Jim Kirk quotes from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Look, I could tell you some comforting fairy tale, but we both know the truth. Our job puts us up against death more than is fair. And we might not like it, but we do have to face it. And right now, death is winning. It claimed your family, it claimed your friend. It convinced you to forget them, because it's less painful than holding on to their memories. Now you can let death win, or you can fight back. Hold on to them.

You flinched! You deliberated, and we lost.

Christopher Pike

We fired, Captain. And we were fired upon. That's why you're still here.

From the start, you wanted to cripple them, not take them out.

Christopher Pike

We may have different points of view, but do not question my combat readiness, Captain.

I'm saying "caution" means you're not going to put everything you have into the punch. And that's a good way to lose, because your enemy will see that and act accordingly.

Did it ever occur to you that sometimes you can't avoid a fight? If you had just chased that Romulan ship from the get-go and taken it out, maybe none of this would've happened.

Christopher Pike

You're a good captain, Jim Kirk. Enterprise would be lucky to have you.

You thinking of retiring?

Christopher Pike

[chuckles] No. Oh, no. No, not yet.

La'an

You don't have sunsets in your time?

From the videos I've seen, we mostly have clouds of ash that won't clear for a thousand years and underground lunar habitats with no view of the sun at all. [pulls himself together, smiles and turns to La'an] My advice? [offers her one of his hot dogs] Don't skip good hot dogs when you can get them.

La'an

I've seen your timeline. You're at war. Your Earth is a ruin.

We've made the stars our home. The moon, Mars, Venus, Europa.

La'an

In my timeline, humanity has spread across dozens of worlds. We're part of a federation of species.

We don't need anyone else's help to survive.

La'an

And just surviving is good enough for you?

Oh, and I suppose you come from some sort of a utopia.

La'an

My Earth still has sunsets.

La'an

You know, if I was in your position, I don't know that I would have gone along with this. I don't think I could have gotten this far without you.

You'd definitely would have frozen to death on the first night. Or starved. That hot dog saved your life.

La'an

Well, how many people can say that?

I might be the only one. Truth is, if we can only save one timeline, I'd rather live in yours. I mean, I know that's not how it works. Like I mentioned, I missed a few lectures in temporal mechanics, but...

La'an

What if you could? Come to my time.

I'm not sure one timeline is big enough for two of me.

La'an

I've been carrying something around for a long time. Something in my heritage.

You come from a long line of axe murderers?

La'an

Oh, no, we never use axes.

[after beaming aboard the Enterprise] Hell of a ship. And they let you work here?

Sam Kirk

What can I say? Captain Pike asked for the more handsome Kirk brother.

Christopher Pike

[to Uhura] Starfleet can build a new gas station someplace else. One where there isn't anything living in the deuterium. And if there's any blow-back, it's on me. End of the day, that was my call. Okay? [to Kirk] Or we can tell 'em someone's brash influence rubbed off on you.

Always happy to be of service. You know, I was thinking: you discovered a completely new form of life. They might give you a medal.

La'an Noonien Singh

Okay, I need to just say this before it comes out in the form of a 17th-century sea shanty. I know you. I mean not you you. We ... Well, I know you now, but I mean before. In a different time, I met another you.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. I don't love rules, but I'm pretty sure you're about to break a big one.

La'an Noonien Singh

The other you, He saw the real me. Beyond my name, beyond all that name stands for. He'd never even heard it before. And I liked it. I liked the way he looked at me. Because through his eyes, I could finally see the person I had the potential to be. And it was someone who wasn't burdened by tragedy and darkness. Someone who could find hope and live in that hope. Someone free. Free to feel and take chances and and make connections. But then, he was gone. And with him, that version of myself was gone, too. And that's ... That was what I wanted to say.

Am I anything like the other me?

La'an Noonien Singh

No. And yes. I like how you look at me, too.

In what way?

La'an Noonien Singh

Like you really see me.

At first, I admit I had some concerns when I heard your name. George Kirk was my First Officer on Constitution during the war.

Yes, I-- I know that, sir.

George is a good man -- a good officer. We shared many pots of coffee during those early campaigns. Do you know why he never got his own ship?

Uh, no, sir. We never talked about it.

Your father is the most fair-minded and diplomatic person I have ever met. But when it came to warfare, it was clear combat was not his strength.

I find that hard to believe, sir.

I'm sorry to be the one to say it. I consider George a friend. Commanding a starship levies a heavy cost; there is no hiding who you are once you sit in that chair. Thankfully, fate has blessed me with yet another Kirk as my First Officer. And based on your service record, you are not your father's son. No fear of battle. You will do just fine.