Star Trek: The Next Generation quotes

William Riker

Isn't that gagh?

Very good. You did some research on our nutritional choices.

William Riker

Yes, but...

William Riker

It's still moving.

Gagh is always best when served live.

Would you like something easier?

William Riker

Easier?

Yes. If Klingon food is too strong for you, perhaps we could get one of the females to breast-feed you.

Jean-Luc Picard

If we were not surrounded by all these people, you know what I would like to do?

Phillipa Louvois

Bust a chair across my teeth, probably.

Jean-Luc Picard

After that.

Phillipa Louvois

Oh, ain't love wonderful?

Phillipa Louvois

[to Picard] I never thought I'd say this, but it's good to see you again. It brings a sense of order and stability to my universe to know that you're still a pompous ass. And a damn sexy man.

Guinan

Well consider that, in the history of many worlds, there have always been disposable creatures. They do the dirty work. They do the work that no one else wants to do, because it's too difficult or too hazardous. And an army of Datas, all disposable... "Here's their leader, you don't have to think about their welfare, you don't think about how they feel." Whole generations of disposable people.

Jean-Luc Picard

You're talking about slavery.

Guinan

Oh, I think that's a little harsh.

Jean-Luc Picard

I don't think that's a little harsh, I think that's the truth. But that's a truth that we have obscured behind comfortable, easy euphemism. 'Property.' But that's not the issue at all, is it?

[regarding Data] The Commander is a physical representation of a dream. An idea conceived of by the mind of a man, its purpose to serve human needs and interests. It's a collection of neural nets and heuristic algorithms, its responses dictated by an elaborate software written by a man, its hardware built by a man, and now... and now a man will shut it off. [Riker deactivates Data in front of Picard and Louvois.] Pinocchio is broken; its strings have been cut.

Jean-Luc Picard

Your Honor, a courtroom is a crucible. In it, we burn away irrelevancies until we are left with a pure product: the truth, for all time. [points to Commander Maddox] Now sooner or later, this man, or others like him, will succeed in replicating Commander Data. Now, the decision you reach here today will determine how we will regard this creation of our genius. It will reveal the kind of people we are, what he is destined to be. It will reach far beyond this courtroom and this one android. It could significantly redefine the boundaries of personal liberty and freedom, expanding them for some, savagely curtailing them for others. Are you prepared to condemn him and all who will come after him to servitude and slavery? Your Honor, Starfleet was founded to seek out new life. [points to Data] Well, there it sits! Waiting. You wanted a chance to make law. Well, here it is. Make a good one.

Phillipa Louvois

[after a long pause] It sits there looking at me, and I don't know what it is. This case has dealt with metaphysics, with questions best left to saints and philosophers. I am neither competent nor qualified to answer those. I've got to make a ruling, to try to speak to the future. Is Data a machine? Yes. Is he the property of Starfleet? No. We have all been dancing around the basic issue. Does Data have a soul? I don't know that he has. I don't know that I have. But I have got to give him the freedom to explore that question himself. It is the ruling of this court that Lieutenant Commander Data has the freedom to choose.

Data

Sir? There is a celebration on the holodeck.

William Riker

[despondent] I have no right to be there.

Data

Because you failed in your task?

William Riker

Oh, God, no, I was that close to winning, Data.

Data

[considers the statement] Yes, sir.

William Riker

I almost cost you your life!

Data

That is true, sir. But Commander... Will. I have learned from your example.

William Riker

[perplexed] What could you possibly have learned from that ordeal?

Data

That at times, one must deny one's nature, sacrifice one's own personal beliefs, to protect another. Is it not true that had you refused to prosecute, Captain Louvois would have ruled summarily against me?

William Riker

Yes.

Data

That action injured you, and saved me. I will not forget it.

William Riker

[smiles] You're a wise man, my friend.

Data

Not yet, sir. But with your help, I am learning.

Worf

[about Salia] Do not be deceived by her looks. The body is just a shell.

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.

Fate. It protects fools, little children, and ships named Enterprise.

If it should become necessary to fight, can you arrange to find me some rocks to throw at them? [This line references the Star Trek: The Animated Series episode "More Tribbles, More Troubles," in which Lt. Uhura says, "We could always throw rocks at them."]

Data

That was not manual override.

Data

Blue, amber, amber, red.

Jean-Luc Picard

That's the launch sequence? [Data gives a jerky nod.] How do I override the doors?

Data

Blue, blue, blue

Jean-Luc Picard

I hope that is not a stutter.

Worf

Captain, you will be killed.

Jean-Luc Picard

I'll go through the gate.

Worf

But where will you end up?

Jean-Luc Picard

Very shortly anywhere will be preferable to this room.

Jean-Luc Picard

Mr. La Forge, time is one thing we do not have in abundance. [This line echoes a line from "Star Trek: TOS", episode "The Paradise Syndrome", in which Spock says "Time, Dr. McCoy, is the one thing we do not have in abundance." It has become a catch-phrase for Trekkies.]