Alfred Bester quotes from Babylon 5

Bester

Anatomically impossible, Mr. Garibaldi. But you're welcome to try.

Bester

My blood is the same color as yours, and what I do, I do to protect Earth, same as you. You don't like how I do it, that's your prerogative. But there are things going on out there that you know nothing about. Threats to the human race that no one ever hears about -- because we stop them. There's dangers all around us! And whether you like us or not, we may be all that stands between you and the abyss.

Alfred Bester

Well, it's good to see they're continuing the fine tradition of hiring from the shallow end of the gene pool.

Bester

I mean, being a freedom fighter, a...a force for good, it's...it's a wonderful thing. You get to make your own hours, looks good on a resume, but the pay...sucks.

Bester

My people are in there. And several others just tried to kill me, but then, what family doesn't have its difficulties?

Bester

Every race to develop telepaths has had to find some way to control them, through laws, religion, drugs, or extermination. We may not be pretty, but we're a hell of a lot better than the alternatives.

Bester

Of all the things in life I could drown in–love, music, the eyes of another–crocodile tears are the least appealing.

Jeffrey Sinclair

No, now's a fine time...

Sinclair

Get out...of my head! You want to talk to me, talk to me!

Alfred Bester

Apologies, Commander. It saves considerable time.

Bester

It was a calculated risk!

Susan Ivanova

Good old Psi Corps. You guys never cease to amaze me. All the moral fiber of Jack the Ripper! What do you do in your spare time, juggle babies over a fire pit? Oops, there goes another calculated risk!

You're not helping the situation.

Ivanova

Lady, you are the situation!

Alfred Bester

They must be getting desperate to try something like this. They know we're onto them. Why else would they try to kill me?

Ivanova

Is this a multiple-choice question?

Bester

Would it interest you to know that I'm married, Mr. Garibaldi? That I have a five-year-old daughter? That on Sundays when I'm back home, we pack a picnic lunch and go out under the dome on Syria Planum and watch the stars come out? Hardly the description of a monster.

Michael Garibaldi

[applauds sarcastically] Smooth! You're getting good at this. Keep working on it, and one of these days I might even be convinced that you're human.

Alfred Bester

I'm in pursuit of an individual who's a danger to your station, Earth, and the Psi Corps.

Susan Ivanova

Well, that's two legitimate things to worry about.

Bester

On the other hand, we learned some interesting things about Miss Winters, in the course of her debriefing and dissec-- that is, examination.

Bester

I'm here to save your butts! Next time, show a little gratitude.

Franklin

On the other hand, maybe wounding him isn't such a bad idea after all.

Bester

Liars are always afraid that somebody's going to see through them. So I just provided him with a vehicle for his paranoia. Your captain's opinions notwithstanding, the badge and the uniform do have certain...advantages.

Garibaldi

Like intimidation?

Bester

Absolutely! Just like...your badge, and...your uniform.

Bester

If I had my talent working, I could've warned you when he was coming.

Garibaldi

And if I had a baseball bat, we could hang you from the ceiling and play piñata. I still think I should've gone straight to G'Kar.

Bester

We have no evidence that he made the sale yet. Why annoy the Narn without cause if we are wrong? Shut off the problem at the source and the rest attends to itself. A piñata, huh? So you think of me as something bright and cheerful, full of toys and candy for young children. Thank you. That makes me feel…much better about our relationship.