Month: July 2022

“It’s not safe out here. It’s wondrous, with treasures to satiate desires both subtle and gross. But it’s not for the timid.”

From: Star Trek: The Next Generation

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Q

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from Star Trek: The Next Generation. A worthy successor to the franchise, The Next Generation introduced a new cast of characters taking control of a new USS Enterprise as they boldly go where no man has gone before.

This week’s quote comes from the 2nd season episode, Q Who? In the episode, the godly being known as Q (played by John de Lancie) transports the USS Enterprise to an unknown sector of the cosmos. They run into an unstoppable alien race known as the Borg and the crew is unable to stop their advance. Captain Picard eventually gives in and admits they are no match for the Borg and pleads for Q to save them. Q does just that and returns them to where they were when the episode started. Captain Picard laments on the number of dead crew members because of Q’s actions. Q then tells them losses are to be expected as they are exploring the unknown. This is when he delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom:  Doing something totally new, whether it be exploring a new location or testing out an experiment will always have its risks. However, the rewards might just outweigh the risks if you can make a new breakthrough. This is how we have gotten to this position: through the risks and trials others have taken before us… and had persevered though all the hardships.

“Nothing in this world that’s worth having comes easy.”

From: Scrubs

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Dr. Bob Kelso

The story behind the quote: Scrubs was a (very) irreverent and unpredictable sitcom.  However, it’s those very factors that makes it a great and memorable sitcom. The show takes place in the fictional teaching hospital called Sacred Heart Hospital where the doctors, both the students and the veterans, have to deal with complicated patients and their complicated lives.

The quote comes from the episode entitled “My Boss’ Free Haircut.” Dr. Bob Kelso (played by Ken Jenkins) is trying to help an overweight patient and tries to get her on a diet and exercise regiment to help her get better. She is extremely reluctant because it seems hard. At the same time, Dr. Turk (played by Donald Faison) is having marital problems as he now has responsibilities other than to himself. At the end of the episode, Dr. Kelso tells the patient she had to put in the work to get better. The patient, as well as Dr. Turk, asks what should they do if it’s too difficult. This is when the veteran doctor delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: We all have wants, dreams, desires and ambitions. But we will never be able to reach them unless we actually make the effort. It will never be handed to you on a silver platter.

“Tony Stark was able to build this in a cave! With a bunch of scraps!”

From: Iron Man

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Obadiah Stane

The story behind the quote: This quote comes from the 2009 superhero film, Iron Man. The film stars Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark who, after getting kidnapped by terrorists, builds a suit of armor to escape his captors. After realizing his weapons were being used by the terrorists, he decides to refine the armor to fight them as well as becoming the first superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The quote comes from the middle of the film movie. Tony Stark’s business partner, Obadiah Stane (played by Jeff Bridges), hires a group of scientist to recreate Stark’s huge arc reactor in miniature form as he needs it to power up his own Iron Man suit. His scientists tell him they’re unable to duplicate the technology. This make Stane very upset and he berates the head scientist by delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: Most of anything is possible but you have to be ready to put in the time and the hard work to achieve it. If you have the mindset that it cannot be done, then it becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy as you’ll never put in the required work to accomplish your goal.

“The world’s more interesting with you in it.”

From: The Silence of the Lambs

Genre: Movies, Books

Who said it?: Hannibal Lecter

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from The Silence of the Lambs. Originally a book written by Thomas Harris before it was made into a movie, The Silence of the Lambs follows rookie FBI agent Clarice Sterling as she is assigned to interview the incarcerated serial killer Hannibal Lecter, who may provide insight to a current string of murders. The movie was a critical and financial success, even winning several awards, including Best Picture in 1991, the first horror movie to do so.

The quote comes during the end of the film. Hannibal Lecter (played by Anthony Hopkins) managed to break out of the asylum but calls Clarice Sterling (played by Jodie Foster) one more time. He tells her she has nothing to be afraid of as he has no interest in harming her, delivering the quote as his reason.

Geek wisdom: This does not only refer to Clarice Sterling but to everyone in the world. Everyone, in a small part, will influence the world and change the course of history. What we don’t know is how and if it will be for the good or bad of humanity and the planet.

“I hold myself in contempt!”

From: Liar Liar

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Fletcher Reede

The story behind the quote: Jim Carrey plays Fletcher Reed, a really good lawyer and a much better liar. Although he loves his son, Max, Fletcher is too concentrated on his career to really spend any time with him. It is this focus on climbing the corporate ladder which causes his to miss Max’s birthday so that he can get on the “good side” of his boss. Disappointed that his father didn’t come to his birthday (even though Fletcher did promise him), Max wishes that Fletcher cannot lie… which comes true.

The quote comes near the end of the film. Thanks to his quick thinking, Fletcher Reed wins his case and annuls the pre-nuptual agreement of his client. Realizing the woman he was representing was not a good person while the father actually cares for his children, the lawyer pleads with the judge and tells him he played the system and won on a technicality. The judge, listening to the outbursts, warns Fletcher that, if he continues to argue with his decision, he will hold him in contempt. This is when the quote is delivered.

Geek wisdom: We should hold ourselves to a higher standard. When we realize we were in the wrong, we should always be able to recognize it and not try to cover it up.