star trek picard quote

Star Trek: Captain Picard's 15 Best Quotes, Ranked

As one of the most well-known characters in the entire Star Trek franchise, we look at Captain Picard's best quotes.

Across the Star Trek universe, The Next Generation 's Captain Picard remains one of the most iconic figures of the franchise. From his sophistication and strict command of the Enterprise to his love of diplomacy and rules, fans have watched the progression of his character over the decades and have come to hold him in high regard. The resurrection of Patrick Stewart's epic character as retired Admiral Picard in the Paramount+ original series Picard brought viewers closer than they'd ever been to the former Starfleet officer, providing glimpses into a past that shaped him into the man fans knew and loved, before shaping his future in ways no one could have ever expected.

While each captain or commander introduced across the franchise's numerous spin-offs left a mark on audiences, Picard holds a special place in both hearts and memories. He was a much different captain than William Shatner's James T. Kirk , approaching obstacles through diplomacy as often as possible. He inadvertently shaped the life and future of Deep Space Nine's Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) as Locutus of Borg, and though they never met on-screen, Captain Katherine Janeway's (Kate Mulgrew) awareness of Picard's assimilation and interactions with the Borg almost definitely influenced her interactions with them in the Delta Quadrant.

During his time, Picard bestowed a lot of wisdom to his crew, the aliens he encountered along his way, and the very fans who tuned in each week to see what dangers the Enterprise and her crew might face. People remember him for his understanding of Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra, and his love of Earl Grey tea. They fondly recall his often-strained relationship with Beverly Crusher and her son Wesley. More than anything, however, they remember the things he said, and how easily they could be applied to everyday life.

15 "Make it so."

Three little words that may not seem all that important, but they set things in motion. Picard needed to do little more than issue that command, and the ship's crew came alive to carry it out. Whether he was launching them into a mission or agreeing with a plan laid out before him by a subordinate, the words "Make it so" were his way of saying let's do this. Every captain had his own launch into action phrase, and while it's sometimes difficult to remember what those were, Picard's phrase remains with viewers to this day.

14 "Engage!"

When setting the ship for warp speed, or engaging the engines to take off for their next adventure, every captain seems to have his own special catchphrase. Anson Mount's Captain Christopher Pike has been known to say "Hit it" in the Paramount+ series Strange New Worlds . Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) coined the phrase "Let's Fly" in Discovery . For Captain Kirk, it was "Execute". Captain Picard was known to issue the command, "Engage," and this also occasionally applied to enemy engagement as well.

13 "To be alive is a responsibility as well as a right."

All throughout the first season of Picard , laws against creating Artificial Intelligence were at the core of the plot. When Picard and his new crew found themselves on Dr. Soong's planet of refuge, they discovered an entire society of AI that wanted desperately to be given the same rights and responsibilities as other life forms. The problem with that, as far as Picard could see, was that though they had all the signs of living beings, they didn't really understand what being alive actually meant.

Though they may have had a right to live, they also had a responsibility as living beings to explore and embrace life. The thing about his words that resonate is they don't just apply to AI, they could apply to anyone living and struggling to find their place and purpose.

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12 "The past is written, but the future is left for us to write."

Picard introduced a lot of new characters to the universe, including Captain Cristobal Rios (Santiago Cabrera) of the La Sirena. Captain Rios was a complicated character, prone to drinking, dark philosophy, moping, and splitting his image and personality between the ship's five Emergency Holograms.

It was obvious from his introduction that he'd been through and seen a lot, and it gave him a bleak enough outlook that Picard had to remind him that though there was darkness in his past, he had control over what his future might become. Wise advice to anyone suffering from the mistakes of their past.

11 "If we want to save the future, then we have to repair the past."

During season two of Picard , his long-time nemesis Q made a sudden reappearance to interfere with the retired Starfleet officer's life by thrusting them into the past to stop a future in which Picard himself becomes a bloodthirsty warmonger much different than the man he actually became. While Picard's quote about saving the future was a literal reference to the historical past, taking those words to heart makes them resonate. Much like his advice to Captain Rios on taking control of his future, all too often people allow their pasts to define their futures. By healing the damages suffered in one's past, they have the ability to save their future.

10 "Tea. Earl Grey. Hot."

Out there among the stars, there is no true concept of time. Even if Starfleet adheres to the 24-hour military clock, a captain's hours are often long and fraught with stress. Captain Picard relied on the caffeinated power of tea. Earl Grey tea , to be precise, and he liked it hot.

His love of Earl Grey is so well known, it's become a meme unto itself, and there is hardly a Trekkie who would ever order it without quoting the captain. Even decades later in Picard, he ordered his beloved Earl Grey, but took it decaf on doctor's orders.

9 "There is a way out of every box, a solution to every puzzle..."

While confined by an alien species, Dr. Beverly Crusher and Captain Picard found their minds linked by a strange implant. Their imprisonment created a great deal of tension, but as he often did, Picard kept his cool, reminding Crusher, "There is a way out of every box a solution to every puzzle.

It's just a matter of finding it." Much like his many other words of wisdom, they aren't just situational. They can be applied to almost any situation. No matter the complications, there is always a way forward, especially for those willing to put the time and effort into searching for a solution.

8 "To say you have no choice is a failure of imagination."

Nearly everything the man said could be combined into an epic tome of advice for people on how not to give up. All too often, the defeated fall back on their shortcomings, unable to imagine a future different from the one they're currently living. In season one of Picard, Soji is ready to start a war to fight for the rights of other AI like her. She throws it in Picard's face that humanity has dictated their very existence, never giving them a choice.

Picard's response points out that if the AI want to be considered as living beings, they need to demonstrate imagination and find another solution. Once more, this is applicable to just about every hopeless situation imaginable.

7 "Fear is fear. It doesn't speak in riddles."

Across the course of his long career, Jean-Luc Picard had a lot to say about fear. He called fear "the great destroyer" and "an incompetent teacher," pointing out the folly in allowing it to determine one's choices. During Picard season two, it was up to him to convince his own ancestor, Renee Picard, to follow through with her journey to the stars in an effort to save the future. Her nervous and depressive demeanor reminds him of his mother, who suffered from severe mental illness.

When she confides in him about fear being a warning against something one's not ready for, he busts out an incredibly profound statement on the direct nature of fear and how it can work to empower a person, rather than hold them back.

6 "Change always comes later than we think it should."

When Picard and his team went back in time to save the future in Picard season two , he met a much younger Guinan just as she was about ready to give up on Earth. While convincing her to stick around wasn't easy, his reflections on the nature of change and its often untimely arrival resonated with her well enough to set a course for the future they shared on the Enterprise. As much as people try to provoke change, or dictate when it should arrive, it comes precisely when it needs to. It's never too late for change to occur.

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5 "...Political power flows from the barrel of a gun."

Picard had a pretty good handle on politics, and was far more keen to handle matters with diplomacy than unnecessary bloodshed. When it came to his views on obtaining power through violence, he stood firmly behind his beliefs, once telling Data, "I have never subscribed to the theory that political power flows from the barrel of a gun."

Even as Data brought up numerous examples in which terrorism achieved what diplomacy had failed, he asked Picard if that meant terrorism should be used when all other options fail. Not quite having a good answer for that, he noted that mankind had been searching for the answer to that question forever.

4 "It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose."

When Data loses a game of strategy, it puts him in an inconsolable state that causes him to neglect his duties on the bridge. Picard finally had enough of his shenanigans and went personally to his quarters to get him back in place, but Data felt that his inadequacy should be reason enough for the captain to choose another first officer. After all, he might make a mistake.

Picard agrees that he very well might, but it doesn't mean he can abandon his duty. Before leaving, he tells Data, "It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not weakness; that is life." As an artificial intelligence, the concept of life was often difficult for Data to understand, but he tried very hard. Fortunately, he had Captain Picard beside him to help him reach his potential as a living being.

3 "Make now always the most precious time."

Even when he was not quite himself, Jean-Luc Picard was chock-full of wisdom. While living through the final years of the planet Kataan through an individual known as Kamin, he experiences decades as Kamin. Getting married, having children, even becoming a grandfather, he looks toward a future that is not guaranteed and wishes often that things could be different.

As Kamin, he offers wisdom to his daughter Maribor, telling her, "Make now always the most precious time. Now will never come again." All too often, life takes advantage of the moments it has been given, always believing there will be more to come. Picard's reminder that time is fleeting never gets old.

2 "Things are only impossible until they are not."

Similar to his quote about there being a solution to every puzzle, he won't stand for it when Data tells him breaking through the shield in Season 1, Episode 17, "When the Bough Breaks," may be impossible. Maybe it is impossible, but once they find a way around it, it won't be impossible anymore. Apply that to just about any seemingly-impossible situation for a little bit of comfort from the captain's chair.

1 "With the first link, the chain is forged."

While not a direct Jean-Luc Picard quote, he did use its outright wisdom in a courtroom, ironically against the daughter of the Starfleet judge who coined it. Words once spoken by Aaron Satie, ""With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied chains us all irrevocably,"

Picard turned them on his daughter, Admiral Norah Satie, to point out her abuse of power. Timeless wisdom on the destructive nature of censorship, he may not have coined it, but the fact that he understood the concept well enough to use it to his advantage is just another reminder of how intelligent and well-spoken he was.

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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

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. See also: The end of Youtube Video " How I Wish I Could Have Died With Her " (18.06.2021) by user "tjwparso".
• " 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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Revisit Picard’s Words of Wisdom From ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ (VIDEO)

Everyone remembers “Make it so,” “Engage,” and even “Tea. Early Grey. Hot.”

But the  U.S.S. Enterprise captain also had more eloquent moments throughout  The Next Generation ‘s seven seasons.

Here are 10 to revisit — each available to stream on CBS All Access — while you anxiously await  Star Trek: Picard ‘s 2020 premiere.

“Justice” (Season 1, Episode 8)

The primitive Edo people are loving but surprisingly resolute in this: The punishment for all infractions, even if unintentional, is death. Capt. Jean-Luc Picard ( Patrick Stewart ) must show the powerful “God” ship ruling the Edo that, in life, exceptions do matter when youngest crew member Wesley Crusher ( Wil Wheaton ) faces execution over a minor accident.

Comic-Con 2019 Day 3: 'Star Trek: Picard,' 'Riverdale' & More Star Portraits in Our Studio (PHOTOS)

Picard Says: “There can be no justice so long as laws are absolute.”

“When the Bough Breaks” (Season 1, Episode 17)

Picard is outraged when the Aldeans — who are infertile and desperate to repopulate their world — kidnap the children aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise to continue their civilization. When the cause of the sterility is found to be fixable, he persuades them to accept a less drastic course.

Picard Says: “Things are only impossible until they’re not.”

“Coming of Age” (Season 1, Episode 19)

Picard and Wesley each face tests of their mettle. The captain bristles over an investigation to decide whether his logs accurately depict the U.S.S. Enterprise ‘s missions. Wesley, meanwhile, is among the finalists vying for a single open spot in Starfleet Academy. When another candidate is chosen, Wesley’s commander/mentor reminds him that doing your best is the real victory.

Picard Says: “The only person you’re truly competing against is yourself.”

First Look: 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' Never-Before-Seen Photos

“the offspring” (season 3, episode 16).

Lt. Cdr. Data ( Brent Spiner ) uses technological advances to create an android, named Lal, based on his own neural interface. The captain is initially shocked to hear Data refer to Lal as his child, but in another instance of Picard championing open-mindedness, he refuses Starfleet’s request to remove Lal for observation, having come to see Data’s parental love.

Picard Says:  “There are times, sir, when men of good conscience cannot blindly follow orders.”

“Allegiance” (Season 3, Episode 18)

A lesson about wrongful detention: Picard has been imprisoned with three others in a mysterious holding cell and replaced aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise with an imposter. After he realizes the situation is an elaborate ruse, aliens appear and explain they were using him to study leadership.

Picard Says: “Imprisonment is an injury, regardless of how you justify it.”

'Picard' Cast on Reprising Their 'Star Trek' Roles & How Characters Have Changed (VIDEO)

“the wounded” (season 4, episode 12).

How can a commander who has seen the tragedy of war manage to later keep the peace? That is Picard’s dilemma when confronted with a renegade Federation captain bent on upending a new treaty with the violent Cardassians. Picard convinces the man to back down but also understands his motives, later explaining to Chief O’Brien ( Colm Meaney ) that some men wear their bitterness forever.

Picard Says: “When one has been angry for a very long time, one gets used to it. And it becomes comfortable, like…like old leather. And finally it becomes so familiar that one can’t ever remember feeling any other way.”

“Darmok” (Season 5, Episode 2)

Over seven encounters in 100 years, the Federation and the Tamarians have each failed to understand the other’s language. Picard is transported to a nearby planet with the Tamarian captain, who seems to offer a knife for combat. Instead of taking up arms, Picard, with time and persistence, forges a historic bond of respect between them.

Picard Says: “In my experience, communication is a matter of patience and imagination. I would like to believe that these are qualities that we have in sufficient measure.”

“The Inner Light” (Season 5, Episode 25)

For 25 minutes, a beam from a puzzling space probe renders Picard comatose. During that period, the probe also causes a confused Picard to experience, in his mind, an entirely separate adult life — love, fatherhood, and aging — as a man named Kamin on a climate-challenged planet called Kataan. Whatever the identity, though, he recognizes that every moment counts.

Picard Says: “Seize the time…. Live now! Make now always the most precious time. Now will never come again.”

“Attached” (Season 7, Episode 8)

Picard and Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden) beam down to planet Kesprytt, looking to further their relations with the Kes people. Suspicious, the neighboring Prytts intercept the visitors and lock them up. The two are now able to read each other’s thoughts, and the ever-deductive Picard assures that things will work out.

Picard Says: “There is a way out of every box, a solution to every puzzle; it’s just a matter of finding it.”

5 Takeaways From the 'Star Trek: Picard' New York Comic Con Panel

“all good things” (season 7, episodes 25 and 26).

In the series finale, Picard is manipulated through past, present, and future experiences by the devious godlike entity Q (John de Lancie), who insists the captain will do something to destroy humanity. Picard at first refuses to be thusly tried, but with his crew’s assistance in all three periods, he finds a solution — and makes it so.

Picard Says: “We are what we are, and we’re doing the best we can. It is not for you to set the standards by which we should be judged!”

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15 Iconic Jean-Luc Picard Quotes To Celebrate Captain Picard Day

Captain Picard Day is celebrated by his fans on 16 June every year. The fans chose this date as it is equivalent to Stardate 47457.1 in 'Star Trek The Next Generation , 'The Pegasus'.

Wesley Crusher Was Picard’s son in a way. Picard was his godfather as he had served with Wesley’s father on USS Stargazer, and Wesley’s father Jack had died tragically.

Picard, played by Patrick Stewart, feels obligated to look upon Wesley as his son and be the fatherly figure. Picard and Beverly Crusher had been married and then divorced, they still had romantic feelings for each other even after so many years.

Read along to find some of the best Picard quotes, from 'Star trek The Next Generation' and more in the series. You will also find some amazing 'Star Trek Next Generation' quotes here.

If you like these quotes, make sure to also check out our articles on Captain Kirk quotes and Spock quotes when you finish with this one.    

Best Quotes From Captain Picard Of The USS Enterprise

Jean-Luc Picard is a fictional character from 'Star Trek', one of the most popular books from author Gene Roddenberry. He is the captain of the spacecraft belonging to Starfleet Academy. Read along to find some of the best quotes by Jean Luc Picard. You will also find some funny Captain Picard quotes here.

1. “Seize the time... Live now! Make now always the most precious time. Now will never come again.”

- Jean-Luc Picard, Season Five, Episode 25, 'The Inner Light'.

2. “It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not weakness, that is life.”

- Jean-Luc Picard, Season Two, Episode 21, 'Peak Generation'.

3. “Things are only impossible until they are not.”

- Jean-Luc Picard, Season One, Episode 16, 'When The Bough Breaks'.

4. “The road from legitimate suspicion to rampant paranoia is very much shorter than we think.”

- Jean-Luc Picard, Season Four, Episode 21, ‘The Drumhead’’.

5. “The acquisition of wealth is no longer the driving force of our lives. We work to better ourselves and the rest of humanity.”

- Jean-Luc Picard, ‘Star Trek: The First Contract’.

6. “If we’re going to be damned, let’s be damned for what we really are.”

- Jean-Luc Picard, ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation - Encounter at Farpoint’.

7. “The first duty of every starfleet officer is to the truth. It is the guiding principle upon which starfleet is based.”

- Jean-Luc Picard, Season Five, Episode 19, ‘The First Duty’.

Captain Picard Inspirational Quotes From Star Trek

Jean-Luc Picard has a strong sense of duty and is very curious to explore everything in the universe. Read along these inspirational 'Star Trek' quotes to find some related words of wisdom by Jean-Luc Picard.

8. “Every choice we make allows us to manipulate the future.”

- Jean-Luc Picard, Season Five, Episode Nine, ‘Matter of Time’.

9. “Courage can be an emotion too.”

- Jean-Luc Picard, Season Six, Episode Three, ‘The Man Of People’.

10. “The only person you’re truly competing against is yourself.”

- Jean-Luc Picard, Season One, Episode 18, ‘Coming of Age’.

11. "Riker: I'm going to miss this ship; she went before her time.

Picard: Someone once told me that time was a predator that stalked us all our lives. But I rather believe than time is a companion who goes with us on the journey, and reminds us to cherish every moment because they'll never come again.

What we leave behind is not as important how we lived...After all, number one, we're only mortal.

Riker: [smiling]   Speak for yourself, sir. I plan to live forever."

-'Star Trek: Generations’.

12. “No being is so important that he can usurp the rights of another.”

- Jean-Luc Picard, Season Two, Episode Six, ‘The Schizoid Man’.

13. “There is a way out of every box, a solution to every puzzle; it’s just a matter of finding it.”

- Jean-Luc Picard, Season Seven, Episode Eight, ‘Attached’.

14. "I don't know how to communicate this, or even if it is possible to do so... but the question of justice has concerned me greatly of late. And so I say to any creature who may be listening: There can be no justice, so long as laws are absolute. Life itself is an exercise in exceptions."

- Jean-Luc Picard, Season One, Episode Seven, ‘Justice’.

15. "Gul Madred : What are the Federation's defense plans for Minos Korva?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard : There are four lights!

Gul Madred : There are five lights! How many do you see now?"

- Season Six, Episode 11, 'Chain Of Command: Part II'.

Here at Kidadl , we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for the coming of age Star Trek Captain Picard quotes,, then why not take a look at 'Battlestar Galactica' quotes or [ 'Babylon 5' quotes ].

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Experienced in writing and sub-editing, Luca holds a Bachelor's in English Literature and Drama from the University of Birmingham, where he served as the culture editor at Redbrick Paper. He is currently pursuing a Master's in Performance: Design and Practice at the University of the Arts in London, showcasing his passion for the arts, performance, and history. With a keen interest in traveling, Luca enjoys exploring new cultures and experiencing diverse perspectives.

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Captain Picard's Best Quotes From Star Trek: TNG

Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the starship Enterprise from Star Trek: The Next Generation has inspired fans with a few unforgettable quotes for years.

Fans can’t wait for the upcoming third season of Star Trek: Picard , which will see Patrick Stewart return once again to the beloved character. He will be joined by even more of the cast from Star Trek: The Next Generation , giving fans a chance to see some of their favorite characters years after the end of the hit TV series.

RELATED: Star Trek: TNG's 10 Best Away Team Members, Ranked

When he was Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the starship Enterprise, he became known for his impassioned speeches on the rights of sentient beings and Starfleet's dedication to the Prime Directive. This resulted in a number of memorable quotes that showcase why Captain Picard was a favorite crew member on Star Trek: The Next Generation .

10 “There Is A Way Out Of Every Box, A Solution To Every Puzzle; It’s Just A Matter Of Finding It.”

Jean-Luc Picard had a number of important qualities that helped make him a great captain of the Enterprise . One of his most important attributes was his analytical mind. The crew frequently survived due to Picard’s ability to work his way out of puzzling situations or traps.

This became even more clear when Picard and Dr. Crusher were forced to escape prison together in the seventh season’s “Attached.” The close friends had devices implanted that began sharing their thoughts. This also made it impossible for them to be too far apart from each other. It was a difficult situation, but one they managed to find a solution for together.

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

Captain Picard was always the first to bring up Starfleet's dedication to the Prime Directive. However, he was also forced to go against it on more than one occasion. His loyalty to Starfleet also came into question when he was asked to carry out orders he didn’t believe in based on his own morals.

When Data created his own artificial offspring named Lal, an admiral from a Starfleet science facility attempted to separate them for research. Capt. Picard spent a lot of effort in helping to define the rights of artificial lifeforms like Data, and he refused the admiral’s command. “Order a man to hand his child over to the state? Not while I am his captain.”

8 "The Prime Directive Is Not Just A Set Of Rules; It Is A Philosophy, And A Very Correct One.”

Starfleet operates with a very strict rule that has governed every version of the Enterprise over the years. The Prime Directive forbids intervention in another alien culture’s development. Capt. Picard was forced to clarify this when Dr. Crusher discovered a problematic relationship between two planets in the first season’s “Symbiosis” episode.

Picard and Crusher disagreed about their level of involvement, and Picard was forced to follow the Prime Directive to the letter. “History has proven again and again that whenever mankind interferes with a less developed civilization, no matter how well-intentioned that interference may be, the results are invariably disastrous."

7 "I Have Never Subscribed To The Theory That Political Power Flows From The Barrel Of A Gun."

The Enterprise-D was frequently involved in political matters on the various planets they visited, such as in the third season episode “High Ground.” Dr. Crusher was kidnapped while giving medical aid by a group of terrorists fighting against their government. However, she soon learned that they were rebels fighting against an oppressive government.

RELATED: 10 Things You Completely Missed In Star Trek: Picard Season 1

Captain Picard made his own thoughts on their political situation very clear when contemplating their position. The government’s violent actions that started their rebellion were just one of many that highlight the issues that come with ruling through force. Picard’s ideals followed the Federation’s beliefs which came from a mostly utopian society on Earth and other planets.

6 “There Are Four Lights!”

Capt. Picard was taken prisoner by Cardassians in one of the best episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation , the two-part “Chain of Command” episode from the sixth season. He was on a secret mission that was revealed to be a trap as the Enterprise received a new captain. The Cardassians were attempting to extract information from Picard by using extreme torture methods.

Picard was implanted with a device that caused immense pain at the touch of a button. His interrogator was a Cardassian named Gul Madred, who was trying to mentally break Picard. Behind him were four lit lights, but he attempted to make Picard claim there were five. Picard never broke despite the pain, defiantly shouting to Gul Madred the truth until he was freed.

5 "There Can Be No Justice As Long As Laws Are Absolute. Even Life Itself Is An Exercise In Exceptions."

The first season episode “Justice” explored a beautiful and seemingly peaceful planet. Unfortunately, the crew of the Enterprise soon discovered that peace came with a deadly catch. When classic Star Trek: TNG character Wesley Crusher accidentally destroyed newly planted flowers in an area that was specifically marked, he unknowingly broke a law that had fatal consequences.

Picard was forced to fight against that planet’s laws to stop his young ensign from being killed for an innocent mistake that ultimately hurt no one. The planet’s absolute justice may have kept them peaceful, though it wasn’t true justice. Exemptions had to be made in some situations to protect the innocent, not condemn them.

4 "You Have To Measure Your Successes And Your Failures Within. Not By Anything That I Or Anyone Else Might Think."

“Coming Of Age” from the first season followed Wesley Crusher’s first attempt to enroll in Starfleet Academy. He competed against the brightest minds from a few other planets and was a clear frontrunner. However, he decided to help his comrades instead of focusing on his own work, which ultimately cost him the position.

RELATED: Star Trek: 10 Characters Who Should Have A Picard-Style Solo Series

Crusher was worried that Capt. Picard would be disappointed in what he perceived to be a failure. Picard hadn’t quite warmed up to the children on his ship at this point in the series. However, he still offered words of wisdom to the aspiring young cadet. Picard and Wesley began to grow much closer after the captain shared that he failed his first entrance exam as well.

3 “What We Leave Behind Is Not As Important As How We Lived.”

Captain Picard met another commander of the Enterprise from the past when the TNG cast made the jump to the big screen in 1994’s Star Trek: Generations . Picard met Captain Kirk from The Original Series in a metaphysical realm after they were both caught in a cosmic ribbon. It gave a spotlight to some of Captain Kirk's greatest quotes as he shared his wisdom with Picard.

As Picard collected things from the destroyed Enterprise alongside Will Riker, he shared his thoughts on how he planned to spend the time given to him. “Someone once told me that time was a predator that stalked us all our lives. But I rather believe that time is a companion who goes with us on the journey and reminds us to cherish every moment because they'll never come again.”

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

One of Captain Picard’s most memorable quotes came from the“Peak Performance” finale episode of the second season. The ship was engaged in a series of combat simulations in order to prepare for the new threat of the Borg. A strategist was brought on board for the simulation. He managed to defeat the occasionally Jedi-like Data in an advanced game of strategy.

Data’s confidence was shattered to the point that he felt he could no longer perform his duties on the bridge. Picard was able to give him a pep talk that restored Data’s confidence and allowed him to defeat the strategist. Picard’s quote falls in line with one of Starfleet’s captain tests called the Kobayashi Maru, which makes cadets train in a simulated “no-win” exercise.

1 "Let's Make Sure History Never Forgets The Name Enterprise."

A rift in time resulted in an ill-fated Enterprise from the past arriving in the present, which severely altered the timeline. One of the biggest changes was the return of Lt. Tasha Yar to the bridge, despite her death in the main timeline. It soon became clear that the Enterprise-C ’s removal from its place in time led to a violent war with the Klingon Empire that threatened the Federation.

Guinan was able to recognize that something had changed. It was decided that the Enterprise-C had to return back to its own time, where it faced certain destruction. However, the destruction of that ship would end the war that never should have happened. Capt. Picard proved he was one of the best captains in Star Trek with a rallying speech that further inspired the ill-fated crew.

Jean-Luc Picard Quotes

There is a way out of every box, a solution to every puzzle; it’s just a matter of finding it.

– Capt. 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.

A matter of internal security: the age-old cry of the oppressor.

Seize the time…Live now. Make now always the most precious time. Now will never come again.

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.

Someone once told me that time was a predator that stalked us all our lives. But I rather believe that time is a companion who goes with us on the journey and reminds us to cherish every moment because they’ll never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we’ve lived. After all…we’re only mortal.

Things are only impossible until they’re not!

There can be no justice so long as laws are absolute. Even life itself is an exercise in exceptions.

I’m not in the habit of consulting lawyers before I do what needs to be done.

Murder is not justice. There is no solace in revenge.

The line must be drawn here! This far, no further!

To be alive is a responsibility as well as a right.

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

You cannot explain away a wantonly immoral act because you think that it is connected to some higher purpose.

The road from legitimate suspicion to rampant paranoia is very much shorter than we think.

The acquisition of wealth is no longer the driving force of our lives. We work to better ourselves and the rest of humanity.

There are times, sir, when men of good conscience cannot blindly follow orders.

I’d be delighted to offer any advice I have on understanding women. When I have some, I’ll let you know.

There’s still much to do; still so much to learn.

If we’re going to be damned, let’s be damned for what we really are.

Being first at any cost is not always the point.

Torture has never been a reliable means of extracting information.

Fear is an incompetent teacher.

Anyone who treats me like a dying man will run the risk of pissing me off. Is that clear?

No, I am not dead. Because I refuse to believe the afterlife is run by you. The universe is not so badly designed.

It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not weakness, that is life.

There are many parts of my youth that I’m not proud of. There were loose threads, untidy parts of me that I would like to remove. But when I pulled on one of those threads it unraveled the tapestry of my life.

Buried deep within you…is the potential to make yourself a better man. And that is what it is to be human. To make yourself more than you are.

The only person you’re truly competing against…is yourself.

Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before!

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Riker: You’re not going alone. Worf: And I will make it a threesome. Riker: Do you even hear yourself? Permalink: Do you even hear yourself? Added: April 19, 2023

There are two turns of phrase a Klingon never admits to knowing. Defeat. And farewell. Worf Permalink: There are two turns of phrase a Klingon never admits to knowing. Defeat. And farewell. Added: April 19, 2023

What began over thirty-five years ago ends tonight. Permalink: What began over thirty-five years ago ends tonight. Added: April 19, 2023

Beverly: You’re going down there. Picard: I need you to lead me to him. You brought him this far. Let me bring him home. Permalink: I need you to lead me to him. You brought him this far. Let me bring him home. Added: April 19, 2023

You don’t leave the doors open if you want to keep the wolves out. Permalink: You don’t leave the doors open if you want to keep the wolves out. Added: April 19, 2023

Picard: Will, thank you. It means so much to me. Riker: You know that I know. Always. Permalink: You know that I know. Always. Added: April 19, 2023

This is President Anton Chekov of the United Federation of Planets, broadcasting on all emergency channels. Do not approach Earth. A signal of unknown origin has turned our young against us. They have been assimilated by the Borg. Our fleet has been compromised and as we speak, our planetary defenses are falling. Sol Station is defending Earth as best it can, but we’re almost out of time. We have not been able to find a way to stop this Borg signal and unassimilate our young. But I know if my father were here, he’d remind us all that hope is never lost. There are always possibilities. Until then, I implore you. Save yourselves. Farewell. Chekov Permalink: This is President Anton Chekov of the United Federation of Planets, broadcasting on all... Added: April 19, 2023

It is confirmed. Your son is the command signal. Worf Permalink: It is confirmed. Your son is the command signal. Added: April 19, 2023

Good job routing transporter fields through phasers. You may have just invented the portable beam-me-up. Seven Permalink: Good job routing transporter fields through phasers. You may have just invented the portable... Added: April 19, 2023

I’ve never felt anything like this before. It’s like… quiet suffering. Troi Permalink: I’ve never felt anything like this before. It’s like… quiet suffering. Added: April 19, 2023

Riker: No movement. No sound. A cube this size, there should be thousands of drones. Armies. Worf: You appear to be oddly disappointed you’re not outnumbered. Riker: Yeah, well, I’ve never found myself in a ‘too quiet’ situation that ended with a pleasant surprise. Permalink: Yeah, well, I’ve never found myself in a ‘too quiet’ situation that ended with a pleasant... Added: April 19, 2023

I’m not asking you to give your lives for nothing. I’m asking you to fight for what’s below. Your families, your children. The Borg have taken our crew, taken our captain, but in this moment, here and now, we are all that is left of Starfleet. It’s up to us. Seven Permalink: I’m not asking you to give your lives for nothing. I’m asking you to fight for what’s below.... Added: April 19, 2023

Laris: Jean-Luc, you don’t need to prove to me how ready you are for this. How in-the-present you are. The past matters and that’s okay. Picard: Laris, these things from my past, they are so dear to me. They’re mementos of dear friends, old and new. But they’re memories. Permalink: Laris, these things from my past, they are so dear to me. They’re mementos of dear friends,... Added: February 16, 2023

Laris: First love is always the sweetest, isn’t it? Picard: Well, she wasn’t the first, but she was certainly my favorite. Permalink: Well, she wasn’t the first, but she was certainly my favorite. Added: February 16, 2023

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Star Trek: Picard Quotes

To be alive is a responsibility, as well as a right.

• Star Trek: Picard
• Jean-Luc Picard
• Responsibility

Fear is an incompetent teacher.

The past is written, but the future is left for us to write.

The dreams are lovely. It’s the waking up that I’m beginning to resent. [Laris: Bad dreams?]

Hope and the odds make poor bedfellows.

Fear is fear. It doesn’t speak in riddles. Fear means you’re smart. You understand the risks.

Anyone who treats me like a dying man will run the risk of pissing me off. Is that clear?

A butterfly that lives forever is really not a butterfly at all.

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You might want to point that thing at my head. My heart is solid duritanium.

You have a past. You have a story, just waiting to be claimed. [to Soji]

You don’t leave the doors open if you want to keep the wolves out.

We have powerful tools: openness, optimism, and the spirit of curiosity. All they have is secrecy and fear. And fear is the great destroyer. [to Rios]

• Curiosity ,

Related Series

• Series: Star Trek: Picard
• Genre: Sci-Fi
• Year: 2020–2023

Star Trek: Picard Characters

• William Riker
• Deanna Troi

The Best Picard ‘Star Trek’ Quotes to Inspire Parents Everywhere

Picard is still the ultimate space dad.

Some parents love Star Trek. Some are indifferent, but no one is immune to the charm and wisdom of one of the best space dads — Sir Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Since 2020, Stewart has been reprising his role as Picard in a series called Star Trek: Picard; a role he originated back in 1987 in Star Trek: The Next Generation. If you’re a parent, and you haven’t caught the new series, there are some pretty wonderful meditations on the meaning of family, and just how far we’ll go to protect our kids. That show was also co-created by famous father, novelist Michael Chabon, who told Fatherly in 2018 , that he felt parents had to believe in a Star Trek-like future.

Back in 2018, in Stewart’s official statement about his return as Picard , he noted how touched he’d been over the years by fans telling him that “The Next Generation brought them comfort…and saw them through difficult times.” With that in mind, here are eight quotes from Captain Jean-Luc Picard that can inspire you in the hardest moments of being a parent.

When your kid is testing their boundaries by throwing every piece of food onto the ground while mocking you from their highchair.

“The line must be drawn here. This far, no farther!”

Picard bellowed this line famously in Star Trek: First Contact, and it specifically referenced how done he was with dealing with his cybernetic arch-enemy, the Borg. But, let’s face it, it can apply to toddlers, too.

When you’re worried that you’re not following all the right advice in parenting books (or from parenting websites!)

“Even life itself is an exercise in exceptions.”

In the episode “Justice,” Picard said this because he was worried about Wesley getting killed for accidentally falling in a flower bed, which is comforting since this quote saved the life of Trek’s resident teenager. We all worry about doing the right thing by our kids and hitting all those rules and milestones. But, Picard is correct, everything about the journey of life (and parenting) is a series of exceptions.

Sometimes you, your spouse, or your child will be frustrated at the unfairness of everything and start blaming yourself.

“It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness; that is life.”

Picard used this sentiment to comfort the android Mr. Data after Data had lost a particularly galling strategy game. In theory, Data is perfect (like your child) and doesn’t make mistakes. And yet, as Picard points out, shit happens.

When you’re trying to motivate your child (or yourself) to get out there and do something .

“ Seize the time… Live now! Make now always the most precious time. Now will never come again.”

This one comes from the famous episode “The Inner Light,” written by Morgan Gendel , in which Picard lives an entire lifetime as a husband and father on another planet. He delivers this line to his adult daughter, urging her to value her time on the planet, despite how hard the world is around her.

When family members and friends are judging you for not being the super-parents they think you should be.

“We are what we are, and we’re doing the best we can.”

Jean-Luc throws this retort in Q’s face when the intergalactic space god gives the good captain grief about the various mistakes of humanity. Picard sticking up for the right for human beings to be flawed is beyond inspiring. It’s essential!

When you need to remind yourself that yes, you are a father.

“I’m a role model!”

When the children who live on the USS Enterprise celebrate “Captain Picard Day” in the episode “The Pegasus,” one of Picard’s superiors mocks all the crayon drawings of him. But, Picard laughs it off, because yes, dammit, he is a role model. And a good one, too.

When you need to combine little kid logic with adult logic to get something done.

“I shall appoint you my executive officer, in charge of radishes.”

In the classic episode “Disaster,” the Enterprise has a giant spaceship blackout and Picard is stuck in an elevator with three kids who have just won prizes in the shipwide science fair. In order to motivate them, he has to give them all specific jobs so they won’t totally freak out. Becuase one of the kids had a science project about radishes, Picard makes that his official job, even though it’s totally useless. In short, he uses a great parenting tactic: he takes something silly very seriously in order to make a kid feel great. We should all do the same.

When you need to give yourself a pep talk about how hard everything is and doom-scrolling is bringing you down

“We have powerful tools: openness, optimism, and the spirit of curiosity. All they have is secrecy and fear. And fear is the great destroyer.”

Picard says this to Rios (played by cool dad Santiago Cabrera ) in Season 1 of Star Trek: Picard . Even when things seem bad, there’s always a way.

All the various Star Trek shows stream on Paramount+. Here’s Fatherly’s guide to Paramount+.

This article was originally published on Aug. 6, 2018

Star Trek: Picard Finale - What Shakespearean Quote Does Patrick Stewart Recite?

Spoilers for 'Star Trek: Picard' Season 3, Episode 10 'The Last Generation'

To celebrate a shared victory is always a memorable capstone to a series. While some might revel in a great feast or massive party, some prefer a more exclusive moment among the closest of friends and allies. Now that the final episode of "Star Trek: Picard" has premiered, audiences have seen an epic conclusion that results in the original crew from "Star Trek: The Next Generation" assembled in a familiar bar. Eventually, after some cajoling of Worf (Michael Dorn) to drunkenly sing, the group decides to have a toast to their adventure. At first, Data (Brett Spiner) is given the honor, but that quickly shifts to Jean-Luc Picard ( Patrick Stewart ).

In a flash of inspiration, Picard recites, "There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life, is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat; and we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures." This particular quote is from the play "Julius Caesar," which is a dramatic retelling of the fall of the famous Roman leader and the following turmoil. The line is spoken from Brutus to Cassius, and it is one of the character's most notable within the popular play.

The Star Trek franchise has a history with Shakespeare

The full name of the  play is "The Tragedy of Julius Caesar," and like many William Shakespeare plays, it results in so many main character deaths that George R.R. Martin would blush. Joking aside, this is a fitting toast in "Star Trek: Picard," especially when one considers how many times Shakespeare has been mentioned throughout the universe of "Star Trek." There has been Shakespearean references in many of the shows, with the original series, "Star Trek: The Next Generation," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," and now "Picard" having direct quotes.

Besides reciting beloved phrases and lines from Shakespeare, two episodes of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" have entire plots that revolve around Shakespearean story elements, which are "Emergence" and "The Defector." Picard even argues humanity's worth to Q (John de Lancie) by echoing the Bard's words in the 1987 episode, "Hide and Q." Needless to say, Shakespeare plays a reoccurring trend in the "Star Trek" franchise, and considering the events of "Star Trek: Picard," a notable way to mark a unique time-spanning journey that visits plenty of old friends and foes.

8 Best Q Quotes In Star Trek: The Next Generation

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6 Weirdest Star Trek Easter Eggs

Star trek: 8 best holodeck creations ever, patrick stewart confirms star trek: the next generations's weirdest rumor.

• Q is a god-like entity with a perverse sense of humor who forms a love/hate relationship with Captain Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
• Q's role is to guide and challenge humanity rather than destroy it, as he often sets obstacles that the Enterprise-D can overcome.
• Q is a memorable character due to his irritating but not-quite-evil nature, his contrast of humor and menace, and his role as a foil to the staid Picard.

There are many strange and exciting things to be discovered in the world of Star Trek: The Next Generation , from mind-bending anomalies to foes like the Klingons or Borg. But one of the strangest forces encountered by the Enterprise-D during its long-term exploration mission was Q (John de Lancie), a god-like entity with an especially perverse sense of humor.

Best Picard Quotes In Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: The Next Generation fans no doubt have their favorite Captain Picard quotes. It may even be one of these...

Q is both an occasional ally to and a thorn in the side, of Captain Jean-Luc Picard. The two characters develop something of a love/hate relationship as their various encounters bring them face to face with alternate timelines, scientific conundrums, and deadly threats to the Federation.

8 "Generosity has always been my weakness."

"encounter at farpoint" (season 1, episodes 1 and 2).

Q's initial challenge for the human race is to solve the mystery of Farpoint Station. Picard and his crew realize that they need to free a powerful alien from captivity.

Q's comment about his apparent generosity is interesting, as it suggests that, for all his theatrics about presiding over the future of humanity, a part of him wants Picard to succeed. He does not set obstacles that the Enterprise -D is unable to overcome, demonstrating that the entity is interested in guiding humanity rather than destroying it.

7 "Sometimes I think the only reason I come here is to listen to these wonderful speeches of yours."

"True Q" (Season 6, Episode 6)

Q and Picard cannot exactly be called friends, but their banter is a key feature of their complicated relationship. In "True Q", Q responds to Picard's monologue about the differing moralities of the Q Continuum and the Federation by playfully complimenting Picard's custom of taking every opportunity to give a self-important lecture. Yet the pair have genuine affection for one another, despite their differing perspectives.

With decades of history, Star Trek holds plenty of weird easter eggs for one of the best sci-fi series.

It is this tension that helps to make Q such a memorable character. He is irritating, rather than evil, and there is a certain method to his madness. Indeed, Q's jester-like qualities make him the perfect foil for the staid Picard, resulting in one of Star Trek 's greatest double acts.

6 "Change is at the heart of what you are. But change into what? That's the question."

"hide and q" (season 1, episode 9).

The Next Generation 's writers often complained that Gene Roddenberry's enlightened humanity limited the kind of stories they could tell, but some contributors were still able to show enduring human flaws even in the enlightened twenty-fourth century. In "Hide and Q", the titular super-being tempts Commander Riker by offering to have him join the powerful Q.

Riker ultimately chooses to remain as a human, despite the great powers that the Q Continuum offers. However, both the episode and Q's dialogue demonstrate that, for all its advances, the human race has not finished evolving into its final form.

5 "They're simply interested in your ship, its technology. They've identified it as something they can consume."

"q who" (season 2, episode 16).

• "The Borg is the ultimate user. They're unlike any threat your Federation has ever faced. They're not interested in political conquest, wealth, or power as you know it. They're simply interested in your ship, its technology. They've identified it as something they can consume."

Q's doom-laden speech about the Borg sets out a new status quo that would come to define not only the remainder of The Next Generation , but would also inform shows like Deep Space Nin e , Voyager , Enterprise , and even Star Trek: Picard .

John de Lancie demonstrates considerable skills as a comedy actor throughout his time on Star Trek , but his chilling speech about the Borg demonstrates that the powerful Q is as menacing as he is humorous. This contrast is part of what makes Q such a legendary character in the Star Trek mythos.

4 "No feelings. No emotions. No pain. And yet you covet those qualities of humanity."

"deja q" (season 3, episode 13).

• "There are creatures in the universe who would consider you the ultimate achievement, android. No feelings. No emotions. No pain. And yet you covet those qualities of humanity. Believe me, you're missing nothing. But if it means anything to you - you're a better human than I."

While some episodes of The Next Generation examined how humans reacted to becoming part of the Q Continuum, "Deja Q" reversed the equation and showed the consequences of Q becoming human. Q struggles to adjust to his new condition, including the need for sleep.

The holodeck is a fascinating aspect of the Star Trek universe. These creations demonstrate its potential as both a technology and a narrative tool.

Q discusses his newfound humanity with Data, who longs to be more human. In the scene, Q demonstrates a touching sympathy towards the android , pointing out that Data is more human than Q can ever be. Once Q regains his powers, he uses them to make Data experience laughter for the first time, demonstrating that, for all his tricks, Q is capable of good deeds.

3 "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."

• "If you can't take a little bloody nose, maybe you ought to go back home and crawl under your bed. 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."

While the second season of The Next Generation is generally regarded as one of the show's weaker years (due in part to industry strikes), it holds the distinction of introducing one of science fiction's most iconic threats : the Borg.

Picard complains that the meeting with the Borg has resulted in the deaths of several of the Enterprise 's crew. Q is unrepentant: he points out that space is a dangerous place to explore, and that Picard should expect to face significant obstacles during his voyages. However, given that the alternative is to miss out on the wonders of the cosmos, Q believes that Picard and his crew must be brave.

2 "He's the person you wanted to be. One who was less arrogant and undisciplined in his youth. One who was less like me."

"tapestry" (season 6, episode 15).

In "Tapestry", Q offers Picard a second chance at life. Rather than being stabbed as a reckless youth, Picard is given the chance to do things differently and avoid the incident. However, changing his past has far-reaching ramifications. Without a near-death experience, Picard becomes meek and never reaches the captain's chair.

Sir Patrick Stewart confirmed a long-running Star Trek: The Next Generation rumor about Gene Roddenberry's weird idea for Counselor Deanna Troi.

Q's intervention teaches Picard an important lesson: there are times when recklessness can pay off, and he must take life as it comes, rather than attempting to tidy it up. Picard may be ashamed of his past, but it is what drives him to succeed in the present.

1 "The trial never ends."

"all good things..." (season 7, episodes 25 and 26).

• "You just don't get it, do you, Jean-Luc? The trial never ends. We wanted to see if you had the ability to expand your mind and your horizons. And for one brief moment, you did."

The Next Generation comes full circle in its finale, "All Good Things...", in which Q makes the closing arguments in the trial for humanity's survival. Picard must solve a fiendishly complicated temporal puzzle to convince Q of the human race's right to exist. While he eventually succeeds, Q reminds Picard that the tests faced by the human race are bound to continue. The process of exploration is never-ending.

Star Trek: Picard would later return to this sentiment , with Q reminding Picard of his earlier words. Q's classic speech also foreshadows that, while The Next Generation was coming to an end, the so-called Golden Age of Star Trek was only just beginning.

MORE: Star Trek: Best Body Swap Episodes

• Movies & TV

Star Trek: DS9 Guest Star Was Almost TNG's Captain Picard

• Armin Shimerman reveals Stephen Macht was second choice for Captain Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
• Macht portrayed Bajoran General Krim on Deep Space Nine, leading a coup against Starfleet to gain control of the station.
• Although Macht lost out on the role of Picard, he played Krim with diplomatic honor and made a memorable adversary on DS9.

It's hard to imagine anyone else besides Sir Patrick Stewart in the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation , but a Star Trek: Deep Space Nine guest star was almost cast as the Captain of the USS Enterprise-D, according to DS9 's Quark actor Armin Shimerman. As a hub of activity near the Bajoran wormhole to the Gamma Quadrant, the Deep Space Nine station was host to many Bajorans, Starfleet officers, and colorful visitors, so it's not surprising that casting directors might turn to actors who had previously auditioned for Star Trek roles to portray Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 's recurring characters and guest stars.

As the director of Star Trek: The Next Generation season 1, episode 1, "Encounter at Farpoint", Corey Allen was able to offer input regarding the casting process for TNG . Allen went on to direct 4 more episodes of TNG and 4 episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , including DS9 season 2, episode 2, "The Circle". When it came time to cast actors for the guest roles in "The Circle", it's possible that Star Trek director Corey Allen referred back to the shortlist of actors considered for Captain Jean-Luc Picard, and recommended a memorable standout to portray a role on DS9 that required a similar sense of leadership.

Star Trek: TNG Cast Outrageous Actor As Riker Before Jonathan Frakes

Anyone but Jonathan Frakes playing Commander William Riker is unimaginable, but Star Trek: TNG originally cast someone else for the role.

Stephen Macht Was Second Choice for Star Trek: TNG's Captain Picard

Patrick stewart famously won the role of picard.

During a discussion of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 2, episode 2, "The Circle" on The Delta Flyers podcast, Armin Shimerman reveals that Star Trek: DS9 guest star Stephen Macht, who played Bajoran Over-General Krim, was in the running to play Captain Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation . Macht actually got far enough in the audition process for TNG to be the second choice for Picard, but of course, Patrick Stewart ultimately won the role. Read Shimerman's quote below and listen to The Delta Flyers , starting at the 10:20 timestamp.

Armin Shimerman: "Stephen and I have worked together many times, doing theater together, so I know this for a fact: Stephen Macht was the second choice for Picard. It is interesting to me ... that here's Corey Allen, who directed the pilot [of Star Trek: The Next Generation] and had a choice in who was going to play Picard. Was it Corey who said we're going to get Stephen Macht to play this part?"

Stephen Macht is Bajoran General Krim in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 2

Krim only made one appearance on ds9.

Stephen Macht played Bajoran Over-General Krim in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 2, episodes 2 & 3, "The Circle" and "The Siege". As the highest-ranking officer in the Bajoran militia, Krim led Bajor's coup to take DS9 from Starfleet, believing the move was in Bajor's best interests, instead of being designed by the Bajoran extremist group, The Circle. Krim made an interesting adversary to Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks), and respected Sisko as a military peer. In The Delta Flyers , Armin Shimerman points out script notes in "The Circle" suggesting Krim could have returned, but Stephen Macht's Krim was never seen again after DS9 season 2's 3-part opener .

As Bajoran Over-General Krim, Stephen Macht wasn't among the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine guest stars who was hidden beneath heavy prosthetic makeup, so genre fans may recognize Macht from his other guest starring appearances on 1990s sci-fi television . Macht appeared in guest roles in FOX's Millennium and Sliders , and another acclaimed space station show, Babylon 5. Earlier in his career, Stephen Macht starred in 1980s films The Mountain Men and The Monster Squad. Although Stephen Macht ultimately lost the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation to Patrick Stewart, Macht portrayed Over-General Krim in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine with similar diplomatic honor.

Source: The Delta Flyers season 10, episode 2, "The Circle"

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is streaming on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Cast Terry Farrell, Cirroc Lofton, Rene Auberjonois, Nicole de Boer, Michael Dorn, Andrew Robinson, Nana Visitor, Avery Brooks, Colm Meaney, Armin Shimerman, Alexander Siddig

Release Date January 3, 1993

Genres Drama, Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure

Network CBS

Streaming Service(s) Paramount+

Franchise(s) Star Trek

Writers Ira Steven Behr, Michael Piller, Ronald D. Moore

Showrunner Ira Steven Behr, Michael Piller

Rating TV-PG

Where To Watch Paramount+

Screen Rant

Star trek: ds9 had a real jerk on set.

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Star Trek Quark Actor Armin Shimerman Leads DS9 Virtual Tour

8 best "o'brien must suffer" star trek: ds9 episodes, star trek: ds9 blew up an enterprise starship to make a point.

• Ops and the Promenade on Deep Space Nine had unique designs influenced by Cardassian architecture.
• The Ops turbolift had manual operation and posed potential safety hazards due to its jerky movement.
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine continues to be referenced in newer series like Lower Decks and Picard.

There was a real jerk on the set of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , if you can believe it. Because Star Trek: Deep Space Nine took place on a Cardassian-built space station, DS9 's sets needed to be demonstrably different from the locations that Star Trek audiences expected to find on Star Trek: The Next Generation 's USS Enterprise. The sprawling Promenade set was unique to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , with three levels and stairs providing access to upper balconies, where Jake Sisko (Cirroc Lofton) and Nog (Aron Eisenberg) frequently sat to watch passersby. And although Jake and Nog might think so, Constable Odo (Rene Auberjonois) wasn't the jerk in question.

Like the Promenade, Deep Space Nine's operations office, or Ops, also existed on multiple levels, creating visual interest as the cast of Deep Space Nine and background actors moved through the buzzy central hub of the Deep Space Nine station. Ops' architecture reflected the social hierarchy of the Cardassians who built it, with a sunken pit for engineers like Chief Miles O'Brien (Colm Meaney), tactical and science stations situated on the main level, and Captain Benjamin Sisko's (Avery Brooks) office at the apex of a flight of stairs. It is also in Ops where we find the home Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 's on-set jerk.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine comes to life in a stunning digital recreation that fans can explore with Quark actor Armin Shimerman narrating.

Star Trek: DS9's Working Turbolift Was A Real Jerk

Star trek: voyager's robert duncan mcneill says it's "not very star trek-y".

Fortunately, the jerk on the set of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine wasn't a person at all, but a weird quirk of the Ops set. On The Delta Flyers podcast, Quark actor Armin Shimerman joins the original co-hosts, Star Trek: Voyager actors Garrett Wang and Robert Duncan McNeill, to share behind-the-scenes memories from making DS9 . While discussing Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 2, episode 2, "The Circle", Shimerman tells Wang and McNeill that the turbolift's moving parts in Ops weren't always so kind to actors . Read their quotes below and listen to The Delta Flyers , starting at the 32:40 time stamp.

Armin Shimerman: "What's interesting for me is that turbolift -- which did work, it certainly did take you to a different floor -- it always jerked, at least in my experience with it. So the fact they got it not to jerk in this take --" Garrett Wang: "You mean, it continuously jerked as it moved, or just jerked in the beginning?" Armin Shimerman: "It was always [jerking] as you were standing in it." Garrett: "Oh, you're kidding me." Robert Duncan McNeill: "That's not very Star Trek-y."

How Did Star Trek: DS9's Turbolift in Ops Actually Work?

Ds9's ops turbolift worked on manual labor (just as the cardassians intended).

The lack of doors on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 's Ops turbolift meant that it actually had to function like a real elevator, and it had to do so on cue, so the turbolift in Ops on DS9 was operated manually, just like Star Trek 's not-so-automatic doors. Star Trek production designer Herman Zimmerman intentionally designed the Ops set on a raised platform to account for incorporating the working turbolift. The open-door design worked to set the Cardassian-built station apart from the Federation designs, and had the added bonus of resembling a mine-shaft elevator, which evoked Deep Space Nine's original function as the Cardassian mining station and refinery Terok Nor.

The "automatic" doors on Star Trek: The Original Series were operated by crew members pulling each half of the door through slots in the walls via an attached string. Even after the invention of real automatic doors, Star Trek 's doors were still opened by crew members.

Between the constant jerking motion, open doors, and slow speed relative to other turbolifts on Star Trek , the Ops elevator in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, seemed to pose a safety hazard, especially with the gaping hole in the Ops floor that was left behind when the turbolift departed for the lower level. All of these bugs aren't all that surprising; after all, Chief Miles O'Brien believed it would take years to bring DS9 up to Federation standards. Maybe, with all their substandard safety precautions, the real jerks on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine are actually the Cardassians who made the Ops turbolift so jerky in the first place.

What Happened To Deep Space Nine After The Series Ended

Ds9 kept going in the late 24th century.

The live-action Deep Space Nine space station, including the difficult Ops turbolift, hasn't been seen since Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was canceled. The DS9 sets at Paramount Studios were taken down and demolished in 1999. However, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine has continued on in Star Trek canon, mainly in the animated comedy Star Trek: Lower Decks , which is set a few years after DS9 ended. The USS Cerritos visited Deep Space Nine in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 3's "Hear All, Trust Nothing," which brought back Nana Visitor as Colonel Kira Nerys and Armin Shimerman as Quark .

Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 caught up with Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 's Grand Nagus Rom (Max Grodenchiik) and First Minister Leeta (Chase Masterson), who opened the door to Ferenginar joining the United Federation of Planets.

Star Trek: Picard , which takes place at the dawn of the 25th century, has not indicated whether the Deep Space Nine space station is still in operation . DS9 has been referenced in Star Trek: Picard , especially in season 3's villains, rogue Changelings who turned their back on the Dominion to join the Borg Queen's (Alice Krige) plot to destroy the Federation. Captain Worf (Michael Dorn) also called back to DS9 and Odo (Rene Auberjonois ). While a full-on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine reunion or continuation grows increasingly unlikely, the former Cardassian space station's legacy is forever a key part of Star Trek.

Source: The Delta Flyers season 10, episode 2 "The Circle"

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is streaming on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine