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Star Trek’s Best Captain Catchphrases

By Ryan Britt

Each Star Trek captain had a distinct identity, perhaps best illustrated by their choice of catchphrase to illustrate their personality.

The OG Captain Kirk was known for his command, “Execute!” In Star Trek V: The Final Frontier , he uses the decisive phrase twice .

Slightly less cool was Edward Jellico, captain of the USS Enterprise-D, who liked to tell Riker and Troi to “Get it done!”

An inexplicable standing ovation resulted when Kirk uttered his less-used “Take us out!” among reporters in Star Trek Generations .

Generations also found Captain Picard using a phrase he wasn’t usually known for: “Just do it!”

Captain Lorca kept it simple in Star Trek: Discovery . When he wanted to activate the spore drive, he commanded, “Go!”

Star Wars may have originated the phrase “Punch it!” but in the 2009 Star Trek reboot movie, Captain Pike used the command twice.

Anson Mount’s Captain Pike prefers “Hit it!” which is likely to be heard again in Strange New Worlds in 2021 or 2022.

Captain Freeman of the animated Star Trek: Lower Decks experiments with catchphrases, including “It’s warp time!” and “Warp me!”

Captain Janeway of Star Trek: Voyager said “Do it!” in a forceful way that almost commanded immediate compliance.

Michael Burnham debuted her Starfleet captain catchphrase recently on Star Trek: Discovery , commanding, “Let’s fly!”

Captain Jean-Luc Picard corners the market on catchphrases with his Star Trek: The Next Generation usage of “Make it so!”

This utterance is second only to Picard’s other well-known command, perhaps Star Trek ’s greatest catchphrase: “Engage!”

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Make It So: The 10 Greatest Quotes From Star Trek's Captain Picard

Captain Picard is possibly the most verbose captain in all of Star Trek, as proven by his greatest and most inspiring quotes of all time.

In all of science fiction, there are few characters as complex as Star Trek: The Next Generation 's Captain Jean-Luc Picard . From the start, Picard was older than the usual TV hero, and he had far less hair too. He was stern, confident, and more than willing to yell at his crew on the Enterprise, which was something Captain Kirk was far less likely to do.

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But under all his stoicism, Picard has an artificial heart that beat with a love for the arts and all living things. Picard is a man who sees greatness in everyone and pushes himself and his peers to be better. He never has contempt for others, but he's also not very good at expressing his true feelings. But when the words do come to Picard, they are like poetry. These are but a handful of things Picard has said that capture his true essence...

10 “Seize The Time! Live Now! Make Now Always The Most Precious Time. Now Will Never Come Again.”

While it took Jean-Luc Picard seven years to finally sit down with his crew and play poker, it would be a grave mistake to say he led a less than full life. A bar fight ended with him stabbed through the heart, necessitating a replacement. But what makes that story special is that as Picard looked down to see his would-be mortal wound, he laughed.

He laughed because even at that young age, he believed one thing above all else: life is meant to be lived. Of course, one can live a full life and not get stabbed in the heart, but Picard had his own path to take.

9 “It Is Possible To Commit No Mistakes And Still Lose. That Is Not Weakness, That Is Life.”

As any Trekkie can tell you, to be a commander in Starfleet, a cadet must first go through the Kobayashi Maru scenario. This test places the cadet in the captain's chair and puts them in a no-win scenario. Captain Kirk famously beat the Kobayashi Maru scenario by cheating because he never believed in the idea of a no-win scenario.

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Captain Picard, meanwhile, learned the true meaning of the Kobayashi Maru scenario: sometimes you can not win, but how you handle yourself in defeat is just as important. Picard, if nothing else, always met every scenario with grace and courage.

8 "There Can Be No Justice So Long As Laws Are Absolute."

Every society needs laws. Laws lay out the blueprints for a just society and without them, there is nothing that will hold a society together. But laws cannot be considered absolute, because morality exists in a grey area. A law that does account for the circumstances that led to the breaking of the law is not upholding justice, but creating injustice.

This is an issue humanity has long worked to understand and by the time Captain Picard is flying into the final frontiers, we have learned how to balance laws and justice. As part of his mission for Starfleet , Picard looks to share that knowledge with other civilizations.

7 "There Are Four Lights"

The idea is simple: show a person four lights, and tell them that if they say there are five they will no longer be tortured. The goal is to break that person's will, to make them bend to the torturer's whim, thus giving the torturer full control. When Jean-Luc Picard was taken captive and tortured by the Cardassians, they used this method against him. Picard would not break.

No matter how much they hurt him, the Captain would always defiantly respond with "There are four lights." This is the power that the mind of a strong-willed person has. No matter what is done to them, they will not give in.

6 "Things Are Only Impossible Until They're Not."

History is made by the impossible being conquered. From the first person creating fire to mankind breaking free from the chains of gravity and launching into the skies and placing a foot on the moon, things that once seemed like a fool's dreams have time and again become milestones that have been met and surpassed.

For Captain Picard, traveling at speeds faster than light and using teleportation devices to hang out on previously undiscovered countries makes all of the impossible things seem far more possible. As with all of Star Trek , the joy is in believing that the impossible will, one day, be very possible.

5 "There Was A Time You Looked At The Stars And Dreamed Of What Might Be."

Jean-Luc Picard, like so many heroes before him, understands the importance of dreams. He knows that the person who strives to be more and create more than what exists now is who makes the universe a better place. With each dream realized, new dreams come into being, helping everyone reach greater heights. But as we dream of bigger and better things, we must remember where we started and appreciate how far we have come.

In this instance, Picard was speaking to his evil clone Shinzon who had lived a life of pain, but the idea stands for us all. We all dream of a better world and our place in it.

4 "If We're Going To Be Damned, Let's Be Damned For What We Really Are."

Above all else, Jean-Luc Picard believed it was imperative that a person lives up to their personal beliefs. This doesn't mean a person needs to be perfect, quite the opposite. What it means is that a person needs to stand up for what they believe in and be ready to deal with the consequences.

This quote comes from the very first episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation . As the omnipotent being Q watches the crew of the Enterprise so he can judge all of the human race, Picard makes it clear to his crew what he expects: for them to be true to themselves and the ideology of mankind.

3 "There Are Times, Sir, When Men Of Good Conscience Cannot Blindly Follow Orders."

Sometimes, Star Trek  explores the differences between following orders and doing what is right. Rules can be unjust or cruel, and it is up to each person to decide for themselves what they are willing, or unwilling, to do. For Picard, his beliefs are clear.

He will never intentionally harm a living being if it can be avoided, even if that means going against orders from his higher-ups. There is bravery in refusing to carry out unjust orders. It is a bravery that Picard and the crew of the Enterprise exhibited on more than one occasion.

2 "Villains Who Twirl Their Mustache Are Easy To Spot. Those Who Clothe Themselves In Good Deeds Are Well-Camouflaged."

Fiction tends to make the bad guys easy to recognize. They do clearly evil things in clearly evil ways. In reality, a lot of bad people are great at hiding their true colors behind a façade of kindness and charity. Captain Picard knows this, and he makes it clear that this is still a problem in the far off future.

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As the Captain of the Enterprise, there are hundreds of people who depend on Picard to keep them safe. Part of that safety comes from Picard's ability to recognize a wolf in sheep's clothing, and this is something he is well aware of.

1 "Open Your Mind To The Past... To History, Art, Philosophy. And Then... This Will Mean Something."

Star Trek is about just how great humanity could become if we learn to move past our biases and work together to create a better future. The episodes usually focus on smart people facing difficult problems and coming up with smart answers. No franchise has led more people to become scientists, engineers, or doctors more than Star Trek.

But at its heart, Star Trek is about what makes life worth living and what it means to create a legacy. Stories about good people doing good will inspire future generations. Art, music, and literature are as much a part of what makes mankind great as the science we have discovered. To Picard, you can not have one without the other.

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Jean-Luc Picard

Jean-Luc Picard (13 July 2305–) is a character in the Star Trek fictional universe , the captain of the USS Enterprise -D and the Enterprise -E . He was played by British actor Patrick Stewart in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation , the subsequent films and the streaming television series Star Trek: Picard .

• 1.1 Star Trek: The Next Generation
• 1.2 Star Trek: Picard
• 2 Quotes about Picard
• 3 External links

Quotes [ edit ]

• Catchphrase first used in " Encounter At Farpoint " (28 September 1987) by Gene Roddenberry
• Star Trek Generations (1994) story by Brannon Braga , Ronald D. Moore and Rick Berman
• Star Trek Generations (1994) story by Brannon Braga , Ronald D. Moore and Rick Berman . See also: The beginning of Youtube Video " Picard Words of Wisdom: Cherish Every Moment. Now Will Never Come Again " (09.12.2019) by user "Major Grin".
• Star Trek: First Contact (1996) story by Brannon Braga , Ronald D. Moore and Rick Berman
• Derivative of the statement "Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated" attributed to Mark Twain , paraphrasing his remark: "The report of my death was an exaggeration."
• Jean-Luc Picard , Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) story by John Logan , Rick Berman and Brent Spiner ; On Equality and Peace
• Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) story by John Logan , Rick Berman and Brent Spiner ; On Equality and Peace
• Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) story by John Logan , Rick Berman and Brent Spiner
• Star Trek Picard: New York Comic-Con Trailer . Source: Patrick Stewart (5 October 2019): Star Trek Picard: New York Comic-Con Trailer | #StarTrekPicard. January 23, 2020. Star Trek on CBS All Access Amazon Prime Video UK CTV Sci-Fi Channel. Facebook page of Patrick Stewart.
• Star Trek Picard: New York Comic-Con Trailer . Source: Patrick Stewart (5. October 2019): Star Trek Picard: New York Comic-Con Trailer | #StarTrekPicard. January 23, 2020. Star Trek on CBS All Access Amazon Prime Video UK CTV Sci-Fi Channel. Facebook page of Patrick Stewart.

Star Trek: The Next Generation [ edit ]

• " Encounter At Farpoint " (28 September 1987) by Gene Roddenberry
• " The Last Outpost " (19 October 1987) Story by Richard Krzmeien and Teleplay by  Herbert Wright
• " Justice " (9 November 1987) by Worley Thorne and Ralph Wills
• " The Battle " (16 November 1987) by Larry Forrester
• " When the Bough Breaks " (15 February 1988) by Hannah Louise Shearer; On persistence
• " Coming of Age " (14 March 1988) by Sandy Fries
• " Symbiosis " (18 April 1988) by Robert Lewin. See also: The middle of Youtube Video " Star Trek The Next Generation - The Prime Directive by Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Symbiosis S01E22 " (27.04.2023) by user "Adventures in Rhythm".
• " Skin of Evil " (25 April 1988) by Joseph Stefano
• " Where Silence Has Lease " (28 November 1988) by Jack B. Sowards
• " The Schizoid Man " (23 January 1989) by Richard Manning and Hans Beimler
• " The Measure of a Man " (13 February 1989) by Melinda M. Snodgrass
• Wesley : It's the Yamato , Captain. I can't stop thinking about her. All those people dead . I don't know how you and Commander Riker and Geordi , how you handle it so easily .
• "Contagion" , (March 18, 1989) written by Steve Gerber and Beth Woods
• " Contagion " (20 March 1989) by Steve Gerber and Beth Woods
• This line echoes a line from "Star Trek: TOS", episode "The Paradise Syndrome", in which Spock says "Time, Dr. McCoy, is the one thing we do not have in abundance." It has become a catch-phrase for Trekkies.
• " Pen Pals " (1 May 1989) by Hannah Louise Shearer
• " Q Who " (8 May 1989) by Maurice Hurley
• " Samaritan Snare " (15 May 1989) by Robert L. McCullough
• " Samaritan Snare " (15 May 1989) by Robert L. McCullough. See also: The beginning of Youtube Video " Captain Picard: No greater challenge than the study of philosophy " (17.09.2020) by user "Jason Winning".
• " Peak Performance " (10 July 1989) by David Kemper. See also: The beginning of Youtube Video " Picard Star Trek the Next Generation: It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose " (17.09.2020) by user "Darc Vigilante". See also: The beginning of Youtube Video " Data sulking like Achilles in his tent. " (09.10.2013) by user "SkaIathrax".
• " The Ensigns of Command " (2 October 1989) by Melinda M. Snodgrass. See also: The middle of Youtube Video " TNG Picard owns the Sheliak (Ensigns of Command) " (08.02.2012) by user "trekclip123". Context: Picard exploits a loophole in the treaty with the Sheliak and offers the Sheliak a choice: either wait six months for third-party arbitrators, or give Picard three weeks to evacuate the colony. Outmaneuvered, the Sheliak agree to the three weeks.
• " The Survivors " (9 October 1989) by Michael Wagner
• " The Defector " (1 January 1990) by Ronald D. Moore. See also: Middle of Youtube Video " The Enterprise -D Crossed The Neutral Zone " (28.03.2018) by user "April 5, 2063".
• " The High Ground " (29 January 1990) by Melinda M. Snodgrass
• " The Hunted " (8 January 1990) by Robin Bernheim
• " Tin Man " (23 March 1990) by Dennis Putman Bailey and David Bischoff
• Statement to the entire crew in the alternate timeline towards the end of " Yesterday's Enterprise " (19 February 1990) story by Trent Christopher Ganino, Eric A. Stillwell Ira Steven Behr , Richard Manning , Hans Beimler , Ronald D. Moore . See also: Beginning of Youtube Video " History Never Forgets the Name Enterprise | Star Trek: The Next Generation - Yesterday's Enterprise " (11.06.2017) by user "Star Trek Clips".
• " The Offspring ", (12 March 1990) by René Echevarria
• " Sins of the Father " (19 March 1990) by Drew Deighan
• " Allegiance " (26 March 1990) by Richard Manning and Hans Beimler
• Picard : It's something of a tradition , Guinan - Captain touring the ship before a battle .
• " The Best of Both Worlds " (18 June 1990) by Michael Piller
• The Borg : Captain Jean-Luc Picard. You lead the strongest ship of the Federation Starfleet . You speak for your people .
• “ The Best of Both Worlds ”, (September 24, 1990), by Michael Piller
• Jean-Luc Picard : They took everything I was. They used me to kill and to destroy and I couldn't stop them. I should have been able to stop them. I tried. I tried so hard. But I wasn't strong enough. I wasn't good enough! I should have been able to stop them. I should... I should...
• “ Family ", (October 1, 1990), by Ronald D. Moore
• " First Contact " (29 April 1991) with story by Marc Soctt Zicree and teleplay by Dennis Bailey & David Bischoff and Joe Menosky & Ronald D. Moore and Michael Piller. See also: End of Youtube Video " Captain Picard demonstrates diplomacy. " (06.10.2013) by user "SkaIathrax".
• " The Drumhead " (29 April 1991) by Jeri Taylor
• Jean-Luc Picard : We think we've come so far. Torture of heretics , burning of witches , is all ancient history . Then, before you can blink an eye , suddenly, it threatens to start all over again.
• " In Theory " (3 June 1991) by Joe Menosky and Ronald D. Moore
• " Darmok " (30 September 1991) by Joe Menosky and Phillip LaZebnik. See also: Beginning of Youtube Video " Beginning Scene From the Episode Darmok " (04.10.2021) by user "April 5, 2063".
• " Darmok " (30 September 1991) by Joe Menosky and Phillip LaZebnik
• " A Matter of Time " (30 September 1991) by Rick Berman .
• " The First Duty " (March 30, 1992) by Ronald D. Moore and Naren Shankar
• " The Inner Light " (1 June 1992) by Morgan Gendel and Peter Allan Fields . See also: The beginning of Youtube Video " Picard Words of Wisdom: Cherish Every Moment. Now Will Never Come Again " (09.12.2019) by user "Major Grin".
• " Chain of Command " (October 5, 1992) by Frank Abatemarco
• " Man of the People " (21 December 1992) by Frank Abatemarco
• " Tapestry " (15 February 1993) by Ronald D. Moore
• " Attached " (8 November 1993) by Nick Sagan
• " All Good Things... " (23 May 1994) by Brannon Braga and Ronald D. Moore

Star Trek: Picard [ edit ]

• Remembrance (January 23, 2020), written By Akiva Goldsman and James Duff ; story by Akiva Goldsman & Michael Chabon & Kirsten Beyer & Alex Kurtzman and James Duff
• The End Is the Beginning (February 6, 2020) by Michael Chabon and Akiva Goldsman
• Absolute Candor (February 13, 2020) by Michael Chabon
• Stardust City Rag (February 20, 2020) by Kirsten Beyer
• The Impossible Box (February 27, 2020) by Nick Zayas
• Nepenthe (March 5, 2020) by Samantha Humphrey and Michael Chabon
• Broken Pieces (March 12, 2020) by Samantha Humphrey and Michael Chabon
• Et En Arcadia Argo, Part 1 (March 19, 2020) by Michael Chabon & Ayelet Waldman & Akiva Goldsman
• Et En Arcadia Argo, Part 2 (March 26, 2020) by Michael Chabon & Akiva Goldsman
• The Star Gazer (March 3, 2022) by Akiva Goldsman & Terry Matalas
• Penance (March 3, 2022) by Akiva Goldsman & Terry Matalas and Christopher Monfette (Teleplay) as well as by Michael Chabon and Akiva Goldsman & Terry Matalas and Christopher Monfette (Story)
• Assimilation (March 17, 2022) by Kiley Rossetter & Christopher Monfette. See also: The middle of Youtube Video " Jurati Connecting To The Borg Queen | Star Trek Picard S02E03 " (19.03.2022) by user "Star Trek Friendly".
• Watcher (March 24, 2022) by Juliana James & Jane Maggs (Teleplay) as well as by Travis Fickett & Juliana James (Story)
• Two of One (April 7, 2022) by Cindy Appel & Jane Maggs
• Hide and Seek (April 28, 2022) by Matt Okumura & Chris Derrick
• Farewell (May 5, 2022) by Christopher Monfette and Akiva Goldsman
• No Win Scenario (March 9, 2023) by Terry Matalas & Sean Tretta
• The Bounty (March 23, 2023) by Christopher Monfette
• The Last Generation (April 20, 2023) by Terry Matalas

Quotes about Picard [ edit ]

• George Ankers, “50 years on, we need Star Trek’s optimism more than ever” , Medium , (Jul 27, 2016)
• Dirk Baecker, in Inclusion/ Exclusiom (2002), p. 76
• Emergency Hologram (EMH) playbed by Santiago Cabrera in the Star Trek: Picard episode The End is the Beginning (February 6, 2020) written by Michael Chabon & Akiva Goldsman
• Michael Chabon, "Captain Picard is the hero we need, says Star Trek writer Michael Chabon" , by Richard Trenholm, CNET , (11/7/2018); as quoted in "Michael Chabon on Honoring Star Trek Canon and How Picard Is 'The Hero We Need Right Now'" , by Beth Elderkin, IO9 , (11/9/2018).
• Kevin Decker and Jason Eberl Star Trek and Philosophy: The Wrath of Kant (2008), p. 141
• Marc Dipaol, in War, Politics and Superheroes : Ethics and Propaganda in Comics and Film (2011), p. 30
• Miriam Francisco, “The optimism of ‘Star Trek’” , Michigan Daily , (September 16, 2019)
• Pallab Ghosh , in "Klingons on the Starship Bow" in New Scientist Vo. 117, issue 1605 (24 March 1988), p. 63
• Mark Jancovich and James Lyons, in Quality Popular Television : Cult TV, The Industry and Fans (2003), p. 111
• Sara Gwenllian-Jones and Roberta E. Pearson, in Cult Television (2004), p. 65
• Wess Roberts and Bill Ross in Make It So : Leadership Lessons from Star Trek, The Next Generation (1995), p. xi
• Manu Saadia, “The Enduring Lessons of “Star Trek”” , The New Yorker , (September 8, 2016).
• Spock playbed by Leonard Nimoy in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Unification Part 2 (November 11, 1994), story by by Rick Berman and Michael Piller, teleplay by Michael Piller. See also: Beginning of Youtube Video " Ambassador Spock and Lt. Commander Data Talk " (10.04.2019) by user "April 5, 2063".
• Rosemarie Garland Thomson, Freakery: cultural spectacles of the extraordinary body (1996), p. 334
• Gary Westfahl , in The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy : Themes, Works, and Wonders (2005) Vol. 3, p. 1264
• Grace Lee Whitney , Jim Denney, and Leonard Nimoy in The Longest Trek: My Tour of the Galaxy (1998), p. 81
• Weird Al Yankovic , " White & Nerdy ", Straight Outta Lynwood (2006)

External links [ edit ]

• Biography of Jean-Luc Picard at the official Star Trek website
• Jean-Luc Picard at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki )
• Michael Patrick (April 17, 2023): 50 Picard Quotes to 'Engage' Your Mind and Inspire You to Live Boldly, Bravely and Baldly. In: Parade (magazine) . Archived from the original on December 31, 20232.

• Fictional characters

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12 Inspiring Jean-Luc Picard Quotes to Guide You Through the Stars

These inspirational quotes from Star Trek will help you "make it so!"

Captain of the starship USS Enterprise Jean-Luc Picard first appeared on screens in 1987 with the premiere of the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation . 

Portrayed by acclaimed Shakespearean actor Sir Patrick Stewart, Picard proved himself to be quite different from Captain Kirk in the original series. While Kirk had a tendency to barrel brashly into situations with blind bravery, Picard asserts himself as a more level-headed and strategic leader.

As Star Trek: Picard comes to a close, it's worth looking back at the wisdom and inspiration that Jean-Luc Picard has offered to his crew and his viewers over the years. Here are 12 of Picard’s greatest lines across the Star Trek franchise to help you pursue your best future.

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“If we’re going to be damned, let’s be damned for what we really are.” ( Star Trek: The Next Generation — “Encounter At Farpoint”)

• Photo Credit: Paramount Television

In the very first episode of the series, Picard and the crew of the USS Enterprise encounter Q, an omniscient being. Q issues the crew a challenge to uncover the mysterious secrets of the starbase Farpoint. 

Captain Picard responds with this quote after a crew member asks him how they should behave under the watchful eye of an all-knowing creature. Picard’s poignant response speaks to the fact that, no matter how difficult times may become, a person must always honor the true version of their self.

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“Things are only impossible until they’re not!” ( Star Trek: The Next Generation — “When the Bough Breaks”)

In episode 16 of the first season , the children aboard the USS Enterprise are stolen by a race which has been plagued by the inability to produce their own children. 

When a planetary shield stands between Picard and his rescue mission, Lieutenant Commander Data warns him that penetrating the barrier may be impossible. 

However, impossible doesn’t seem to be a phrase that exists within Picard’s vocabulary. This quote exemplifies Picard’s heroic determination, and it serves to express that the only thing that truly stands between a person and their goals is a feeling of defeat.

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“The only person you’re truly competing against... is yourself.” ( Star Trek: The Next Generation — “Coming of Age”)

When the young Wesley Crusher is denied entry into the Starfleet Academy after the results of his entrance exam, the boy is overcome by a sense of disappointment and shame. 

Though Wesley’s rejection was not for a lack of effort on his part, he finds Captain Picard to apologize for letting the crew of the USS Enterprise down. 

With this quote, Picard reassures Wesley that the important thing isn’t necessarily success, but knowing that you put everything you had into a task, and measured your growth only against yourself.

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“No being is so important that he can usurp the rights of another.” ( Star Trek: The Next Generation — “The Schizoid Man”)

Episode six of the second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation deals with an ill yet brilliant scientist who sets his sights on prolonging his life. 

Unfortunately, he decides that preserving himself within the vessel of Data’s android body is the perfect solution. When Picard uncovers what the scientist has done, he is greatly disturbed, uttering the above quote which asserts that all creatures, regardless of origin, have the same right to life and autonomy as any other. 

Despite what any one person may have to offer, the lives of others should not be viewed as less valuable by comparison.

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“It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not weakness, that is life.” ( Star Trek: The Next Generation — “Peak Performance”)

In the penultimate episode of Season 2, the USS Enterprise crew must engage in simulated war games as the Borg threat looms closer. 

However, when Data’s android intellect and reflexes don’t bring him to victory against the renowned strategist sent to monitor them, he comes to believe he is defective. 

Picard reassures Data with this bit of advice, reminding him that failure is not the greatest tragedy of existence, but rather a natural and sometimes helpful occurrence.

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“Villains who twirl their mustaches are easy to spot. Those who clothe themselves in good deeds are well-camouflaged.” ( Star Trek: The Next Generation — “The Drumhead”)

The 21st episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation ’s fourth season delivered tense intrigue with the arrival of Admiral Nora Satie, who was sent to investigate an act of potential treasonous sabotage aboard the USS Enterprise . 

When Satie’s interrogations devolve into a fanatical witch-hunt, Lieutenant Worf expresses his regret that he aided her goals because he was unable to see her true nature. 

Picard imparts the truth that good and evil will not always appear in black and white, and that hidden threats will always be the most dangerous. He continues to insist that vigilance and skepticism are the only means of combating foes with ulterior motives.

“Every choice we make allows us to manipulate the future… A person’s life, their future, hinges on each of a thousand choices. Living is making choices.” ( Star Trek: The Next Generation — “A Matter of Time”)

In episode nine of Season 5, the crew of the USS Enterprise attempt to save a planet after it has been hit by an asteroid. Because missions can never run too smoothly, a historian from the future arrives to interfere with their efforts. 

Upon being told that helping the injured planet will change the course of the future, Picard rallies against the idea that he must submit to the path of a future that has yet to pass for him. He upholds the importance of not only choice, but the beautiful unknown of possibility.

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“Someone once told me that time was a predator that stalked us all our lives. I rather believe that time is a companion who goes with us on the journey and reminds us to cherish every moment, because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we’ve lived. After all... we’re only mortal.” ( Star Trek: Generations )

• Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures

In this feature film, Jean-Luc Picard joins forces with the presumed dead Captain Kirk in order to stop unhinged scientist Dr. Soran’s planetary massacre. 

In a discussion with Commander Riker, Picard opposes Soran’s bleak outlook on the passage of time. Picard finds the beauty in what’s temporary, and frames the fleeting nature of time as something that can be used to inspire people to live their best lives in the present.

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“Part of having feelings is learning to integrate them into your life… learning to live with them. No matter what the circumstances… Sometimes it takes courage to try... Courage can be an emotion, too.” ( Star Trek: Generations )

Data installs a chip within himself which allows him to experience a full range of emotions. However, the newness of feeling is disorienting and hard for him to control. 

Luckily, Picard can turn anything into a teachable moment. Emotions can be harrowing even for people who have lived with them their entire lives, and facing the truth behind your feelings can be terrifying, but that doesn’t mean the privilege of feeling isn’t worth it.

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“Buried deep within you, beneath all the years of pain and anger, there is something that has never been nurtured: the potential to make yourself a better man. And that is what it is to be human. To make yourself more than you are. Oh, yes — I know you. There was a time you looked at the stars and dreamed of what might be.” ( Star Trek: Nemesis )

Star Trek: Nemesis dives deep into a dark plot hatched by a young clone of Jean-Luc Picard, Shinzon. 

Shinzon has designs on eradicating all forms of life within the Federation, and yet Captain Picard still finds a well of empathy within himself for his counterpart. Picard embraces an ideal of humans being capable of continual betterment—of being able to rise above their circumstances, if given the chance.

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"The past is written, but the future is left for us to write. And we have powerful tools, openness, optimism, and the spirit of curiosity. All they have is secrecy and fear. And fear is the great destroyer." ( Star Trek: Picard)

While the plot of "Broken Pieces" (Season 1, Episode 8 of Star Trek: Picard ) follows the conflict between the Romulans and synths, Picard's words of wisdom are emblematic of the sort of lessons we all can learn from the best versions of science fiction. The idea that the future is still there for the taking—that we can win battles (however small or large) without compromising our morality—are powerful reminders that we can use in our everyday lives.

"There will be a time when you will need to remember that no matter how bleak or unwinnable a situation, as long as you and your crew remain steadfast in your dedication, one to another, you are never ever without hope." ( Star Trek: Picard )

The conflict of Season 3, Episode 4 is in the title: "No Win Scenario." As Picard and his crew are defeated, drifting through a dangerous nebula, they must band together to survive and face the consequences of their own actions. The situation is undoubtedly bleak, but they form a risky plan to recharge their literal and metaphorical batteries. Facing down the nebula and an enemy ship, Picard and co. are certainly desperate but not without hope.

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Jean-Luc Picard , Picard , Picard Quotes , Star Trek Picard , Star Trek The Next Generation - June 17, 2020

Our 10 Favorite Captain Picard Quotes

What makes captain picard quotes stand out, narrowing the list, letting go of context, the top 10 (standalone) captain picard quotes, 10. episode: “justice” (season 1; episode 8), 9. "when the bough breaks" (season 1; episode 17), 8. "the schizoid man" (season 2; episode 6), 7. "peak performance" (season 2; episode 21), 6. "the hunted" (episode 3; episode 11), 5. “in theory” (season 4: episode 5), 4. "the drumhead" (season 4; episode 21), 3. "the drumhead" (season 4; episode 21), 2."attached" (season 7; episode 8), 1.   star trek generations   (motion picture), honorable mention: a standoff, honorable mention: "sins of the father" (season 3; episode 17), any list is only a beginning, leave a comment.

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Star Trek Week: 28 Universally Known Star Trek One-Liners

Every corner of fandom has one-liners that have seeped into the consciousness of society, becoming universally recognizable. Of course, Star Trek is no different.

Here is a list of 28 Star Trek one-liners of which most people are aware. Some of these quotes have made their way into other areas of pop-culture. Some of these quotes have been paraphrased. Some have been used by judges when giving verdicts. There may be one, or two, on the list that escape some people.

1. Space: the final frontier. – Captain James T. Kirk and Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the opening title sequence for Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation

2. KHAAANNN! –Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

3. What does God need with a starship? –Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

4. Fascinating. – Mr. Spock in numerous episodes and movies.

5. Highly illogical. –Mr. Spock in numerous episodes and movies.

6. Live long and prosper. –Mr. Spock in numerous episodes and movies.

7. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one. –Mr. Spock in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

8. I have been and always shall be your friend. –Mr. Spock in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

9. He's dead, Jim! – Doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy in many episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series

10. I am a doctor, not a brick layer. * –Doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode The Devil in the Dark

11. I'm a doctor, not an escalator. –Doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode Friday's Child

12. I'm a doctor, not a mechanic. –Doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode The Doomsday Machine

13. I'm a doctor, not an engineer. –Doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode Mirror, Mirror

14. I'm a doctor, not a coal miner. –Doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode The Empath

15. I'm not a magician, Spock, just an old country doctor. –Doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode The Deadly Years

16. Dammit, Jim! –Doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy in many episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series and the movies.

17. Treat her like a lady, and she'll always bring you home. –Doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Encounter at Farpoint

18. I canna' change the laws of physics. – Montgomery “Scotty” Scott in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode The Naked Time

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19. I've giv'n her all she's got captain, an' I canna give her no more. –Montgomery “Scotty” Scott in many episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series

20. There be whales here! –Montgomery “Scotty” Scott in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

21. Engage! –Captain Jean-Luc Picard in many episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation

22. Make it so! –Captain Jean-Luc Picard in many episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation

23. Shut up, Wesley! –Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Datalore

24. There are four lights! –Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Chain of Command

25. Inquiry. – Data in many episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation

26. I am not a merry man! – Worf in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Qpid

27. It is a good day to die/ Perhaps today is a good day to die! –Worf says variation of “a good day to to die” a number of times. “It is a good day to die” was said in the Star Trek: The Next Generataion episode Sins of the Father . Worf says, “Perhaps today IS a good day to die!” in Star Trek: First Contact

28. Resistance is futile. – The Borg in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Voyager , and Star Trek: First Contact

The most misquoted popular one-line from Star Trek is, “Beam me up, Scotty.” Variations of this line are spoken, but not once was that actual line used.

What are some of your favorite one-liners?

__*__The “I'm a doctor” meme is also used by Doctor Julian Bashir in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , The Doctor (EMH) in Star Trek: Voyager, and Doctor Phlox in Star Trek: Enterprise .

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Warp Speed Your Inspiration: 55 Iconic Star Trek Quotes for Fans

Last Updated on February 25, 2024

The Star Trek universe is full of wisdom and brilliant one-liners that are impressive for learning and food for thought. There are bound to be hundreds of amazing quotes to choose from with so many seasons, both new and old, to watch! Everyone has their favorites, so there is a classic quote here for you somewhere, whether it be Spock, Jean Luc Picard, Leonard McCoy, Scotty, or James T Kirk.

You could almost say it would be “highly illogical” not to read on! (If you know, you know). Before we give you 55 Quotes that will be sure to keep you wanting more Star Trek, let’s quickly discuss what Star Trek is (for those that have been living under a rock for 40 years!)

What is Star Trek?

Star Trek is an American science fiction program that Gene Roddenberry created. The very first series debuted over 50 years ago in 1966! Since then, a host of different spin-offs, mini-series, animated movies, cartoons, toys, games, and books/comics have been released. A cult following has developed around the movie, and many fans dress up as characters for conventions and even go as far as to do a V-shaped hand sign, whilst saying the classic catchphrase “live long and prosper”. Ironically, the Star Trek series continues to prosper, even 50+ years after its debut, long may it continue!

• “Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end.” — Spock
• “Madness has no purpose. Or reason. But it may have a goal.” — Spock
• “You mind your place, mister, or you’ll be wearing concrete galoshes.” — Scotty
• “ Confidence is faith in oneself. It can’t easily be given by another.” — Deanna Troi
• “Engage!” — Jean-Luc Picard
• “I have been and always shall be your friend.” — Spock
• “A lie is a very poor way to say hello.” — Edith Keeler
• “Live now; make now always the most precious time . Now will never come again.” — Jean-Luc Picard
• “Could you please continue the petty bickering? I find it most intriguing.” — Data
• “You may find that having is not so pleasing a thing as wanting. This is not logical, but it is often true.” — Spock
• “Please, Mrs. Troi! … and it’s Worf, not Woof.” — Lt. Worf
• “Insufficient facts always invite danger.” — Spock
• “I am a doctor, not a bricklayer.” — Dr. McCoy
• “Make it so!” — Jean-Luc Picard
• “Perhaps man wasn’t meant for paradise. Maybe he was meant to claw, to scratch all the way.” — Captain Kirk
• “Well, I know this much: We can’t avoid the future .” — William T. Riker
• “Respect is earned, not bestowed.” — Deanna Troi
• “Just before they went into warp, I beamed the whole kit and kaboodle into their engine room, where they’ll be no tribble at all.” — Scotty
• “I’m a doctor, not an escalator.” — Dr. McCoy
• “Yes, sir. I am attempting to fill a silent moment with non-relevant conversation.” — Data
• “Flair is what marks the difference between artistry and mere competence.” — William T. Riker
• “The only person you’re truly competing against is yourself.” — Jean-Luc Picard
• “Dammit, Jim!” — Dr. McCoy
• “You can use logic to justify almost anything. That’s its power. And its flaw.” — Captain Cathryn Janeway
• “Without followers, evil cannot spread.” — Spock
• “They used to say that if man was meant to fly, he’d have wings. But he did fly. He discovered he had to.” — Captain Kirk
• “When governments murder those who speak the truth, it is time to get new governments.” — Diane Duane
• “To all mankind: May we never find space so vast, planets so cold, heart and mind so empty, that we cannot fill them with love and warmth.” — Garth
• “I am not a merry man.” — Lt. Worf
• “Emotions are alien to me. I’m a scientist.” — Spock
• “Fear is the true enemy. The only enemy.” — William T. Riker
• “In critical moments, men sometimes see exactly what they wish to see.” — Spock
• “Compassion: That’s the one thing no machine ever had. Maybe it’s the one thing that keeps men ahead of them.” — Dr. McCoy
• “Sharing an orbit with God is no small experience.” — Deanna Troi
• “I would gladly risk feeling bad at times if it also meant that I could taste my dessert. — Data
• “I have been told that patience is sometimes a more effective weapon than the sword.” — Lt. Worf
• “Change is the essential process of all existence.” — Spock
• “Sometimes a feeling is all we humans have to go on.” — Captain Kirk
• “I cannae change the laws of physics! I’ve got to have thirty minutes!” — Scotty
• “If we’re going to be damned, let’s be damned for what we really are.” — Jean-Luc Picard
• “Live long and prosper!” — Spock
• “What does God need with a starship?” — Captain Kirk
• “Computers make excellent and efficient servants, but I have no wish to serve under them.” — Spock
• “Leave bigotry in your quarters; there’s no room for it on the bridge.” — Captain Kirk
• “Baby needs a new pair of shoes.” — Data
• “The prejudices people feel about each other disappear when they get to know each other.” — Captain Kirk
• “Things are only impossible until they are not.” — Jean-Luc Picard
• “I’m a doctor, not a mechanic.” — Dr. McCoy
• “If we resist, we die. If we don’t resist… we die.” — William T. Riker
• “A species that enslaves other beings is hardly superior, mentally or otherwise.” — Captain Kirk
• “Curious, how often you humans manage that which you do not want.” — Spock
• “A man either lives life as it happens to him, meets it head-on and licks it, or he turns his back on it and starts to wither away.” — Dr. Boyce
• “Humans do have an amazing capacity for believing what they choose — and excluding that which is painful.” — Spock
• “It’s not safe out here. It’s wondrous, with treasures to satiate desires both subtle and gross; but it’s not for the timid.” — Q
• “With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably.” — Jean-Luc Picard

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Igor is an SEO specialist, designer, photographer, writer and music producer. He believes that knowledge can change the world and be used to inspire and empower young people to build the life of their dreams. When he is not writing in his favorite coffee shop, Igor spends most of his time reading books, taking photos, producing house music, and learning about cinematography. He is a sucker for good coffee, Indian food, and video games.

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22 Famous Star Trek Quotes that Will Live Forever

If you haven’t watched Star Trek , you’ve at least heard about it. The sci-fi television series created by Gene Roddenberry has earned millions of fans over the years.

Roddenberry was allegedly inspired by Gulliver's Travels and a TV series called Wagon Train to create Star Trek.  Each episode of the series is built as an incredible adventure, but also as a morality tale, considering that the episodes depict cultural realities and conflicts like war and peace, sexism, human rights, religion, economics, loyalty, racism and technology.

RELATED:  19 Yoda Quotes to Keep You Away From the Dark Side and Awaken the Greatness Within

Due to this approach, Star Trek is not only about space adventure and exploration. The franchise is also recognized for being one of the first TV series with a multiracial cast and applauded for its attitude toward civil rights.

The Star Trek world was full of wisdom and great lines, but here are 22 of the most meaningful quotes from its characters . 

A man either lives life as it happens to him, meets it head-on and licks it, or he turns his back on it and starts to wither away. -- Dr. Boyce

Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end. -- Spock

You may find that having is not so pleasing a thing as wanting. This is not logical, but it is often true. -- Spock

Live now ; make now always the most precious time. Now will never come again. -- Jean-Luc Picard

Sometimes a feeling is all we humans have to go on. -- Captain Kirk

With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably. -- Jean-Luc Picard

The prejudices people feel about each other disappear when they get to know each other. -- Captain Kirk

If we're going to be damned, let's be damned for what we really are. -- Jean-Luc Picard

Insufficient facts always invite danger. -- Spock

Perhaps man wasn't meant for paradise. Maybe he was meant to claw, to scratch all the way. -- Captain Kirk

In critical moments, men sometimes see exactly what they wish to see. -- Spock

Compassion: that's the one thing no machine ever had. Maybe it's the one thing that keeps men ahead of them. -- Dr. McCoy

Change is the essential process of all existence. -- Spock

Without followers, evil cannot spread. -- Spock

Our species can only survive if we have obstacles to overcome . You remove those obstacles. Without them to strengthen us, we will weaken and die. -- Captain Kirk

Curious, how often you humans manage to obtain that which you do not want. -- Spock

One man cannot summon the future. But one man can change the present! -- Spock

To all mankind -- may we never find space so vast, planets so cold, heart and mind so empty that we cannot fill them with love and warmth. -- Garth

You know the greatest danger facing us is ourselves, and irrational fear of the unknown. There is no such thing as the unknown. Only things temporarily hidden, temporarily not understood. -- Captain Kirk

A species that enslaves other beings is hardly superior -- mentally or otherwise. -- Captain Kirk

Now, I don't pretend to tell you how to find happiness and love, when every day is a struggle to survive. But I do insist that you do survive, because the days and the years ahead are worth living for! -- Edith Keeler

Live long and prosper! -- Spock

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Mom Horrified When Daughter Calls Classmate "Fat"

Brittany Cole ( @brittmcole ), a mother of two from Shawnee, Kansas, faced a challenging moment when her 4-year-old daughter Norah came home from school excited about her new friend, describing her as "the fat girl with pink glasses."

Cole was taken aback by the description, recognizing that it could be hurtful, but also aware that her young daughter might not understand the negative connotations associated with the word "fat." In a TikTok post, Cole shared her dilemma and asked for advice from other parents, sparking a thoughtful conversation about how to address sensitive topics with young children.

This Mom Was Torn — She Wanted To Inform NOT Fat Shame

Cole found herself in a difficult position: she wanted to guide her daughter toward using more respectful language without shaming her for an innocent observation. She knew that describing someone as "fat" could be seen as offensive, but she also didn't want to ruin her daughter's innocent view of the world by imposing adult perspectives on her. Cole was concerned that if she didn't address the issue, her daughter might unintentionally insult her friend or other children. Yet, she wanted to find a way to do so without turning "fat" into a forbidden word or making her daughter feel guilty for her choice of words.

Watch Brittany Cole's Video:

@brittmcole If its all about intent this is okay right? 🫠

Hundreds of Helpful Suggestions Came Pouring In: Here's What They Had To Say

Cole's TikTok video quickly gained attention, with parents and experts offering a wide range of advice. Some commenters suggested encouraging Norah to describe people based on other characteristics, like hair color or height, instead of focusing on body size. Others recommended explaining to Norah that certain words can have different meanings depending on context and that calling someone "fat" might hurt their feelings. A common theme among the suggestions was to start conversations about body image and self-esteem early, emphasizing that everyone is unique and valuable regardless of their physical appearance.

"It’s normal for kids this age to start to notice differences between themselves and others so I do think it’s important to have a conversation with her about how pointing things out like that can make." - @nosk2212

Parents Don't Have To Know It All! Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Advice

Cole's experience is a reminder that parenting can be complex, and there's no single right way to handle every situation. By sharing her story and asking for advice, Cole demonstrated that it's okay to seek guidance from others when faced with challenging parenting moments.

Parenting experts like Rachel Simmons recommend that parents start these conversations with their children as early as possible, acknowledging that certain words can carry different weights in society. Cole's openness and willingness to learn from others show that parents don't have to know it all — they just need to be willing to listen, learn, and adapt as they navigate the journey of raising compassionate, empathetic children.

9-Year-Old Has to Steal Food to Feed Her Brothers - But One Police Officer Changes Her Life

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blonde haired woman and a Facebook page

Marlena Karbowski, is the Liverpool banker who found herself sucked into a modern-day love story — with a dark twist.

Elderly Woman Was Going to Sell Her Home for Her Mystery “Boyfriend”

It all began when a sweet elderly woman entered the Westpac branch Karbowski worked at. But despite appearances, Karbowski couldn't help but notice there was something suspicious about this woman.

When the client (who remained anonymous) approached Karbowski's desk, she revealed her shocking intentions for showing up that day and it instantly raised a red flag for Karbowski. This elderly client had suddenly decided she wanted to sell her home and cancel her Westpac home insurance.

Even though Karbowski didn't know what exactly was going on, one thing was absolutely clear. The elderly woman – who had been a loyal Westpac client for years and did not have a diverse history of investing — was acting out of character. The only question was what — or who — was making her act so irrationally?

When Karbowski probed further, she received a vague answer from her client about "helping her son." But this surface-level explanation didn't satisfy Karbowski. Her instincts kicked in so she delved deeper. Finally, during a private conversation with her client, the dark truth hidden beneath the surface was revealed.

Her Gut Instinct Knew There Was More to This Story

"I asked her to send me photos of the guy and I put them into a Google reverse image search. There were so many different pictures of this guy, one was of a model somewhere in America, so then we knew it was a scam,” recounted Karbowski.

After a brief investigation, Karbowski discovered the elderly woman's true mission. She was seeking funds to secure her "boyfriend's" release from imprisonment overseas. The only way she knew how to get the money was to sell her home. Karbowski calmly asked to see photos of her alleged online beau. It didn't take the tech-savvy Karbowski much time to discover a disturbing pattern.

Her “Guardian Angel” Rescued Her in the Nick of Time

A reverse Google search heartbreakingly revealed that this mysterious "boyfriend" was not who he said he was. Many of the photos the woman had received from her purported beau were found online, stolen from other people's accounts with different names. When Karbowski realized her client had already negotiated the sale of her home, she felt sick to her stomach.

Due to the immediate nature of the matter, Karbowski made it her number one priority to save this elderly woman from homelessness. Fortunately, the settlement of the property was still one week away so her elderly client still had time to cancel the sale of her house. But she wasn't finished with her just yet.

Hand-in-hand Karbowski walked her client over to the Liverpool Police Station. She encouraged her to report the crime, ensuring that the necessary steps were taken to protect her client from further harm.

As Marlena Karbowski spoke to the elderly woman, a single question made the whole puzzle come into focus. With a gentle, unassuming voice, Karbowski asked, “When was the last time he took you out for coffee?” The silence that followed was more revealing than any words could be. The elderly woman’s eyes flickered with the painful realization that she had never actually met her "boyfriend" in person. In that moment, it all became clear to both of them.

"We cried together. We care and when we see those red flags, we act.” - Marlena Karbowski

Karbowski knew this was the turning point. It wasn’t just about money or property; it was about unraveling the emotional manipulation and lies that had ensnared her client. The air in the room grew heavier as they sat together, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. Karbowski offered a comforting presence as the elderly woman processed the truth, tears welling in her eyes.

This simple question was the key to unlocking a story of betrayal that had been expertly woven by the scammer. Karbowski's instincts had paid off, and she was ready to guide her client through the difficult steps that would follow.

Do You Think a Loved One Is Involved in a Romance Scam? Here Are a Few Simple Tips:

• Trust Your Instincts : Sometimes, our gut feelings speak louder than words. If something feels off, don't ignore it.
• Ask Probing Questions: Delve deeper into their story with gentle inquiries that encourage honesty and reflection.
• Verify Information: Empower them to verify the identity of their online partner through simple checks and searches.
• Seek Support: Let them know they're not alone. Connect them with resources and support networks that offer guidance and assistance.
• Report Suspicious Activity: If you suspect foul play, don't hesitate to reach out to the authorities or financial institutions for help. Together, we can protect our loved ones from the pitfalls of online deception.

Copyright © 2024 Goalcast

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The Origins of 11 Famous Star Trek Lines

By rick marshall | nov 6, 2015.

Few franchises have had the cultural impact of the various Star Trek television series and movies, and nowhere is that more evident than in the snippets of dialogue that have become a part of the American vernacular—and in some cases, found their way abroad, too. Here are 11 of the most notable Star Trek catchphrases, as well as a little more information about their origins.

1. "Live Long and Prosper"

The Vulcan greeting and the finger-separating hand gesture that accompanies it first appeared in the second season of Star Trek: The Original Series , during an episode titled “Amok Time.” Spock himself (actor Leonard Nimoy) has made no secret of the fact that the gesture and phrase were his idea, and that he based them on Orthodox Jewish blessings he remembered from his childhood. In the Jewish blessing, the position of the fingers forms the Hebrew letter “Shin,” which represents the name “Shaddai” (Almighty God). Nimoy put his own spin on the traditional gesture by holding up just one hand (instead of both) and changing up the verbal blessing slightly.

2. "Highly Illogical..."

While Spock never shied away from questioning the logic of those around him—usually Kirk—it wasn't until the second season that he took things up a notch and deemed the actions of the native inhabitants of planet Omega IV “highly illogical” in the episode titled “The Omega Glory.” Previously, it had always just been “illogical” or, in rare cases, “most illogical,” but it took a pair of natives attacking Kirk in a jail cell for Spock to pair his trademark raised-eyebrow reaction with the term “highly illogical.” The phrase would then be repeated in several more episodes, as well as the subsequent films and J.J. Abrams' reboot of the franchise.

Bonus: “Highly Illogical” was also the name of Leonard Nimoy's 1993 music album featuring several songs he recorded in the 1960s (including “The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins”) as well as a few new tunes.

3. "Beam Me Up, Scotty"

One of the most interesting aspects of this phrase—a request directed at Chief Engineer Montgomery “Scotty” Scott for transport back to the USS Enterprise—is that it was never actually uttered in any of the Star Trek television series or movies. More often than not, the command was akin to “Three to beam up” or more directly, “Beam them up,” with the closest approximation being “Beam us up, Scotty” in a few episodes of the Star Trek animated series. However, William Shatner did say this line while reading the audio version of his novel Star Trek: The Ashes of Eden .

4. "I'm A Doctor, Not A..."

Everyone knows that Dr. Leonard McCoy is not an engineer, a coal miner, or an escalator, but that never stopped him from reminding his fellow crew members. The first time DeForest Kelley uttered his famous catchphrase as we know it was in a first-season episode titled “The Devil in the Dark.” In that episode, McCoy saw fit to let Kirk know that he was a doctor, not a brick-layer. It's worth noting that an earlier episode, “The Corbomite Maneuver," had him asking Capt. Kirk, “What am I, a doctor or a moon-shuttle conductor?” but it wasn't until much later in the season that we got the full line that would later be heard in just about every subsequent series, as well as the Star Trek films. The line even made it into J.J. Abrams' 2009 reboot, with Karl Urban (as McCoy) exclaiming, “I'm a doctor, not a physicist!”

5. "Make It So"

Captain Jean-Luc Picard's signature line was a part of Star Trek: The Next Generation from the very start, with actor Patrick Stewart uttering what would become his character's most memorable catchphrase in the pilot episode, “Encounter at Farpoint.” The episode was written by Gene Roddenberry himself, so it's likely that he wrote the line for Picard, though the phrase has been in use for quite a while in military circles as a way to tell someone to proceed with a command.

6. "To Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before..."

The infinitive-splitting opening narration for each episode of Star Trek: The Original Series (with the exception of the pilot episodes) was famously recited by William Shatner, but the actual origins of the line are uncertain at best. Some reports suggest that it was inspired by a 1958 White House press booklet promoting the space program, though some have speculated that it came from a statement made by explorer James Cook following an expedition to Newfoundland. Writer Samuel Peeples, who authored the pilot episode “Where No Man Has Gone Before,” is often credited with the decision to make the phrase such a significant part of the series. The line was eventually repeated—with a few minor tweaks—in each iteration of the series and films.

7. "Khaaannnn!"

Possibly the most meme-friendly line of dialogue ever to come out of the Star Trek universe, this scream of rage originated in (no surprise here) Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan . Left marooned on a dead planet by the evil villain Khan then taunted about his predicament, Kirk let loose with a primal roar—and the rest was viral-video history.

8. "I'm Givin' Her All She's Got, Captain!"

Much like “Beam me up, Scotty,” this famous catchphrase often associated with USS Enterprise Chief Engineer Montgomery “Scotty” Scott in Star Trek: The Original Series was never said in this exact form by actor James Doohan in the series or subsequent films. The closest approximation is a line in the second-season episode “The Changeling,” when Kirk asks Scotty to divert more power to the ship's shields. Scotty responds with, “Giving them all we got.” However, Doohan did utter every word of the famous line as part of a cameo in 1993's Loaded Weapon , in which he turns up as a panicky police officer trying to fix a coffee machine. Similarly, Simon Pegg used the same line “I'm givin' her all she's got, Captain!” in 2009's Star Trek reboot, in which he plays a young Montgomery Scott.

9. "Nuclear Wessels"

Russian crew member Pavel Andreievich Chekov's inability to pronounce the letter “V” became a recurring joke after the character was introduced in the second season of Star Trek: The Original Series as the ship's navigator. While it made for some funny moments throughout the series and subsequent movies, one of the most memorable pronunciation gaffes occurred during Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home , when Chekov begins asking passers-by in 1980s San Francisco where he can find “nuclear wessels.” Even though Walter Koenig had been playing the character for almost 20 years before The Voyage Home hit theaters, the two-word line soon became indelibly connected with his portrayal of the character.

10. "Resistance Is Futile"

This famous line was first uttered by robotic aliens The Borg in the epic third-season finale of Star Trek: The Next Generation , titled “Best of Both Worlds, Part 1.” Not only did the 1990 episode offer up one of the greatest cliffhangers in television history, but it also coined a phrase that would live forever in the nightmares of fans—mainly because it was recycled for use in countless other series and films down the road.

11. "Set Phasers To Stun"

It was established early on in Star Trek: The Original Series that the phasers used by the crew of USS Enterprise had a “stun” setting (as mentioned in “The Man Trap” episode), and both Kirk and Spock often found themselves instructing their crewmates to use the non-lethal capabilities of their standard-issue weapons. However, it wasn't until the second season of Star Trek: The Animated Series that we first heard Kirk issue the command “Set phasers to stun.” The line eventually became an oft-repeated order in subsequent series, turning up in both Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: The Next Generation , as well as many of the movies (including 2009's reboot).

This article originally appeared in 2013.

Star Trek (TV Series)

The cage (1966), jeffrey hunter: captain christopher pike.

• Photos (15)
• Quotes (31)

Photos 

Quotes 

Captain Christopher Pike : The point is that this isn't the only life available. There's a whole galaxy of things to choose from.

Dr. Boyce : Not for you. A man either lives life as it happens to him, meets it head-on and licks it, or he... turns his back on it and starts to wither away.

Captain Christopher Pike : Now you're beginning to talk like a doctor, bartender.

Dr. Boyce : Take your choice. We both get the same two kinds of customers - the living... and the dying.

[Dr. Boyce is preparing a drink for Pike] 

Captain Christopher Pike : The devil're you putting in there, ice?

Dr. Boyce : Who wants a warm martini?

Captain Christopher Pike : What makes you think I need one?

Dr. Boyce : Sometimes, a man'll tell his bartender things he'll... never tell his doctor.

[Captain Pike just had an awkward encounter with Yeoman Colt] 

Number One : She's replacing your former yeoman, sir.

Captain Christopher Pike : No, she does a good job, all right; it's just that I... can't get used to having a woman on the bridge.

[Number One gives him a look] 

Captain Christopher Pike : No offense, Lieutenant, you're... different, of course.

Captain Christopher Pike : I'm tired of being responsible for 203 lives, and... I'm tired of deciding which mission is too risky and which isn't, and who's going on the landing party and who doesn't. And who lives... and who dies. Oh, I've had it, Phil.

Dr. Boyce : To the point of finally taking my advice, a rest leave?

Captain Christopher Pike : To the point of considering resigning.

Captain Christopher Pike : But we're not here, neither of us. We're in a menagerie, a cage.

Captain Christopher Pike : You can tell my jailers I won't go along with it. I'm not an animal performing for its supper.

Captain Christopher Pike : I'll break out of this zoo somehow and get to you. Is your blood red like ours? I'm gonna find out.

Captain Christopher Pike : Why are you here?

Vina : To please you.

Captain Christopher Pike : Are you real?

Vina : As real as you wish.

Captain Christopher Pike : It's funny. Just about 24 hours ago, I was telling the ship's doctor how much I wanted something else - not... very different from what we have here. An escape from reality, a life with no frustrations; no responsibilities. And now that I have it, I understand the Doctor's answer.

[...] 

Captain Christopher Pike : Because you either live life - bruises, skinned knees and all - or you turn your back on it and start dying. The Doctor's gonna be happy about one part, at least; he said I needed a rest.

The Keeper : With the female of your choice, you will now begin carefully guided lives.

Captain Christopher Pike : And start by burying you?

The Keeper : That is your choice.

[last lines] 

Yeoman J.M. Colt : [to Pike]  S-sir? I was wondering. Just curious. Who would've been Eve?

Number One : Yeoman! You've delivered your report.

Yeoman J.M. Colt : Yes, ma'am. Yes, sir.

Lieutenant Jose Tyler : [to Pike]  Eve, sir?... Yes, sir.

Dr. Boyce : "Eve" as in "Adam"?

Captain Christopher Pike : As in all ship's doctors are dirty old men. What are we running here, a cadet ship, Number One? Are we ready or not?

Number One : All decks show ready, sir.

Captain Christopher Pike : Engage!

Vina : You see why I can't go with you?

The Keeper : This is the female's true appearance.

Vina : They found me in the wreckage dying, a lump of flesh. They rebuilt me. Everything works, but they had never seen a human. They had no guide for putting me back together.

The Keeper : It was necessary to convince you her desire to stay is an honest one.

Captain Christopher Pike : You'll give her back her illusion of beauty?

The Keeper : And more.

[a double of Pike appears and leaves with Vina] 

The Keeper : She has an illusion, and you have reality. May you find your way as pleasant.

First Talosian : [talking about Pike, who is being held in a Talosian prison cell]  It appears, Magistrate, that the intelligence of the specimen is shockingly limited.

The Keeper : This is no surprise, since his vessel was baited here so easily with a simulated message. As you can read in its thoughts, it is only now beginning to suspect that the survivors and encampment were a simple illusion we placed in their minds.

Captain Christopher Pike : You're not speaking, yet I can hear you.

The Keeper : You will note the confusion as it reads our thought transmissions.

Captain Christopher Pike : All right then, telepathy. You can read my mind, I can read yours. Now, unless you want my ship to consider capturing me an unfriendly act...

The Keeper : You'll now see the primitive fear threat reaction. The specimen is about to boast of his strength, the weaponry of his vessel, and so on. Next, frustrated into a need to display physical prowess, the creature will throw himself against the transparency.

[Pike does so] 

Captain Christopher Pike : If you were in here, wouldn't you test the strength of these walls, too? There's a way out of any cage, and I'll find it!

The Keeper : Despite its frustration, the creature appears more adaptable than our specimens from other planets. We can soon begin the experiment.

Captain Christopher Pike : Why would an illusion be frightened?

Vina : Because that's the way you imagined me.

Dr. Boyce : What's been on your mind, Chris? The fight on Rigel VII?

Captain Christopher Pike : Shouldn't it be? My only yeoman and two others dead, seven injured.

Dr. Boyce : Was there anything you personally could've done to prevent it?

Captain Christopher Pike : Oh, I should have smelled trouble when I saw the swords and the armor. Instead of that, I let myself get trapped in that deserted fortress and attacked by one of their warriors.

Dr. Boyce : Chris, you set standards for yourself no one could meet. You treat everyone on board like a human being except yourself.

C.P.O. Garrison : We're passing through an old-style distress signal.

Captain Christopher Pike : They were keyed to cause interference and attract attention this way.

C.P.O. Garrison : A ship in trouble making a forced landing, sir. That's it. No other message.

Lieutenant Jose Tyler : I have a fix. It comes from the Talos star group.

Number One : We've no ships or Earth colonies that far out.

Mr. Spock : Their call letters check with a survey expedition; S.S. Columbia. Disappeared in that region approximately 18 years ago.

Lieutenant Jose Tyler : It would take that long for a radio beam to travel from there to here.

Mr. Spock : Records show the Talos group has never been explored. Solar system similar to Earth. Eleven planets. Number four seems to be Class-M; oxygen atmosphere.

Number One : Then they could still be alive, even after 18 years.

Captain Christopher Pike : If they survived the crash.

Mr. Spock : We aren't going to go to be certain?

Captain Christopher Pike : Not without any indication of survivors, no. We'll continue on the Vega colony and take care of our own sick and injured first.

Vina : Don't you have a... a dream, something you've always wanted very badly?

Captain Christopher Pike : Or do they do more than just watch me? Do they... feel with me, too?

Vina : You can have whatever dream you want. I can become anything, any woman you've ever imagined. You can have anything you want in the whole universe. Let me... please you.

Captain Christopher Pike : Yes, yes, you can please me. You can tell me about them. Is there any way I can keep them from probing my mind, from using my thoughts against me? Does that frighten you? Does that mean there is a way?

Vina : You're a fool!

Captain Christopher Pike : And since you're not real, there's not much point in continuing this conversation, is there?

Captain Christopher Pike : How far can they control my mind?

Vina : If I tell you, then will you pick some dream you've had and let me live it with you?

Captain Christopher Pike : Perhaps.

Vina : They... they can't actually make you do anything you don't want to...

Captain Christopher Pike : But they try to trick me with their illusions.

Vina : And, uh, they can punish you when you're not cooperative. You'll find out about that.

Captain Christopher Pike : Did they ever live on the surface of this planet?

[she nods] 

Captain Christopher Pike : Why did they go underground?

Vina : War, thousands of centuries ago.

Captain Christopher Pike : That's why it's so barren up there?

Vina : The planet's only now becoming able to support life again.

Captain Christopher Pike : So the Talosians who came underground found life limited here and they concentrated on developing their mental power.

Vina : But they found it's a trap, like a narcotic.

Captain Christopher Pike : [forcing the Keeper to lead them out of their captivity]  Make contact, Number One.

Number One : They kept us from seeing this, too. We cut through and never knew it.

[showing him her malfunctioning communicator] 

Number One : Captain!

The Keeper : As you see, your attempt to escape accomplished nothing.

Captain Christopher Pike : Back in my cage, it seemed for a couple of minutes that our keeper couldn't read my thoughts. Do emotions like hate, keeping hate in your mind, does that block off our mind from them?

Captain Christopher Pike : Yes. They can't read through primitive emotions. But you can't keep it up for long enough. I've tried. They keep at you and at you, year after year, tricking and punishing. And they won. They own me. I know you must hate me for that.

Captain Christopher Pike : Oh, no, I don't hate you. I can guess what it was like.

Vina : But that's not enough. Don't you see? They read my thoughts, my feelings, my dreams of what would be a perfect man. And that's why they picked you. I can't help but love you, and they expect you to feel the same way.

Captain Christopher Pike : If they can read my mind, then they know I'm attracted to you. I was from the very first moment I saw you in the survivors' camp.

The Keeper : The vial contains a nourishing protein complex.

Captain Christopher Pike : Is the keeper actually communicating with one of his animals?

The Keeper : If the form and the color is not appealing, it can appear as any food you wish to visualize.

Captain Christopher Pike : And if I prefer...

The Keeper : To starve? You overlook the unpleasant alternative of punishment.

The Keeper : As you've conjectured, an Earth vessel did crash on our planet, but with only a single survivor.

Captain Christopher Pike : No, let's stay on the first subject. All I wanted for that moment was to get my hands around your neck.

The Keeper : We repaired the survivor's injuries and found the species interesting.

Captain Christopher Pike : Do primitive thoughts put up a block you can't read through?

The Keeper : It became necessary to attract a mate.

Captain Christopher Pike : All right, all right, let's talk about the girl. You seem to be going out of your way to make her attractive, to make me feel protective.

The Keeper : This is necessary in order to perpetuate the species.

Captain Christopher Pike : It seems more important to you now that I begin to accept her and like her.

The Keeper : We wish our specimens to be happy in their new life.

The Keeper : We had not believed this possible. The customs and history of your race show a unique hatred of captivity. Even when it's pleasant and benevolent, you prefer death. This makes you too violent and dangerous a species for our needs.

Vina : He means that they can't use you. You're free to go back to the ship.

Captain Christopher Pike : And that's it? No apologies? You captured one of us, threatened all of us.

First Talosian : Your unsuitability has condemned the Talosian race to eventual death. Is this not sufficient?

The Keeper : No other specimen has shown your adaptability. You were our last hope.

Captain Christopher Pike : But wouldn't some form of trade, mutual cooperation...

The Keeper : Your race would learn our power of illusion and destroy itself, too.

The Keeper : To help you reclaim the planet's surface, our zoological gardens will furnish a variety of plant life.

Captain Christopher Pike : Look, I'll make a deal with you. You and your life for the lives of these two Earth women.

The Keeper : Since our lifespan is many times yours, we have time to evolve you into a society trained to serve as artisans, technicians.

Captain Christopher Pike : Do you understand what I'm saying? You give me proof that our ship is all right, send these two back, and I'll stay with Vina.

Vina : [the Keeper has threatened to destroy the Enterprise]  He's not bluffing, Captain. With illusion, they can make your crew work the wrong controls or push any button it takes to destroy your ship.

Captain Christopher Pike : I'm gonna gamble you're too intelligent to kill for no reason at all.

[letting him go, he tries to fire the hand phasers at the transparent cage window] 

Captain Christopher Pike : On the other hand, I've got a reason. I'm willing to bet you've created an illusion this laser is empty. I think it just blasted a hole in that window, and you're keeping us from seeing it. You want me to test my theory out on your head?

[a large burned hole appears in the window] 

The Keeper : Each of the two new specimens has qualities in her favor. The female you call Number One has the superior mind and would produce highly intelligent children. Although she seems to lack emotion, this is largely a pretense. She often has fantasies involving you.

Captain Christopher Pike : All I wanna do is get my hands on you. Can you read these thoughts, images of hate, killing?

The Keeper : The other new arrival has considered you reachable, but now is realizing this has changed. The factors in her favor are youth and strength, plus unusually strong female drives.

Captain Christopher Pike : [capturing the Talosian Keeper]  Now, you hold still, or I'll break your...

Vina : Don't hurt him! They don't mean to be evil.

Captain Christopher Pike : I've had some samples of how good they are.

[the Keeper turns himself into a large, carnivorous creature] 

Captain Christopher Pike : You stop this illusion, or I'll twist your head off!

[he does] 

Captain Christopher Pike : All right. Now, you try one more illusion, you try anything at all, and I'll break your neck.

The Keeper : Your ship. Release me, or we'll destroy it.

Dr. Boyce : Hold on a minute.

Captain Christopher Pike : Oh, I feel fine. Just fine.

Dr. Boyce : Yeah. You look 100% better.

Captain Christopher Pike : You recommended a rest and change of pace, didn't you?

Dr. Boyce : Mm-hmm.

Captain Christopher Pike : I've even been home. Does that make you happy?

Captain Christopher Pike : [referring to Vina]  Why would you want me attracted to her? So I'll feel love in a husband-wife relationship? That'd be necessary only if you intend to build a family group or perhaps a whole human community.

The Keeper : With the female now properly conditioned.

Captain Christopher Pike : You mean properly punished! I'm the one who's not co-operating! Why don't you punish me?

The Keeper : First, an emotion of protectiveness. Now, one of sympathy. Excellent.

Yeoman J.M. Colt : What's happened to Vina?

Number One : Isn't she coming with us?

Captain Christopher Pike : No. No, and I agreed with her reasons.

Vina : Perhaps they made me out of dreams you've forgotten.

Captain Christopher Pike : But dressed you in the same metal fabric they wear?

Vina : Well, I have to wear something.

[pauses, then, suggestively] 

Vina : Don't I?

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Published Mar 22, 2023

Captain Kirk's Wisest Quotes

The Enterprise captain shared plenty of words of wisdom across three seasons and seven movies.

StarTrek.com

To celebrate Star Trek legend William Shatner’s birthday, we thought today would be an excellent time to reflect on the many pieces of wisdom that his character Captain James T. Kirk delivered throughout Star Trek: The Original Series and over the course of seven films. Kirk conveyed his insight in many ways, ranging from clever quips and signature one-liners to profound statements and emotional pleas. The captain proved as unafraid to acknowledge his own failings as he was to challenge evils he encountered across the galaxy. Let’s wish Mr. Shatner the happiest of birthdays and absorb the lessons he delivered to us as Captain Kirk.

12. “Your father called the future, ‘The Undiscovered Country.’ People can be very frightened of change.” - Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

Speaking to Klingon Chancellor Azetbur about her father Gorkon’s hope for better relations between the Federation and Klingon Empire, Captain Kirk astutely points to the hesitancy that many people feel toward change. Earlier in the film, Kirk expressed his lingering anger over the death of his son at the hands of Klingons, thus making this quote even more potent as an admission of his own personal fear of a new future.

11. “Risk… risk is our business. That’s what this starship is all about. That’s why we’re aboard her.” - “Return to Tomorrow”

When McCoy expresses misgivings about the notion of allowing Sargon, Thalassa, and Henoch to temporarily inhabit the bodies of Kirk, Spock, and Mulhall, the captain calls upon the goals of exploration and scientific advancement as a way to rationalize the need to take risks in order to grow beyond ourselves. Kirk’s statement also summarizes the willingness to make sacrifices and the promise to pursue knowledge that every officer informally agrees to the moment they put on a Starfleet uniform.

10. “Your planet is dead! There’s nobody alive on Cheron, because of hate. The cause you fought about no longer exists… give yourselves time to breathe, give up your hate!” - “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield”

The racism that fueled the strife between Lokai and Bele reflected the bigotry that their peoples expressed for one another on their homeworld Cheron, and that hatred eventually led to a civil war that eradicated the planet’s entire population. Kirk’s plea for cooler heads to prevail goes unheeded by the duo, yet his rational argument to pause the conflict and take time to reconsider their positions remains profound. Kirk exposes hate as a fault that can be avoided, so long as one chooses to put that hatred behind them.

9. “Don’t let them promote you, don’t let them transfer you, don’t let them do anything that takes you off the bridge of that ship, because while you’re there, you can make a difference.” - Star Trek Generations

What happens when two iconic captains meet? The elder, more experienced officer shares his knowledge with his counterpart, of course! Having gone through the process of being promoted to the rank of admiral and realizing how much he missed the bridge of a starship, Kirk implores Picard to recognize the positive change that he can effect for others while being out among the stars and leading his own ship through perilous rescues, consular duties, and humanitarian aid.

8. “Excuse me, I’d just like to ask a question. What does God need with a starship?” - Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

After reaching Sha Ka Ree and encountering the entity that claims to be the galaxy’s supreme deity, Kirk observes an oddity in God’s request to use the U.S.S. Enterprise-A as a means to carry his power throughout the heavens. As a result, Kirk questions the being’s divinity by delivering one of the most quotable lines in all of Star Trek . The captain’s ability to recognize the entity’s error and fearlessly present his query ultimately helps convince Sybok, Spock, and McCoy that the group is dealing with an alien presence rather than a supernatural deity.

7. “I don't believe in a no-win scenario.” - Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

Trapped in the caverns of Regula I without any apparent hope for rescue, Saavik recoils when she learns that Kirk reprogrammed the Kobayashi Maru simulation so that he could rescue the ship. Saavik argues that the captain never truly faced the test’s “no-win scenario,” and Kirk calmly responds that he does not believe in such a situation. While some might see this as arrogance, Kirk knows that a captain must demonstrate confidence and strength to their crew. Of course, Kirk follows this discourse by contacting Spock and revealing that he had a plan of escape plotted out all along.

6. “We’re human beings with the blood of a million savage years on our hands, but we can stop it! We can admit that we’re killers, but we’re not going to kill today. That’s all it takes… knowing that we’re not going to kill today.” - “A Taste of Armageddon”

On Eminiar VII, where wars are fought with computers and citizens are willingly disintegrated as casualties, Kirk acknowledges humanity’s brutal past while also pointing out that we can better ourselves by choosing not to repeat our mistakes. We must decide to be better than our earlier selves and can move beyond our violent wrongs by accepting the conviction that we will cease those actions immediately.

5. “The needs of the one outweighed the needs of the many.” - Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

Having risked his career, endangered his crew, and lost his son and his starship on a quest to reunite Spock’s body with his katra, Kirk is rewarded with the apparent resurrection of his old friend. Still acclimating to his return, Spock questions why the captain would put so much on the line to come back for him. Kirk flips the popular Vulcan maxim around, illustrating that the plight of a single being can be just as important as the larger galactic picture. In a sense, Kirk posits that fighting for the many is fruitless without placing equal emphasis on the suffering of individuals, particularly those closest to us.

4. “You know that pain and guilt can’t be taken away with the wave of a magic wand! They’re the things we carry with us, the things that make us who we are. If we lose them, we lose ourselves. I don’t want my pain taken away, I need my pain!” - Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

After Sybok lets McCoy relive his father’s passing, the doctor implores Kirk to permit Spock’s half-brother to do the same for him and release his pain. The captain’s response evokes the hard-earned wisdom that many of our toughest trials and most unbearable losses teach us invaluable lessons that shape our personalities and guide us through life. Kirk speaks truth to the fact that our pain is an integral part of who we become.

3. “Death, destruction, disease, horror… that’s what war is all about, Anan. That’s what makes it a thing to be avoided. You’ve made it neat and painless… so neat and painless, you’ve had no reason to stop it.” - “A Taste of Armageddon”

In another ardent appeal on Eminiar VII, Kirk outlines the true tragedies of war to Anan 7. The planet’s search to create “humane” warfare has resulted in an endless cycle of death that consumes lives without any end in sight. Free of disease and collateral destruction, the two warring planets do not feel compelled to approach each other diplomatically and engage in peace talks. By explaining to Anan 7 the devastating results inherent in a real war, Kirk finally convinces the Eminian Union’s First Councilman to rethink his position and approach his counterpart with a peaceful overture.

2. “Where I come from, size, shape, or color makes no difference… and nobody has the power.” - “Plato’s Stepchildren”

Ridiculed by his fellow Platonians just because of his height and lack of psychokinetic powers, Alexander asks Kirk what society is like where he is from. The captain’s reply stands as a symbol of the equality that our planet still strives for and demonstrates the ideals of the utopia that Gene Roddenberry envisioned for humanity’s future. Embracing diversity continues to be a driving force behind the stories that Star Trek tells.

1. “Well, here's one thing you can be sure of, Mister. Leave any bigotry in your quarters, there's no room for it on the bridge.” - “Balance of Terror”

Blaming the Romulans for the death of his ancestors, Lieutenant Stiles openly displays distrust toward the alien species. Once the crew gets a glimpse of the Romulans and recognizes that they may be related to Vulcans, Stiles turns his ire against Spock and refers to the first officer with disdain. Kirk overhears the abusive tone and offers one of the most clear-cut rebukes of intolerance that the series ever produced. With the words “the bridge” acting as a metaphor for our society as a whole, Kirk pulls no punches when he declares that such bigotry does not belong in our civilization.

This article was originally published on March 22, 2021.

Jay Stobie (he/him) is a freelance writer who has contributed articles to the official Star Trek website and Star Trek Magazine, as well as to Star Wars Insider and the official Star Wars website. Jay also serves as a part-time assistant and consultant advising many actors and creatives who work on his favorite sci-fi shows and films. He can be found on Twitter and Instagram at @StobiesGalaxy.

Stay tuned to StarTrek.com for more details! And be sure to follow @StarTrek on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .

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21 Star Trek quotes to help you boldly go through the workday

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The Blue Origin flight crew aboard the New Shepard spacecraft included a Star Trek legend: actor William Shatner (aka Captain James T. Kirk). After today’s mission, the 90-year-old Shatner is now the oldest person to travel to space. In honor of Shatner’s historic flight, please enjoy this list of our favorite Star Trek quotes.

• “Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end.”–Spock
• “Highly illogical.”–Spock
• “Live long, and prosper.”–Spock
• “Things are only impossible until they’re not.”–Captain Jean-Luc Picard
• “Insufficient facts always invite danger.”–Spock
• “Compassion: that’s the one things no machine ever had. Maybe it’s the one thing that keeps men ahead of them.”–Dr. McCoy
• “We prefer to help ourselves. We make mistakes, but we’re human–and maybe that’s the word that best explains us.”–Captain James T. Kirk
• “Improve a mechanical device and you may double productivity. But improve man, you gain a thousandfold.”–Khan Noonien Singh
• “I am pleased to see that we have differences. May we together become greater than the sum of both of us.”–Surak
• “It is possible to commit no errors and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life.”–Captain Jean-Luc Picard to Data
• “I canna’ change the laws of physics.”–Montgomery “Scotty” Scott
• “KHAAANNN!”–Captain James T. Kirk
• “One man cannot summon the future.”–Spock
• “But one man can change the present!”–Kirk
• “Change is the essential process of all existence.”–Spock
• “It is the lot of ‘man’ to strive no matter how content he is.”–Spock
• “Computers make excellent and efficient servants, but I have no wish to serve under them.”–Spock
• “Without freedom of choice there is no creativity.”–Captain James T. Kirk
• “You can use logic to justify almost anything. That’s its power. And its flaw.”–Captain Cathryn Janeway
• “There is a way out of every box, a solution to every puzzle; it’s just a matter of finding it.”–Captain Jean-Luc Picard
• “To boldly go where no man has gone before.”–Captain James T. Kirk

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Star trek: voyager — janeway's 10 best quotes, ranked.

Captain Kathryn Janeway was a strong and resilient leader on Star Trek: Voyager, whose articulate words of wisdom always inspired her crew.

A highly accomplished Starfleet captain who became a maverick when her ship suddenly found itself in the Delta Quadrant, Captain Kathryn Janeway remains one of the most compelling characters in Star Trek canon thanks to her resilience, intelligence, and quick-thinking. As diplomatic as Captain Picard and as daring as Captain Kirk, she proved in Star Trek: Voyager   that a woman could sit in the chair, and not only run a tight ship but lead it on bold new adventures.

RELATED:  Star Trek Voyager: 5 Times Janeway Was the Best Captain (And 5 Times She Was the Worst)

When the crew found themselves on a 75-year journey home, she always steeled their reserves, often pitching in around the  USS Voyager  to render aid in any department. With her background in science, she was a leader uniquely qualified to problem-solve some of the ship's more complicated conundrums. Her crew came to her for advice and for courage, and her words of wisdom never steered them wrong.

"Now this is how I prefer the Borg. In pieces!"

When Janeway destroys a probe in Season 5, it leads her and the crew to a damaged Borg sphere, where they pilfer a transwarp coil. This is only possible thanks to Seven of Nine investigating her parents' research, which forces her to re-access the collective.

Voyager  got much more down and dirty with the Borg than other series because the ship had an ex-drone for a crew member. When Seven of Nine is back among the collective, Janeway mounts a rescue mission to face down the Borg Queen  — the first of many times — and save her. This is one of her more memorable lines along the way.

"Abandon ship? The answer's no. I'm not breaking up the family."

When faced with the relentless onslaught of Krenim temporal attacks, Captain Janeway is presented with one of the most difficult decisions of the voyage home. The species continuously alters their timeline, hoping to eventually remove them from history.

RELATED:  Star Trek: The Myers-Briggs® Personalities Of Captain Janeway & The Voyager Crew

Chakotay asks Janeway if she's prepared to abandon Voyager to save the crew, something she won't do despite the cost. The two-part episode called "Year of Hell" is on many a top 10 list of Star Trek episodes.

"It's never easy... but if we turn our backs on our principles we stop being human."

It was difficult for the crew of Voyager to maintain their principles stranded out in the Delta Quadrant, especially when they saw other Federation starships kidnapped by the caretaker resorting to pirate tactics to obtain resources. Janeway had to make decisions that made her unpopular to her crew, who felt she valued principles more than their lives.

Janeway believed that to engage in such nefarious methods was not only beneath the Voyager crew, but an indication of morality's decay. Still, she showed compassion for the crew of the USS Equinox , who did what they had to to prevent starvation.

"You can't just walk away from your responsibilities because you made a mistake."

While not a member of Starfleet, Neelix was an invaluable part of the Voyager crew , responsible for keeping up morale and preparing home-cooked meals without a replicator. His biggest task involved helping to navigate the ship in the Delta Quadrant, space he was intimately familiar with as a trader.

Eventually, the ship passed out of territory that Neelix was familiar with, causing him to have a personal crisis of usefulness. His fear of no longer having a purpose resulted in him doing some dubious deals with shady individuals to obtain a map. Captain Janeway was mad, not so much for what he did, but for how he used the mistake to try to abandon his responsibilities to his friends.

"There are three things to remember about being a starship captain: keep your shirt tucked in, go down with the ship, and never abandon a member of your crew."

The passage of time might have been difficult to track on  Voyager ,   considering the ship and crew had a 75-year journey to make in order to reach the Alpha Quadrant, but one of the more telltale ways was watching young Naomi Wildman grow up, the first child born during the mission home.

RELATED:  Star Trek: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Female Captain Kathryn Janeway

She received a lot of advice from the crew, especially Seven of Nine and Captain Janeway, the latter of whom reminded her the three definitive rules of being a starship captain.

"Space must have seemed a whole lot bigger back then. It's not surprising they had to bend the rules a little..."

"Space must have seemed a whole lot bigger back then. It's not surprising they had to bend the rules a little. They were a little slower to invoke the Prime Directive, and a little quicker to pull their phasers. Of course, the whole bunch of them would be booted out of Starfleet today. But I have to admit, I would have loved to ride shotgun at least once with a group of officers like that."

Every new Star Trek series is inevitably compared to the one that started it all,  Star Trek: The Original Series . Subsequent series have done their best to set their own course while also paying homage to its famous progenitor, as Voyager did in Season 3.

Tuvok's strange dreams about the  USS Excelsior  and his time under Captain Sulu alter his ability to perform his duties on Voyager, and Janeway has to get to the bottom of it by sharing his experiences. As it turns out, she had a great respect for Captain Kirk and his crew , even if she didn't agree with his methods.

"We're Starfleet officers. 'Weird' is part of the job."

Late in  Voyager 's   second season, Vidiian warships attack the ship, forcing it to enter a plasma field where it suffers power failures from multiple proton bursts and subspace turbulence. Through a space-time rift, the battered crew of Voyager sees another version of itself, and the two crews attempt to merge.

This line is uttered by a resilient Janeway to Harry Kim as she tries to find a way to leave the plasma field and save her crew from the organ-harvesting Vidiians , receiving help from the unlikeliest of places: a second Janeway.

"One voice can be stronger than a thousand voices."

Captain Janeway and Seven of Nine had a contentious relationship aboard Voyager at first, but the two strong-willed women eventually came to form a close bond that was built on solidarity and mutual respect. Janeway helped Seven realize that she didn't need the collective to have a purpose or a family.

RELATED:  Star Trek Picard: 10 Things That Led Seven Of Nine To Becoming A Vigilante

In Season 4, when Seven tried to escape back to the Borg, Janeway had to remind her that she was stronger as an individual and that she should use her uniqueness to help others.

"You can use logic to justify almost anything. That's its power and its flaw."

Having Maquis mixing with Starfleet officers aboard Voyager was never going to be easy, and when Captain Janeway is flummoxed about how to acquire a trajector from the Sikarians without sacrificing her principles, it's the Maquis members of the crew who broker the deal behind her back.

Janeway is furious with B'Elanna Torres and the others for going behind her back, but her disappointment is reserved for Tuvok, who claims responsibility for approving the subterfuge using Vulcan logic. Their relationship is strained after she delivers this memorable quote.

"You know as well as I do that fear only exists for one purpose... to be conquered."

One of Janeway's most famous lines comes from the encounter between Voyager and a race of beings who purposefully place themselves in suspended animation during an ice age. Unfortunately, an aggressive program called the Clown locks them in.

The Clown may have thrived on fear, but he had never encountered Captain Janeway. She was able to deftly maneuver his terrifying world and ultimately defeat him, freeing the Kohl.

NEXT: Star Trek TNG: Captain Picard's 10 Most Heroic Quotes

Star Trek: Data's 10 Best Quotes, Ranked

Since his introduction in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Data has always been a fan favorite, perhaps because he was more human than most humans.

Since the very first Star Trek episode debuted, they've worked hard to introduce plenty of intriguing new characters, species and worlds, but none has been more outstanding than Lieutenant Commander Data of the Enterprise in Star Trek: The Next Generation . Portrayed by Brent Spiner, Data was a synthetic android with artificial intelligence created by Dr. Noonien Soong (also portrayed by Spiner) in his own image. Though he may have been artificial, Data was perhaps one of the most real characters in the series.

While some have claimed Data to be a successor to Spock, offering a unique outsider's perspective and approach within a very human Starfleet, there's no denying that he quickly rose to stand in a league all his own. In his quest to understand human emotion, Data spent a significant amount of time exploring the very nature of humanity itself. From sadness and merriment to anger and love, Data practiced jokes to make others laugh, tried his hand at parenting, and even became a loving pet owner to Spot the cat. He endeavored into a romance or two, just to see what it might be like, and while it's hard to say he loved mystery and Sherlock Holmes, there's really no other way to describe his fascination.

Across the series and into the movies, Data became a shining example to everyone around him. In the first season of Picard , a retired Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) was seen often lamenting Data's absence from his life. Over the years, he'd come to think of him as his closest friend and confidant, and with good reason. Data's intelligence was matched only by his wisdom, and in the end, his humanity.

Artificial Intelligence is still often a terrifying concept to humanity, but Data was the exception. As a character, he left fans with plenty of profound statements and ponderings to mull over, and sometimes they are more human than human. His thoughtful commentary on humanity and life lingers on, leaving many to wonder how much easier life could be if everyone it approached it from the same standpoint as Data.

10 "I would gladly risk feeling bad at times..."

Data's influence often extended to the children around him, like Timothy, whom he rescued in Season 5, Episode 11, "Hero Worship." Timothy's fascination with Data prompted the boy to proclaim to be an android himself, an effort to forget the horrors he'd seen and the way it made him feel. But Data pointed out that being an android had equal perks and flaws, saying, "I would gladly risk feeling bad at times, if it also meant that I could taste my dessert."

Data's reminder of how often humanity takes life's pleasures for granted was not unique. In his longing to experience life as a human, he could more easily see all the little things humans inadvertently ignore. Like how lucky they are to taste, touch, smell, see, hear, and then process the way it feels to truly experience something.

9 "In the event of a water landing..."

Data spent a lot of time testing out jokes and trying to make people laugh. In the Star Trek: Insurrection film, he reminded everyone, "In the event of a water landing, I have been designed to serve as a flotation device." While hilarious, the funniest part about his little joke was that there was probably some truth to it. Dr. Soong had a bizarre sense of humor, and turning his most profound, intelligent creation into a flotation device to aptly serve the people around him wouldn't have been all that far-fetched.

8 "Yes, Sir. I am attempting to fill a silent moment with non-relevant conversation."

Continuing his quest to learn and understand humanity, Data once created a subroutine that would allow him to engage in small talk in Season 6, Episode 18, "Starship Mine." After attempting to make small talk with Captain Picard, and then explaining his end goal, the captain directed him to a notorious small talk expert, Commander Calvin Hutchinson. As Data quickly came to understand after approaching Hutchinson, small talk has the capacity to become never-ending. But is it because life is filled with awkward moments, or does small talk only further enhance awkwardness?

RELATED: Star Trek Producer Hints at Kirk Brothers’ Reuniting on Strange New Worlds

7 "Could you please continue the petty bickering? I find it most amusing."

When Deanna Troi was preparing to get married in Season 1, Episode 11, "Haven," nothing seemed to go her way--especially after her mother Lwaxana gets into an argument with her intended's fiancé about betazoids being superior to humans. Before Troi storms out in a rage, she begs them to stop their petty bickering, but once she's gone, Data asks them to keep it up. After all, not only is it a great study in human nature, but it's actually pretty funny.

6 "The real secret is turning disadvantage into advantage."

When hearing-impaired negotiator Riva boarded the Enterprise, there was a lot of frustration between Riva and the crew. Picard ordered Data to learn sign language, so he could more easily act as an interpreter, but Riva's frustration made him want to abandon his mission and go home a failure. Troi tried to inspire him, using the above quote, which Data later translated back to the crew when Riva found his strength. People often forget that every aspect of life, regardless of one's circumstances, often provides them with a unique advantage others around them don't have. This reminder for everyone to turn what they consider to be a disadvantage into an advantageous strength is always relevant.

5 "I am superior, sir, in many ways, but I would gladly give it up to be human."

From his very first introduction in the pilot episode, Data made it very clear what he wanted. Physically and mentally superior to those around him, he felt a deep longing for that which he didn't have: humanity. He would spend the years that followed serving on the Enterprise and trying desperately to achieve the perfect human experience. Even when Q offered Data the chance to become human , the latter turned him down. Data recognized that he didn't physically need to be like everyone else to be human, or to have a very human experience. In many ways, he was more human than most of the people around him.

RELATED: Star Trek Voyager: Captain Janeway's 10 Best Quotes, Ranked

4 "Prejudice is very human."

The people around him often made their discomfort a little too obvious. Even Riker (Jonathan Frakes) , upon first meeting Data, had his doubts about working with an artificial intelligence. Data broke the ice with a very astute observation about prejudice being a human reaction, though to say this created a good foundation for their relationship is laughable. In time, Riker would definitely adjust, and much like everyone else in the crew, come to think of Data as a friend, but in the beginning he displayed one of humanity's worst traits in his prejudice against Data.

3 "Differences sometimes scare people."

Exploring the nature of humanity eventually led Data to creating life and becoming a parent. While he couldn't reproduce naturally, he did possess the ability to create an android using the knowledge of his own creator, Dr. Soong, so he did. His daughter Lal only seemed to further enhance Data's humanity, as he passed on as much as he could about his personal observations of life, just like a human father would.

His poignant observation, "Differences sometimes scare people. I have learned that some of them use humor to hide their fear," is a reminder that fear is often considered a weakness. Deflecting and hiding behind a wall of humor can provide a temporary reprieve from the fear, but eventually, the wall will come down.

2 "This is just a thing... and things can be replaced. Lives cannot."

When faced with a community of humans who refuse to leave their land, even though they face inevitable death, Data tries desperately to steer them away. Fearing they will lose everything they have, the colony refuses to budge. It's difficult for people to sometimes look beyond the moment, toward the bigger picture. Letting go of the material for the sake of preserving one's own life isn't easy, but even Data knows that things can be replaced; people, not so much.

1 "Mortality gives meaning to human life."

Data never had to die. He could have gone on living eternally, but that wasn't what he wanted. In the first season of Picard , he was finally given a choice to end his life. When he expressed this to his friend and former captain, Picard struggled to understand. Data admitted that he didn't want to die, but he wanted to live briefly with the understanding that one day his life would end. This would help him appreciate every moment he was given, prompt him to take advantage of the time he had. Knowing that one is going to die brings life meaning in the most brilliant way, allowing a person to die feeling like they'd done everything in their power to live while given the chance.

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Kishida cracks jokes and invokes ‘Star Trek’ as he and Biden toast US-Japan alliance at state dinner

President Joe Biden listens as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks ahead of a toast during a State Dinner at the White House, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Joe Biden makes a toast with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during a State Dinner at the White House, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Joe Biden, center right, and first lady Jill Biden, right, welcome Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, center left, and his wife Yuko Kishida for a State Dinner at the White House, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Kristi Yamaguchi, right, and Yukiko Saegusa arrive at the Booksellers area of the White House for the State Dinner hosted by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden for Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and wife Kishida Yuko, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, arrive at the Booksellers area of the White House for the State Dinner hosted by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden for Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and wife Kishida Yuko, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden pose for a photo with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife Yuko Kishida by the Grand Staircase in the Cross Hall of the White House during a State Dinner at the White House, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Evan Ryan, Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary, arrive at the Booksellers area of the White House for the State Dinner hosted by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden for Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and wife Kishida Yuko, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Robert De Niro and Tiffany Chen arrive at the Booksellers area of the White House for the State Dinner hosted by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden for Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and wife Kishida Yuko, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Tables are decorated during a press preview at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April 9, 2024, for the State Dinner for Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

FILE - This April 2, 2012 file photo shows singer Paul Simon performing at Avery Fisher Hall in New York, April 2, 2012. Simon will sing for guests at Wednesday’s White House state dinner for Japan. The White House says he’s one of first lady Jill Biden’s favorite musicians. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, File)

Former President Bill Clinton listens to toast by President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during a State Dinner at the White House, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida exchanged warm toasts to each other and the close alliance between their nations as top figures from business, sports and politics looked on during Wednesday night’s state dinner.

Top figures from business, sports and politics turned up for a lavish state dinner honoring Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The White House on Wednesday served up a maximum dose of pomp to honor the close U.S. ally.

After a day of wide-ranging talks and a joint news conference, President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcomed Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and wife Yuko Kishida back to the White House Wednesday evening for a lavish state dinner.

US President Joe Biden and visiting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida enjoyed a dinner out in Washington DC on Tuesday evening.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida cracked jokes and invoked a touchstone of American culture as he quoted from “Star Trek” at Wednesday’s state dinner , telling guests at the White House that he hoped the “unshakable relationship” between his country and the U.S. would “boldly go where no one had gone before.”

“I would like to propose a toast to our voyage to the frontier of the Japan-U.S. relationship with this word: boldly go,” Kishida said, quoting the iconic opening monologue of the original “Star Trek” series.

Kishida, who spoke in English, and President Joe Biden exchanged warm toasts to each other and the decades-long, alliance between their nations as top figures from business, sports and politics — including an ex-president — looked on. The two leaders, who expressed a genuine friendship, pledged to continue to knit together their countries’ interests in the face of global challenges.

Biden , 81, said he and Kishida, 66, came of age as their countries forged a strong bond in the decades after they were pitted against each other in World War II.

“We both remember the choices that were made to forge a friendship,” Biden said. “We both remember the hard work, what it has done to find healing.”

“Tonight,” Biden continued, “We pledge to keep going.”

As the White House served up a maximum dose of pomp to honor its close U.S. ally, notable guests included Bill and Hillary Clinton, who were on familiar turf for the event. The former president declared it “feels great” to be back before casting an appreciative eye at a portrait of his wife from her first lady days that was on display nearby.

Guests in bright spring colors and lots of shimmery gowns chatted politics and talked shop as they strolled in — that meant eclipse chatter from NASA Administrator Bill Nelson (“fabulous” view in Ohio!) and an assessment of Biden’s electoral prospects in Wisconsin from Gov. Tony Evers (looking good!).

But on a day when the inflation news from Washington was less than encouraging, Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell shot past reporters without stopping to chat. Olympic figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, in a purple gown, said she didn’t expect to be out campaigning for Biden but nonetheless seemed bullish on his reelection. Actor Robert De Niro supplied the night’s Hollywood quotient and seemed to channel one of his tough-talking characters when he was asked for his thoughts about the 2024 election.

“What do you think?” he retorted.

On a warm spring evening, the Bidens came stepped onto the North Portico to welcome Kishida and his wife, Yuko, who stood out in a flowing royal blue gown on the red carpet.

Inside, Jill Biden , wearing a beaded sapphire gown, had transformed the State Floor of the White House into what she called a “vibrant spring garden” for the evening. The floor of the famous Cross Hall was decorated with images giving the nearly 230 guests the feel of walking over a koi pond, a nod to fish that symbolize “friendship, peace, luck and perseverance,” the first lady said at a media preview Tuesday.

Guests at the head table with the Bidens and Kishidas included the Clintons, De Niro and Japanese pop duo Yoasobi.

Kishida, in his toast at the dinner, enthused over the splendor.

“First and foremost, to be honest my breath is taken and I’m speechless in front of such a huge number of prominent American and Japanese guests,” he said.

A state dinner is a tool of U.S. diplomacy, an honor doled out sparingly and only to America’s closest allies. In the case of Japan, the president has granted that honor for just the fifth time to an ally that he sees as a cornerstone of his policy toward the Indo-Pacific region.

Kishida is on an official visit to the United States this week. The state dinner is Biden’s first this year.

The guests included plenty of Biden family members, including granddaughter Naomi and her husband, Peter Neal. Business moguls also were in force, including JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, Apple CEO Tim Cook and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Labor luminaries United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain and United Steelworkers President David McCall were also in attenddance. Both unions have endorsed Biden for reelection.

Dry-aged rib eye steak, cherry blossoms and the music of Paul Simon were also part of the evening. Simon opened his after-dinner performance by playing guitar and singing two of his major hits, “Graceland” and “Slip Slidin’ Away.”

Guests dined on a meal that was designed to highlight the “bounty of spring” in Japan and the United States: a first course of house-cured salmon that was inspired by a California roll and an entree of rib eye with shishito pepper butter, fava beans, mushrooms and onions. Dessert was salted caramel pistachio cake with a matcha ganache and cherry ice cream.

Some of Jill Biden’s favorite flowers, including sweet peas, roses and peonies, were arranged alongside imported cherry blossoms to decorate a mix of round and rectangular dinner tables in the East Room in shades of pink. A few floral centerpieces topped out at 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall.

Tables were set with a mix of place settings representing the administrations of Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and George W. Bush. Glass and silk butterflies danced over the tables.

Simon is one of Jill Biden’s favorite artists, the White House said, adding that she chose him as a special tribute to Kishida because the prime minister also admires his music.

Simon’s career spans six decades, including performing as part of a duo with his childhood friend Art Garfunkel. The 82-year-old New Jersey native has earned numerous accolades, including multiple Grammys and a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Kishida is the fifth world leader Biden has honored with a state dinner following counterparts from France , South Korea , India and Australia .