star trek scotty we need more power

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.

• ABBREVIATIONS
• BIOGRAPHIES
• CALCULATORS
• CONVERSIONS
• DEFINITIONS

Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan 1982

Kirk: Scotty, I need warp speed in three minutes or we're all dead.

Share your thoughts on this Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan's quote with the community:

Report Comment

We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe. If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.

You need to be logged in to favorite .

Create a new account.

Your name: * Required

Your email address: * Required

Pick a user name: * Required

Username: * Required

Password: * Required

Forgot your password?    Retrieve it

Quote of the Day Today's Quote  |  Archive

Would you like us to send you a free inspiring quote delivered to your inbox daily.

Please enter your email address:

Use the citation below to add this movie quote to your bibliography:

Style: MLA Chicago APA

"Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan Quotes." Quotes.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 6 May 2024. < https://www.quotes.net/mquote/90874 >.

Know another quote from Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan?

Don't let people miss on a great quote from the "star trek: the wrath of khan" movie - add it here, the web's largest resource for, famous quotes & sayings, a member of the stands4 network, our favorite collection of, famous movies.

Browse Quotes.net

Are you a quotes master, in which movie does this quote appear: "houston, we have a problem".

Star Trek: Best Captain Kirk Quotes, Ranked

Star Trek's Captain Kirk is an iconic character in television history who has delivered some truly quotable lines over the course of his adventures.

Being a captain can't be easy. There are hundreds of people counting on them to make the right decisions that will keep them alive. Being the captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise – the flagship of the United Federation of Planets – must come with even more stress. But fans of Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek would rarely see that pressure get to him.

Along with his decisive thinking, strategic planning, and sense of humor, Captain Kirk often kept his ship and his crew alive with nothing more than his words. The boy from Iowa lived by the ideals of the future, using his beliefs not only to navigate the universe but to deal with the dangers he and the crew faced. With his confidence and words, Captain Kirk showed us all just how great humanity could be.

Updated on September 13, 2023 by Joshua M. Patton: William Shatner is the iconic originator of Captain James Tiberius Kirk, the first captain of the USS Enterprise that Star Trek fans fell in love with. However, in the nearly 60 years of history behind Gene Roddenberry's created universe, he's not the only actor to portray the character. With Chris Pine donning the signature gold shirt in the film trilogy set in "the Kelvin Timeline," and Paul Welsey taking on the role in Strange New Worlds, Kirk's wit and wisdom continues to expand.

RELATED: A Complete Guide to Scotty From Star Trek

20 “Hang On Tight And Survive. Everybody Does.”

[T]here are a million things in this universe you can have and a million things you can't have. It's no fun facing that, but that's the way things are.... Hang on tight and survive. Everybody does.

The first season episode "Charlie X" saw the Enterprise welcome a young man named Charlie aboard the ship who had spent years surviving alone. Charlie had been modified by aliens to survive their harsh planet, which gave him incredible abilities like telepathy that he used to force the crew into uncomfortable situations.

Charlie struggled with acclimating to his new way of life onboard the Enterprise where he didn't get everything he wanted, and despaired about going on with his life. Kirk was able to make him see that he could push through, surviving one day at a time like the rest of humanity.

19 "Either We're Going Down or They Are"

Attention crew of the Enterprise, this is James Kirk. Mr. Spock has resigned commission and advanced me to acting captain. I know you are all expecting to regroup with the fleet, but I'm ordering a pursuit course of the enemy ship to Earth. I want all departments at battle stations and ready in ten minutes. Either we're going down... or they are. Kirk out.

The mission of Starfleet is one of peaceful exploration and curiosity, but no matter which actor is playing Captain James T. Kirk, he's always read to fight when its necessary. In 2009's Star Trek when Earth is threatened by the time-traveling Romulan villain Nero, he takes command of the USS Enterprise to save the planet.

The version of Kirk in this film is much different than the one fans know, yet even after living a life of loss and aimlessness, once Kirk ended up where he belonged -- in the Captain's chair -- he became the man fans know and love. He will avoid a fight whenever he can, but if he can't? No one can stop him from saving the day.

18 "Don't Skip Good Hot Dogs"

My advice? Don't skip good hot dogs when you can get them.

Strange New Worlds Season 2 featured another time-travel romp, this time offering an alternate future version of James T. Kirk who wasn't part of Starfleet or the Federation, but rather the United Earth Fleet. His timeline was one of devastation and war. While La'an Noonien Singh, Khan's descendant , and the Enterprise Chief of Security, is trying to puzzle out their mission in the past, Kirk reminds her to take advantage of the good things that come her way.

17 “What Is a Man?"

What is a man but that lofty spirit, that sense of enterprise, that devotion for something that cannot be sensed, cannot be realized, but only dreamed, the highest reality?

The crew of the Enterprise was faced with a heavy decision when they encountered a planet full of androids that wanted to serve humanity by replacing their bodies with artificial ones and granting them eternal life in the second season's "I, Mudd."

However, Kirk was able to talk some of the curious members of his crew out of the decision by pondering exactly what it is that makes them all human – listing many of the reasons that humanity ventured into space in search of the unknown in the first place, which could never be replicated by the artificial androids.

RELATED: 15 Best Star Trek Games, Ranked According To Metacritic

16 “I Need My Pain!”

You know that pain and guilt can’t be taken away with the wave of a magic wand! They’re the things we carry with us, the things that make us who we are. If we lose them, we lose ourselves. I don’t want my pain taken away, I need my pain!

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier explored the ongoing Star Trek search for God that made a number of crew members question their faith and the surrounding reality, especially when members of the crew were "cured" of negative emotions like pain and guilt.

However, Kirk refused to undergo the same process as he felt that those feelings helped shape who we are and who we become, which ultimately allows humanity to make the right decisions. He was right, as the God-like being was later revealed to be an evil being who was trapped and manipulating others to facilitate his escape.

15 "The Prejudices People Feel..."

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

Tasked with ensuring that the arranged marriage of the leaders of two warring planets takes place without interference, Captain Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise find themselves dealing with an angry bride, a nervous groom, and a group of Klingons who plan to sabotage the event.

Kirk's words come from a more mature and evolved version of mankind that has worked past its biases based on skin color, religion, or gender. He knows as all humans in Star Trek do, that the only way to move forward is to work together. To see the things we have in common and celebrate the things that make us different.

14 "Sometimes A Feeling Is All We Humans Have"

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

When the Enterprise finds itself caught up in a centuries-long planetary war where the casualties are decided by a computer program, Captain Kirk knows that the only way to bring about peace is to remind the people of the planet what war really is. By leaving the outcomes of battles to a computer, the people have done away with the lasting scars of war and come to accept the ritual deaths as something of a sacrifice that must be done.

Kirk risks everything by destroying the war computer, forcing the leaders of the world to decide if it is better to continue their war with actual destruction and devastation or if the time has come to talk peace. In his gut, Kirk knows they will make the right choice.

RELATED: The 25 Most Powerful Star Trek Species, Ranked

13 "His Was The Most... Human"

"We are assembled here today to pay final respects to our honored dead. And yet it should be noted that in the midst of our sorrow, this death takes place in the shadow of new life, the sunrise of a new world; a world that our beloved comrade gave his life to protect and nourish. He did not feel this sacrifice a vain or empty one, and we will not debate his profound wisdom at these proceedings. Of my friend, I can only say this: of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most... human."

In all fiction, there are few friendships as iconic as that of Captain Kirk and Mister Spock. It is impossible not to think of one when you think of the other. These two men, one an emotional human the other a rational Vulcan, will always be the greatest duo in Star Trek .

When Spock gave his life for the crew of the Enterprise in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , Kirk was left to write a eulogy not only for his Science Officer but his closest friend in all the universe. His words ensured that there wasn't a dry eye in the theater.

12 "Believe In Yourself"

You either believe in yourself, or you don’t.

A captain needs confidence, and that's something Kirk has in spades. He knows that if he doesn't believe in the mission, then his crew won't believe in it either, and if he doesn't believe in himself, they won't be comfortable following him.

Even more important is the knowledge that without believing in oneself, there is no hope for improvement. And if a person can not improve, then what is the purpose of existence? To Captain Kirk, there is no more important thing for a person to have than faith in themself.

RELATED: Star Trek Uses Shields and Deflector Screens Better Than Any Other Sci-Fi Property

11 "If Man Was Meant To Fly, He'd Have Wings..."

They used to say that if man was meant to fly, he’d have wings. But he did fly. He discovered he had to.

From the story of Icarus to the stories of superheroes today, mankind has always been inspired by the idea of flight. The idea of a man soaring through the skies seemed like an impossible task, but in less than 60 decades, humanity went from a 12-second 120-foot flight to sending the first man into space.

What Captain Kirk is saying here is that humanity has always stepped up to the challenge, and we always will. It won't be easy, and we'll fall down often, but in the end, we will succeed because we must.

10 "There's No Such Thing As The Unknown..."

There's no such thing as the unknown, only things temporarily hidden.

The unknown can be scary. The idea that just out of sight, hiding in the darkness is something that can hurt us is what most horror is built around, and for good reason. Be it the monster in the closet or the alien from Venus, we fear that which we do not know.

But if we think like Captain Kirk, the unknown isn't something to be frightened by. The unknown becomes something exciting to discover. The unknown is out there, just waiting to be found. Suddenly, that fear becomes a feeling of optimism.

9 "Genius Doesn’t Work On An Assembly Line Basis."

Genius doesn't work on an assembly line basis. Did Einstein, Kazanga, or Sitar of Vulcan produce new and revolutionary theories on a regular schedule? You can't simply say, today I will be brilliant.

When Captain Kirk and the crew are sent to evaluate a supercomputer that could make their jobs redundant, he quickly sees the flaw in the plan. A computer may be able to react faster than a person, but it can never invent or show discretion.

It can never create or devise a plan that isn't preprogrammed, leaving it open to failure by a lack of improvisation. As Kirk sees it, all great things are created by those who think beyond what is and see what may be. It is the living being who can do this and no computer, no matter how great, will be able to replicate that.

RELATED: Star Trek Fleet Command Celebrates 5 Years With an In-Game Special Event

8 "We're Human, And ... That Best Explains Us."

We prefer to help ourselves. We make mistakes, but we're human, and maybe that's the word that best explains us.

Star Trek captures the strength of the human race better than most other shows. As Kirk says, we make mistakes, but we don't just lay down and give up. We move forward even as we stumble, working to make things better. To make ourselves better, and in turn, make the world better.

Captain Kirk is no stranger to making mistakes, but he knows that each mistake must be learned from, and what was learned must be used to make improvements, all so new mistakes can be made, and new lessons learned.

7 "How We Deal With Life"

How we deal with death is at least as important as how we deal with life.

As the captain of the Enterprise, Kirk knows that he, and any other captain that is to follow him, will be forced to make life and death decisions on a regular basis. In his time, Kirk has seen more death than he would have preferred, and many of those deaths he holds himself responsible for. Still, Kirk knows that he can not let those deaths keep him from moving forward. He knows that if he and his crew were to give in, all those who died for them would have died in vain.

6 "That's What I Was Born Into"

Better to die saving lives... than to live with taking them. That's what I was born into.

This moment from Star Trek: Beyond was something of a full-circle moment for the Kelvin Timeline Captain Kirk. His father died saving his life and the lives of an entire starship crew. When facing off with Balthazar M. Edison, who was trying to destory a massive starbase, he truly became the kind of hero his father was.

Star Trek is about hope and optimism. The big-budget blockbuster needs of the 21st Century movies may have gotten in the way of that message, but in Star Trek: Beyond the audience finally gets to hear a Jim Kirk who sounds familiar.

5 "Sometimes You Can't Avoid a Fight"

Did it ever occur to you that sometimes you can't avoid a fight?

The Season 1 finale of Strange New Worlds was a time-travel adventure showcasing what would happen if Captain Pike stayed on the USS Enterprise. In trying to avoid a fight with the Romulan Star Empire, he ended up starting a devastating war.

This message from Kirk, played by Paul Wesley, shows that even the Prime Timeline version of the character knows when to seek peace and when to give villains the fight they are looking for. It's better to face an enemy than to leave them to harm others because one didn't.

RELATED: Why This Redshirt Was Fine and the Redshirt Myth Is a Lie

4 “I Don't Believe In The No-Win Scenario.”

I don't believe in the no-win scenario.... I don't like to lose.

One of the best movies in the long-running franchise, 1982's Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan introduced a number of oft-repeated quotes and inspired an altered take on the story in the modern reboot franchise. Kirk's ability to see every angle and find a way to win against all odds was best displayed by his quote about no-win scenarios, as well as the reveal that he was able to beat the training exercise known as the Kobayashi Maru – which was designed to be unbeatable in order to make cadets face their potential death in service to the Federation..

3 "You Can Let Death Win, Or You Can Fight Back"

Our job puts up against death more than is fair, and we may not like it, but we do have to face it. And right now, death is winning. It claimed your family. It claimed your friend. It convinced you to forget them because it is less painful than holding onto their memories. Now you can you let death win, or you can fight back. Hold onto them.

Another Season 2 episode of Strange New Worlds featured an adventure with James T. Kirk and Nyota Uhura , where the latter was experience visions and mental distress. He was the first person to believe what was happening to her was real.

When Uhura began to lose hope, because of the loss of her family a few years earlier, Kirk inspires her the way only the future captain could. Echoing Shatner's "I need my pain," line, he tells her that the memories of those we've lost are not burdens but blessings.

2 "Khaaaaaan!"

Khan, you have Genesis, but you don't have me! You were going to kill me, Khan, it was your sole purpose. You'll have to come down here to do it!

While it isn't the longest or most profound line that Captain Kirk ever delivered, his scream of rage and frustration in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is easily one of the character's most quoted and spoofed lines from Star Trek .

The line comes after Khan successfully takes the Genesis Device while also stranding Kirk and his crew inside a planetoid as revenge for Kirk doing the same to Khan and his crew. Kirk's protest is filled with such raw emotion that it quickly became one of the most memorable scenes from the Star Trek movie franchise and was even reimagined for the reboot trilogy.

1 "To Boldly Go"

This is the final cruise of the Starship Enterprise under my command. This ship and her history will shortly become the care of another crew. To them and their posterity will we commit our future. They will continue the voyages we have begun, and journey to all the undiscovered countries, boldly going where no man... where no one has gone before.

These words have been said by many a Star Trek captain, but Captain Kirk was the first. And while the exact words have changed over the years to be more inclusive, what Kirk said in the opening of every episode of Star Trek over fifty years ago still captures the hearts, minds, and imaginations of millions today.

The idea that humanity will one day travel among the stars, discovering new life and new civilizations, boldly going where no one has gone before is a concept that fills the world with the hope of a better tomorrow. The kind of tomorrow that Captain Kirk was a part of. The final time he said these words, in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country he changed things around, ditching both the gendered language and the idea that the Enterprise crew was Starfleet's only explorers.

• More to Explore
• Series & Movies

Published Aug 16, 2023

The Wit and Wisdom of Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott

The Enterprise's chief engineer is always at your service with his words of wisdom and Scottish charm.

StarTrek.com

Montgomery "Scotty" Scott , known as "the miracle worker" to his longtime comrades James T. Kirk and crew, was the chief engineer aboard the original  U.S.S. Enterprise  and its successor craft. Bullish on his Scottish ancestry, Scotty wears ceremonial kilts with his dress uniform, plays the bagpipes, and is renowned for his love of Scotch and his beverage collection from all parts of the galaxy.

To celebrate the arrival of Scotty on  Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , we're reflecting on the wit and wisdom of our favorite chief engineer.

Star Trek : The Original Series

"The Naked Time"

Diplomats! The best diplomat I know is a fully activated phaser bank!

A Taste of Armageddon

A cranky transporter's a mighty finicky piece of machinery to be gambling your life on, sir.

The Doomsday Machine

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

The more they overthink the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain.

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

Damage control is easy. Reading Klingon - that's hard.

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

Don't you worry, captain. We'll beat those Klingon devils, even if I have to get out and push!

Star Trek: The Next Generation

"Relics"

Starship captains are like children. They want everything right now and they want it their way. The secret is to give them what they need, not what they want.

Star Trek  (2009)

Star Trek (2009)

The notion of transwarp beaming is like trying to hit a bullet with a smaller bullet, whilst wearing a blindfold, riding a horse.

Star Trek Into Darkness

Do you have any idea how ridiculous it is to hide a starship on the bottom of the ocean?

Star Trek Beyond

You're part of something bigger now, lassie. Right? Don't give up on that. Cause we'll sure as hell never give up on you. That is what being part of a crew is all about.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

"Hegemony"

I'm an engineer, not a miracle worker, Mr. Spock.

Alternate Montgomery Scott, "A Quality of Mercy"

First, I jury-rigged the engines to increase their capacity. And secondly, well, I figured out how to hide in plain sight. When an armada of human-eating lizards come my way, I can get quite, uh, creative.

Get Updates By Email

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds streams exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Latin America, Brazil, South Korea, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In addition, the series airs on Bell Media’s CTV Sci-Fi Channel and streams on Crave in Canada and on SkyShowtime in the Nordics, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and Central and Eastern Europe. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)

William shatner: kirk.

• Photos (49)
• Quotes (42)

Photos 

Quotes 

Kirk : Damn it, Bones, you're a doctor. You know that pain and guilt can't be taken away with a wave of a magic wand. They're the things we carry with us, the things that make us who we are. If we lose them, we lose ourselves. I don't want my pain taken away! I need my pain!

Kirk : What does God need with a starship?

McCoy : Jim, what are you doing?

Kirk : I'm asking a question.

"God" : Who is this creature?

Kirk : Who am I? Don't you know? Aren't you God?

Sybok : He has his doubts.

"God" : You doubt me?

Kirk : I seek proof.

McCoy : Jim! You don't ask the Almighty for his ID!

"God" : Then here is the proof you seek.

[Shoots Kirk with lightning] 

Kirk : Why is God angry?

Sybok : Why? Why have you done this to my friend?

"God" : He doubts me.

Spock : You have not answered his question. What does God need with a starship?

"God" : [shoots Spock with lightning; then addresses McCoy]  Do you doubt me?

McCoy : I doubt any God who inflicts pain for his own pleasure.

Sybok : Stop! The God of Sha Ka Ree would not do this!

"God" : Sha Ka Ree? A vision you created. An eternity I've been imprisoned in this place! The ship! I must have the ship! Now... give me what I want!

Spock : Sybok, this is not the God of Sha Ka Ree... or any other God!

Sybok : I don't understand... Reveal yourself to me!

[an image of Sybok strides out of one of God's eyes, laughing maniacally] 

"God" : What's wrong? Don't you like this face? I have so many but this one suits you best.

Sybok : No! No... it's not possible.

"God" : Bring me the ship or I will destroy you!

Sybok : The ship?

"God" : Bring it closer so that I might join with it. Do it or watch these puny beings... die horribly.

Sybok : What have I done?

Kirk : I thought I was going to die.

Spock : Not possible. You were never alone.

[Kirk moves to hug Spock, and Spock stops him] 

Spock : Please, Captain, not in front of the Klingons.

Kirk : Damn it Spock! God damn it!

Spock : Captain, what have I done?

Kirk : What you've done is betray every man on this ship!

Spock : Worse I've betrayed you. I do not expect you to forgive me.

Kirk : Forgive you? I oughta knock you on your goddamned ass!

Spock : If you think it would help.

McCoy : Do you want me to hold him, Jim?

Kirk : You stay out of this! Why, Spock, why? All you had to do is pull the trigger!

Spock : If I had done that Sybok would be dead.

Kirk : I ordered you to defend your ship!

Spock : You ordered me to kill my brother.

Kirk : But the man may be a fellow Vulcan but he...

Spock : No, no you do not understand. Sybok also is a son of Sarek.

Kirk : You mean he's your "brother" brother?

[Spock nods] 

Kirk : You made that up.

Spock : I did not.

Kirk : You did too! Sybok couldn't possibly be your brother because I happen to know for a fact that you don't have a brother.

Spock : Technically you are right I do not have a brother.

Kirk : There! You see?

Spock : I have a half-brother.

Kirk : I gotta sit down.

Kirk : [to "God"]  Excuse me... Excuse me... I just wanted to ask a question. What does God need with a starship?

[Around a campfire singing "Row Row Row Your Boat"] 

Kirk : Come on. Spock... Why didn't you jump in?

Spock : I was trying to comprehend the meaning of the words.

McCoy : It's a song, you green-blooded... Vulcan. You sing it. The words aren't important. What's important is that you have a good time singing it.

Spock : Oh, I am sorry, Doctor. Were we having a good time?

McCoy : God, I liked him better before he died.

McCoy : What's the matter, Jim?

Kirk : I miss my old chair.

Kirk : [responds to a tapping within the wall]  What's that noise?

Spock : [tapping continues]  I believe it is a primitive form of communication known as morse Code.

Kirk : You're right. I'm out of practice.

[tapping] 

Kirk : That's an "S".

Spock : "T".

Kirk : "A"... "N"... "D", end of word.

McCoy : "Stand".

Kirk : New word... "B"... "A"...

Spock : "C"... "K".

McCoy : "Back". "Stand back".

Kirk , Spock , McCoy : "Stand back"?

[the wall explodes] 

Scotty : [on the other side of the wall]  What are you standing around for? Do you not know a jailbreak when you see one?

Kirk : "All I ask is a tall ship, and a star to steer by."

McCoy : Melville.

Spock : John Masefield.

McCoy : Are you sure about that?

Spock : I am well-versed in the classics, Doctor.

McCoy : Then how come you don't know "Row, Row, Row Your Boat"?

[Spock raises his eyebrows] 

Spock : I've lost a brother.

Kirk : Yes. I lost a brother once. I was lucky I got him back?

McCoy : I thought you said men like us don't have families.

Kirk : I was wrong.

McCoy : All that time in space, getting on each other's nerves. And what do we do when shore leave comes along? We spend it together. Other people have families.

Kirk : Other people, Bones. Not us.

Kirk : What are you doing?

Spock : I am preparing to toast a marsh melon.

McCoy : Well, I'll be damned. A marsh melon. Where'd you learn to do that?

Spock : Before leaving the ship, I consulted the computer library to familiarize myself with the customs associated with "camping out".

McCoy : Well, tell me, Spock. What do you do after we toast the marsh - er, marsh melons?

Spock : We consume them.

McCoy : I know we consume them. I mean after that.

Spock : Oh. I believe we are required to engage in a ritual known as the sing-a-long.

Spock : Captain.

Kirk : Spock, we're on leave you can call me 'Jim'.

Spock : Jim.

Kirk : Yes, Spock?

Spock : Life... is not a dream.

Kirk : Go to sleep, Spock.

Kirk : Go to bed, Spock. Good night, Bones.

McCoy : Good night, Jim.

Spock : Good night, doctor.

McCoy : Good night, Spock.

Spock : Good night, captain.

Kirk : [to himself]  ... I don't know... I just don't know...

Kirk : Mr. Scott, you're amazing!

Scotty : There's nothing amazing about it. I know this ship like the back of my hand.

[walks into low-hanging beam, knocks himself out cold] 

Kirk : Understand your situation, are unable to return to planet. Stand by to execute emergency landing plan... "B."

[Everyone in the shuttle stares at Kirk in confusion, and Spock mouths, "B?" Aboard the Enterprise:] 

Chekov : What's emergency landing plan "B?"

Scotty : I don't have a clue.

Kirk : [over comm]  "B" as in "barricade".

Scotty : He can't be serious!

Spock : This is a new brig, Captain. It is escape-proof.

Kirk : How do you know?

Spock : The designers tested it, using the most intelligent and resourceful person they could find. He failed to escape.

Kirk : This person... he didn't by any chance have pointed ears, and an unerring capacity for getting his shipmates into trouble, did he?

Spock : He did have pointed ears.

Kirk : Spock?

Spock : Yes, captain?

Kirk : Be one with the horse.

Spock : Yes, captain.

[after Sybok relinquishes command of the Enterprise, Kirk decides to take Sybok, Spock and McCoy to the planet] 

Kirk : Well, don't just stand there. God's a busy man!

Sybok : What are you doing?

Kirk : In order to lower and re-raise the shields as quickly as possible, we're going to forego the tractor beam, and fly her in manually.

McCoy : *Manually*?

Sybok : How often have you done this?

Sulu : [smiles]  Actually, it's my first attempt.

Kirk : I've always known I'll die alone.

Spock : [Kirk clings precariously to El Capitan]  I do not believe you realize the gravity of your situation.

Kirk : [Almost slips; a rock drops]  Gravity was foremost on my mind.

Spock : [after Kirk has fallen off El Capitan]  Perhaps "because it is there" is not sufficient reason for climbing a mountain.

Kirk : I am hardly in a position to disagree.

[see McCoy running toward him] 

Kirk : Hi, Bones! Mind if we drop in for dinner?

Scotty : [to Kirk about ship status]  Ah. All I can say is they don't make them like they used to.

Kirk : You told me you could get this ship operational in two weeks, I gave you three, what happened?

Scotty : I think you gave me too much time, Captain.

Kirk : Very well, Mr Scott. Carry on.

Scotty : Aye, sir.

[Spots a junior engineer nearby] 

Scotty : How many times do I have to tell you, the right tool for the right job!

McCoy : [laughs]  I don't think I've ever seen him happier.

[They enter the turbolift] 

Computer : Le-le-level?

Kirk : Bridge... I hope. I could use a shower.

Spock : [looks at Kirk]  Yes.

Kirk : Spock, my only concern is getting the ship back. When that's done and Sybok is in here, then you can debate Sha-Ka-Ree until you're green in the face.

McCoy : Jim... if you ask me, and you haven't, I think this is a terrible idea. We're bound to bump into the Klingons, and they don't exactly like you.

Kirk : The feeling's mutual. Engine room.

Scotty : [over the intercom]  Scotty here.

Kirk : We'll need all the power you can muster, mister.

Scotty : Don't you worry, Captain. We'll beat those Klingon devils, even if I have to get out and push.

Kirk : I hope it won't come to that, Mr. Scott.

[Kirk and McCoy agree to let Spock carry them up the shaft using rocket boots, only for the trio to float downwards] 

Spock : It appears we're too heavy.

Kirk : Must be all those marsh melons.

[last lines] 

[around a campfire] 

Kirk : [to Spock]  Are you just gonna sit there and pluck that thing? Or are you gonna play something?

Spock : [starts playing] 

Kirk , McCoy , Spock : [singing in canon]  Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream...

Spock : [sampling McCoy's baked beans]  Mmm... surprisingly good. It does have a flavoring I'm not familiar with.

McCoy : Ah-ha, that's the secret ingredient.

Kirk : Got any more of that secret ingredient, Bones?

McCoy : [hands Kirk a bottle]  Help yourself.

Spock : Am I to understand, Doctor, that your secret ingredient is alcohol?

McCoy : Whiskey, Tennessee whiskey, Spock. Care for a little snort?

Kirk : [trying to get to the bridge, the turbolift only opens partway]  Doesn't anything work on this ship?

McCoy : Starfleet's got some nerve sending us out in this condition with this handful of people.

Kirk : [after Spock recognizes Sybok]  Who is it he reminds you of?

Spock : There was a young student, exceptionally gifted, possessing a great intelligence. It was assumed that one day he would take his place amongst the great scholars of Vulcan. But he was a revolutionary.

Kirk : What do you mean?

Spock : The knowledge and experience he sought were forbidden by Vulcan belief.

Kirk : Forbidden?

Spock : He rejected his logical upbringing and embraced the animal passions of our ancestors.

Kirk : Why?

Spock : He believed the key to self-knowledge was emotion, not logic.

McCoy : Imagine that. A passionate Vulcan.

Spock : When he encouraged others to follow him, he was banished from Vulcan, never to return.

McCoy : We were speculating. Is God really out there?

Kirk : Maybe he's not out there, Bones. Maybe he's right here.

[points to his heart] 

Kirk : Human heart.

Kirk : [to Spock, while being strangled by Sybok]  PICK IT UP!

Starfleet Chief of Staff : Now, I know the Enterprise isn't exactly up to specs...

Kirk : With all due respect, the Enterprise is a disaster! There must be other ships in the quadrant.

Starfleet Chief of Staff : Other ships, yes. But no experienced commanders. Captain... I need Jim Kirk.

Kirk : [under his breath]  Oh, please.

Starfleet Chief of Staff : Your orders are to proceed to Nimbus III, assess the situation, and avoid a confrontation if possible. But above all, however, get those hostages back safely.

Kirk : Have the Klingons responded?

Starfleet Chief of Staff : No, but you can bet they will.

Uhura : [arriving to pick up Kirk from shore leave]  Captain, we've received important orders from Starfleet Command.

Kirk : Why didn't you just beep my communicator?

Uhura : You 'forgot' to take it with you.

Kirk : Oh... I wonder 'why' I did that?

Kirk : [finding the hostages on Nimbus III]  Thank God.

Caithlin Dar : [aiming a disruptor at him and Spock]  Please cooperate.

St. John Talbot : Would you mind handing over your weapons?

Kirk : [in the hostage tape from Nimbus III, Spock recognizes Sybok]  What is it? You look like you've just seen a ghost.

Spock : Perhaps I have, Captain. Perhaps I have.

Kirk : Transporter room, status.

Scotty : Scotty here, Captain. Transporter is still inoperative. Even if we could lock onto the hostages, we could not beam them up.

Kirk : We're gonna have to get them out the old-fashioned way.

Uhura : Captain, we're receiving the hostage information you requested.

Kirk : Put it on screen.

[seeing the profile of General Korrd] 

Kirk : Not General Korrd!

Spock : The same. He's apparently fallen out of favor with the Klingon High Command.

Kirk : General Korrd's military strategies were required learning when I was a cadet at the Academy. When they put me out to pasture, I hope I fare better than Korrd.

Uhura : Captain, we're receiving transmission from Paradise City. They're demanding to know our intentions.

Kirk : Respond with static. Let them think we're having difficulty. Which wouldn't be far from the truth.

Kirk : You staged all this to get your hands on my ship?

Sybok : Who are you?

Kirk : James T. Kirk, captain of the Enterprise.

Sybok : But I thought Captain Chekov...

[realizing it was a trick] 

Sybok : I see! Very clever, Captain.

Sybok : Sha-Ka-Ree... the source... Heaven... Eden... call it what you will. The Klingons call it "Qui-Tu". For the Romulans it's "Vorta Vor". The Andorian word is... is unpronouncable. Still, every culture in this galaxy shares this common dream of a place from which creation sprang. For us, that place will soon be reality.

Kirk : The only reality I see is that I'm a prisoner on my own ship. What is this power you have to control the minds of my crew?

Sybok : I don't control minds. I free them.

Release Dates | Official Sites | Company Credits | Filming & Production | Technical Specs

• Full Cast and Crew
• Release Dates
• Official Sites
• Company Credits
• Filming & Production
• Technical Specs
• Plot Summary
• Plot Keywords
• Parents Guide

Did You Know?

• Crazy Credits
• Alternate Versions
• Connections
• Soundtracks

Photo & Video

• Photo Gallery
• Trailers and Videos
• User Reviews
• User Ratings
• External Reviews
• Metacritic Reviews

Related Items

• External Sites

Related lists from IMDb users

Recently Viewed

• Working with Clients
• Working with Advisers
• UK Stewardship
• Corporate Responsibility
• Core Values
• Our Services
• Bespoke Portfolio
• Managed Portfolio
• Tax Efficient Investment Specialists
• AIM-IHT Portfolio
• Probate Service
• Our Approach
• Our Portfolios
• Regulation & Protection
• Publications
• Refer a Friend
• Secure Portal
• Adviser Literature

We Need More Power!

Fans of the original Star Trek TV series will fondly recall Scotty’s reply to Captain Kirk, whenever he ordered the engine room of the USS Enterprise to increase speed: ‘I can’t do it Captain. I don’t have the power!’ Could we all one day end up like the Enterprise?

Energy production from coal-fired power stations is progressively being phased out. From supplying 22% of the UK’s electricity in 2015, it is planned the last coal-fired power station will close in 2025. With an ongoing reduction in fossil fuel energy production, the UK is facing an energy crisis.

Today the government has announced a ‘shake-up’ in the electricity market. Not only making it easier for people to generate their own electricity, the government has also announced it will invest £246m over the next four years in battery technology. Including a £45m ‘battery institute’ competition , with the aim of making the UK a world leader in battery technology for electric vehicles.

Whilst we do not see the end, just yet, of the internal combustion engine, there is no doubt signs that car manufacturers are shifting new product development to hybrid and electric vehicles. Volvo Cars , part of Chinese car maker Zhejiang Geely, recently announced that every model it makes from 2019 onwards would have an electric engine .

Interestingly, National Grid has been doing some long-term projecting. It has assumed there could be 1 million electric cars on the road in the UK by 2020 and as many as 9 million by 2030 and that by 2050, market share could feasibly reach 90%. As things stand, t his would create a need for an additional 18GW of power at peak times assuming car owners would typically plug in their car to power it up after coming home from work at 6pm. This would require the equivalent capacity of nearly six Hinkley Point nuclear power stations . One option to ease some of this burden could be through the use of ‘smart charging’ which would power up car batteries when electricity demand is lower.

Sounds like the UK is going to need to invest a lot more in power generation and smart charging technology, otherwise we could all be saying ‘I need more power!’

What have we been watching?

Following recent events, Lloyd’s of London has made attempts to estimate the potential economic damage of an extreme cyberattack, coming up with a figure of $120bn according to their models. This would surpass the cost of some of the worst natural catastrophes! In contrast, the cyber insurance market generates premiums of just $2.5bn per year. Although this could become one of the fastest-growing segments within the specialist insurance market, the lack of understanding of this new threat will pose some serious challenges to underwriters.

In the UK, inflation figures for June came at 2.6%, below consensus expectations , recording the first moderation in inflation since October 2016, whilst warm weather boosted retail sales. The main negative influence on prices was motor fuels, as fuel prices fell by 1.1% compared to May 2017. Will inflation reach 3%? Based on the market’s reaction, it seems more likely that the Bank of England will hold policy steady when it meets in August.

One factor that could push up inflation in the coming months is the government clampdown on ‘rip-off’ card charges. Businesses will no longer be allowed to charge an extra fee to customers paying by card instead of cash. Companies such us Just Eat obtained about 13% of its revenues from card fees last year. Airlines and councils will also be affected. The most likely outcome in response to this will be companies rising prices to cover the cost, and thus penalising those customers who love carrying cash in their pockets.

In Europe, ECB president Draghi tried to play down the prospects of imminent tapering , however the Euro continued to rally strongly, which could be a headwind to the earnings outlook for Eurozone equities. As a result, the main European indices were down last week.

In the US, the failure of Republicans to push through healthcare reforms drove the dollar to its weakest level since August 2016 . This political setback didn’t have a huge impact on the main US indices despite the read-across to the future implementation of promised tax reforms, deregulation and infrastructure. A weaker dollar could help reduce the US trade deficit, which is one of the outstanding issues on Trump’s agenda. China and the US began discussions last week amid fears that the Trump administration could threaten to invoke a ‘national security’ exception in global trading rules as a way to introduce either tariffs or quotas on steel imports. Such a decision could lead to retaliation from US trading partners, triggering a wave of protectionism.

In Japan, the BoJ cut its forecast for prices from 1.4% to 1.1% for the year to March 2018, and kept monetary policy on hold. Given this change, it now seems less likely that the Bank of Japan will reduce stimulus any time soon, hence increasing the divergence against the Fed and the ECB. An important point to highlight is the inclusion of e-commerce, also known as the ‘Amazon effect’, among the number of factors holding back price gains in Japan. This could be an important shift in determining how inflation is defined going forward, and may help explain the ongoing challenges facing central banks when it comes to achieving their inflation targets.

China reported better than expected GDP numbers for the first half of 2017. A strong domestic consumer accounted for as much as 63.4% of GDP growth, while double digit growth in exports could be seen as a sign of strength in global demand . On a more cautious note, the scale of shadow banking operations has started to be considered a serious issue. The People’s Bank of China admitted that off-balance sheet activities have turned out to be more than double previous estimates, to the extent that shadow banking is now bigger than all other regular activities of the lenders combined .

And finally, the first phase of the government’s planned four-year investment in battery technology will be called the Faraday Challenge , named after the scientist and great experimentalist, Michael Faraday. Albert Einstein held Faraday is such high regard, that he actually kept a picture of him on his study wall.

This publication is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon. The opinions expressed here represent analysis by an Alpha Portfolio Management representative at the time of preparation and should not be interpreted as investment advice.

You should seek professional advice before making any investment decisions. The past is not necessarily a guide to future performance. The value of shares and the income from them can fall as well as rise and investors may get back less than they originally invested. The sender does not accept legal responsibility for any errors or omissions, in the context of this message, which arise as a result of internet transmission or as a result of changes made to this document after it was sent.

Alpha Portfolio Management is a trading name of R C Brown Investment Management PLC which is authorised and regulated by the FCA. Registered Office: 1 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6DG. Registered in England No. 2489639 Copyright © 2016 Alpha Portfolio Management, All rights reserved

Alpha publications

• All Publications
• Alpha Bites
• Other publications

1 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6DG

Tel: 0117 203 3460 Email:  info @ alpha-pm.co.uk

Alpha Portfolio Management is a trading name of R C Brown Investment Management PLC which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Alpha Portfolio Service Brochure

Download Brochure

• Pillar 3 Disclosures
• Terms of Business
• Privacy Statement
• Cookie Policy

Full version

© Alpha Portfolio Management 2024. All Rights Reserved

Site by Lookhappy