Jonathan Archer quotes from Star Trek: Enterprise

Archer

Doctor, are you alright?

Phlox

Oh I'm sorry captain, did I wake you? Just trimming my toenails.. They grow quite rapidly. Have to keep them groomed neatly at least once a week.

Archer

(about the arrest of Menos) Why did you want me here?

T'Pol

Because I trust you.

Archer

Then trust me- you were sent to apprehend him, not to judge him.

Archer

No offense, but my ears are less likely to draw fire than yours.

[to T'Pol] What is their fixation with our ears?

T'Pol

I believe that they are envious.

Archer

I believe someone once defined a compromise as a solution that neither side is happy with.

Shran

In that case, these talks have been extremely successful.

[to Archer] Captain. Your presence here has not been... overly meddlesome. [leaves the briefing room with T'Pol and his aide]

Shran

I think he likes you, Pink-Skin.

Archer

I wouldn't go that far.

Archer

There was something familiar about all this, but I couldn't put my finger on it until I found this speech Zefram Cochrane made eighty nine years ago. When I was a kid, I read everything I could about him. It took me a while, but I finally found it in the database. He was giving a commencement address at Princeton when he started to talk about what really happened during First Contact. He mentioned a group of cybernetic creatures from the future who tried to stop his first warp flight when he was living in Montana. He said they were defeated by a group of humans, who were also from the future.

T'Pol

As I recall, Cochrane was famous for his imaginative stories. He was also known to be frequently intoxicated.

Archer

No one took him seriously, and he recanted the whole thing a few years later, but you have to admit there are similarities.

T'Pol

[reading Cochrane's transcript] He said their ultimate goal was to enslave the human race.

Archer

If he was right, they might be heading back to their homeworld, so they can try again.

Archer

The computer analysed Phlox's numbers. They're pulsar frequencies with geometric light year measurements.

T'Pol

Spatial co-ordinates.

Archer

They told their homeworld how to find Earth.

T'Pol

Did you learn where the message was sent?

Archer

Somewhere deep in the Delta Quadrant.

T'Pol

Then I doubt there's any immediate danger. It would take at least two hundred years for a subspace message to reach the Delta Quadrant, assuming it's received at all.

Archer

Sounds to me like we've only postponed the invasion until what, the twenty fourth century?

Trip

I can't wait to get in there, Captain. Find the people who did this. And tell me we won't be tip-toein' around. None of that non-interference crap T'Pol's always shovin' down our throats. Maybe it's a good thing she's leavin'.

Archer

We'll do what we have to, Trip. Whatever it takes.

T'pol

I know you can't keep me here. So just put me on the next M-Class planet we find!

Archer

No.

T'pol

Why not?!?!

Archer

Because I can't save humanity, without holding on to the things that make me human.

Archer

(After Archer asks Trip how long it would take him to reinforce a shuttlepod with Trellium) You might wanna stay clear of the launch bay for the next couple of days.

T'Pol

Indeed.

T'Pol

In the corridor, when the anomaly hit, I urged you to leave me behind. If you had, it's likely I'd be the one suffering from this condition.

Archer

Fortunately, I don't take orders from you.

You must think we're barbaric. All the things humanity's accomplished--building ships like this, traveling to other worlds and we're still down there shooting each other.

Archer

The progress on Earth, it didn't happen overnight.

But it was progress all the same. You've managed to change. We haven't. Even if you could take us back, I don't think we're ready.

Archer

It may be a while before we're able to start sending ships here. My guess is, by the time they arrive they'll find things have changed.

T'Pol

Symbiots are living, conscious entities. We'll be growing a sentient being for the sole purpose of harvesting tissue.

Archer

I'm aware of the ethical implications. If we weren't in the Expanse, maybe my decision would be different, but... we've got to complete this mission. Earth needs Enterprise. Enterprise needs Trip. It's as simple as that.

Archer

I don't have to tell you what's at stake. I must complete this mission. And to do that, I need Trip. Trip! I'll take whatever steps necessary to save him.

Even if it means killing me?

Archer

Even if it means killing you.

You're not a murderer.

Archer

Don't make me one.

T'Pol

We just traveled 90 light years back to Earth?

Archer

And 150 years into the past.

T'Pol

Forgive me if I'm not entirely convinced.

Archer

You will be.