Elim Garak quotes from Deep Space Nine

Odo

You'd shoot a man in the back?

Well, it's the safest way, isn't it?

You're not genetically engineered. You're a Vulcan.

Julian Bashir

If I'm a Vulcan, then how do you explain my boyish smile?

Not so boyish anymore, Doctor.

Nog

You can walk in front of me, or beside me, but I won't turn my back on you again.

Cadet, there may be hope for you yet.

Benjamin Sisko

And when they've reached this point, we'll have them in a crossfire.

They won't have a chance.

That is the point. In case you've forgotten, we're in a war.

Miles O'Brien

There are rules, Garak, even in a war.

Correction. Humans have rules in war. Rules that tend to make victory a little harder to achieve, in my opinion.

So we just shoot them down?

They wouldn't hesitate if the situation was reversed.

Nog

But we're not the Jem'Hadar. It is our duty to—

Benjamin Sisko

This isn't a vote. The decision's mine. And Mister Garak is right. We are at war. Given the choice between us or them, there is no choice. Let's move out.

Worf

They are not interrogating you, Mr. Garak. They are debriefing. There is a difference.

Not from where I'm sitting.

That's the eleventh ship to fall out of formation.

How nice of you to keep track of it.

Bashir

He can't help being negative. It's in his nature.

On the contrary, Doctor. I always hope for the best. Experience, unfortunately, has taught me to always expect the worst.

Miles O'Brien

"Cannon to the right of them, Cannon to the left of them, Cannon in front of them, Volley'd and thunder'd..."

Julian Bashir

"Storm'd at with shot and shell, Boldly they rode and well, Into the jaws of Death, Into the mouth of Hell, Rode the six hundred."

Nog

Whatever it is you're quoting, I wish you'd stop!

Uh, Chief? How does that poem end?

O'Brien

You don't want to know.

Kira Nerys

She loved you.

I could never figure out why. I guess I never will.

Benjamin Sisko

Who's watching Tolar?

I've locked him in his quarters. I've also left him with the distinct impression that if he attempts to force the door open, it may explode.

Benjamin Sisko

I hope that's just an impression.

It's best not to dwell on such minutiae.

Benjamin Sisko

You killed him.

That's right.

Benjamin Sisko

That's what you planned to do all along, isn't it? You knew the data rod wouldn't hold up to scrutiny: you just wanted to get him on the station so you could plant a bomb on his shuttle!

It wasn't quite that simple. I did have hopes that the rod would somehow pass inspection, but I suspected that Tolar might not be up to the task.

Benjamin Sisko

And what about Tolar? Did you kill him too?

Think of them both as tragic victims of war. [a furious Sisko strikes Garak again] If you could allow your anger to subside for a moment, you'll see that they did not die in vain! The Romulans will enter the war!

Benjamin Sisko

There's no guarantee of that!

Oh, but I think that there is. You see, when the Tal Shiar finishes examining the wreckage of Vreenak's shuttle, they'll find the burnt remnants of a Cardassian optolithic data rod which somehow miraculously survived the explosion. After painstaking forensic examination, they'll discover that the rod contains a recording of a high level Dominion meeting at which the invasion of Romulus was being planned.

Benjamin Sisko

And then they'll discover that it is a fraud!

Oh, I don't think that they will! Because any imperfections in the forgery will appear to be a result of the explosion! So, with a seemingly legitimate rod in one hand, and a dead Senator in the other, I ask you, Captain—what conclusion would you draw?

Benjamin Sisko

[sighs] That Vreenak obtained the rod on Soukara, and that the Dominion killed him to prevent him from returning to Romulus with it.

Precisely! And the more the Dominion protests its innocence, the more the Romulans will believe that they're guilty because it is exactly what the Romulans would have done in their place. [pauses]That's why you came to me. Isn't it, Captain? Because you knew I could do those things that you weren't capable of doing. Well, it worked. And you'll get what you want—a war between the Romulans and the Dominion. And if your conscience is bothering you, you should soothe it with the knowledge that you may have just saved the entire Alpha Quadrant. And all it cost was the life of one Romulan Senator, one criminal, and the self-respect of one Starfleet officer. I don't know about you, but I'd call that a bargain.

How sad. I must tell you, I'm disappointed in hearing you mouth the usual platitudes of peace and friendship regarding an implacable foe like the Romulans. But I live in hope that one day you'll come to see this universe for what it truly is, rather than what you wish it to be.

Bashir

Then I shall endeavor to become more cynical with each passing day, look gift horses squarely in the mouth, and find clouds in every silver lining.

If only you meant it.

Damar

[taking in the news] They weren't a part of this rebellion. The Dominion knew that. The Founder knew that. Weyoun knew that. To kill her and my son. The casual brutality of it. The waste of life. What kind of state tolerates the murder of innocent women and children? What kind of people give those orders?

Kira Nerys

Yeah, Damar, what kind of people give those orders?

Kira

Oh, that was stupid.

Not at all. Damar has a certain... romanticism about the past. He could use a dose of cold water.

Kira

Well, I could have picked a better time.

If he's the man to lead a new Cardassia, if he's the man we all hope him to be, then the pain of this news made him more receptive to what you said, not less.

You're still a Cardassian, Garak. You're not going to kill one of your own people for a Bajoran woman!

[aiming a phaser at Rusot's head] How little you understand me.

Damar

Put your weapons down, both of you!

You want her dead too, Damar, I know you do. But you're the leader of the rebellion, and don't want to kill someone wearing a Starfleet uniform. Let me do it for you! [an electronic alert bleeps]

Damar

They've finished installing the dampening weapon.

Kira

Then let's all get the hell out of here.

Not you. [aims his rifle at Kira's head]

I'm still here, Rusot.

Damar, shoot him. We can kill them both and keep the Breen weapon for ourselves. I believe in you, Damar. I know you're the right man to restore the Empire we so loyally served. The Empire we loved. Together we can lead our people to greatness again. Just aim and fire. [Damar aims and fires his disruptor, killing Rusot]

Damar

[to a shocked Kira and Garak] He was my friend. But his Cardassia's dead, and it won't be coming back.

You should hear the stories. "Damar's alive, my cousin saw him on Kelvas Prime." "He faked his own death." "He's plotting a new offensive from his secret mountain hideaway."

You never told me you had a secret mountain hideaway.

Damar

I was going to surprise you.

Weyoun

Citizens of Cardassia, this latest wave of vandalism directed against your Dominion allies must stop.

I wouldn't count on it.

Weyoun

We know that these disgraceful acts of sabotage were carried out by a mere handful of extremists, but these radicals must come to realize that their disobedience will not be tolerated, and that you—the Cardassian people—will suffer the consequences of their cowardly actions. Which is why I must inform you that just a few moments ago, Dominion troops reduced Lakarian City to ashes. There were no survivors. Two million men, women, and children gone in a matter of moments. For each act of terrorism against the Dominion, another Cardassian city will be destroyed. I implore you not to let that happen. Let us return to the spirit of friendship and cooperation between our peoples so that together we can destroy our common enemies—the Federation, the Klingons, the Romulans, and all others who stand against us. Thank you.

Damar

I should have killed that Vorta jackal when I had the chance!

Kira Nerys

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