John Sheridan quotes from Babylon 5

Sheridan

[whispering] Well...look at that...the sun's coming up...

John Sheridan

Those who command the Excalibur will never stop, never give up, and never slow down until a cure is found. And we'll take any help we can get. Wherever and whoever it comes from. Because this is a cause that surpasses borders and difference and distrust. This is a mission of about the survival of Earth itself. What we do over the next five years, here, at home, and across the darkness between the stars, will determine whether an entire world will live ... or die. It's a fight we can't afford to lose. And we won't ... We won't.

John Sheridan

When I was 21, I visited Tibet. I went to see the new Dalai Lama. Uh, you do that sort of thing when you're 21 and the son of a diplomatic envoy. We had a simple dinner. Rice, raisins, carrots--steamed, not boiled--and green tea. When it was over, he looked at me and said, "Do you understand?" I said no, I didn't. "Good beginning," he said. "You'll be even better when you begin to understand what you do not understand." After reading some of your reports, I begin to understand what I don't understand about Babylon 5. But I couldn't wish for a more capable and skilled group of people to learn from. It was an early Earth President, Abraham Lincoln, who best described our current situation. He said...

Sheridan

[delivering the rest of his speech to an empty C&C] It was an early Earth president, Abraham Lincoln, who best described our situation. "The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise to the occasion. We cannot escape history. We will be remembered in spite of ourselves. The fiery trial though which we pass will light us down in honor or dishonor to the last generation. We shall nobly save or meanly lose our last, best hope of Earth." [He looks around with a satisfied smile.] Five minutes to spare.

John Sheridan

What's our status?

Ivanova

The Chief of Security is in critical condition in MedLab. He thinks there's a conspiracy concerning the President's death. Ambassador G'Kar has mysteriously vanished, after two years we still don't know what Ambassador Kosh looks like inside his encounter suit, and Ambassador Delenn is in a cocoon.

Sheridan

A cocoon? As in, a moth or a butterfly.

Ivanova

Yes sir. [holds one hand at chin height] 'Bout yea high.

Sheridan

Interesting place you have here.

Michael Garibaldi

[waking up from his coma] Oh, God. I'm out of it for a few days, the whole place goes to hell!

John Sheridan

Well, I hope I can prove otherwise. Captain John Sheridan, your new CO.

Garibaldi

I don't know you.

Sheridan

No, but I think we'll get along just fine.

Elric

We are dreamers, shapers, singers, and makers. We study the mysteries of laser and circuit, crystal and scanner, holographic demons and invocation of equations. These are the tools we employ, and we know many things.

John Sheridan

Such as?

Elric

The true secrets, the important things. Fourteen words to make someone fall in love with you forever. Seven words to make them go without pain. How to say good-bye to a friend who is dying. How to be poor. How to be rich. How to rediscover dreams when the world has stolen them. That is why we are going away--to preserve that knowledge.

Sheridan

From what?

Elric

There is a storm coming, a black and terrible storm. We would not have our knowledge lost or used to ill purpose. From this place we will launch ourselves into the stars. With luck, you will never see our kind again in your lifetime. I know you have your orders, Captain. Detain us if you wish. But I cannot tell you where we are going. I can only ask you to trust us.

John! She's...Minbari?

Sheridan

Mm-hmm.

Uh...but she doesn't look like one! I mean, she does, but...but she doesn't! I mean, what's the deal?

Sheridan

We're still trying to figure that out. There's the story she told us, but then, the Minbari never tell you the whole truth.

Sheridan

I wish I had your...faith in the universe. I just don't see it sometimes.

Delenn

Then I will tell you a great secret, Captain. Perhaps the greatest of all time. The molecules of your body are the same molecules that make up this station, and the nebula outside, that burn inside the stars themselves. We are starstuff. We are the universe made manifest, trying to figure itself out. And as we have both learned, sometimes the universe requires a change of perspective.

Garibaldi

Lousy way to die, huh?

John Sheridan

Hmm. Last time I checked, there weren't too many good ways.

Susan Ivanova

You got a plan?

Sheridan

Let's try not to get killed.

Ivanova

Brilliant.

Susan Ivanova

You know how I feel about telepaths.

Sheridan

Do I ever. You threw one out a third-story window on Io.

Ivanova

There was an ample pool below the window!

Sheridan

I'll assume you knew that.

Talia Winters

Stoner? Matt Stoner?

Garibaldi

Yeah, yeah, that was his name. Matthew.

Talia

He's not here on Babylon 5?

John Sheridan

Is that a problem?

Garibaldi

You know him?

Talia

Only in the most unpleasant sense. I was married to him.

Londo

On Earth you have these creatures–insects attracted to flames?

Sheridan

Uh, yes. Moths. They're drawn to flames and bright lights and get burned.

Londo

Mariel is drawn to men of power in that same way. But trust me. She burns them!

John Sheridan

They nibble a little bit here, a little bit there--next thing you know, you're not even in charge of your own command anymore!

Stephen Franklin

No taxation without representation. Give me liberty or give me death!

Sheridan

Abso-fraggin'-lutely!

Delenn

I apologize for being late, Captain. I decided that as part of learning more about humans, I would try to dress like one tonight. I hope it does not offend you.

Sheridan

No, no, not at all! It's...very attractive! Uh, please! [He helps her to her seat, but as he does, he notices a diner at the next table staring rudely.] Something I can do for you? [The man turns back to his meal.]

Delenn

It appears my choice was successful. The woman who sold me this told me that I would definitely..."turn heads"?

Sheridan

[laughing] Yeah, well, if they turned much further, you'd be sued for whiplash!