G'Kar quotes from Babylon 5

G'Kar

I believe that when we leave a place, part of it goes with us and part of us remains. Go anywhere in the station when it is quiet, and just listen. After a while, you will hear the echoes of all our conversations, every thought and word we've exchanged. Long after we are gone, our voices will linger in these walls for as long as this place remains. But I will admit that the part of me that is going will very much miss the part of you that is staying.

G'Kar

I believe there is a time for enlightenment and a time for things to get done. I have become a distraction for our people. They require patience, direction, determination, and strength. I have provided a little of the first two. Now, you must provide the rest. You have always been sensible and level-headed. A rock that will never shift or break beneath the demands of our people. And you have been my friend. In my absence, we will need someone to focus on helping our world rebuild and strengthening ties with the Alliance. In order to serve our people here and at home, one must be both priest and warrior in equal measure. In recent months, I have become more priest than warrior. Perhaps, now it is time for someone who is more warrior than priest. You may believe you are not ready, but you are as ready as I was when I first came to Babylon 5. Check the records, I think you'll be amused. When this message has finished, a copy will automatically be sent to Sheridan and the others. They will receive you as they would receive me. Good luck, Ta'Lon. Serve our people–reasonably, fairly, and with honor. The rest will attend to itself.

G'Kar

It is said that the future is always born in pain. The history of war is the history of pain. If we are wise what is born of that pain matures into the promise of a better world. Because we learn that we can no longer afford the mistakes of the past.

G'Kar

Minister Kafta, this ship is being held together by little pieces of wire and good intentions. If we land in this condition, assuming we do not have an unpleasant encounter with the ground on the way down, I doubt very much they could take off again. They would be trapped with us, and the ship looking for them would find it, find them, find us, find you, a brilliant cascade of cause and effect. Isn't the universe a wonderful place? I wouldn't live anywhere else.

G'Kar

[about to leave the Liandra for Babylon 5] It's quite a place. A place of good times and bad, of pain and growth, but in the end a place of great hope. But if you ever do come aboard, remember one thing: No one there is exactly what he seems. But then, who is?

Londo

What reasonable explanation is there for the slaughter of unarmed civilians?

G'Kar

Curious. We wondered the same thing when you invaded our world. The wheel turns, does it not, Ambassador?

Londo

We should have wiped out your kind when we had the chance.

G'Kar

What happened? Run out of small children to butcher?

Sinclair

We've had plenty of experience with sneak attacks - Pearl Harbor, the terrorist nuking of San Diego, the destruction of our first Mars colony, it's a long and bloody history... Do you know what we learned from it? That the sneak attack is the first resort of a coward.

G'Kar

Just a minute-

Sinclair

You didn't even have the decency to pick a military target! A poorly armed civilian colony... [in sarcasm] What a challenge that must've been for the great Narn military...

Londo Mollari

Gentlemen, of all things in life, are females not the finest?

G'Kar

On that, Mollari, we can at least agree. [takes a drink from Londo's bottle]

Are you Ambassador G'Kar?

G'Kar

This is Ambassador G'Kar's quarters. This is Ambassador G'Kar's table! This is Ambassador G'Kar's dinner! Which part of this progression escapes you?!

G'Kar

And you have no idea how that [a black flower sent to G'Kar as a sign that he is about to be assassinated] got into my bed?

Ambassador, it is not my place to speculate on how anything gets into your bed. Your reputed fascination with Earth women, for instance.

G'Kar

The Earthers have a phrase: Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. I believe they stole it from us.

G'Kar

That hurt.

Ambassador, it was the only way to disable the paingivers. I had to hit them as hard as possible, as often as possible, and still make it appear as though I were beating you into another incarnation.

G'Kar

And you didn't enjoy it in the least?

I didn't say that.

G'kar

[To Tu'Pari] That's your flight. I suggest you board quickly. With luck, they may never find you, but if they do, you will know pain…

…and you will know fear…

G'Kar

…and then you will die. Have a pleasant flight.

Catherine Sakai

Just one question: why?

G'Kar

Why not?

Catherine Sakai

That's not an answer.

G'Kar

Oh, yes it is. It's simply not an answer you like, or the answer you expected. There's a difference. Narns, Humans, Centauri, we all do what we do for the same reason: because it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Catherine Sakai

While I was out there, I saw something. What was it?

G'Kar

[pointing to a nearby flower] What is this? [upon closer inspection, an insect is visible]

Catherine

An ant.

G'Kar

"Ant"!

Catherine

So much gets shipped up from Earth on commercial transports, it's hard to keep them out.

G'Kar

I have just picked it up on the tip of my glove. If I put it down again [replacing the ant on the flower] and it asks another ant, "What was that?" ...how would it explain? There are things in the universe billions of years older than either of our races. They are vast, timeless. And if they are aware of us at all, it is as little more than ants...and we have as much chance of communicating with them as an ant has with us. We know. We've tried. And we've learned we can either stay out from underfoot, or be stepped on.

Catherine

That's it? That's all you know?

G'Kar

Yes. They are a mystery. And I am both terrified and reassured to know that there are still wonders in the universe...that we have not yet explained everything. Whatever they are, Ms. Sakai, they walk near Sigma 957. They must walk there alone.

G'Kar

Let me pass on to you the one thing I've learned about this place. No one here is exactly what he appears. Not Mollari, not Delenn, not Sinclair…and not me.

G'Kar

Ah, Ms. Sakai. I'm pleased to see that you have returned safely from your expedition.

Catherine Sakai

Yes, thanks to you. Just one question. Why?

G'Kar

Why not?

Catherine Sakai

It's not an answer.

G'Kar

Oh yes it is. It's simply not an answer you like or the answer you expected. There's a difference. Narns, humans, Centauri, we all do what we do for the same reason: because it seemed like a good idea at the time. There was no profit, no advantage in letting you fall to an untimely and most uncomfortable death. It would distress the Commander to no good effect. So once again we return to, "Why not?" I told you before you left: no one here is entirely what they appear. If I surprised you, all the better. Good day, Ms. Sakai.