Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 1 quotes

Wesley

They're ignoring the saucer section completely!

Riker

Just as you should, Captain. Ensign, evasive pattern, Riker Beta.

Wesley

Riker Beta confirmed.

Riker

Proceed to second phase, Commander Shelby.

Acknowledged. Firing anti-matter spread.

Troi

How do you feel?

Picard

Almost human...with just a bit of a headache.

Riker

How much do you remember?

You know, you don't seem so arro... arro... Y'know!

Jean-Luc Picard

Arrogant?

Yes! Arrogant! You don't seem that way to me. What does it mean, anyway? Arrogant son-of-a--

Jean-Luc Picard

Let's... talk about that later, shall we?

Never did I know anyone less interested in grapes than you, Jean-Luc!

Jean-Luc Picard

Oh, no, I was interested. And I was proud that my family were helping to preserve the traditions. I just didn't feel bound by those traditions.

You always reach for the future, and your brother for the past.

Jean-Luc Picard

There should be room for both in this life.

Guinan

You know, sooner or later, everyone comes in here. They stand by those windows, they look out and they stare. They're looking for that little star they call home. Doesn't matter how far away it it is. Everybody looks anyway.

Robert Picard

Mind if I ask you a question? What the devil happened to you up there?

Jean-Luc Picard

Is this brotherly concern?

Robert Picard

No. Curiosity. What did they do to you?

Jean-Luc Picard

You know what happened.

Robert Picard

Not precisely. I gather you were hurt. Humiliated. I've always thought you needed a little humiliation. Or was it humility? Either would do.

Jean-Luc Picard

(crying) They took everything I was. They used me to kill and to destroy and I couldn't stop them. I should have been able to stop them. I tried. I tried so hard. But I wasn't strong enough. I wasn't good enough! I should have been able to stop them. I should... I should...

Robert Picard

So... my brother is a human being after all. This is going to be with you a long time, Jean-Luc. A long time. You have to learn to live with it. You have a simple choice now: Live with it below the sea with Louis or above the clouds with the Enterprise.

He's still out there, dreaming about starships and adventures... It's getting late.

Robert Picard

Yes. But let him dream.

Data

(using Picard's voice) Computer: establish a security code for access to all functions previously transferred to bridge.

Enter code.

Data

One, seven, three, four, six, seven, three, two, one, four, seven, six, Charlie, three, two, seven, eight, nine, seven, seven, seven, six, four, three, Tango, seven, three, two, Victor, seven, three, one, one, seven, eight, eight, eight, seven, three, two, four, seven, six, seven, eight, nine, seven, six, four, three, seven, six. Lock.

Security code intact for all specified inqueiries and orders.

Data

Computer: initiate cascading sequence, accepting instructions from Commander Data en route. [Data enters the turbolift] Now.

Why does a painter paint? Hmm? Why does a boxer box? You know what Michelangelo used to say? That the sculptures he made were already there before he started, hidden in the marble. All he needed to do was remove the unneeded bits. Wasn't quite that easy with you, Data. But the need to do it, my need to do it, was no different than Michelangelo's need.

Now, let me ask you a question. Why are humans so fascinated with old things?

Data

Old things?

Old buildings, churches, walls, ancient things, antique things... tables, clocks, knick knacks... Why?

Data

There are many possible explanations.

If you brought a Noophian to Earth he'd look around and say, "Tear that old village down. It's hanging in rags. Build me something new, something efficient." But to a human, that ancient wall, that old house, is a shrine, something to cherish.... Again I ask you, why?

Data

Perhaps, for humans, old things represent a tie to the past.

And what's so important about the past? People needed money, they got sick. Why tie yourself to that?

Data

Humans are mortal. They seem to need a sense of continuity.

Aha! Why?

Data

To give their lives meaning... A sense of purpose.

And does this continuity only run one way, back into the past?

Data

I suppose it is a factor in the human desire to procreate.

So you believe that having children gives humans a sense of immortality, do you?

Data

It is a reasonable explanation to your query, sir.

And perhaps to yours, as well, Data.

You'd be surprised, Data. Feelings do funny things. You may even learn to… understand your evil brother.

Lore, wait! There are questions I can answer! You'll have no chance to ask them later; you see, I'm dying!

I'm… I'm dying.

Data

Dying from what, sir?

Wait a minute. Wait a minute, what… What do you mean you're dying? You look fine! You're not that old, you… You look fine! What is this, some kind of trick?

I wish I were.

Why didn't you just fix me? It was within your power to fix me.

For all these years, I've been plagued by what went wrong. With all of your complexities, Lore, your nuances, basic emotion seemed... almost simple, by comparison. But the emotion... turned, it twisted! Became entangled with ambition.