Wesley Crusher quotes from Star Trek: The Next Generation

Wesley Crusher

You don't exactly look ship-shape yourself, sir.

Wesley Crusher

Captain, we're receiving two-hundred and eighty-five thousand hails.

Jean-Luc Picard

Mister Crusher? Why aren't you in your dress uniform for Admiral Quinn's farewell dinner?

Wesley Crusher

I didn't think that would be appropriate.

Jean-Luc Picard

Why not?

Wesley Crusher

I failed, Captain. I didn't get into the Academy. I failed you and I failed the Enterprise.

Jean-Luc Picard

Ridiculous. Did you do your best?

Wesley Crusher

Yes.

Jean-Luc Picard

When you test next year, and you will test next year, do you think your performance will improve?

Wesley Crusher

Yes.

Jean-Luc Picard

Good. The only person you're truly competing against, Wesley, is yourself.

Wesley Crusher

Then you're not disappointed?

Jean-Luc Picard

Wesley, you have to measure your successes and your failures within, not by anything I or anyone else might think. But, if it helps you to know this, I failed the first time. And you may not tell anyone!

Wesley Crusher

You? You failed?

Jean-Luc Picard

Yes. But not the second time. Now, you'll do me the courtesy of joining us at dinner. I have to disappoint an old friend.

Wesley Crusher

Say goodbye, Data.

Data

Goodbye, Data.

Data

Was that funny?

Data

Accessing... Ah, Burns & Allen, Roxy Theatre, New York City, 1932. It still works!

Worf

That is how the Klingon lures a mate.

Wesley

Are you telling me to go yell at Salia?

Worf

No. Men do not roar. Women roar...[besotted] and they hurl heavy objects...and claw at you...

Wesley

What does the man do?

Worf

He reads love poetry. [regaining his composure.] He ducks a lot.

Wesley Crusher

Didn't you ever wish you had kids of your own?

Jean-Luc Picard

Wishing for a thing does not make it so.

Jean-Luc Picard

Did you read that book I gave you?

Wesley Crusher

Some of it.

Jean-Luc Picard

That's reassuring.

Wesley Crusher

I just don't have much time.

Jean-Luc Picard

There is no greater challenge than the study of philosophy.

Wesley Crusher

But William James won't be in my Starfleet exams.

Jean-Luc Picard

The important things never will be. Anyone can be trained in the mechanics of piloting a starship.

Wesley Crusher

But Starfleet Academy

Jean-Luc Picard

It takes more. Open your mind to the past. Art, history, philosophy. And all this may mean something.

Jean-Luc Picard

For ambitious Starfleet officers, there are certain costs involved. One must be cautious of long-term commitments, Wesley.

Wesley Crusher

No problem. Where women are concerned, I am in complete control.

Jean-Luc Picard

Really? I always rather had to work at that.

Wesley Crusher

Have you always been so disciplined?

Jean-Luc Picard

Good Lord, no. [indicates his heart] If I was, I wouldn't have this problem.

Jean-Luc Picard

(telling Wesley about his early career) My mates and I were at the Bonestell Recreation Facility, which was something of a dead rough crossroads at the time, filled with an assorted bunch of galactic riffraff. When a trio of Nausicaans came in, they were clearly spoiling for a confrontation with a group of fresh-faced Starfleet officers such as ourselves. Well, everyone in the group had the good sense to give these Nausicaans a wide berth, to stand off. Everyone, that is, except me. I stood toe to toe with the worst of the three, and I told him what I thought of him, his pals, his planet, and I possibly made some passing reference to his questionable parentage. And the next thing I knew, all three of them were on me and I was fighting for my life. I was actually doing quite well for a while, too.

Wesley Crusher

You fought them? And won?

Jean-Luc Picard

I had this one Nausicaan down in this somewhat devious joint-lock when, unbeknownst to me, one of his chums drew his weapon and impaled me through the back. Curious sensation, actually. Not much pain. Shock, certainly, at the sight of serrated metal sticking through my chest. A certain giddy warmth. In fact I do actually remember that I laughed out loud. Well, it pierced my heart, of course. Well, if we'd not been so near to a medical facility, I would surely have died.

Wesley Crusher

Really? Then what happened?

Jean-Luc Picard

Nothing. I was no hero, Wesley. I was an undisciplined, loud-mouthed, opinionated young man who was way out of his league. I learned a very hard, very painful lesson that day, but I learned it well. I hope you never have to learn it the same way.

Jean-Luc Picard

[before entering the medical facility at Starbase 515] Why do I get the distinct impression that you're acting like some kind of... escort?

Wesley Crusher

Dr. Pulaski asked me to make sure that you actually went inside.

Jean-Luc Picard

That woman! She would.

Now the burden is yours.

Wesley Crusher

Burden?

To fulfill your potential. You will never come up against a greater adversary than your own potential, my young friend.

Wesley Crusher

It's just a science project.

Guinan

You know, a doctor friend once said the same thing to me. Frankenstein was his name.

Guinan

Wes, do you think you're gonna get a good grade?

Wesley Crusher

[sighs] I always get an A. [leaves Ten-Forward]

Guinan

So did Dr. Frankenstein.

Picard

Jeremy, Wesley's father died on a Starfleet mission, when he was younger than you are.

Troi

Wes, your mother told me you were finding it difficult to talk to Jeremy. Why is that?

Wesley Crusher

I don't know. I just don't want to think about it any more. All this has reminded me so much of that day.

Picard

The day I told you your father had been killed. As I recall, Wesley, you took it very well.

Wesley Crusher

My parents had told me about the dangers of Starfleet missions. I knew it could happen.

Picard

So, you were prepared?

Wesley Crusher

No! I wasn't prepared at all. How can anyone be prepared to hear that a parent is never coming home again? I tried to be what everyone expected of me. Brave and mature.

Picard

Wesley, are you saying you didn't want anybody to see what you were really feeling? [Wesley nods] What were you really feeling?

Wesley Crusher

Like... somebody had licked me in the head.

Picard

"Somebody?"

Troi

Go on. You've wanted to tell him for a long time.

Wesley Crusher

I was angry at you.

Picard

Why me? Why were you angry at me, Wesley? Were you angry at me because I was the one who told you your father was dead?

Wesley Crusher

No.

Picard

Then, why?

Wesley Crusher

Because you led the mission. You came home, and my father didn't.

Troi

How long were you angry with the captain, Wes?

Wesley Crusher

For a long time. But not any more.

Data

Captain, I am detecting life readings from the planet surface, as well as several small areas of thermal radiation and carbon dioxide emissions, indicative of combustion.

Wesley Crusher

Campfires, Data.

Data

Is that not what I said?