Delenn quotes from Babylon 5

Delenn

All life is transitory. A dream. We all come together in the same place at the end of time. If I don't see you again here, I will see you in a little while, in the place where no shadows fall.

Sheridan

W--Delenn! [She stops and looks back.] When I do see you again...call me John?

Delenn

She has separated from her mother. Please find her.

Lennier

[looks around, somewhat lost] How?

Delenn

[to Lennier] Faith manages.

Delenn

[turning to Markab girl] What is her name?

Mama.

Lennier

Faith manages.

Sheridan

What happens next time?

Delenn

What happens? What happens is that we honor the memory of those who are no longer with us by using what we have learned to save others. To exercise faith and patience and charity. To reach out to those who are afraid. If we can do that, then their passing will have had meaning and we will grow from it.

Delenn

Back home, when there is something you need to know, you are told just what you require and no more.

Delenn

... Minbari respect the privacy of others by not prying into their affairs. To express undue curiosity--

Unable to insert "Eye on Minbari" section. Do you wish to accept edition anyway?

Delenn

Uh... yes, yes I do.

John Sheridan

"Eye on Minbari"?

Delenn

It is good to know what your people are thinking and saying about my people. And, uh...[grins] I often learn things about my own world before I'm told "what I need to know and no more".

You said you didn't have to answer any of my questions. But there's no reason to exclude you from our deliberations. You're linked at the hip, just as bad as she is. But you're not just a dreamer. You're a soldier! How far are you prepared to go? How much are you prepared to risk? How many people are you prepared to sacrifice for victory? Are you willing to die friendless, alone, deserted by everyone? Because that's what may be required of you in the war that is to come!

John Sheridan

Go to Hell!

This is Hell, Captain, and you are its chief damned soul. What about the people you work with, the people you call friends? Are you willing to sacrifice them? What about your family? [He zaps Sheridan with his cane.] What about your God? [Another zap.] What about truth? [Zap.] What about blood? [Zap.] What about right? [Zap.] What about wrong? [Zap.] What about your future? [Zap.] What about faith? [Zap.] What about sin? [Zap.] What about Hell? [Zap.] What about death? [Zap.] What about etern...

Delenn

ENOUGH! Your quarrel is with me! You were sent to investigate me! Let him go! If you want to take someone, then take me!

Delenn

If I fall, another will take my place, and another, and another.

But your great cause!

Delenn

This is my cause--Life! One life or a billion, it's all the same!

Then you make the sacrifice willingly? No fame. No armies or banners or cities to celebrate your name. You will die alone and unremarked and forgotten.

Delenn

This body is only a shell. You cannot touch me, you cannot harm me. I'm not afraid.

You can go. You've passed, both of you.

Delenn

Passed what?

How do you know the Chosen Ones? "No greater love hath a man than he lay down his life for his brother." Not for millions...not for glory...not for fame. For one person, in the dark, where no one will ever know or see. I have been in the service of the Vorlons for centuries, looking for you. Diogenes with his lamp, looking for an honest man willing to die for all the wrong reasons. At last, my job is finished. Yours is just beginning. When the darkness comes, know this: You are the right people, in the right place, at the right time.

Delenn

Welcome back! How do you feel?

Lennier

As though a great many heavy objects had fallen on me. But I suspect I will live.

I told you, Delenn, they will not speak to you.

Delenn

Then they will listen to me! [She tries to go around him, but he blocks her path.] I served the Council for sixteen cycles. I was the chosen of Dukhat to replace him! I held him when he died! His blood is on my hands, his spirit in my eyes, his word on my lips! You will step aside in his name and mine, or–in Valen's name--I will tear this ship apart with my bare hands until I find them! Move aside!

Delenn

Three years. For three years, I warned you this day was coming. But you would not listen. "Pride," you said! "Presumption!" And now the Shadows are on the move. The Centauri and the younger worlds are at war, the Narns have fallen... even the humans are fighting one another. The pride was yours! The presumption was yours! For a thousand years, we have been awaiting the fulfillment of prophecy. And when it finally happens, you scorn it--you reject it--because you no longer believe it yourselves!

Delenn

"We stand between the candle and the star, between the darkness and the light." You say the words, but your hearts are empty--your ears closed to the truth! You stand for nothing but your own petty interests!

Delenn

"The problems of others are not our concern." I do not blame you for standing silent in your shame. You, who knew what was coming, but refused to take up the burden of this war! If the Warrior Caste will not fight, then the rest of us will!

Delenn

If the Council has lost its way, if it will not lead...if we have abandoned our covenant with Valen...! [Grabs the leader's staff and raises it over her head.] Then the Council should be broken...[She snaps the staff in two and throws both halves to the floor.]...as was prophesied! We must stand with the others--now, before it's too late! Between the Religious Caste and the Worker Caste, we control two thirds of our forces! And to you I say, listen to the voice of your conscience! Break the Council, and come with me! Our time of isolation is over! We move now, together, or not at all!

Sheridan

Damage report.

David Corwin

Damage to all sectors. They're still fighting in Brown Sector.

Sheridan

Get some more troops down there. Hull integrity?

Corwin

Not good. EVA teams en route. It's a good thing this stopped when it did. We couldn't take much more. [Jumpgate alarm goes off.] Oh, no!

This is Captain Drake to Babylon 5. You are ordered to surrender and prepare to be boarded, by order of President Clark.

Corwin

Captain...jump points forming right on top of us!

Sheridan

[deflated] How many?

Corwin

Four!

Delenn

This is Ambassador Delenn of the Minbari. Babylon 5 is under our protection. Withdraw...or be destroyed!

Negative. We have authority here. Do not force us to engage your ship.

Delenn

Why not? Only one human captain has ever survived battle with a Minbari fleet. He is behind me. You are in front of me. If you value your lives, be somewhere else.

John Sheridan

You know, every time that I have seen you lately, we've been in the middle of a crisis! A revolution! I mean, this is the first time in months that it's been this quiet! It won't last. It never does. But as long as it's here...I'd like to see you tonight.

Delenn

Are you not seeing me now? I would assume that you see me every time we meet. Unless I have become translucent, or insubstantial, and no one has thought to inform me until now.

Sheridan

Then let me say I'd like to see you in a different light. Candlelight, for instance. Over dinner?

Delenn

Tonight?

Sheridan

Tomorrow we may be involved in another crisis, another battle! This may be the last chance we'll get for a while. You know, back home we have a saying. "Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die!"

Delenn

Humans can be a very depressing people.

Sheridan

Only if we get turned down for dinner.

Delenn

Well, we cannot have that, now can we?

Sinclair

Ready?

Delenn

Why do your people always ask if someone is ready right before you're going to do something massively unwise?

Sinclair

[smiling] Tradition.

Delenn

It should come as no surprise. We knew the warrior caste was unhappy with our activities.

Lennier

Unhappy?! Delenn, he's planning to kill you!

Delenn

That is...one interpretation.

Lennier

He said he would use any and all means necessary. I respectfully suggest that he intends to go far beyond harsh language.

Delenn

Ivanova sent me to find you. She said you haven't been sleeping, you have hardly been eating; she said that you have been, in her words, "carrying on cranky." I looked up the word "cranky." It said "grouchy." I looked up "grouchy," it said "crotchety." No wonder you have such an eccentric culture: none of your words have their own meaning! You have to look up one word to understand another. It never ends.

John Sheridan

[not paying attention] Something here doesn't make sense.

Delenn

That is what I thought when I came across "crotchety." This cannot be a real word, I said.

Sheridan

The Shadows keep attacking random targets! Very illogical! On the other hand, once engaged, their tactics are very successful! Very logical! It's–it's a contradiction!

Delenn

Unless the random attacks are logical in some way we haven't yet determined.

Sheridan

Exactly.

Delenn

[grinning] So you have been sitting here trying to think illogically about logical possibilities, or logically about illogical possibilities.

Sheridan

Hm? Yes, yes.

Delenn

Well, no wonder you are cranky! [he looks at her in confusion, oblivious to everything she's just said] Grouchy? [still nothing] Never mind. Your face just broke the language barrier.

Sheridan

Ah...I haven't had a good night's sleep since Kosh died. I'm having the kind of nightmares that make your hair stand on end.

Delenn

Well, that would explain the Centauri. You need food...and rest!

Sheridan

[annoyed] Aah.

Delenn

The humans who you've been waiting for have arrived and would like to have dinner with us.

Sheridan

No, no, I don't have time! If they want to come here...

Delenn

So I told them yes!

Sheridan

Delenn!

Delenn

Since Minbari do not lie, except to save another, my reputation is now at stake. If you say no, I will be publicly dishonored.

Sheridan

[realizing he's been beaten] You don't fight fair!

Delenn

True! Dinner is in two standard hours. I will see you there! [heads to the door]

Sheridan

[muttering] Pain in the butt.

Delenn

[over her shoulder] Grouch.

Delenn

White Star was never intended to be one of a kind. It was only the first. We've been working around the clock to construct them. I said we needed time to prepare. This is why. The first wave of ships is finished at last. The Rangers will pilot them under our shared command. We are as ready for them as we will ever be. We finally have, as you say, a fighting chance.

Sheridan

I don't know what to say.

Delenn

Then say nothing.