You sing it. The words aren’t important. What’s important is that you have a good time singing it.”
Spock: “Oh, I am sorry, doctor. Were we having a good time?”
McCoy: “God, I liked him better before he died!”
– Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

“I’m going to tell you something that I never thought I’d hear myself say. But it seems that I’ve missed you. And I don’t know if I could stand to lose you again.
– Star Trek III: The Search for Spock