star trek opening quote

The meaning and origin of the expression: To boldly go where no man has gone before

To boldly go where no man has gone before

What's the origin of the phrase 'to boldly go where no man has gone before'.

• American origin
• Theatre and entertainment

This introductory text was spoken at the beginning of many Star Trek television episodes and films, from 1966 onward:

Space: The final frontier These are the voyages of the Starship, Enterprise Its 5 year mission To explore strange new worlds To seek out new life and new civilizations To boldly go where no man has gone before

"Are our critics aware that Byron is the father of their split infinitive? 'To slowly trace', says the noble poet, 'the forest's shady scene'."

Most authorities now accept Star Trek into the grammatical fold and no longer care, or at least rarely publicly complain, about 'to boldly go'.

By Gary Martin

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

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.

Where Did Star Trek's 'Where No Man Has Gone Before' Line Originate? It's Complicated

W hether or not you know your Romulans from your Remans or how to throw a Vulcan salute, everyone knows an iconic quote from "Star Trek," with "where no man has gone before" up there with the best of them. The final line of the original series' opening monologue, as narrated by William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk, was changed to the gender-neutral "no one" for "Star Trek: The Next Generation," with  Captain Pike (Anson Mount) the latest to say it on "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,"  but variations of it have appeared in multiple spots throughout history, stretching back not just decades but centuries.

Presumably with no input from a time-traveling Enterprise crew, the 1572 epic poem  "The Lusiads"  by Portuguese poet Luís de Camões, which details Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama's discovery of a route to India by sea, includes the line "by oceans where none had ventured." British explorer James Cook had a similar aim, writing in a 1774 diary entry following an expedition to Newfoundland, "Ambition leads me not only farther than any other man has been before me, but as far as I think it possible for man to go." It might be a slightly wordier captain's log than Kirk's, but it's clear what he was going for.

Read more: Star Trek Stories That Are Actually Horrifying

H.P. Lovecraft And The White House Both Went Where No Man Had Gone Before

While fitting that two explorers so far apart in time endeavored to go "where no man had gone before," the quote reappeared on at least two more occasions before "Star Trek" debuted. First,  "The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath,"  a 1943 novella written by H.P. Lovecraft in 1927, sees the character Randolph Carter "[resolve] to go with bold entreaty whither no man had gone before."

Then, in 1958, less than a decade before Gene Rodenberry's beloved universe first graced our screens, the line "to go where no one has gone before" appeared in "Introduction to Outer Space," a booklet promoting the national space program. This goal was eventually achieved, of course, but the fact that it now stands as an iconic staple in science fiction makes it that much greater.

In the years that followed, those six words (which were eventually altered under Patrick Stewart's Captain Jean-Luc Picard's watch) have been said by a variety of important characters in "Star Trek" history, but it was on "Star Trek: Enterprise" that it actually became part of the universe -- which is quite an impressive feat given how late in the process the line was added at all.

Star Trek: Enterprise Created An Origin For The Iconic Quote As No One Had Done Before

According to production manager Herbert F. Solow in the 1998 documentary  "Inside Star Trek: The Real Story,"  the line was added to the opening monologue by associate producer John D.F. Black, who took it from the title of Season 1, Episode 3 of the original "Star Trek" series, "Where No Man Has Gone Before," penned by Samuel A. Peeples. From there, it became a staple of the franchise, so much so that it actually made its way into "Star Trek" lore.

In "Star Trek: Enterprise" Season 1, Episode 1, "Broken Bow, Part 1," a recording plays of the inventor of the warp drive, Dr. Zefram Cochrane (James Cromwell), detailing his hopes for what it will provide. "Imagine it – thousands of inhabited planets at our fingertips, and we'll be able to explore those strange new worlds and seek out new life and new civilizations," he says. "This engine will let us go boldly where no man has gone before." The rest, as they say, is history.

Read the original article on Looper .

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories .

• Backchannel
• Newsletters
• WIRED Insider
• WIRED Consulting

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

Kate O'Flaherty

Alistair Charlton

Dan Gearino

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 .

Geek's Guide to the Galaxy

Medea Giordano

David Gilbert

Makena Kelly

Reece Rogers

Star Trek: The Original Series

Quick navigation:.

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

• Dr. McCoy : "He's dead, Jim."
• [ Opening narration ]
• Capt. Kirk : Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its 5-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.
• Scotty : When are ya gonna get off of that milk diet Laddy? Now Scotch is a real drink for a man.
• Chekov : Scotch was invented by a little old lady from Leningrad.
• Capt. Kirk : All right, you mutinous, disloyal, computerized half-breed. We'll see about you deserting my ship.
• Spock : The term "half-breed" is somewhat applicable, but "computerized" is inaccurate. A machine can be computerized, not a man.
• Capt. Kirk : What makes you think you're a man? You're an overgrown jackrabbit. An elf with a hyperactive thyroid.
• Spock : Jim, I don't understand...
• Capt. Kirk : Of course you don't understand. You don't have the brains to understand. All you have is printed circuits.
• Spock : Captain, if you will excuse me.
• [ Tries to activate the transporter ]
• Capt. Kirk : [ blocks Spock's way and interupts ] What can you expect from a simpering, devil-eared freak whose father was a computer and his mother an encyclopedia.
• Spock : My mother was a teacher. My father an ambassador.
• Capt. Kirk : Your father was a computer, like his son. An ambassador from a planet of traitors. The Vulcan never lived who had an ounce of integrity...
• Spock : Captain, please don't...
• Capt. Kirk : You're a traitor from a race of traitors. Disloyal to the core. Rotten! Like the rest of your subhuman race. And you've got the GALL... to make love to that girl!
• Spock : That's enough.
• Capt. Kirk : Does she know what she's getting, Spock? A carcass full of memory banks who should be squatting on a mushroom? Instead of passing himself off as a man? You belong in the circus, Spock, not a starship. Right next to the dog face boy!
• [ Spock begins beating the stew out of Kirk - he picks up a stool, ready to hit Kirk, then stops - the spore's influence is gone ]
• Capt. Kirk : Had enough? I never realized what it took to get under that thick hide of yours. Anyhow, I don't know what you're so mad about. It isn't every first officer who gets to belt his captain... several times.
• Spock : You did that to me deliberately.
• Capt. Kirk : Believe me, Mr. Spock. It was painful. In more ways than one.
• [ Grabs his hurting arm ]
• Spock : The spores. They're gone. I don't belong anymore.
• Capt. Kirk : You said they were benevolent and peaceful. Violent emotions overwhelm them, destroy them. I had to make you angry enough to shake off their influence. That's the answer, Mr. Spock.
• Spock : That may be correct, Captain, but trying to initiate a brawl with over 500 crewmen and colonists is hardly logical.
• Capt. Kirk : I had something else in mind. Can you put together a subsonic transmitter? Something we can hook into the communication station and broadcast over the communicators?
• Spock : It can be done.
• Capt. Kirk : Good. Let's get to work.
• Spock : Captain! Striking a fellow officer is a court-martial offense.
• Capt. Kirk : Well, if we're both in the brig, who's gonna build the subsonic transmitter?
• Spock : That is quite logical, Captain.
• Capt. Kirk : You'd make a splendid computer, Mr Spock. Spock
• Spock : [ taken aback ] That is very kind of you, Captain!
• [ repeated line ]
• James T. Kirk : Beam me up, Scotty. - This line was never actually spoken in the television series.
• Dr. McCoy : I'm a doctor, not an engineer.
• James T. Kirk : There seems to be no sign of intelligent life anywhere...
• Capt. Kirk : There's no such thing as the unknown- only things temporarily hidden, temporarily not understood.
• Dr. McCoy : The next thing you'll know, I'll be talking to myself.
• Chekov : A madman got us into this, and it's beginning to look like only a madman can get us out.
• Spock : Facinating
• Uhura : Bridge to Captain Kirk!
• Capt. Kirk : Kirk, here.

Contribute to this page

• IMDb Answers: Help fill gaps in our data
• Learn more about contributing

More from this title

More to explore, recently viewed.

Star Trek: The Next Generation opening title sequences

• View history

Title screen for Star Trek: The Next Generation

The opening title sequences for Star Trek: The Next Generation followed the tradition of the Star Trek: The Original Series opening title sequences closely, highlighting the series lead ship, the USS Enterprise -D , and reprising the opening narration read by the series' new captain , Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard .

Robert Justman claimed ownership for being the first to draft a new "main theme" description, on a hot day at his home computer on 2 November 1986 . ( Star Trek: The Magazine  Volume 1, Issue 5 , p. 9)

" FADE IN as Camera rapidly pulls back from a close shot of Earth and tracks through our entire solar system showing the Sun and its planets in their relationship to each other in a continually changing perspective. As we continue to pull away and our solar system diminishes in size, our Camera executes a 180 degree turn and forges faster ahead through our Galaxy... "

Later, in a memo to Gene Roddenberry dated 5 March 1987 , Justman added more emphasis on the series' new ship, the Enterprise -D. ( Star Trek: The Magazine  Volume 1, Issue 5 , p. 10)

Starting from Season 3, the beginning of the sequence no longer depicted Earth's solar system, instead panning through views of various nebulae, stars, planets, and other celestial objects before revealing the Enterprise.

Season 5 "streaked version"

For TNG Season 5 , Rick Berman had Dan Curry design a "streaked" version of the opening logo to emulate the Superman films. ( Star Trek: The Artistry of Dan Curry , p. 189)

• 2 ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701)

Inspirationfeed

Inspiring and educating bright minds.

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

Posted by: Igor Ovsyannnykov

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.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: The Next Generation is a science fiction television series that originally aired from 1987 to 1994. It follows the crew of the USS Enterprise-D , with the events set about 100 years after those in Star Trek: The Original Series . Four feature films with the show's cast were also produced.

Opening [ edit ]

• Gene Roddenberry

Repeated lines [ edit ]

Season 1 [ edit ], encounter at farpoint [1.1/1.2] [ edit ], the naked now [1.3] [ edit ], code of honor [1.4] [ edit ], the last outpost [1.5] [ edit ].

• Misattributed to Sun Tzu in the show (similar to the real phrase " the only thing we have to fear is fear itself " spoken by Franklin D. Roosevelt )

Where No One Has Gone Before [1.6] [ edit ]

Lonely among us [1.7] [ edit ], justice [1.8] [ edit ], the battle [1.9] [ edit ], hide and q [1.10] [ edit ], haven [1.11] [ edit ], the big goodbye [1.12] [ edit ], datalore [1.13] [ edit ], angel one [1.14] [ edit ], 11001001 [1.15] [ edit ], too short a season [1.16] [ edit ], when the bough breaks [1.17] [ edit ], home soil [1.18] [ edit ], coming of age [1.19] [ edit ], heart of glory [1.20] [ edit ], the arsenal of freedom [1.21] [ edit ], symbiosis [1.22] [ edit ], skin of evil [1.23] [ edit ], we'll always have paris [1.24] [ edit ], conspiracy [1.25] [ edit ].

[Admiral Aaron's parasite scampers into Dexter Remmick's mouth and down his throat; as he speaks, his neck bulges]

The Neutral Zone [1.26] [ edit ]

[Following their encounter with the Romulans]

Season 2 [ edit ]

The child [2.1] [ edit ], where silence has lease [2.2] [ edit ], elementary, dear data [2.3] [ edit ], the outrageous okona [2.4] [ edit ], loud as a whisper [2.5] [ edit ], the schizoid man [2.6] [ edit ], unnatural selection [2.7] [ edit ], a matter of honor [2.8] [ edit ].

[Ensign Mendon awkwardly walks the other way]

[Riker looks down at the live Gagh and sighs]

[Riker looks over at one of the Klingon women smiling at him]

[The other Klingons start laughing]

The Measure of a Man [2.9] [ edit ]

The dauphin [2.10] [ edit ], contagion [2.11] [ edit ], the royale [2.12] [ edit ], time squared [2.13] [ edit ], the icarus factor [2.14] [ edit ], pen pals [2.15] [ edit ], q who [2.16] [ edit ], samaritan snare [2.17] [ edit ].

(Picard and Wesley enter to a round of applause)

Up the Long Ladder [2.18] [ edit ]

Manhunt [2.19] [ edit ], the emissary [2.20] [ edit ], peak performance [2.21] [ edit ], shades of gray [2.22] [ edit ], season 3 [ edit ], evolution [3.1] [ edit ], the ensigns of command [3.2] [ edit ].

Data then kisses the surprized female Ard'rian McKenzie

The Survivors [3.3] [ edit ]

Who watches the watchers [3.4] [ edit ].

(Picard and Nuria enter)

(but Mary Warren gives up the struggle to breathe)

(Crusher and Barron leave, and Nuria approaches the death bed)

(Picard's arm is in a sling)

(The holographic camouflage comes down)

(The window vanishes again)

(A little boy gives Picard a woven belt or some such memento)

The Bonding [3.5] [ edit ]

Booby trap [3.6] [ edit ], the enemy [3.7] [ edit ], the price [3.8] [ edit ], the vengeance factor [3.9] [ edit ], the defector [3.10] [ edit ], the hunted [3.11] [ edit ], the high ground [3.12] [ edit ], déjà q [3.13] [ edit ], a matter of perspective [3.14] [ edit ], yesterday's enterprise [3.15] [ edit ], the offspring [3.16] [ edit ].

(A couple by the far wall in Ten-Forward are gazing into each others eyes and holding hands)

(the man and woman kiss)

(They hold hands)

(Lal enters, obviously upset)

Sins of the Father [3.17] [ edit ]

Allegiance [3.18] [ edit ], captain's holiday [3.19] [ edit ], tin man [3.20] [ edit ], hollow pursuits [3.21] [ edit ], the most toys [3.22] [ edit ], sarek [3.23] [ edit ], ménage à troi [3.24] [ edit ], transfigurations [3.25] [ edit ], the best of both worlds, part i [3.26] [ edit ], season 4 [ edit ], the best of both worlds, part ii [4.1] [ edit ], family [4.2] [ edit ], brothers [4.3] [ edit ], suddenly human [4.4] [ edit ], remember me [4.5] [ edit ], legacy [4.6] [ edit ], reunion [4.7] [ edit ], future imperfect [4.8] [ edit ], final mission [4.9] [ edit ], the loss [4.10] [ edit ], data's day [4.11] [ edit ], the wounded [4.12] [ edit ], devil's due [4.13] [ edit ], clues [4.14] [ edit ], first contact [4.15] [ edit ], galaxy's child [4.16] [ edit ], night terrors [4.17] [ edit ], identity crisis [4.18] [ edit ], the nth degree [4.19] [ edit ], qpid [4.20] [ edit ], the drumhead [4.21] [ edit ], half a life [4.22] [ edit ], the host [4.23] [ edit ], the mind's eye [4.24] [ edit ], in theory [4.25] [ edit ], redemption, part i [4.26] [ edit ], season 5 [ edit ], redemption, part ii [5.1] [ edit ], darmok [5.2] [ edit ], ensign ro [5.3] [ edit ], silicon avatar [5.4] [ edit ], disaster [5.5] [ edit ], the game [5.6] [ edit ], unification, part i [5.7] [ edit ], unification, part ii [5.8] [ edit ], a matter of time [5.9] [ edit ], new ground [5.10] [ edit ], hero worship [5.11] [ edit ], violations [5.12] [ edit ], the masterpiece society [5.13] [ edit ], conundrum [5.14] [ edit ], power play [5.15] [ edit ], ethics [5.16] [ edit ], the outcast [5.17] [ edit ], cause and effect [5.18] [ edit ], the first duty [5.19] [ edit ], cost of living [5.20] [ edit ], the perfect mate [5.21] [ edit ], imaginary friend [5.22] [ edit ], i, borg [5.23] [ edit ], the next phase [5.24] [ edit ], the inner light [5.25] [ edit ].

Time's Arrow, Part I [5.26] [ edit ]

Season 6 [ edit ], time's arrow, part ii [6.1] [ edit ], realm of fear [6.2] [ edit ], man of the people [6.3] [ edit ].

Ambassader Alkar literaly ages and drops down dead:

Relics [6.4] [ edit ]

When Scott is shown to his quarters:

[Scotty is outside the Holodeck]

Schisms [6.5] [ edit ]

Felis catus is your taxonomic nomenclature,

An endothermic quadruped, carnivorous by nature;

Your visual, olfactory, and auditory senses

Contribute to your hunting skills and natural defences.

I find myself intrigued by your subvocal oscillations,

A singular development of cat communications

That obviates your basic hedonistic predilection

For a rhythmic stroking of your fur to demonstrate affection.

A tail is quite essential for your acrobatic talents;

You would not be so agile if you lacked its counterbalance.

And when not being utilized to aid in locomotion,

It often serves to illustrate the state of your emotion.

O Spot, the complex levels of behavior you display

Connote a fairly well-developed cognitive array.

And though you are not sentient, Spot, and do not comprehend,

I nonetheless consider you a true and valued friend.

True Q [6.6] [ edit ]

(Beverly is suddenly turned into a red setter dog, barking. Amanda restores her to human)

Rascals [6.7] [ edit ]

A fistful of datas [6.8] [ edit ], the quality of life [6.9] [ edit ], chain of command, part i [6.10] [ edit ], chain of command, part ii [6.11] [ edit ], ship in a bottle [6.12] [ edit ], aquiel [6.13] [ edit ], face of the enemy [6.14] [ edit ], tapestry [6.15] [ edit ], birthright, part i [6.16] [ edit ], birthright, part ii [6.17] [ edit ], starship mine [6.18] [ edit ], lessons [6.19] [ edit ], the chase [6.20] [ edit ], frame of mind [6.21] [ edit ], suspicions [6.22] [ edit ], rightful heir [6.23] [ edit ], second chances [6.24] [ edit ], timescape [6.25] [ edit ], descent, part i [6.26] [ edit ], season 7 [ edit ], descent, part ii [7.1] [ edit ].

[Lore is trying to escape after attempting to destroy Data]

Liaisons [7.2] [ edit ]

Interface [7.3] [ edit ], gambit, part i [7.4] [ edit ], gambit, part ii [7.5] [ edit ], phantasms [7.6] [ edit ], dark page [7.7] [ edit ], attached [7.8] [ edit ], force of nature [7.9] [ edit ], inheritance [7.10] [ edit ], parallels [7.11] [ edit ], the pegasus [7.12] [ edit ], homeward [7.13] [ edit ], sub rosa [7.14] [ edit ], lower decks [7.15] [ edit ], thine own self [7.16] [ edit ], masks [7.17] [ edit ], eye of the beholder [7.18] [ edit ], genesis [7.19] [ edit ], journey's end [7.20] [ edit ], firstborn [7.21] [ edit ], bloodlines [7.22] [ edit ], emergence [7.23] [ edit ], preemptive strike [7.24] [ edit ], all good things... [7.25] [ edit ], unidentified episode [ edit ], miscellany [ edit ].

• U.S.S. Enterprise-D dedication plaque.

Cast [ edit ]

• Patrick Stewart – Captain Jean-Luc Picard
• Jonathan Frakes – Commander William Riker
• Brent Spiner – Lieutenant Commander Data
• LeVar Burton – Geordi La Forge
• Michael Dorn – Lieutenant Worf
• Marina Sirtis – Counselor Deanna Troi
• Gates McFadden – Doctor Beverly Crusher [ Season 1 , Episodes 2.22–7.26]
• Wil Wheaton – Wesley Crusher [Episodes 1.1–4.9, " The Game ", " The First Duty ", " Parallels ", " Journey's End "]
• Denise Crosby – Lieutenant Tasha Yar [Episodes 1.1–1.23, " Shades of Gray ", " Yesterday's Enterprise ", " All Good Things... "]

About Star Trek: The Next Generation [ edit ]

• Producer Rick Berman as quoted in Tulock, John; Jenkins, Henry (1995). Science Fiction Audiences. p. 186
• Robert H. Chaires, ‎Bradley Stewart Chilton, Star Trek Visions of Law and Justice , (2003), p. 99.
• David Gerrold , "A New Documentary Shows How Gene Roddenberry Almost Killed Star Trek TNG" , Charlie Jane Anders, IO0 , 7/30/15.
• Lex Gigeroff , "A Sci Fi Worlds Interview with Lex Gigeroff:Lexx Co-Writer/Actor" Binn all of America .
• Maurice Hurley in Starlog issue 152, p. 29.
• Gene Roddenberry Star Trek: The Next Generation Bible p.9
• Manu Saadia, “The Enduring Lessons of “Star Trek”” , The New Yorker , (September 8, 2016).
• Patrick Stewart , "Patrick Stewart fondly recalls Star Trek: The Next Generation" Rob Salem, The Star , (March 8, 2013).

External links [ edit ]

• Star Trek: The Next Generation quotes at the Internet Movie Database
• Star Trek: The Next Generation at StarTrek.com

• 1980s American drama TV shows
• 1990s American drama TV shows
• 1980s American science fiction TV shows
• 1990s American science fiction TV shows
• Television series on DVD
• Cancelled shows
• Syndicated shows
• American sequel TV shows
• Robots in television
• Space adventure TV shows

Navigation menu

Screen Rant

Star trek: discovery - michael's 10 best quotes.

Your changes have been saved

Email Is sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

I've Been Missing Detmer & Owosekun In Star Trek: Discovery Season 5

Star trek: discovery’s new vulcan name ni’var is a deep cut enterprise callback, star trek: discovery season 5’s betazoid is a marina sirtis counselor troi tribute.

Micahel Burnham is very good at giving inspiring speeches on   Star Trek: Discovery . The main character of the flagship CBS All Access streaming series (in the U.S., at least) embodies all of Starfleet and the Federation's greatest ideals and from the very beginning of the series, and she's espoused them in times of great victory and despair.

RELATED:  Star Trek Discovery: 10 Hidden Details You Missed In Season 2

Over the first two seasons, Burnham delivered a lot of great quotes right when the crew needed them.  Season three of the show has just started and it's likely there are going to be a lot more great quotes from Michael Burnham this year.

"We Come In Peace, That's Why We're Here. Isn't That The Whole Idea Of Starfleet?"

Burnham talks a lot about the nature of Starfleet and what it means to be a Starfleet officer. One of her best quotes about this comes from the very first episode, "The Vulcan Hello." The U.S.S. Shenzou investigates a mysterious ship near a system of binary stars.

It's not clear who it is; as the crew debates how to proceed, Burnham exclaims her usual optimistic curiosity: "We come in peace, that's why we're here. Isn't that the whole idea of Starfleet?" Unfortunately, it turns out to be the Klingons, which may have been a mistake in a lot of different ways.

"Now We Are At War…And I Am The Enemy."

Burnham's actions at the Battle of the Binary Stars distinguish her within the ranks of Starfleet— but not in a good way. Burnham becomes the first officer in Starfleet history to mutiny when she takes command of the Shenzou in an effort to head off a war with the Klingons.

She ends up starting one and the consequences are grave . The resulting battle leaves many ships destroyed and thousands dead, including her captain— and Burnham court-martialed for her actions.

"Do You Have Any Idea What Living With That Lie Did To Me?"

As if being a "traitor" in the eyes of Starfleet wasn't enough, Burnham's life is even more complicated thanks to her upbringing. She was raised by Sarek and Amanda on Vulcan after the death of her human parents, making her  the secret adopted sister of Spock .

An intriguing wrinkle in this complicated web of family history is that Sarek was forced to choose between Spock and Burnham when it came to which would go into the famed Vulcan Science Academy. He chose Spock and lied to her about it.

"Sometimes The Only Way To Find Out Where You Fit In Is To Step Out Of The Routine."

In "Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad," famous original series villain fans love to hate , Harry Mudd, makes a violent return to the Discovery. He initiates a time loop which results in him trying to gain control of the ship and killing Captain Lorca over and over again.

RELATED:  10 Best Easter Eggs In Star Trek: Picard (So Far)

Only Stamets is aware of the situation, but it's Burnham who provides some insight into how to escape the constantly resetting loop. As she says, the only way to see the routine is to step out of it.

"I Believed That Our Survival Was More Important Than Our Principles. I Was Wrong."

By the end of season one, Burnham has had a change of heart when it comes to her actions. She thought once that acting against orders was the only to save her crew. In the season finale, "Will You Take My Hand?", she realizes that it's much more complicated than she thought.

Survival often requires extraordinary— and in some cases, compromising— efforts. It's not true survival if doing so requires the betrayal of your beliefs and values, as Burnham realizes.

"There Are So Many Reasons To Join Starfleet. We Get To Reach For The Stars. We Get To Reach For The Best In Ourselves."

By the time of the tenth episode of season two, "The Red Angel," Burnham has grown a lot. She's reconciled in many ways with her choices at the Battle of the Binary Stars and with her brother, Spock. She also continues to invest deeply in her commitment to Starfleet, for her family and duty have merged.

As she says, "There are so many reasons to join Starfleet. We get to reach for the stars. We get to reach for the best in ourselves. But, most important, we get to reach for each other. We get to do what we love alongside colleagues who become friends…who become family."

"The Real World Doesn’t Always Adhere To Logic. Sometimes Down Is Up. Sometimes Up Is Down. Sometimes When You’re Lost, You’re Found."

In the third episode of the series, fans start to get more of a sense of who Burnham is. Viewers learn that her foster mother Amanda Grayson ( a character fans hopefully haven't seen the last of ) read to her as a child, and specifically, from Alice In Wonderland . This story carries special significance with Burnham.

A human child now raised on Vulcan, logic proved complicated for her to grasp, especially after the death of her parents. Burnham learned that logic isn't the answer for everything, though there is a strange logic in the way life plays out.

"Can You Bury Your Heart? Can You Hide Your Decency?"

In "The Wolf Inside", episode eleven of the first season, the crew of the Discovery travels to the Mirror Universe and in the process realizes that their captain is not who he claims to be. Some of the best Mirror Universe characters ever came out of this trip, including Captain Killy.

RELATED:  10 Star Trek Discovery Memes That Are Too Good

One of Burnham's better quotes also arose from this episode. Burnham confronts the nature of identity and evil in a universe where everything she thought was good has turned very, very bad.

"The Only Way To Defeat Fear Is To Tell It 'No.'"

In the final episode of season one, the Discovery has returned from the Mirror Universe and now tries to end the Klingon War once and for all. Their plan to bring the battle directly to the Klingon homeworld gets Burnham thinking a lot about fear.

She continues to consider her actions at the start of the series, in which fear and a misplaced sense of righteousness drove her to act unilaterally. Now, she's much more adherent to the values of the Federation, win or lose.

"Being Afraid Of Everything Means You Learn Nothing."

Fear and doubt are two big concerns of Michael Burnham. She's a human being raised with Vulcan logic and fear supposedly doesn't motivate her. However, fans find out that it does, in many ways.

This quote from the first episode of the series exposes a key flaw in her thinking. Burnham thinks she is being fearless in acting the way she does. But her fear of losing her crew, her captain, and her life is actually what drives her to make a decision that leads to a devastating war.

NEXT:  Star Trek: Discovery - 5 Reasons Why It Needs To Crossover With Star Trek: Picard (& 5 Why It Shouldn't)

• Star Trek: Discovery (2017)

• Manage Account
• Press and Journal ePaper
• Evening Express ePaper

Star Trek-inspired north-east firm Vulcan expanding at home and abroad

Investment in an R&D hub in Westhill and a new office in Malaysia are helping drive up headcount and turnover.

North-east engineering firm Vulcan Completion Products is targeting turnover of more than £10 million in its new trading year.

Just over a year ago the fledgling firm told The Press and Journal it was aiming to break through the £5m barrier .

Its forecast for a doubling of turnover this year is reflected in its headcount growth amid expansion at home and abroad.

Vulcan’s fast -growing workforce

Last October the company, based in Westhill, near Aberdeen, employed 21 people – up from nine a year earlier.

The workforce is now 24-strong and rising after the addition of a new office in Malaysia to serve the Asia Pacific region.

Vulcan, whose name is inspired by the iconic Star Trek TV shows and movies, has doubled the size of its team in each of the past three years.

It also has regional offices in Dubai, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.

The firm said its five-strong team in Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, were already making “significant gains” by fostering pre-existing relationships and “deepening roots in the area”.

Meanwhile, “significant” investment has created a new research and development hub at its global headquarters in Westhill. This has effectively doubled its footprint in the north-east town, with Vulcan hailing the investment as a “redoubling” of its commitment to the region.

It said the move would further accelerate its “already enviable track record for innovation”, allowing its growing team to “continue leading from the front, and bring new and exciting products to the market to foster future sustainability and prosperity in all the company’s chosen markets”.

Three new members of staff have been recruited in Westhill to “bolster efforts to ensure the pace of development remains brisk and energetic”.

Boldly exploring new frontiers

Vulcan designs and manufactures engineered products for the global oil and gas industry completions market .

Founder, managing director, president and big Star Trek fan Ian Kirk said the firm was on a mission to  “create centres of knowledge simultaneously in the UK and in key overseas locations”.

Vulcan’s ‘all-important reach’

He continued: “Our entire business is built on the importance of customer relationships.

“The team Vulcan now have on board are probably the most knowledgeable in the field today.”

Adding more people in more locations “ensures that all-important reach” for the firm globally, he said.

Enterprise has had ‘Captain Kirk’ in command since 2017

And the investment in Westhill “consolidates the nucleus from which we will realise our future growth aspirations”, he added.

Mr Kirk, known as “Captain Kirk” among family and friends, founded Vulcan in 2017.

Saudi Arabia’s Alturki Holding Company acquired an undisclosed stake in the firm through its Sawafi oil and gas subsidiary in late 2022.

More from Business

UK construction rebound picks up pace but housebuilding slump persists

Eurovision fans planning on dressing up in national costumes for song contest

UK firm Wayve secures over £800m in funding to build AI for self-driving cars

PwC and EY fined for audits of failed minibond firm LCF

Inquiry launched over false inspection claims linked to Boeing 787 plane

UK house prices expected to rise modestly over 2024, says Halifax

BP profits miss forecasts as it plans £1.6bn cost-cutting

Aberdeenshire firm EnerQuip eyeing £25 million sales in 2025

Cheers! Elgin cocktail bar owner reveals he is extending weekend opening hours

Early Easter and bad weather contribute to drop in spring retail sales figures

Conversation.

Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. To participate in the conversation, please adjust your cookie preferences in order to enable comments.

• Get 7 Days Free

What I Hope My 14-Year-Old Learned at Berkshire Hathaway’s 2024 Annual Meeting

Life lessons from this year’s trek to Omaha to see Warren Buffett.

A couple years back I brought my son Isaac to the Berkshire Hathaway BRK.A BRK.B annual meeting and wrote about it for Morningstar.com. I got some nice feedback, mostly along the lines of “Awww.” I also got trolled on social media, along the lines of “What kind of obsessive dad takes a kid to a shareholder meeting instead of Disneyland?” Fair question.

Honestly, it wasn’t my idea to drag 14-year-old Isaac back to Omaha, Nebraska, last weekend. Our 2022 trip was partly revengeful travel to compensate for a pandemic-derailed spring break. This year’s meeting came at a busy time, so I wasn’t exactly jumping to do an eight-hour drive through Chicago rush-hour traffic, endless Iowan cornfields, and prairie lightning storms. It was Isaac who insisted. He had emerged from the 2022 meeting a bit of a Berkshirehead and wanted to see how Charlie Munger’s passing would change things. He also thinks Warren Buffett is hilarious.

For me, the Berkshire meeting is as much about values as value investing. I promise Isaac was not the only minor among the more than 30,000 “Woodstock for Capitalists” attendees at the CHI Health Center. Since Isaac predictably replied to his mother’s questions of “How was it?” and “What’d you learn?” with “Good” and “Stuff,” I’m listing some virtues I hope he absorbed from this year’s meeting:

Kindness. When a representative of an environmental justice group in Nevada asked a challenging question on utility rates and renewable energy investment , the response was thoughtful and courteous. No matter what or how he’s asked, Buffett treats the question with respect. “Kindness is free,” he said, noting that “the world isn’t better if you’re richer.” Buffett has signed the “ The Giving Pledge ,” committing 99% of his wealth to philanthropy. Kindness is also essential to the Berkshire business model. Owners want to sell to Berkshire because they know they’ll be treated well. I got a classic 14-year-old response when I stressed this point to Isaac: “Yeah, I know it’s important to be kind, Dad.” OK then.

Friendship. Asking investing successor Greg Abel to weigh in on a question, Buffett accidentally said: “Charlie?” Warm laughter and applause filled the arena (including from Abel). The traditional opening movie was dedicated to Munger’s life and legacy, including some of his most memorable quotes (such as, “I’d rather throw a viper down my shirt than hire a compensation consultant”) and Buffett crediting him as Berkshire’s “ architect .” It’s clear how friendship with Munger enriched Buffett’s life and how their partnership enriched Berkshire . Isaac was disappointed that Berkshire subsidiary Jazwares sold out of their Warren and Charlie Squishmallows (for his younger siblings, of course).

Humility. Buffett took personal responsibility for a failed investment in Paramount PARA . He answered several questions on artificial intelligence by admitting he knows nothing about it, except that it’s potentially transformative and prone to deepfake scams. Though he is one of Apple’s AAPL largest shareholders, Buffett quipped there might be a little man inside the iPhone for all he understands about the technology (that elicited a guffaw from a digital native 14-year-old). Buffett described himself as someone who wants to know if something works, while Munger needed to know how it worked. Understand and acknowledge limitations. But no, Isaac, you can’t skip homework because Algebra falls outside your “circle of competence.”

Gratitude. Buffett repeatedly stressed his luck at winning the “birth lottery,” to have found something he loves to do and people he loves working with. He thanked others throughout the meeting. Though Buffett attributed his and Munger’s longevity to luck (“Charlie never did a day of physical exercise and did not watch what he ate,” while Buffett seems to subsist on See’s Candies and Coke), it’s likely that disposition has contributed. When asked if he worried about the national debt, Buffett replied, “I’m not a worrier.” That said, he does “think about it” and expressed concern. I told Isaac a positive attitude was not necessarily a substitute for vegetables and swim practice.

Reading. When asked if he was starting out now with a small sum to invest, Buffett said he’d wade through 20,000 pages of stock information to identify opportunities. He has read The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham at least five times. Munger once said, “In my whole life, I have known no wise people who didn’t read all the time—none. Zero. You’d be amazed at how much Warren reads—and how much I read. My children laugh at me. They think I’m a book with a couple of legs sticking out.” I’m keeping this quote in my back pocket for the next time Isaac spends too long on his PlayStation.

Security. One questioner asked why Berkshire isn’t spending its cash pile, which grew to a record $189 billion in the first quarter . As Buffett wrote in the 2008 Berkshire shareholder letter : “We never want to count on the kindness of strangers in order to meet tomorrow’s obligations. When forced to choose, I will not trade even a night’s sleep for the chance of extra profits.” Buffett explained the current cash as a function of a few compelling investment opportunities. Maintaining liquidity gives Berkshire the ability to “be greedy when others are fearful” and to take advantage of those “occasional times when we’re the only ones willing to act.” I decided to spare Isaac yet another lecture on the benefits of deferred consumption and the miracle of compound interest.

Succession Planning. Apple CEO Tim Cook attended the meeting and was held out as an example of successful corporate baton passing. Ensuring continuity is critical to legacy building. What future Berkshire leaders Greg Abel and Ajit Jain lack in humor and folksy wisdom, they make up for in intelligence and integrity. Their comments on Berkshire businesses BNSF, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, and Geico were insightful. Abel ably (sorry, had to do it) summed up Berkshire’s culture: “We treat our shareholders as partners and our managers as owners.” Isaac told me he might not want to drive eight hours to hear Abel and Jain speak, but he does not plan to sell the Berkshire investment that he will inherit. My succession planning at work.

Global citizenship. The meeting’s first questioner traveled from Hong Kong and asked if Berkshire would be investing more in China. Several hailed from Germany. One young man had made the trip from New Zealand, another from Malaysia. A passionate Canadian asked if Buffett would allocate more capital north of the border, and an Indian extolled the merits of his home market. Buffett said Berkshire would remain mostly domestic in its investments. But he also keeps tabs on most global markets, repeatedly mentioned Berkshire’s Japanese holdings, and explained the company would continue to participate in the global economy through its US-based businesses. Even in the middle of America, Isaac and I felt the importance of global connection.

Patriotism. Buffett repeatedly stressed his luck at having been born in America. As he reminded us in the 2020 pandemic-era shareholder letter : “In its brief 232 years of existence … there has been no incubator for unleashing human potential like America … Never bet against America.” In this year’s meeting, Buffett wore Berkshire’s $5 billion-plus tax bill as a badge of pride and chided other companies for pursuing tax shelters. “It is beyond arrogance for American business or individuals to boast they have ‘done it alone,’” he once wrote, crediting much of Berkshire’s success to the “American tailwind.” Patriotism is also good business for Berkshire. “We want the US government to think we’re an asset and not a liability or a supplicant,” said Buffett, alluding to times Berkshire is able to provide liquidity on favorable terms. On the drive home, Isaac and I reflected on the opportunities enjoyed by generations of our family in this country. In a divisive election year when its problems will be highlighted, America’s many strengths should be remembered, too.

“Thanks for coming. I hope you come back next year,” Buffett said in closing, before quipping: “I hope I come back next year.” Isaac and I hope you do too, Mr. Buffett.

Morningstar, Inc. licenses indexes to financial institutions as the tracking indexes for investable products, such as exchange-traded funds, sponsored by the financial institution. The license fee for such use is paid by the sponsoring financial institution based mainly on the total assets of the investable product. A list of investable products that track or have tracked a Morningstar index is available on the resources tab at indexes.morningstar.com. Morningstar, Inc. does not market, sell, or make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in any investable product that tracks a Morningstar index.

The author or authors own shares in one or more securities mentioned in this article. Find out about Morningstar’s editorial policies .

More in Stocks

Palantir Earnings: AI Platform Drives Strong Start to 2024

After Earnings, Is Amazon Stock a Buy, a Sell, or Fairly Valued?

The 10 Best Dividend Stocks

About the author, dan lefkovitz.

Dan Lefkovitz is strategist for Morningstar Indexes, responsible for producing research supporting Morningstar’s index capabilities across a range of asset classes. He contributes to the Morningstar Direct℠ Research Portal, authors white papers, and frequently hosts webinars on index-related topics.

Before assuming his current role in 2015, he spent 11 years on Morningstar’s manager research team. He held several different roles, including analyst and director of the company’s institutional research service. From 2008 to 2012, he was based in London, helping to build Morningstar’s fund research capability across Europe and Asia. Lefkovitz also participated in the development of the Morningstar Analyst Rating™, the Global Fund Report, and edited the Fidelity Fund Family report from 2006 to 2008.

Before joining Morningstar in 2004, Lefkovitz served as director of risk analysis for Marvin Zonis + Associates, a Chicago-based consultancy. During this time, he coauthored The Kimchi Matters: Global Business and Local Politics in a Crisis-Driven World (Agate, 2003).

Lefkovitz holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and a master's degree from the University of Chicago.

Carl Vine: Japan Holds the ‘Most Fascinating Little Pocket of the Global Equity Market’

How to position your investment portfolio before the 2024 election, neil shearing: what you might be missing about the current economy, bryan armour: is index investing’s superpower unstoppable, jb taylor: small caps haven’t been this cheap in 25 years, sonali pier: don’t rent yield, a top contrarian investment idea for 2024, invesco’s justin leverenz: emerging markets are ‘incredibly attractive’, jody jonsson: the case for a global portfolio, the year in dividend stocks, sponsor center.