Nuria quotes from Star Trek: The Next Generation

Nuria

That is my home?

Picard

Seen from far, far above.

Nuria

Yet we do not fall. I never imagined I would see the clouds from the other side. Your powers are truly boundless.

Picard

Nuria, your people live in huts. Was it always so?

Nuria

No. We have found remnants of tools in caves. Our ancestors must have lived there.

Picard

So why do you now live in huts?

Picard

If huts are better, why did you once live in caves?

Nuria

The most reasonable explanation would be that at one time we didn't know how to make huts.

Picard

Just as at one time you did not know how to weave cloth, how to make a bow.

Nuria

That would be reasonable.

Picard

Someone invented a hut. Someone invented a bow, who taught others, who taught their children, who built a stronger hut, built a better bow, who taught their children. Now, Nuria, suppose one of your cave dwelling ancestors could see you as you are today. What would she think?

Nuria

I don't know.

Picard

Put yourself in her place. You see, she cannot kill a hornbuck at a great distance. You can. You have a power she lacks.

Nuria

Only because I have a bow.

Picard

She's never seen a bow. It doesn't exist in her world. To you, it's a simple tool. To her, it's magic.

Nuria

I suppose she might think so.

Picard

Now, how would she react to you?

Nuria

I think she would fear me.

Picard

Just as you fear me.

Nuria

I do not fear you any longer.

Picard

Good. That's good. You see, my people once lived in caves. And then we learned to build huts and, in time, to build ships like this one.

Nuria

Perhaps one day, my people will travel above the skies.

Crusher to Picard. I think we're going to lose Warren.

I'm here, Mary.

Prepare two cc's of norep.

I'm sorry.

Nuria

Picard, you could not save her?

Picard

No.

Nuria

You do have limits. You are not masters of life and death.

Picard

No, we are not. We can cure many diseases and we can repair injuries, we can even extend life. (bleakly) But for all our knowledge, all our advances, we are just as mortal as you are. We're just as powerless to prevent the inevitable.

Nuria

You are a remarkable people, but you are not superior beings. My people must be made to understand that.

Picard

Now, Mister LaForge.

Nuria

What is that?

Picard

A place where we can watch your people.

But why?

Picard

To study you. To understand your ways. Discontinue, Mister LaForge.

Nuria

Picard, why should a people so advanced want to learn about us?

Picard

We were once as you are now. To study you is to understand ourselves.

But why did you have to hide yourself from us?

Because their presence would affect us, just as it affected me.

Picard

It is our highest law that we shall not interfere with other cultures.

Then revealing yourselves was an accident.

Picard

Oh, yes, and now we must leave you.

Why? There's so much you can teach us.

Picard

But that, too, would be interference. You must progress in your own way.

Nuria

So we will. You have taught us there is nothing beyond our reach.

Nuria

Pah'kee.

Nuria

I wish you good journeys, Picard. Remember my people.

Picard

Always.