Tag: star trek

“There’s coffee in that nebula!”

From: Star Trek: Voyager

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Captain Janeway

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 1995 sci-fi series, Star Trek: Voyager. The third series to come out of Star Trek‘s revival, which started with Star Trek: The Next Generation, this series follows the adventures of the starship USS Voyager. The series follows the USS Voyager and its crew, led by Captain Janeway (portrayed by Kate Mulgrew). After getting transported all the way to the Delta Quadrant, she must lead her crew on the arduous mission to get all the way back home to the Alpha Quadrant.

This week’s quote comes from The Cloud, which is the sixth episode of the first season of the show. In order to save on power, the USS Voyager has stopped using their replicators to create food, leading to one of their new crew members, Neelix, to cook food derived from whatever edible materials they can scrouge up. However, as Neelix is a resident of the Delta Quadrant, he doesn’t exactly know how to cook for beings from the Alpha Quadrant. Now desperate for more common niceties like coffee, Captain Janeway learns that they are passing a nebula that may help restore some of their energy reserves and even power up their replicators for replicating food. This is when she gives the order to change course to the nebula and delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: People, when desperate, will start to do strange things in order to get what they want. While that can be a driving force for good, it can also lead people to do silly, unnecessary and even dangerous things. You do have to measure whether or not the risk is worth the reward or is it better to just to not do anything as it’s not worth the trouble.

“Things are only impossible until they’re not!”

From: Star Trek: The Next Generation

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Captain Jean-Luc Picard

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from Star Trek: The Next Generation. The show successfully introduced new fans to the sci-fi world where humans explored the final frontier. The series also gave us many memorable characters and, thankfully, lots of great quotes.

This week’s quote comes from The Next Generation episode entitled “When the Bough Breaks“, wherein the USS Enterprise‘s children are kidnapped by a planet who want to use them to help repopulate their community. Captain Jean-Luc Picard (played by Patrick Stewart) orders Data (played by Brent Spiner) to find a way to break through the planet’s forcefield so they can rescue the children. When Data replies it might not be possible, Picard barks out the quote.

Geek wisdom: Things that were previously thought of as impossible have been proven possible. Humans can now ride vehicles that can fly. World records are broken with astonishing frequency. The only thing that prevents us from doing the impossible is when we don’t try.

“Right now, peace could be bought at a bargain price and you don’t even realize it.”

From: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Quark

The story behind the quote: There are already several quotes from the Star Trek franchise but there is still yet to be one from Deep Space Nine. Well, this is me correcting that. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine takes place on a space station controlled by the Federation and Bajor. The space station is strategically placed near a wormhole which will instantly transport ship to the Gamma Quadrant. As such, it is an important location for commerce as well as a strategic waypoint for the galaxy as a whole.

This week’s quote comes from the second season episode, The Maquis: Part II. Quark (played by Armin Shimerman), an unscrupulous Ferengi businessman who isn’t afraid of black market dealings, is upset with his new client, which confuses the Vulcan as he was paid well for his job. Quark states that that his client’s position is logical because she is saying that she would be willing to pay anything for peace. However, Quark states the Third Rule of Acquisition and delivers the quote, stating that peace, at that moment, could be bought cheap.

Geek wisdom: Everyone wants peace. The only problem is people do not want to compromise. If we just all take a step back and actually do a little give and take, peace might be easier to acquire than we think.

“Logic is the beginning of wisdom. Not the end.”

From: Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

Genre: Movies/ Television

Who said it?: Spock

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the sixth film of the Star Trek, The Original Series, franchise of films. Entitled The Undiscovered Country, the film has the crew of the Enterprise trying to find a traitor in the Federation who wishes to prevent the Klingons from joining after their home planet was destroyed.

The quote comes near the start of the movie. Captain Spock (played by Leonard Nimoy) talks to Valeris (played by Kim Cattrall), who is training her to be his apprentice. Valeris mentions that the Klingons is a landmark moment of history and Spock mentions that history is filled with these moments and she should have faith that the universe will make sure everything turns out right. Valeris starts to rebuke this idea but Spock interrupts and delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Logic is basically the data we’ve accrued and then we use this information to make an informed decision. However, wisdom is knowing that the information you may have gathered may not be the whole story. Wisdom is knowing that there may be more underlying all the information.

“The randomness of death is merely a reflection of the unexpected joys we find in life.”

From: Star Trek: Lower Decks

Genre: Television, Cartoons

Who said it?: Captain Hikaru Sulu

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Paramount+ animated show, Star Trek: Lower Decks. Instead of being a serious sci-fi adventure, Star Trek: Lower Decks is more of a comedy, focusing more on the low-ranking officers instead of the captains and leaders usually seen in other Star Trek shows.

The quote comes from the episode entitled Crisis Point 2: Paradoxus, the 8th episode of the 3rd season. In the episode, Ensign Brad Boimler (voiced by Jack Quaid) has a crisis regarding the meaning of life and creates a simulation in the holodeck to try to find it. He stays too long and starts to hallucinate. In the hallucination, he sees himself talking to Captain Hikaru Sulu (voiced by George Takei) from the original Star Trek. Captain Sulu reminisces about how many of his friends have passed away before delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: Like Boimler said and explained, we shouldn’t be too concerned about our death as it may hinder the way we live life. There are a lot of unknowns in life. But, then again, if we cower in fear from those unknowns, we won’t be open to doing the new and exciting things that makes life worth living.

“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.

“What does God need with a starship?”

From: Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Captain James Kirk

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. The film features the original cast of the 1967 series that started it all. The film features the crew of the USS Enterprise as they journey with Spock’s half-brother, Sybok, to allegedly find God.

The quote comes near the end of the film. The USS Enterprise does manage to get to the planet that holds “God.” This seemingly all-powerful being requests to board the starship that brought them to the planet. This is when Captain James T. Kirk (played by William Shatner) delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Sometimes, it’s best to not take things at face value. Just because something seems to be plausible, that doesn’t automatically mean it’s positively true. We have to look at things with a critical eye and not just blindly accept the things in front of us.

“There. Are. Four. Lights.”

From: Star Trek: The Next Generation

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Captain Jean-Luc Picard

The story behind the quote: This week, we have another quote from Star Trek: The Next Generation. And, once again, it comes from the Captain of the USS Enterprise-D, Jean-Luc Picard. This week’s quote comes from the second episode of the two-parter, Chain of Command. The episode is actually pays homage to George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four.

The episode has Picard (played by Patrick Stewart) captured by the Cardassians. The leader of the group, Gul Mandred, tortures Picard in an attempt to break him so he will reveal the plans for the planet Minos Korva. One of the tactics is to show Picard four lights and force him to say there are five instead. If he does, Gul Mandred will stop the torturing.

By the end of the episode, despite not being able to break Picard and the Captain about to be released into Federation custody, Gul Mandred tries one more attempt to break Picard’s spirit by lying to him and saying Minos Korva has been captured and the Enterprise has been destroyed so there is nothing to betray anymore. He asks Picard how many lights. But just before Picard answers, the other Cardassians come to take Picard. This is when Picard says the quote one more time, with total defiance that he was not broken.

Geek wisdom:  Despite all the hardships you endure, you have to stay true to what you know is the truth. Don’t let other people sway you to think otherwise, especially when they are wrong but won’t admit that they are.

“I’m a doctor. Not a…”

From: Star Trek

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy… but most doctors in Star Trek

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from Star Trek. Oddly enough, it comes from most of the Star Trek television shows. The quote is generally mostly associated to the first Enterprise doctor, Dr. Leonard “Bones’ McCoy. However, the same quote has been uttered by several other doctors, including Chief Medical Officer Dr. Julian Bashir of Deep Space Nine and The Doctor, a holographic program on the USS Voyager.

The quote is still generally connected to Dr. Bones McCoy (who was played by DeForrest Kelley) from the original Star Trek series. It was his gruff means of expressing frustration when he was given tasks other than his role as Chief Medical Officer on the USS Enterprise.

This line has become a sort of catch phrase and, to pay homage to it, numerous doctors from within the Star Trek series has said some manner of the quote…

Geek wisdom: Although Bones and the other doctors in Star Trek have usually used this quote to express displeasure on taking on a different role, that doesn’t mean that they don’t do it. They may do so begrudgingly but they still do what is asked.

You should do the same. Never pigeonhole yourself in a specific role because you can do so much more.

“The only person you’re truly competing against, Wesley, is yourself.”

From: Star Trek: The Next Generation

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Captain Jean-Luc Picard

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Captain of the NCC-1701-D, AKA the Enterprise, Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Unlike his predecessor, who had a habit of charging in full force into trouble, Picard (played by Patrick Stewart) is a more calm and strategic thinking, preferring to take a more logical and level-headed manner to resolve issues.

The quote comes from the closing moments of the Season 1 episode entitled “Coming of Age.” One of the stories in the episode deals with Wesley Crusher taking the entrance exam for Starfleet Academy. He does not get in but not for lack of trying. Wesley is disappointed with himself and apologizes to Picard for letting him and the entire crew of the Enterprise down. Picard tries to comfort the boy by asking him if he tried his best. This is when he delivers the quote to encourage him.

Geek wisdom:  People tend to take too much stock in how people think of them or how they stack up against each other. We try to compare ourselves with others and then ask ourselves how to outdo what they did. In actuality, the best way to do better in life tomorrow is to try to outdo what we are today.