star trek quote the needs of the one

My Geek Wisdom

Because there is a lot of knowledge to get out of the weirdest things

“The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Or the one.”

From: Star Trek

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: James Kirk and Spock

The story behind the quote: The quote was actually mentioned twice in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. The first time is relatively early in the film. Spock is actually in command of the Enterprise when it receives a distress call from another starship. Kirk, now an admiral decides to take command due to the emergency. Spock then derides his friend, saying that Kirk shouldn’t have taken the promotion since this has taken him from what he actually loves: being the commander of a starship. However, he will still follow Kirk since he is not only his commanding officer, but, more importantly, his friend.

The 2nd time this is mentioned is the more remembered. Spock had to enter the warp core of the ship to repair the engines so that they could escape destruction. Because of this, he has been exposed to a fatal dose of radiation and is dying. Kirk rushes to his aid but is unable to help his friend. Spock asks his friend not to grieve and starts the phrase only to be completed by Kirk.

It is important to note that this is possibly not the true origin of this quote. Greek philosophers have been noted to mention something along these lines. However, most people, especially movie buffs, remember the quote coming from this film due to the emotional weight it carries.

Geek wisdom : Sometimes, self-sacrifice is important in the scheme of things. A lot of heroes know this and this is why we remember them. Its through their sacrifice that we get to live our lives. Think of the soldiers who fight for our freedoms. They are fighting for you so that you don’t have to.

We can still do little things, such as volunteering for tasks that no one likes to do (taking out the trash, for example). Or, if your friends wants to go rock climbing and you don’t want to, go along with them still. We don’t have to give up our lives to follow Spock’s example.

Author: Victor de la Cruz

Most of my childhood (and adult life) was spent doing a lot of geeky stuff: watching TV, playing video games and going to the movies. To some, it may have been a waste of time. Well, to me, it has made me what I am today... a geeky adult. I actually write for a couple of blogs, namely: geekwisdom.wordpress.com 3rdworldgeeks.com gamemoir.com Please check them out! View all posts by Victor de la Cruz

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10 spock quotes to remember leonard nimoy.

"Live long and prosper" and "the needs of the many" are just a few of the actor's finest lines.

By THR Staff

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Star Trek Quotes: Leonard Nimoy’s Best Spock Quotes

Kirk loses his son but regains his best friend in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock . After being reborn, advancing to middle age and undergoing a Vulcan ceremony to retrieve his aura, Spock meets Kirk again, but doesn’t remember him. He asks why the admiral would risk the lives of his crew to save him, and Kirk turns Spock’s famous logic on its head: “The needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many.” There’s a pause, and Spock begins reciting lines from the end of Wrath of Khan before saying “Your name is Jim.” Cue one of the most endearing Trek moments ever as the rest of the crew runs to embrace Spock.

Leonard Nimoy died at 83 Friday , leaving behind a body of work spanning decades.

For nearly 50 years, Star Trek ’s Spock has been the most prominent philosopher in movies and television, mixing the logical mind of Sherlock Holmes and the inspirational messages of ancient proverbs.

In memory of Nimoy, let’s take a look back at 10 of Spock’s finest quotes.

10. “May I say that I have not thoroughly enjoyed serving with humans? I find their illogic and foolish emotions a constant irritant.” – Star Trek , season 3, episode 7 (“Day of the Dove,” 1968)

See more Remembering Leonard Nimoy’s Career (Photos)

9. “Computers make excellent and efficient servants, but I have no wish to serve under them.” – Star Trek , season 2, episode 24 (“The Ultimate Computer,” 1968)

8. “Insufficient facts always invite danger.” – Star Trek , season 1, episode 24 (“Space Seed,” 1968)

7. “In critical moments, men sometimes see exactly what they wish to see.” – Star Trek , season 3, episode 9 (“The Tholian Web,” 1968)

6. “After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting. It is not logical, but is often true.” – Star Trek , season 2, episode 1 (“Amok Time,” 1968)

5. “Without followers, evil cannot spread.” – Star Trek , season 3, episode 5, (“And the Children Shall Lead,” 1968)

4. “When you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” – Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country , 1991

3. “I could not deprive you of the revelation of all that you could accomplish together, of a friendship that will define you both in ways you cannot yet realize.” – Star Trek , 2009

Nimoy’s Spock spoke these words to a younger version of himself ( Zachary Quinto ), explaining why he asked young Kirk ( Chris Pine ) not to reveal his existence. It is among the most poignant summaries of the Kirk-Spock relationship in Trek lore.

2. “Live long and prosper.” – First spoken in Star Trek , season 2, episode 1 (“Amok Time,” 1968)

In the interview above, Nimoy revealed his Jewish heritage influenced the famous Vulcan benediction.

1. “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” – Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , 1982

Spock shared this philosophy with Kirk earlier in the film, and later used it to explain why he sacrificed his own life to save the Enterprise. The line is possibly the most famous in Trek history.

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My Geek Blasphemy

“because the needs of the one . . . outweigh the needs of the many.”.

I watched Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan earlier this year for the first time. Naturally, I had to watch Star Trek III: The Search for Spock as well. I mean, I was worried. What if they didn’t find him?

They better fucking find me.

The Search for Spock is easily my least favorite of the TOS films I’ve seen. But that’s probably only because I haven’t seen any of the odd-numbered ones yet.

DISCLAIMER:

While I will (needlessly) create a Spoiler Section for those of you who are really concerned about Spock’s fate, there will be SPOILERS for The Wrath of Khan throughout this review. Cause, you know, the whole ending to that movie is sort of pivotal to the plot of this one. There’s really no getting around that.

After Spock sacrifices his life and the Genesis planet is created, a morose Kirk leads his crew back home. But after Bones starts going a little cuckoo, Kirk finds out that it might be possible to to save both him and Spock after all. If only Starfleet bureaucrats and the least Klingon Klingons ever would stop getting in the way!

1. The best way to watch any Star Trek movie . . . or anything at all, really . . . is with your sister’s toy phaser, recently unearthed from storage, resting by your side. This way, when anyone on screen annoys you (Science Vessel Captain, Christopher Lloyd, Any And All Screenwriters), you can just shoot them in the head. Well, not the screenwriters. That would take considerable talent. And, admittedly, even the people on screen won’t react very much to your deadly aim, but there’s a perverse sense of pleasure in the phasering, anyway.

2. As far those annoying characters go, lets first talk about the Klingons, especially this guy:

We're KLINGONS! That means we yell a lot and execute very poor battle strategies!

This is Kruge, the leader of the Evil Klingons. Kruge is played by Christopher Lloyd, and I really wanted to like him, but I just couldn’t. Christopher Lloyd, awesome as he is, has an exceptionally distinctive voice, and I found it distracting pretty much every time he opened his mouth. Just the very act of him speaking took me out of the character. (I did read that Nimoy’s first choice had been Edward James Olmos, and that would have been very interesting to see.)

Still. It doesn’t help that Kruge is kind of stupid and a sorry excuse for a Klingon. I couldn’t take him seriously at all, and I find that kind of problematic for a film’s main antagonist . . . although, to be fair, I usually have a problem with Star Trek villains, at least in the movies. For instance, I don’t hate Khan, but I’m not really a huge fan, either. I find him a little too over-the-top to be anything but slightly ridiculous. I love the Borg, but I have never cared for the Borg Queen. (Not the acting, just the concept. The Borg are inherently creepy because there are no individuals among them.) I love the 2009 reboot of Star Trek , but Nero is boring as shit and easily my least favorite part of the film. And then there’s this guy . . .

General Chang. Also, a freakish Shakespeare enthusiast.

. . . look, I love you singing, “Edelweiss,” and all, Mr. Plummer, but if I had access to a Varon-T disruptor (toy or otherwise), I’d use it on your character in The Undiscovered Country in a heartbeat.

3. Let’s back to the Klingons who don’t act very much like Klingons.

I sometimes hesitate to criticize anything in the Star Trek franchise for continuity errors because I’m painfully aware that while I’m a geek and a half to the non-Trekkies, I’m strictly amateur hour where real Trekkies are concerned, and I might take issue with something in a movie that actually has precedent in episode seven, season 2, of TOS or something. That being said.

These Klingons execute people by stabbing them in the back . They take prisoners. They say that their name doesn’t matter . Seriously, when Kirk demands to know who he’s talking to, Kruge is all, “Who I am is not important.” And while that would fly with a lot of bad guys, Kruge is a fucking Klingon . Shouldn’t he be more like, “I am Kruge, son of Mruge, and I will fucking KILL YOU!”

He also has an interesting strategy for when and how to board enemy ships. And by interesting, I mean stupid. Immensely stupid.

4. This Klingon isn’t terribly bright, either, but he’s important to mention, if only because I no idea who was playing him. This guy . . .

. . . is also this guy.

That’s right. John Larroquette is a Klingon! That’s awesome!

5. But let’s get back to our good guys, namely Kirk.

The Search for Spock takes place soon after The Wrath of Khan , just as the Enterprise is arriving back to Earth. The ship is still wrecked to hell, and Kirk is generally being a whiny mopeypants about everything. Okay, he has cause. Still, he has some learning to do about boosting fucking morale. There’s this young ensign type who wants to know if there will be a celebration back on Earth for their heroism, and sure, he could probably be a touch more tactful about it, but this is likely his first mission out, right, and maybe he just needs something to look forward to and/or feel good about in the wake of the first officer’s death.

Kirk, the Cheeriest Motherfucker in the Galaxy, stares the ensign down before gloomily saying that surely, there will be a celebration. “This time we paid for the party with our dearest blood.”

And you know that ensign’s like, Thanks for the feel-good sentiment, buddy! Let me just go just shoot myself out an airlock for a sec, okay? Awesome.

6. Kirk’s mood only gets worse when he realizes that Bones is going a little crazy. (Although, in one scene, Kirk seems to show a total lack of concern when talking about it with his crew. I suspect that he’s trying to downplay, but honestly, the delivery doesn’t quite sell that for me.) As far as the whole kinda-crazy Bones story goes . . . I like it. I’m not going to go into much (or any) detail above the Spoiler Section, but I think the whole storyline is interesting and relatively well handled.

Also, I can’t help fantasizing about what a similar storyline would be like in the Star Trek 2009 universe.

"Help me, Jim. Take me home."

Hmmm . . . interesting . . .

7. I do have some problems with the basic storyline of The Search for Spock , though. The ending is a serious issue for me. There’s a weird lack of tension throughout the last fifteen minutes, like the climax of the film happens too early and after that it’s just a matter of time before we get to the ending that everybody already knows is going to happen. I’m also not crazy about how they handle some things with the Genesis planet. It’s such a big deal in The Wrath of Khan . . . and then The Search for Spock comes along and pisses all over it. It feels like a giant retcon that’s handled really, really poorly.

8. I also really hate some of the dialogue in The Search for Spock . I mean, some of it’s awesome. I love Kirk asking Bones how many fingers he’s holding up while doing the Vulcan salute. (Actually, a lot of my favorite quotes come from Kirk, I think.) But a lot of the dialogue is random as hell . For example . . . .

Saavik: “Just like your father, so human.”

I can only assume the point of this line is to remind the audience that David is Kirk’s son. Which, fine, but . . . really? So human ? I would have been okay with so reckless, so wild, so fucking idiotic . . . but to have the Vulcan point out that a son is just as human as the father . . . blarg. It’s an awkward and stupid line.

Kirk: “This entire crew seems on the edge of obsessive behaviour concerning Mister Spock.”

Like a lot of the dialogue in this film, this line just comes out of nowhere. I suspect it’s supposed to be sort of ironic—or whatever word we use ironic as a substitute for—considering that it’s coming from Kirk, who can’t shake his grief over his friend’s death. But still, the line doesn’t play at all. Other than this supposed intruder, we’ve seen no other examples of the crew being particularly obsessive over Mister Spock, not even cases where Kirk could misinterpret their actions as obsessive in nature. Kirk could have said, “I swear, everyone on this ship is obsessed with rubber ducks,” and it would have been almost as random.

And then . . .

Morrow: “Jim, your life and your career stand for rationality, not intellectual chaos. Keep up this emotional behavior and you’ll lose everything. You’ll destroy yourself!”

Kirk’s career stands for rationality? SINCE WHEN?

Mr. Adventure: “Have you lost your sense of reality?”

Sense of reality ? Who even talks like that? Uhura’s response is almost as bad.

Uhura: “This isn’t reality. This is fantasy.”

I mean, the scene’s okay. It’s kind of cool to hint at Uhura being a badass. But the dialogue is so freaking awful. No one could make that dialogue work.

Finally . . .

Kirk: “I have had . . . enough . . . of you!”

Wow. Worst “fuck you” to a bad guy, ever.

9. Despite my constant problem with dialogue, there are a lot of scenes that I really enjoy. One of my favorite scenes in the movie is the one with the mind meld between Kirk and Sarek. I really liked the close-ups on both Kirk’s eyes and Sarek’s lips. It’s pretty simplistic, but it’s also very effective.

10. I also like this one pretty emotional scene with Kirk. I was impressed with that scene and William Shatner’s acting within it. It’s easily one of the best parts of the movie.

11. The fashion in the future continues to be horrible . Well, that’s not fair. Kirk does have this one jacket with an amazing collar. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a boy wear a collar like that before. But in another scene, his outfit’s pretty horrendous. And for the love of God, Chekov. What the hell are you wearing?

It’s truly horrifying. I don’t even have words.

12. I guess I should bring up the whole Kirstie Alley versus Robin Curtis thing.

Actually, I haven’t fully decided on who plays the better Saavik. People say that Kirstie Alley is a more interesting Saavik, and in a way I agree with that. (Although it still drives me nuts that they don’t explain the fact that the character’s half-Romulan, like, ever.) But there’s something about Alley’s performance that I’m not totally in love with, either. I mean, she’s okay. But I wasn’t exactly broken up when she didn’t reappear in the third film.

Robin Curtis’s portrayal of Saavik is considerably less emotional than Kirstie Alley’s, but I don’t think she’s quite as mechanical or boring as other people seem to. I kind of wish she was a little more nuanced, but I also don’t know that she’s given a lot to work with, even though she has a decent amount of screen time. Some of her dialogue is absolute rubbish. That’s not really something you can blame on the actor.

13. Sulu gets a chance to kick some ass. That’s nice. Go Tiny!

14. One of the minor characters in The Search for Spock is the captain of this science vessel, the USS: Grissom. I kind of like him. Actually, I don’t like him—he’s very irritating—but I did admire his refusal to just beam up random shit to his starship. Oh, you say there’s some mysterious life form on the planet where there shouldn’t be any animals at all? And you’re recommending we just transport it off the planet and onto our ship when we have absolutely no idea what it is, what diseases it could have, if it’s a vicious, man-eating killer or a fuzzy wuzzy bunny rabbit? Well, fuck you buddy, that’s what I think. We aren’t beaming shit onto my ship until you go investigate.

More captains could stand to have this degree of common sense.

15. Finally, WTF is up with the Klingon doggie?

A distant cousin to the R.O.U.S.'s.

Klingons keep the strangest pets.

Now. If you want to find out whether Spock makes it or not, continue onward . . .

Yes. Of course he does.

Okay, so we begin the film with what might as well be a “Previously on Star Trek ,” and I don’t like it. At all. For starters, it’s not that necessary. Were there really that many people going to see the third movie in the series when they hadn’t seen the movie before it? Seems doubtful to me. Trek’s clearly not that mainstream. More importantly, though, there are a ton of ways to deliver exposition to catch your audience up on what’s been going on. Just tossing up five minutes of straight footage is kind of on the lazy side, and seriously, what the hell is up with the little blue box and the push in at the beginning? That’s just annoying.

Anyway, after all that nonsense is over, we get a bit of Mopey Kirk before moving over to Awesome Lady Klingon and her Awesome Klingon Headdress.

Potential Comic Con Costume, Number 687

Awesome Lady Klingon and Her Awesome Klingon Headdress (also known as Valkris) has acquired secret intel on the Genesis planet for her boyfriend, Kruge. Unfortunately, she also looked at the intel, so Kruge blows up her whole ship. He’s pretty matter-of-fact about it, though, and she’s very understanding. A lot more understanding than I would be, but hey, she’s a Klingon. They take death in stride, sometimes.

So, then we’re back to the Enterprise. Kirk is still morose cause, you know, Spock’s still dead. There’s a mysterious intruder in Spock’s sealed quarters, and when Kirk goes alone to investigate, he finds Bones there, pretty much acting like a crazy person.

Key to acting crazy? Bug eyes.

Bones asks Kirk why he left him on Genesis. Kirk doesn’t quite understand that, so Bones tells him that he needs to go home. Kirk’s like, dude, we are home. Bones is like, cool, so, we need to climb the steps of Mt. Seleya. So Kirk’s all, uh, Bones, that’s on Vulcan . We’re orbiting Earth , okay? Earth. Bones’s only response to that is to hiss, “Remember,” and promptly collapse into his friend’s arms.

And what do the doctors think is wrong with Bones? Exhaustion. Yes. Exhaustion totally causes you to think that you are your dead friend. That happens to me all the time.

Also: more bad news. The Enterprise is going to be decommissioned. Oh noes!

Meanwhile, David and Saavik are on the USS: Grissom, which is currently orbiting Genesis. They go planetside to investigate a strange animal lifeform and discover that Spock’s body is missing. Whoops.

Meanwhile again , Kirk is hanging with his homies when Sarek (Spock’s daddy) comes by for a visit. Sarek is more than mildly irate, and there’s something about it that doesn’t sit well with me. I don’t mind that he’s upset, even if he’s a Vulcan, but I’m just not crazy about the actual performance. It comes off too . . . superior or snooty for me, maybe?Anyway, Sarek’s pissed that Kirk left Spock’s body on Genesis, as he assumes Kirk should know better if he’s possessing Spock’s katra (living essence). They have their whole mind meld thing, which confirms that Spock actually transferred his katra to Bones, not Kirk.

I do like how DeForest Kelley gets to play a strange mixture of Bones and Spock. There’s this one scene where Bones says a few things that Spock would say (like pointing out that drinking poison isn’t logical) but he says them the way Bones would say them, that is, irritably. Very irritably. Considering how opposite the two characters are, it’s a lot of fun to see them sort of sharing the same brainspace. My only quibble is that I wish there was a little more emphasis on how dangerous this is for Bones, like whether he’ll go totally insane or not if he carries the katra for too long. It’s kind of hinted at, but I wouldn’t mind it being a bigger part of the story, especially considering the film suffers from a lack of tension, anyway.

So, Kirk wants to hop on the Enterprise and pick up Spock’s body, naturally. He promises Sarek that he’ll deliver it back to Vulcan. One problem: there’s a whole bunch of political BS about Genesis, and not only is Kirk denied the request to go back, it’s pretty much illegal to even talk about Genesis. So Kirk decides to steal the Enterprise. There’s a great moment where Kirk tells the main cast that they don’t have to go with him, and Chekov’s like, “Admiral, we’re losing precious time.” That’s actually what he says, word for word. Good for you, Chekov.

Back on the Genesis planet: David and Saavik locate the strange, animal life form, only it turns out to be none other than Child Spock! The Genesis planet has somehow regenerated him, which . . . okay, this seems a little silly to me, but you know what, I’m just going to go with it. Child Spock is silent and shaky, and only Saavik is able to form a connection with him. (Although, to be fair, I’m not sure David really tries.) Before they can beam back up to the Grissom, though, Kruge’s ship decloaks and blows it all to Hell. Seriously, one shot blows up the entire ship. And it’s an accidental shot—Kruge wanted prisoners, apparently. I know the Grissom’s shields are probably down and all, but I think that if one lucky shot can blow up an entire starship in an instant . . . the Federation might want to reconsider how they’re designing these things.

Anyway, Saavik, David, and Child Spock run around Genesis, trying to avoid the Klingons. Child Spock is aging rapidly, and the planet seems mildly unstable, apparently changing season with every new scene. Saavik wants to know what’s going on. David tells her that, while working on the Genesis project, he used some experimental material called protomatter that’s been banned by, like, everybody. It was the only way to get it working at the time, but now the planet is aging too fast and will die in a matter of days or even hours. I have many, many problems with this, which I will attempt to summarize here:

Writer Susan: Okay, so we’ve got this whole katra thing, and that’s pretty cool. But how can we use it to bring Spock back to life? We can’t just infuse his dead body with his katra, can we?

Writer Joe: No, Writer Susan, I don’t think so. But maybe we can regenerate Spock’s body entirely!

Writer Susan: Well, that sounds convenient, Writer Joe! How would we do that?

Writer Joe: Well, Spock’s body is on Genesis, right? Maybe Genesis—being a magical planet, more or less—somehow just restarts everything. You know, he’ll be recreated, only as a little kid or something. Yeah! His old body will go poof and he’ll be transformed into this rapidly aging kid! So the katra Bones is carrying will be put into new Spock, and then we’ll basically have old Spock again!

Writer Susan: That’s amazing, Writer Joe!

Writer Joe: I know!

Writer Susan: But wait . . . we can’t just have some magical planet that brings people back from the dead! Everyone would constantly be swinging by to drop off their dear, dead Uncle Lee’s and their sweet, corpsified Auntie Ruth’s for a weekend regeneration! We would have single-handedly defeated Death in the Star Trek universe.

Writer Joe: Well . . . shit. We can’t have that, can we, Writer Susan? No, so . . . okay. Okay, new plan : we blow the shit out of the Genesis planet. We only really need it to bring back Spock, anyway. Once that’s done, we’ll just promptly kill the planet cause . . . uh . . .

Writer Susan: Er . . .

Writer Joe: Oh, fuck it, it doesn’t matter. We’ll just throw in a line of exposition about a flaw in the original experiment or an unethical decision or two, and everything will be all hunky-dory. Problem solved.

I can maybe, maybe get over destroying Genesis—you know, the big miracle of The Wrath of Khan —if only they’d spent more than three minutes discussing what had gone wrong with the planet in the first place. But it’s like the writers put no effort in at all, so the actual dialogue goes something like this:

Saavik: Dude, what’s up with the planet? David: Yeah, I sort of fucked up by being a science rebel. I used protomatter. Saavik: That’s super, super bad. How long do we have? David: Not very long. Saavik: You should sit in the corner and think about what you’ve done!

Seriously, that’s about the time and effort the writers put into the explanation of the super-aging Genesis planet. I’m also not crazy about Saavik’s reaction to David’s use of protomatter. Sure, I’d be pissed too, if I was stuck on a dying world, but the dialogue itself bothers me a lot: “How many have paid the price for your impatience? How many have died? How much damage have you done? And what is yet to come?”

If you’re talking about the people on the U.S.S. Grissom, Saavik, I’m not entirely sure it’s fair to put the burden of their deaths on David. After all, if he had waited, and his project had been successful without the protomatter, wouldn’t the Klingons have come and killed everyone anyway? Can he really be blamed for their actions? It’s not like he asked them to be a bunch of giant assholes. And if you aren’t talking about the people who died on the Grissom . . . well, then who are you bitching about, exactly? No one else has actually died yet. At this point, the only thing David’s controversial protomatter has done is allowed Spock another chance at life. Shame on you, David. Fucking shame.

Eventually, David, Saavik, and Child Spock are all captured by a Klingon away team. The Enterprise finally arrives, and Kruge tries to attack them, but Kirk is too crafty to be fooled by cloaking devices. Unfortunately, they can’t exactly blow the Klingon bird of prey out of the water because the Enterprise is still heavily damaged from the last movie. So, Kruge tells Kirk about the hostages and says he’ll kill them if he doesn’t get what he wants. Then, just to prove how serious he is (about being a dick), he tells his away team to go ahead and kill one of the hostages now. It doesn’t even matter which one.

The Klingons fucking circle behind David, Saavik, and Child Spock, preparing to stab one of them in the back . Creepiness aside . . . WHAT THE FUCK ? What kind of Klingons are you? Your ancestors in the afterlife are WEEPING right now. The Klingons are about to kill Saavik, but David interferes and gets killed instead. Congratulations, David. You have earned yourself a Redemptive, Noble Sacrifice for the crime of letting Spock come back to life.

When Kirk finds out that his son is dead . . . well, it’s probably the best scene in the whole movie. Once again, William Shatner surprises me with his ability to act. This will promptly be destroyed later in the film during the big, climactic fight scene, but still. When Kirk stumbles backwards into his chair, I just wanted someone to leap up from his post and give him a hug. Literally, I was like, “Sulu! Chekov! Get off your ass and give that man a HUG! NOW!”

Kirk’s devastation leads to a radical plan. He tells the Klingons that they can board the Enterprise, but they’re going to have to wait just a few more minutes. Kruge, being a moron, is perfectly okay with that, even though he believes that the Enterprise is staffed with a full crew of people, not just a few dudes on the Bridge. Even one of Kruge’s men is like, Dude! If we board the ship, they could slaughter us! And Kruge is like, We’re KLINGONS, you wimpy piece of shit! Strategy is for the weak!

So while Kruge is patiently waiting, Kirk, Chekov, and Scotty enter the ship’s self-destruct codes. Note: self-destruct codes? Worrisomely simple. When Kruge’s men board the Enterprise (at the designated time and place, freaking losers) nobody else is on the ship. They don’t understand the countdown because they don’t speak Standard. Kruge tries to warn them, but it’s too late. The ship blows up, taking most of the Klingons with it. Kruge seems surprisingly broken up about this. Like, is he crying? He didn’t show this much emotion about his dead girlfriend . Of course, to be fair, he actually intended to kill her.

Anyway, the Enterprise crew is now chilling on the rapidly aging planet. They meet up with Saavik and Child Spock (well, Young Man Spock by now, I guess) and realize that they need to get him off the planet, or he will continue rapidly aging right along into the decomposition process. (Although I don’t think that’s such an immediate concern, as the whole planet is still, you know, trying to blow up beneath them. He probably won’t even get to middle age before they all go BOOM.)

Kirk decides that the best way to get off the planet is to cruelly taunt Kruge. “Sorry about your crew, but as we say on Earth, c’est la vie .” It’s a little colder than I would normally expect Kirk to be, but you know, his son was murdered about fifteen minutes ago. He’s not exactly in his happy place.

Kruge is still jonesing for prisoners, I guess, so after beaming down to the planet, he has John Larroquette beam everyone but Kirk and Young Man Spock up to his Klingon bird of prey. Maybe Kruge wants to torture them? I really don’t know why he’s doing this. Kruge and Kirk then start fighting. Eventually, Kruge is hanging off the edge of a cliff (lava is beneath him because of course it is) and Kirk tries to help him back up (because your good guys can apparently only be cold and ruthless for so long). Kruge, who’s still dangling off the cliff, immediately tries to bring Kirk down with him. I think we’ve already established the fact that Kruge clearly doesn’t have much in the way of strategy. Kirk then tries to kick Kruge off the cliff. “I have had . . .” (KICK) ” . . . enough . . .” (KICK) ” . . .of YOU!” ( KICK ). And as I groan at this poorly written and acted scene, Kruge goes flying off the cliff into the lava. Exit Villain.

Kirk picks up Young Man Spock (who’s unconscious at this point . . . cause . . . um . . . yeah, I don’t know) and tells John Larroquette to beam them up. Larroquette does so because apparently Kirk is so awesome in every way that he manages to not only sound like a native Klingon, but a native Klingon who also sounds like Christopher Lloyd. That takes talent.

Kirk easily takes over the ship. Larroquette thinks he deserves to be killed. (It’s true.) Kirk tells him that he’ll kill him later, which is one of the funnier lines in the film. (It’s also blatantly untrue . This is Trek, not BSG. We don’t outright murder our enemies, even if they deserve it.) The crew speeds away from Genesis, which blows up behind them, and head straight on to Vulcan, where Sarek and Uhura wait.

Sadly, the scene where they bring Spock back to life is one of the more disappointing scenes in the whole movie, I think. Once Kruge is dead, there’s no tension left in this film at all. There’s no chance that the process won’t work. I mean, we all know that Spock is coming back. And they aren’t exactly going to kill off Bones, either. The Vulcan Priestess Lady does warn Bones that the transfer will be particularly dangerous for him, but it’s just a line. Nobody buys it.

If the ritual itself were more interesting to watch, or hell, if you even got to really see it . . . but no, you don’t get much more than the Vulcan Priestess Lady putting one hand on Spock’s head and one hand on Bones’s head. Shit, I don’t think you even get close ups on their faces. It’s just such a wasted scene. Maybe Nimoy was going for simple but effective, like the mind mind earlier in the film? If so, it doesn’t work. This is supposed to be the scene the whole movie’s leading up to. You expect to see something . . . Spock’s katra, Bones writhing around, some kind of glowy, white light . . . anything but the couple of seconds of utter blah that you get.

And it’s not just a lack of special effects, either. There’s a serious lack of emotion in this scene. Spock’s still unconscious, for some reason, so he doesn’t need to have much expression, but you don’t feel any kind of fear or pain from Bones. And the crew standing by, they seem almost as bored as the audience, like even they know that Spock and Bones are both going to be okay. Nimoy doesn’t bother to capture any real tension or concern between the characters, not in this scene, at least, and that’s a serious problem for me.

Well, it turns out that Bones is fine, shockingly, and that Spock’s alive . . . but wait, oh noes! Spock appears to have amnesia. He doesn’t understand why Kirk has sacrificed so much for him. (And I know this is another nitpick, but they’re talking about David here, and I find that incredibly annoying because Kirk didn’t sacrifice David. David would almost certainly have died whether Kirk had come back for Spock or not.)

Kirk, in a wonderful reversal from the second movie, tells Spock that he did this “because the needs of the one . . . outweigh the needs of the many.” This triggers Spock to remember their last words and Kirk’s name. It’s pretty clear that Spock will be getting the rest of his memories back too . . . and that’s where we leave off. End film.

It’s not a bad last scene, not bad at all. But the scene before it is a serious letdown.

CONCLUSIONS:

Some cheesy and very convenient plot stuff that I could get over, but I really hate the fact that they, one, blew up the Genesis planet, and two, didn’t bother spending more than two minutes on exposition about it. Shatner does some nice acting in a few scenes, but some not-so-great acting in others. Some neat ideas and fun moments, but a pretty weak ending, overall.

DeForest Kelley

TENTATIVE GRADE:

Because the needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many. Duh.

Also, don’t use banned material in your science experiments. God frowns on that, and then you get killed off. Scientists with good intentions always get killed off, usually right after acknowledging their bad choices and saying something like, “My God, what have I done.”

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Quotes

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Source: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

Speaker: Spock

"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few."

That is wise. In any case, were I to invoke logic, logic clearly dictates the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

This line was spoken by Spock (played by Leonard Nimoy) in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , directed by Nicholas Meyer (1982).

When you think about the iconic character Spock from Star Trek , the second thing that comes to mind, after pointy ears, is his obsession with logic. This predisposition has launched a thousand memes and is key to his character and decisions in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan .

Early in the movie, Spock relinquishes control of the Enterprise to Kirk for a rescue mission, because Kirk was born to be a Starfleet captain. (Also, Vulcans aren't burdened by a pesky thing called ego.) The return of the Kirk/Spock combo comes in handy when on this "routine" mission, they run into Khan, a super-powered tyrant, who is angry because Kirk marooned him back in the Star Trek TV show.

And Spock's quote comes back to make all the Star Trek characters and fans cry as he goes into a room flooded with radiation and sacrifices himself to fix the Enterprise's warp drive and save the day. Because he cares more about saving the crew than his own life.

But, hey, Spock got brought back in the next movie and even showed up in the 2009 reboot via time travel, so things didn't turn out too badly in the end.

Where you've heard it

This quote leads to lively debates in philosophy and ethics classes, depending on how caffeinated the students are.

Do a little Googling and you'll find bloggers arguing that the dark side of this quote could be used to justify terrible things like slavery and genocide. Maybe Spock wasn't as logical as we thought.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back here it is, on a scale of 1-10..

When your party turns into a debate about ethics, you know it's either time to drop the bass or pack your bags and go home.

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Star Trek Week: 28 Universally Known Star Trek One-Liners

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Every corner of fandom has one-liners that have seeped into the consciousness of society, becoming universally recognizable. Of course, Star Trek is no different.

Here is a list of 28 Star Trek one-liners of which most people are aware. Some of these quotes have made their way into other areas of pop-culture. Some of these quotes have been paraphrased. Some have been used by judges when giving verdicts. There may be one, or two, on the list that escape some people.

1. Space: the final frontier. – Captain James T. Kirk and Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the opening title sequence for Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation

2. KHAAANNN! –Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

3. What does God need with a starship? –Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

4. Fascinating. – Mr. Spock in numerous episodes and movies.

5. Highly illogical. –Mr. Spock in numerous episodes and movies.

6. Live long and prosper. –Mr. Spock in numerous episodes and movies.

7. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one. –Mr. Spock in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

8. I have been and always shall be your friend. –Mr. Spock in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

9. He's dead, Jim! – Doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy in many episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series

10. I am a doctor, not a brick layer. * –Doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode The Devil in the Dark

11. I'm a doctor, not an escalator. –Doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode Friday's Child

12. I'm a doctor, not a mechanic. –Doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode The Doomsday Machine

13. I'm a doctor, not an engineer. –Doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode Mirror, Mirror

14. I'm a doctor, not a coal miner. –Doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode The Empath

15. I'm not a magician, Spock, just an old country doctor. –Doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode The Deadly Years

16. Dammit, Jim! –Doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy in many episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series and the movies.

17. Treat her like a lady, and she'll always bring you home. –Doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Encounter at Farpoint

18. I canna' change the laws of physics. – Montgomery “Scotty” Scott in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode The Naked Time

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19. I've giv'n her all she's got captain, an' I canna give her no more. –Montgomery “Scotty” Scott in many episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series

20. There be whales here! –Montgomery “Scotty” Scott in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

21. Engage! –Captain Jean-Luc Picard in many episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation

22. Make it so! –Captain Jean-Luc Picard in many episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation

23. Shut up, Wesley! –Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Datalore

24. There are four lights! –Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Chain of Command

25. Inquiry. – Data in many episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation

26. I am not a merry man! – Worf in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Qpid

27. It is a good day to die/ Perhaps today is a good day to die! –Worf says variation of “a good day to to die” a number of times. “It is a good day to die” was said in the Star Trek: The Next Generataion episode Sins of the Father . Worf says, “Perhaps today IS a good day to die!” in Star Trek: First Contact

28. Resistance is futile. – The Borg in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Voyager , and Star Trek: First Contact

The most misquoted popular one-line from Star Trek is, “Beam me up, Scotty.” Variations of this line are spoken, but not once was that actual line used.

What are some of your favorite one-liners?

__*__The “I'm a doctor” meme is also used by Doctor Julian Bashir in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , The Doctor (EMH) in Star Trek: Voyager, and Doctor Phlox in Star Trek: Enterprise .

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Star Trek III: The Search for Spock 1984

Kirk: The needs of the one outweighed the needs of the many.

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Spock Quotes

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end.

In critical moments, men sometimes see exactly what they wish to see.

Insufficient facts always invite danger.

It is curious how often you humans manage to obtain that which you do not want.

Without followers, evil cannot spread.

Change is the essential process of all existence.

The logical approach is usually the most reliable.

Without context, words and actions have no meaning.

Sometimes, having is not so pleasing a thing as wanting.

There is a difference between understanding the path and walking the path.

Live long and prosper.

Infinite diversity in infinite combinations.

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.

Emotions are alien to me. I’m a scientist.

I find that insulting, and I’m a Vulcan.

Can an android write a symphony? Can a Vulcan pray?

I object to intellect without discipline. I object to power without constructive purpose.

The needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many.

It is the unknown we fear when we look upon death and darkness, nothing more.

The appearance of a flaw is the beginning of wisdom.

One can begin to reshape the landscape with a single flower.

Captain, necessity is the mother of invention.

I’m not so much interested in the metaphysical.

Bluffing is a primary skill of diplomacy.

Compassion: that’s the one thing no machine ever had. Maybe it’s the one thing that keeps men ahead of them.

An ancestor of mine maintained that if you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.

May I say that I have not thoroughly enjoyed serving with humans? I find their illogic and foolish emotions a constant irritant.

May I point out that I had an opportunity to observe your counterparts here quite closely. They were brutal, savage, unprincipled, uncivilized, treacherous—in every way, splendid examples of homo sapiens, the very flower of humanity. I found them quite refreshing.

Evil does seek to maintain power by suppressing the truth.

That’s true. It’s definitely easier to have faith in one’s beliefs than to be in the uncertain position of not knowing.

Without those hours of patient, silent study, no one can become a scientist.

Our ancestors cast out their animal passions on this world.

When one is unsure of one’s own position, one becomes argumentative.

If you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.

The complex systems of life depend upon each other. We would not exist without the microbes.

Emotion is the enemy of logic.

The prejudices people feel about each other disappear when they get to know each other.

It’s fascinating how much more work I can get done when someone else does it.

Sometimes, having is not so pleasing a thing as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true.

Computers make excellent and efficient servants, but I have no wish to serve under them.

Instruments register only what is measurable. Quantum physics research deals with one reality of possibilities.

Our lives are a sum total of the choices we have made. We are what we repeatedly do.

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The Best Spock Quotes

What are the best Spock quotes that you still use today? Mr. Spock is one of the greatest characters ever written for television, and thanks to his reliance on logic, he's had some interesting things to say over the years whether it was on the original Star Trek or any of the other series or films he's appeared in.

From comments that show just how he felt about working on the USS Enterprise with "May I say that I have not thoroughly enjoyed serving with humans? I find their illogic and foolish emotions a constant irritant" to more helpful comments about the nature of command with "You're the captain of this ship. You haven't the right to be vulnerable in the eyes of the crew. You can't afford the luxury of being anything less than perfect. If you do, they lose faith and you lose command," let's take a look at the greatest Spock quotes in Star Trek history, ranked by your votes.

Whatever your favorite Spock quotes are, vote them up on the list below so they will climb closer to the top.

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Needs Of Many

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

Long Live And Prosper

Live long and prosper.

Self-Made Purgatories

If there are self-made purgatories, then we all have to live in them.

Critical Moments

In critical moments, men sometimes see exactly what they wish to see.

Efficient Servants

Computers make excellent and efficient servants, but I have no wish to serve under them.

Glorified Organized Violence

You Earth people glorified organized violence for forty centuries. But you imprison those who employ it privately.

Maintain Power

Evil does seek to maintain power by suppressing the truth.

It would be illogical to kill without reason.

Cannot Spread

Without followers, evil cannot spread.

You Are A Liar

I fail to comprehend your indignation, sir. I have simply made the logical deduction that you are a liar.

Pain is a thing of the mind. The mind can be controlled.

Intellect Without Discipline

I object to intellect without discipline. I object to power without constructive purpose.

Essential Process

Change is the essential process of all existence.

That Man On The Bridge

I have a responsibility to this ship, to that man on the bridge. I am what I am, Leila. If there are self-made purgatories, then we all have to live in them. Mine can be no worse than someone else's.

Virtue is a relative term.

Provocation

Amanda: After all these years with humans, you still haven't learned to smile. Spock: Humans smile with so little provocation.

Where there's no emotion, there's no motive for violence.

Multi-Legged Creature

Sir, there is a multi-legged creature crawling on your shoulder.

The Low Regard

I'm frequently appalled by the low regard you Earthmen have for life.

You Lose Command

You're the captain of this ship. You haven't the right to be vulnerable in the eyes of the crew. You can't afford the luxury of being anything less than perfect. If you do, they lose faith and you lose command.

Beauty is transitory.

Avoid A Direct Answer

I have never understood the female capacity to avoid a direct answer to any question.

Foolish Emotions

May I say that I have not thoroughly enjoyed serving with humans? I find their illogic and foolish emotions a constant irritant.

As Though It Were A Fly

If we start buzzing about down there, we're liable to find their mental power is so great they could reach out and swat this ship as though it were a fly.

Different From Theory

Violence in reality is quite different from theory.

Never Understand

I'll never understand the medical mind.

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The greatest, funniest, and most iconic movie and TV quotes from your all-time favorite comedies (and a few you probably haven’t seen).

Star Trek: Spock's 15 Best Quotes, Ranked

Spock is one of the most notable figures within the Star Trek franchise, and his philosophy on life and logic brings timeless wisdom to all.

Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek : The Original Series introduced excited science-fiction fans to the iconic duo Spock and Kirk . Often at odds with one another because of how vastly their point of view differed, Spock's logic paired well with Kirk's impetuous nature, provoking thoughtful commentary and hilarious banter. There was a definite sense of balance between them, with each man poised at opposite sides of the spectrum, but they almost always found common ground when necessary.

Leonard Nimoy's portrayal of the half-human, half-Vulcan was iconic. Spock paved the way for the creation of numerous characters as the Star Trek franchise began to expand. His influence over the development of the android artificial intelligence Data (Brent Spiner) in The Next Generation is clear in Data's curiosity about human nature. He can be seen also be seen in Voyager 's holo-physician, The Doctor (Robert Picardo), who employed an acerbic bedside manner and logic for problem-solving the crew sometimes lacked. Deep Space 9 's changeling Chief of Security, Odo (Rene Aubergenois), carried himself with a similar sense of rigidity. While each of them shared personality traits with Spock, one of the most prominent similarities they shared was the perspective of an outsider--always viewing humanity, judging and trying to understand its nature.

With Leonard Nimoy's passing, his legacy as Spock carries on through actors like Zachary Quinto and Ethan Peck. Quinto gave voice to Vulcan logic in the Star Trek reboot films directed by J.J. Abrams, while Peck portrays young Spock in Discovery and Strange New Worlds . Nimoy set the foundation, establishing an unforgettable character who spoke volumes on the nature of humanity over the years.

Spock's unique view on life, humanity, and most especially his fellow crew mates sometimes led to strained relationships. Therein lay his deepest observations and wittiest banter. Spock fought hard to deny the human side of his nature, and all too often his read on the people around him only furthered his desire to forget that despite being raised on Vulcan, he was still part-human himself.

15 "It is more rational to sacrifice one life than six, Doctor."

Logic and rationale were at the forefront of everything Spock adhered to, which often made it hard for the people around him to relate. It was easy for him to make judgment calls that would give others pause as they weighed it all out because in his mind the right answer was always the logical one. Even when it came to having to sacrifice lives, he was quick to point out something that would become a standard Star Trek philosophy: the needs of the many far outweigh the needs of the few or the one.

It is a logical observation, to be sure, but in the 1967 episode "The Galileo 7," Dr. McCoy can't wrap his head around Spock's rational response. What McCoy more than likely struggled with was how quick and easy it was for Spock to decide another's fate, even it was rational.

14 "I am frequently appalled by the low regard you Earthmen have for life."

In that same 1967 episode that provoked Spock's quick reaction to saving the many over the one, he also made note of how appalling he found the human disregard for life itself. This prompted an eventual debate about their responsibility to weigh all components before making rash judgments and decisions when his crewmates Gaetano and Boma suggest destroying the antropoids that have stranded them. This episode provided a lot of insight into how the people Spock worked with every day viewed him. They found his cold rationale to be unnerving, but in the end, he made the most sound decisions to display his respect for life as a whole.

13 "Evil does seem to maintain power by suppressing the truth."

When Spock and the crew bring a group of children suffering from amnesia aboard the Enterprise in Season 3, Episode 4, "And the Children Shall Lead," McCoy discovers that they've all blocked out the details of specific events, including what happened to their parents. While trying to make sense of not only what happened, but why those specific memories were wiped, Spock recognizes evil's inclination to avoid outright lying by withholding information entirely. So long as those they wish to control don't know all the facts, they will go on believing whatever they are told.

After the children become possessed by the dark spirit that destroyed their lives, Spock shows them footage of what really happened. Learning the truth broke the entity's hold over them, allowing them to finally grieve for what they'd lost. This is definitely a piece of wisdom that carries over into the world, encouraging everyone to seek the truth and find the facts before committing to another's beliefs or will.

12 "Vulcans never bluff."

In the 1966 episode " The Doomsday Machine ," Spock finds himself pushed out of the command position Kirk left him in when he refuses to attack a massive planet killer. Decker, the man who took over, eventually provoked Spock's ire after Kirk found out what was going on. Insisting that Decker step down, he challenges Spock's authority and accuses him of bluffing. Spock's claim that Vulcans don't bluff may be somewhat exaggerated, but their reputation for keeping a cool head in the face of adversity certainly makes his words believable. There's a chance he was bluffing, but how would one actually know?

11 "...The female capacity to avoid a direct answer to any question."

The 1960s were a much different time, but Star Trek did attempt to at least given women equal opportunities aboard the Enterprise. On the other hand, the show often portrayed them in a narrow minded light. Like Spock noting his failure to understand why it was so hard for women to directly answer a question when asked. At the time, a joke like that might be easily overlooked as just women and those pesky feminine wiles of theirs. Today it wouldn't stand. Spock may have been half-Vulcan, but his half-human side didn't always prevent him from adopting a poor view on females.

RELATED: Star Trek: Worf's 10 Best Quotes, Ranked

10 "Captain, you almost make me believe in luck."

Luck is entirely illogical, according to Spock. Those who put their stock in luck are asking to be let down, but Captain Kirk's quick wit and ability to find his way out of a tight spot are often inspired. Even Spock can't help but admire the captain, confessing that the ease with which he solves a major problem in Season 1, Episode 23, "A Taste of Armageddon," is almost enough to make him believe in the possibility of luck itself.

9 "If I were human, I believe my response would be 'Go to hell'."

In Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country , Spock finds himself questioning whether age has made him and Kirk too rigid and set in their ways to be useful. When Uhura tells him that they are to return the Enterprise to dock, so she can be decommissioned, he lets himself give in to his human side by telling authority to go to hell. Even after all those years out there among the stars, Spock still struggled to accept that a part of him was human, clinging almost desperately to his Vulcan half. This rare moment in which he relents is proof enough that neither he nor Kirk are too old to keep going as long as it takes.

8 "Logic is the beginning of wisdom. Not the end."

Another bit of wisdom from the 1991 film, The Undiscovered Country , Spock finds himself face to face with his own Vulcan apprentice, Valeris, who turns out to be an assassin working against the Enterprise. Much of the original Star Trek saw Starfleet in constant, tense negotiations with the Klingons. Given their nature, Valeris didn't believe peace with them to be logical, and given the Klingon nature, perhaps her viewpoint was logical. But as Spock pointed out, logic is just the beginning when it comes to making wise decisions. One can't rely on that alone to determine outcomes.

7 "It is the lot of man to strive, no matter how content he is."

Even in the proposed future, with humankind out gallivanting among the stars, Spock observes their ever-present sense of ambition. No matter how far humanity comes, or how much they achieve, there is a constant push to do more, receive more, and strive for more. Perhaps slowing down and taking stock in one's contentment would grant a new perspective, one in which they don't need to strive ever onward, but it's hard to imagine. Humanity reached for the stars and grasped onto them, but there must be more and they will find it.

6 "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few."

As mentioned previously, this philosophy became a focal point for Star Trek as a whole. No matter where the journey takes a crew, they will always face situations that require this reminder. The number of people out there among the stars who are perfectly content to destroy an entire world or system to save just one person is greater than one might imagine. The idea of losing a single loved one is painful, but setting aside that pain and embracing logic has the power to preserve the continued growth and expansion of life overall.

RELATED: 21 Ways Star Trek Predicted the Future

5 "Insufficient facts always invite danger."

Kirk didn't become captain because he was impetuous, but he did have a tendency to charge in first and ask questions later. Fortunately, he had Spock by his side to remind him to take care. Charging into a situation without all the facts is dangerous. While Kirk may like to laugh in the face of danger, it's definitely been a source of trouble for him throughout his career. It likely would have been a lot worse if not for Spock.

4 "Men sometimes see exactly what they wish to see."

In the most critical moments, it's far too easy to overlook what's right there and see what one wants instead. How often did Spock see only what he wanted to see? Perhaps while looking in the mirror, seeing only the Vulcan side of himself, ignoring the human.

Despite his wise observations on human nature, Spock had flaws of his own. It would be easy for him to see his humanity reflected in his faults, but a good many of them boiled down to his Vulcan nature. It would be difficult, if not impossible, for him to ever admit that.

3 "It is curious how often you humans manage to obtain..."

Spock isn't the only living being to observe how often humans wind up getting exactly what they don't want. He noted how curious it seemed, "How often you humans manage to obtain that which you do not want." It goes hand in hand with humanity's lot in life to strive. In some ways, it's an afterthought on being "careful what you wish for," though it's likely Spock would note that wishes had nothing to do with the outcome.

2 "One man cannot summon the future..."

Mankind spends a lot of time thinking about the future, wishing it would hurry up and start happening now. But that's as illogical as it is impossible. While there are definitely some parallels between Vulcan logic and Zen philosophy, Spock's advice is about as Zen as it comes. "One man cannot summon the future, but one man can change the present." If things aren't going the way one wants, looking to the future won't make change happen. Focusing on the moment, the now, is the only way to provoke the changes one wants to see in their life.

1 "Live long and prosper."

Of the many logical and wise things Spock said over his many years in Starfleet, the one he remains most remembered for are the words spoken with the Vulcan salute. Hand raised, middle and ring fingers parted in a V, it almost always accompanied the words, "Live long and prosper." Translated into Vulcan, the phrase, " dif-tor heh smusma ," is often coupled with the words, "peace and long life".

It wasn't Spock, or even Leonard Nimoy, who originally coined the phrase. The inspiration came from a number of places, including an old Egyptian blessing, the Bible, William Shakespeare, and Stephen Crane. These days, when people hear those words the first person who comes to mind is Spock, and given the impact his character has had on generations of Trekkies, chances are that isn't going to change anytime soon.

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Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

[ Witnessing the destruction of the Enterprise ]
Kirk : [ 1:15:58 ] My God, Bones... what have I done?
McCoy : What you had to do, what you always do. Turn death into a fighting chance to live.
Kirk : Klingon bastard! You killed my son!
Kirk : [ 37:17 ] How many fingers do I have up?
McCoy : That's not very damn funny.
Kirk : Your sense of humor's returned!
McCoy : The hell it has!
[ last lines ]
Captain Spock : My father says that you have been my friend. You came back for me.
Kirk : You would have done the same for me.
Captain Spock : Why would you do this?
Kirk : Because the needs of the one... outweigh the needs of the many.
Captain Spock : [ begins to remember ] I have been and ever shall be your friend.
Kirk : Yes. Yes, Spock.
Captain Spock : The ship... out of danger?
Kirk : You saved the ship. You saved us all. Don't you remember?
Captain Spock : Jim... your name is Jim.
Kirk : Yes.
Sarek : Kirk, I thank you. What you have done is...
Kirk : What I have done, I had to do.
Sarek : But at what cost? Your ship. Your son.
Kirk : If I hadn't tried, the cost would have been my soul.
[ Kirk and party have commandeered Kruge's Bird-of-Prey ]
Kirk : [ to Maltz ] You! Help us or die!
Maltz : I do not deserve to live!
Kirk : Fine, I'll kill you later!
[ later, once safely in warp speed ]
Kirk : Take care of the prisoner.
Maltz : Wait! You said you would kill me!
Kirk : I lied!
Kirk : [ 46:41 ] Scotty, you're as good as your word.
Scotty : Aye, sir. The more they overthink the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain.
[ giving McCoy a handful of computer chips ]
Scotty : Here, Doctor, souvenirs from one surgeon to another. I took them out of her main transwarp computer drive.
McCoy : Nice of you to tell me in advance.
Kirk : That's what you get for missing staff meetings, Doctor. Gentlemen, your work today has been outstanding and I intend to recommend you all for promotion... in whatever fleet we end up serving.
Kirk : [ 7:02 ] How much refit time 'til we can take her out again?
Scotty : Eight weeks, sir. But ye don't have eight weeks, so I'll do it for ye in two.
Kirk : Mr. Scott. Have you always multiplied your repair estimates by a factor of four?
Scotty : Certainly, sir. How else can I keep my reputation as a miracle worker?
Kirk : Your reputation is secure, Scotty.
Scotty : All systems automated and ready. A chimpanzee and two trainees could run her.
Kirk : Thank you, Mr. Scott. I'll try not to take that personally.
Kirk : You're suffering from a Vulcan mind-meld, doctor.
McCoy : That green-blooded son of a bitch! It's his revenge for all the arguments he lost.
[ their first look at the USS Excelsior ]
Uhura : Would you look at that.
Kirk : My friends, the great experiment: The Excelsior. Ready for trial runs.
Sulu : She's supposed to have transwarp drive.
Scotty : Aye. And if my grandmother had wheels, she'd be a wagon.
Kirk : Come, come, Mr. Scott. Young minds, fresh ideas. Be tolerant.
McCoy : [ to an unconscious Spock ] I'm gonna tell you something that I... never thought I'd ever hear myself say. But it seems I've... missed you. And I don't know if I could stand to lose you again.
Captain Styles : [ 38:58 ] Ah, Mr. Scott. Calling it a night?
Scotty : Uh, yes sir.
Captain Styles : Turning in myself, looking forward to breaking some of the Enterprise's speed records tomorrow.
Scotty : Ah, yes sir.
[ behind his back, frowning ]
Scotty : Good night.
Elevator voice : Level, please.
Scotty : Transporter room.
Elevator voice : Thank you.
Scotty : [ under breath ] Up your shaft.
Kirk : You should take the Vulcan too.
Kruge : No.
Kirk : But why?
Kruge : Because you wish it.
Vulcan High Priestess : Sarek! Child of S'kon, child of So'kar! The body of your son breathes still. What is your wish?
Sarek : I ask for fal tor pan: the refusion.
Vulcan High Priestess : What you seek has not been done in ages past and then, only in legend. Your request is not logical.
Sarek : Forgive me, T'layr. My logic is uncertain where my son is concerned.
Vulcan High Priestess : Who is the keeper of the katra?
McCoy : I am. McCoy, Leonard H, son of David.
Vulcan High Priestess : McCoy, son of David, since thou art human, we cannot expect thee to fully comprehend what Sarek has requested. Spock's body lives: with your approval, we shall use all our powers to return to his body that which you possess.
Vulcan High Priestess : But McCoy, you must now be warned. The danger to thyself is as grave as the danger to Spock. You must make the choice.
McCoy : I choose the danger. Hell of a time to ask.
Torg : [ 1:14:36 ]
[ the Klingons have boarded the Enterprise only to find it is deserted ]
Torg : My lord, the ship appears to be deserted.
Kruge : How can that be? They're hiding!
Torg : Yes, sir. The ship appears to be run by computer. It is the only thing that is speaking.
Kruge : Speaking? Let me hear it.
Enterprise computer : [ Torg walks over to a console, placing his communicator towards it ] 9-8-7-6-5...
Kruge : [ shouts ] Get out! Get out of there! Get out!
Enterprise computer : 2-1...
[ the Enterprise bridge explodes ]
Kruge : [ 1:00:44 ] I've come a long way for the power of Genesis, and what do I find? A weakling human, a Vulcan boy, and a woman!
Saavik : My lord, we are survivors of a doomed expedition. This planet will destroy itself in hours. The Genesis experiment is a failure.
Kruge : A failure? The most destructive force ever created? You will tell me the secret of the Genesis torpedo.
Saavik : I have no knowledge.
Kruge : Then I hope pain's something you enjoy.
First Officer : [ 42:42 ] Yellow Alert! Captain to the bridge! Yellow Alert!
Captain Styles : Bridge, this is the captain. How can you have a yellow alert in Spacedock?
First Officer : Sir, someone is stealing the Enterprise!
Captain Styles : I'm on my way.
McCoy : [ 1:18:52 ] Rapid aging. All genetic functions highly accelerated.
Kirk : What about his mind?
McCoy : His mind is a void. It seems, Admiral, that I've got all his marbles.
Kirk : Is there anything we can do?
Saavik : Only one thing, sir. Get him off this planet. His aging is part of what's going on around us.
Kirk : [ stomping on Kruge ] I... have had... enough... of YOU!
[ Kruge falls screaming into the lavascape below ]
[ McCoy is informed of the danger of the transfusion ]
McCoy : I choose the danger.
[ Kirk glances at McCoy ]
McCoy : [ mutters to Kirk ] Hell of a time to ask...
Sulu : [ 33:08 ] The word, sir?
Kirk : The word is no. I am therefore going anyway.
Sulu : You can count our help, sir.
Kirk : Thank you, Mr. Sulu, I'll need it.
Chekov : Shall I alert Dr. McCoy?
Kirk : Please. He has a long journey ahead of him.
Kirk : Klingon Commander, this is Admiral James T. Kirk. I'm alive and well on the planet's surface. I know that this will come as a pleasant surprise to you, but our ship was a victim of an "unfortunate accident". Sorry about your crew, but as we say on Earth, c'est la vie.
Alien : To your planet, welcome.
McCoy : I think that's *my* line, stranger.
Alien : Oh, forgive. I here am new. But you are known, being McCoy from Enterprise.
McCoy : You have me at a disadvantage, sir.
Alien : Oh, I name not important. You seek I. Message received. Available ship stands by.
McCoy : How much and how soon?
Alien : How soon is now. How much is, where?
McCoy : Somewhere in the Mutara sector.
Alien : Oh, Mutara restricted! Take permits many; money more.
McCoy : There aren't gonna be any damned permits! How can you get a permit to do a damned illegal thing? Look, price you name, money I got.
Alien : Place *you* name, money *I* name, otherwise bargain, no.
McCoy : Alright, damn it! It's Genesis! The name of the place we're going is GENESIS!
Alien : Genesis?
McCoy : Yes, Genesis! How can you be deaf with ears like that?
Alien : Genesis allowed is not! Is planet forbidden!
Kirk : Scan for vessels in pursuit.
McCoy : [ in Spock's voice and manner ] Scanning. Indications negative at this time.
[ everyone stares at him ]
McCoy : [ as himself ] Did I get it right?
Kirk : Great, Bones. Just great.
[ Kirk finds McCoy in Spock's quarters ]
McCoy : [ 14:10 ] Jim. Help me
McCoy : Jim... help me. You left me... on Genesis... why did you do that? Help me...
Kirk : Bones? What the hell are you doing? Have you lost your mind?
McCoy : Help me, Jim. Take me home.
McCoy : Bones, we are. We are home.
McCoy : Then perhaps it's not too late. Climb the steps, Jim. Climb the steps of Mount Seleya.
Kirk : Mount Seleya? Bones, Mount Seleya is on Vulcan. We're home, on Earth.
McCoy : Remember...
Mr. Adventure : Look at you. You're a twenty-year space veteran, yet you pick the worst duty station in town. I mean, look at this place. This is the hind end of space.
Uhura : Peace and quiet appeals to me, Lieutenant.
Mr. Adventure : Well, maybe that's okay for someone like you, whose career is winding down. But me, I need some excitement, some adventure... maybe even just a surprise or two.
Uhura : Well, you know what they say, Lieutenant. Be careful what you wish for. You might get it.
[ Kirk, McCoy and Sulu enter the transporter room ]
Kirk : Uhura, is everything ready?
Uhura : Step into my parlor, gentlemen.
Mr. Adventure : That's Admiral Kirk, my God!
Uhura : Very good for you, Lieutenant.
Mr. Adventure : But it's damned irregular. No destination points, no encoded ID's.
Uhura : All true.
Mr. Adventure : So what are we gonna do about it?
Uhura : I'm not gonna do anything about it. You're gonna sit in the closet.
Mr. Adventure : The *closet*? Have you lost your sense of reality?
Uhura : This isn't reality.
[ Turns a phaser on him ]
Uhura : This is fantasy. You wanted adventure, how's this? The old adrenaline going, huh? Good boy. Now get in the closet.
Mr. Adventure : All right...
Uhura : Go on.
Mr. Adventure : I'll just get in the closet. All right! Damn!
[ Falls into the closet and shuts the door ]
McCoy : I'm glad you're on *our* side!
Kirk : [ Pointing to the closet ] Are you sure you can handle...?
Uhura : Oh, I'll have "Mr. Adventure" eating out of my hand, sir. And I'll see all of you at the rendezvous.
Scotty : [ studying the Klingon Bird-of-Prey's helm ] Where's the damn antimatter inducer?
Chekov : This?... no, *this*!
Scotty : That or nothing.
Sulu : If I read this right, sir, we have full power.
Kirk : [ exasperated ] Go, Sulu!
Elevator voice : Level please.
Scotty : Up your shaft.
Kruge : Take every last man, form a boarding party armed heavily.
Torg : They outnumber us, my lord.
Kruge : [ shouts ] We are Klingons! Once you control the ship, we'll transfer our flag there and take Genesis from their own memory banks.
Security Guard : Make it quick, Admiral. They're moving him to the Federation funny farm.
Kirk : [ about McCoy ] Yes, poor friend. I hear he's fruity as a nutcake.
Captain Styles : [ on the comm speakers ] Kirk, you do this, you'll never sit in the Captain's chair again.
Kirk : Warp speed.
Sulu : One minute to space doors.
McCoy : Are you just gonna walk through them?
Kirk : Calm yourself, Doctor.
Kirk : [ 1:08:12 ] David, what went wrong?
David Marcus : I went wrong.
Kirk : I don't understand.
David Marcus : I'm sorry, sir. Just don't surrender. Genesis doesn't work. I can't believe they'd kill us for it.
Kruge : Admiral, your young friend is mistaken. I meant what I said. And now to show that my intentions are sincere, I shall kill one of the prisoners.
Kirk : Wait a minute! Give me a chance to talk.
Kruge : [ in Klingon ] Kill one of them. I don't care which.
Kruge : Genesis, I want it!
Kirk : Beam the Vulcan up, and we'll talk.
Kruge : Give me what I want, and I'll consider it.
Kirk : You fool, look around you! The planet's destroying itself!
Kruge : Yes, exhilarating, isn't it?
Kirk : If we don't help each other, we'll die here.
Kruge : Perfect. Then that's the way it shall be.
Kirk : How are we doing?
McCoy : How are "we" doing? Funny you should put it quite that way, Jim. "We" are doing fine. But I'd feel safer giving him one of my kidneys than what's scrambled in my brain.
Sarek : You must bring them to Mount Seleyah, on Vulcan. Only there can both find peace.
Kirk : What you ask... is difficult.
Sarek : You will find a way, Kirk. If you honor them both, you must.
Kirk : I will. I swear.
Saavik : [ to David ] How many have paid the price for your impatience? How many have died? How much damage have you done, and what is yet to come?
Captain Styles : [ about Kirk ] If he thinks he can get away with warp drive... he's really in for a shock.
[ to his crew ]
Captain Styles : Prepare for warp speed! Stand by transwarp drive!
[ the Enterprise faces off against a cloaked Klingon Bird-of-Prey ]
Kirk : If my guess is right, she'll have to decloak before she can fire.
McCoy : May all your guesses be right.
[ first lines ]
[ Spock's dying words, repeated from the previous film ]
Captain Spock : Don't grieve, Admiral. It is logical. The needs of the many outweigh...
Kirk : ...the needs of the few.
Captain Spock : Or the one. I have been and always shall be your friend. Live long and prosper.
[ the Enterprise is approaching the closed Spacedock doors ]
Kirk : And... *now*, Mr. Scott.
Scotty : Sir?
Kirk : The doors, Mr. Scott!
Scotty : Aye, sir, I'm working on it!
Kirk : Unit two, this is unit one. The Kobayashi Maru has set sail for the promised land. Acknowledge.
Chekov : [ on communicator ] Message acknowledged. All units will be informed.
McCoy : You're taking me to the promised land?
Kirk : What are friends for?
Sarek : Forgive me, it is not here. I had assumed he mind-melded with you. It is the Vulcan way when the body's end is near.
Kirk : We were separated. He couldn't touch me.
Sarek : I see. Then, everything that he was... everything he knew... is lost.
Kirk : [ Sarek turns to go ] Please wait. He would have found a way. If there were that much at stake, Spock would have found a way.
Sarek : Yes. But how?
Kirk : What if he joined with someone else?
Kirk : [ gathers himself after David's murder ] Mr. Sulu, what is the crew compliment of a Bird-of-Prey?
Sulu : About a dozen officers and men.
Kirk : With some of them on the planet... I swear to you, we're not finished yet. Bones, you and Sulu to the transporter room. The rest of you with me, we have a job to do.
Kirk : USS Enterprise Captain's Personal Log: With most of our battle damage repaired we're almost home. Yet I feel uneasy and I wonder why? Perhaps it is the emptiness of this vessel. Most of our training crew have been reassigned. Lt. Saavik and my son David are exploring the Genesis planet which he helped create and Enterprise feels like a house with all the children gone. No more empty even then that. The death of Spock is like an open wound. It seem that I have left the most noblest part of myself back there on that newborn planet.
Kirk : [ Sarek angrily confronts Kirk about Spock ] Ambassador. I would had come to Vulcan to express my deepest sympathies.
Sarek : Spare me your human platitutes, Kirk. I have been to your government and I've seen the Genesis information and your report.
Kirk : Then you know how bravely your son met his death.
Sarek : Why did you leave him on Genesis? Spock trusted you! and you denied him his future.
Kirk : I saw no future.
Sarek : Only his body was in death, Kirk! and you were the last one to be with him.
Kirk : Yes! I was.
Sarek : And you must know that you should had to come with him to Vulcan.
Kirk : But - why?
Sarek : Because he asked you too! He entrusted you! With his very esscence. With everything that was not of the body. He asked you to bring him to us and to bring that which he gave you. His Katra. His living spirit.
Kirk : Sir. Your son meant to me more than you could know. I would had given my life if I could save his. Believe me when I tell you, he made no request of me.
Sarek : He would not had spoken of it openly.
Kirk : Computer, this is Admiral James T. Kirk. Request security access. Computer, destruct sequence one: code 1-1-a.
Scotty : Computer, Commander Montgomery Scott, chief engineering officer. Destruct sequence two: code 1-1-a-2-b.
Chekov : Computer, this Commander Pavel Chekov, acting science officer. Destruct sequence three: code 1-b-2-b-3.
Enterprise Computer : Destruct sequence completed and engaged. Awaiting final code for one minute countdown.
Kirk : Code 0-0-0-destruct-0.
Enterprise Computer : Destruct sequence is activated.
Sulu : Admiral, what's gonna happen to the Enterprise?
Kirk : She's to be decommissioned.
Chekov : Will we get another ship?
Kirk : I can't get an answer. Starfleet is up to its brass in a galactic conference. No one has time for those who want to stand and wait.
David Marcus : This planet's aging in surges.
Saavik : And Spock with it. It seems they're joined together.
David Marcus : They are.
Saavik : How long?
David Marcus : Days... maybe hours. I'm sorry.
Saavik : It will be hardest on Spock. Soon he will feel the burning of his Vulcan blood.
David Marcus : I don't understand.
Saavik : Pon farr. Vulcan males must endure it every seventh year of their adult life.

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Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner, James Doohan, DeForest Kelley, Merritt Butrick, and Robin Curtis in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)

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15 Spock Quotes for Logical Living

Happy birthday to the late Leonard Nimoy who his best known for his role as Mr. Spock in the Star Trek television and film series. On the show, Spock loved to offer his logical perspective on life to the volatile Captain Kirk, commenting on society and humanity, offering an insight into the Vulcan mind. In memory of Nimoy’s beloved character and his eternal wisdom, here are some thoughts from Spock about logical living.

“Insufficient facts always invite danger.”

“In critical moments men sometimes see exactly what they wish to see.”

“Without followers , evil cannot spread.”

“When you eliminate the impossible , whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”

“The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.”

“After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting.”

“What is it that makes one man an exceptional leader ? We see indications that it is his negative side which makes him strong, that his “evil” side, if you will, properly controlled and disciplined, is vital to his strength.”

“When there is no emotion , there is no motive for violence.”

“Change is the essential process of all existence.”

“Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end of it.”

“If there are self-made purgatories, then we all have to live in them.”

“ Computers make excellent and efficient servants, but I have no wish to serve under them.”

“I see no logic in wanting to worship a deity that demands you to live in a perpetual state of fear.”

“I realize that command does have its fascination, even under circumstances such as these, but I neither enjoy the idea of command nor am I frightened of it. It simply exists, and I will do whatever logically needs to be done.”

“Physical reality is consistent with universal laws. Where the laws do not operate, there is no reality.”

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Explore the Wisdom of the Stars: 49 Inspiring Star Trek Quotes

October 4, 2023, 7:16 pm

Star Trek is a science fiction franchise that has captivated audiences since its inception in 1966. Created by Gene Roddenberry, the show introduced viewers to a futuristic world where humanity had overcome its differences to explore the vastness of space. With its thought-provoking plots, diverse characters, and visionary concepts, Star Trek quickly became a cultural phenomenon.

List of 60 Star Trek Quotes

“Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before.” – Captain James T. Kirk, Star Trek: The Original Series
“Live long and prosper.” – Spock, Star Trek: The Original Series
“Resistance is futile.” – The Borg, Star Trek: The Next Generation
“I am Locutus of Borg. Resistance is futile. Your life, as it has been, is over. From this time forward, you will service us.” – Locutus, Star Trek: The Next Generation
“Make it so.” – Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek: The Next Generation
“Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end.” – Spock, Star Trek: The Original Series
“The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” – Spock, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
“Engage.” – Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek: The Next Generation
“To boldly go where no one has gone before.” – Captain James T. Kirk, Star Trek: The Original Series
“I’m giving her all she’s got, Captain!” – Montgomery Scott (Scotty), Star Trek: The Original Series
“KHAAAN!” – Captain James T. Kirk, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
“The first duty of every Starfleet officer is to the truth, whether it’s scientific truth or historical truth or personal truth! It is the guiding principle on which Starfleet is based.” – Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek: The Next Generation
“I have been and always shall be your friend.” – Spock, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
“There are four lights!” – Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek: The Next Generation
“The line must be drawn here! This far, no further!” – Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek: First Contact
“I’m a doctor, not a [fill in the blank].” – Dr. Leonard McCoy, Star Trek: The Original Series
“Dammit, Jim, I’m a doctor, not a miracle worker!” – Dr. Leonard McCoy, Star Trek: The Original Series
“I’ve always thought that the starship Enterprise was a bit over-designed.” – Captain Benjamin Sisko, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
“It’s a fake!” – Captain James T. Kirk, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
“You can use logic to justify almost anything. That’s its power, and its flaw.” – Captain Kathryn Janeway, Star Trek: Voyager
“I find your lack of faith disturbing.” – Darth Vader (Star Trek cameo in Star Wars), Star Wars
“It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life.” – Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek: The Next Generation
“You have the heart of an explorer. Together, you and I will map out every corner of the galaxy.” – Q, Star Trek: The Next Generation
“You can’t break the rules every time the sky is falling.” – Captain Benjamin Sisko, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
“Warp speed, Mr. Sulu!” – Captain James T. Kirk, Star Trek: The Original Series
“Fascinating.” – Spock, Star Trek: The Original Series
“In every revolution, there’s one man with a vision.” – Zefram Cochrane, Star Trek: First Contact
“The trouble with Tribbles…” – Captain James T. Kirk, Star Trek: The Original Series
“This is the voyage of the starship Enterprise.” – Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek: The Next Generation
“We are the Borg. Lower your shields and surrender your ships. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile.” – The Borg, Star Trek: The Next Generation
“I’m not a role model… Just because I wear this uniform doesn’t make me a hero.” – Captain Benjamin Sisko, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
“There’s coffee in that nebula.” – Captain Kathryn Janeway, Star Trek: Voyager
“Klingons do not procrastinate. It is a… tactical delay.” – Worf, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
“I cannot change the laws of physics!” – Montgomery Scott (Scotty), Star Trek: The Original Series
“Make it a good day.” – Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek: Picard
“We are more alike than unalike, my dear Captain. I have pores. Humans have pores. I have… fingerprints. Humans have fingerprints.” – Data, Star Trek: The Next Generation
“I’d like to think that I haven’t changed those things, sir. It’s just that I know more about who I am and what I can do.” – Geordi La Forge, Star Trek: The Next Generation
“To cheat death is a power only one has achieved, but if we work together, I know we can discover the secret.” – Chancellor Palpatine (Star Trek cameo in Star Wars), Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
“The great joy and challenge of Starfleet is to explore strange new worlds.” – Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek: The Next Generation
“I’m a scientist, not a bricklayer.” – Spock, Star Trek: The Original Series
“Make your words sweet. You may have to eat them.” – Captain James T. Kirk, Star Trek: The Original Series
“I don’t believe in the no-win scenario.” – Captain James T. Kirk, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
“There’s no greater challenge than the study of philosophy.” – Spock, Star Trek: The Original Series
“The key to victory is discipline.” – Captain James T. Kirk, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
“The more complex the mind, the greater the need for the simplicity of play.” – Captain James T. Kirk, Star Trek: The Original Series
“I’m open to suggestions.” – Captain Benjamin Sisko, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
“I would be delighted to offer any advice I have on understanding women. When I have some, I’ll let you know.” – Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek: The Next Generation
“Great men do not seek power; they have power thrust upon them.” – Captain James T. Kirk, Star Trek: The Original Series
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” – Captain Benjamin Sisko, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Famous Star Trek Quotes that have become iconic

Over the years, Star Trek has produced numerous quotes that have become deeply ingrained in popular culture. These lines have transcended the boundaries of the show and have become part of our collective consciousness. One such iconic quote is “Live long and prosper” – a phrase often accompanied by the Vulcan salute. It represents the desire for longevity and prosperity, encapsulating the hope and optimism that Star Trek embodies.

Another famous Star Trek quote is “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few” – a principle that Spock often emphasizes. This quote highlights the show’s exploration of ethical dilemmas and the importance of making sacrifices for the greater good. It serves as a reminder of the complexities of decision-making and the responsibility we have towards our fellow beings.

Inspirational Star Trek Quotes that can motivate and uplift

Star Trek is known for its ability to inspire and uplift its audience. The show is filled with quotes that motivate and encourage viewers to strive for greatness. One such inspirational quote is “Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end” – a reflection of Spock’s logical approach to life. This quote reminds us that intelligence and rationality are essential tools for personal growth and understanding.

Another uplifting Star Trek quote is “I have been, and always shall be, your friend” – spoken by Spock in a moment of profound emotion. This quote reminds us of the power of friendship and the lasting bonds we form with others. It encourages us to cherish our relationships and be there for our loved ones, even in the most challenging times.

Memorable Star Trek lines that have resonated with fans

Star Trek is filled with memorable lines that have resonated with fans throughout the years. These lines have become part of the fandom’s lexicon and serve as touchstones for the show’s enduring legacy. One such memorable line is “I’m a doctor, not a ______!” – a phrase often uttered by Dr. McCoy whenever he found himself in an unexpected situation. This line showcases the character’s wit and humor, endearing him to audiences.

Another memorable Star Trek line is “Make it so” – a command frequently given by Captain Picard. This simple phrase has become synonymous with leadership and determination. It represents the captain’s unwavering resolve to accomplish the mission at hand, inspiring viewers to take charge of their own lives and make things happen.

Exploring the wisdom behind the Star Trek sayings

Beyond their popularity and cultural impact, Star Trek quotes often contain profound wisdom and insight. These sayings reflect the show’s themes and values, offering valuable lessons for life. For instance, the quote “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few” teaches us about the importance of empathy and sacrifice. It reminds us to consider the greater good when making decisions and to prioritize the welfare of others.

Similarly, the quote “Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end” encourages us to embrace reason and critical thinking. It reminds us that knowledge and understanding are continuous pursuits, and that we should never stop learning and growing. This quote invites us to explore different perspectives and to question our own beliefs, fostering intellectual curiosity and personal development.

How Star Trek quotes reflect the show’s themes and values

Star Trek quotes serve as a reflection of the show’s overarching themes and values. The franchise has always been known for its progressive ideas and commitment to diversity and inclusivity. Many quotes highlight these principles, promoting tolerance and acceptance. For instance, the quote “Infinite diversity in infinite combinations” celebrates the uniqueness of every individual and underscores the importance of embracing diversity.

Additionally, Star Trek quotes often explore ethical dilemmas and moral quandaries, encouraging viewers to ponder the complexities of right and wrong. They challenge us to think critically about our actions and the consequences they may have on others. These quotes promote a sense of responsibility and remind us of the power we have to shape a more just and compassionate world.

The enduring popularity of Star Trek and its influence on future generations

Despite being more than 50 years old, Star Trek continues to capture the imagination of audiences around the world. Its enduring popularity can be attributed to its timeless themes, relatable characters, and powerful storytelling. The show has inspired generations of fans to pursue careers in science, engineering, and exploration. It has sparked countless discussions about the future of humanity and our place in the universe.

Star Trek’s influence extends beyond the realm of entertainment. Its optimistic vision of the future has inspired real-world advancements and social change. From the development of modern technology to the promotion of equality and inclusivity, the show has left an indelible mark on society. Its impact can be seen in the works of scientists, inventors, and activists who were inspired by its message of hope and progress.

Sharing Star Trek quotes on social media and embracing the fandom

In today’s digital age, sharing quotes on social media platforms has become a popular way to express oneself and connect with others. Star Trek fans often turn to these platforms to share their favorite quotes and engage in discussions about the show. The fandom has created a vibrant online community, where fans can celebrate their love for Star Trek and find like-minded individuals.

By sharing Star Trek quotes on social media, fans not only pay homage to the show but also spread its messages of hope, inclusivity, and exploration. These quotes resonate with people from all walks of life, offering comfort, inspiration, and a sense of belonging. They serve as a reminder that, no matter our differences, we are all part of the same human adventure.

In conclusion, Star Trek quotes have become a cultural phenomenon, inspiring and uplifting fans for over five decades. From iconic lines that have become part of our lexicon to memorable quotes that have resonated with audiences, these sayings embody the wisdom, values, and themes of the show. They invite us to explore the vastness of space, embrace diversity, and strive for a better future. As we continue to share and celebrate these quotes, we keep the legacy of Star Trek alive and inspire future generations to boldly go where no one has gone before.

famous star trek quotes inspirational star trek quotes star trek lines Star Trek quotes Star Trek sayings

Captain Kirk's Wisest Quotes

The Enterprise captain shared plenty of words of wisdom across three seasons and seven movies.

StarTrek.com

To celebrate Star Trek legend William Shatner’s birthday, we thought today would be an excellent time to reflect on the many pieces of wisdom that his character Captain James T. Kirk delivered throughout Star Trek: The Original Series and over the course of seven films. Kirk conveyed his insight in many ways, ranging from clever quips and signature one-liners to profound statements and emotional pleas. The captain proved as unafraid to acknowledge his own failings as he was to challenge evils he encountered across the galaxy. Let’s wish Mr. Shatner the happiest of birthdays and absorb the lessons he delivered to us as Captain Kirk.

12. “Your father called the future, ‘The Undiscovered Country.’ People can be very frightened of change.” - Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

Speaking to Klingon Chancellor Azetbur about her father Gorkon’s hope for better relations between the Federation and Klingon Empire, Captain Kirk astutely points to the hesitancy that many people feel toward change. Earlier in the film, Kirk expressed his lingering anger over the death of his son at the hands of Klingons, thus making this quote even more potent as an admission of his own personal fear of a new future.

11. “Risk… risk is our business. That’s what this starship is all about. That’s why we’re aboard her.” - “Return to Tomorrow”

When McCoy expresses misgivings about the notion of allowing Sargon, Thalassa, and Henoch to temporarily inhabit the bodies of Kirk, Spock, and Mulhall, the captain calls upon the goals of exploration and scientific advancement as a way to rationalize the need to take risks in order to grow beyond ourselves. Kirk’s statement also summarizes the willingness to make sacrifices and the promise to pursue knowledge that every officer informally agrees to the moment they put on a Starfleet uniform.

10. “Your planet is dead! There’s nobody alive on Cheron, because of hate. The cause you fought about no longer exists… give yourselves time to breathe, give up your hate!” - “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield”

The racism that fueled the strife between Lokai and Bele reflected the bigotry that their peoples expressed for one another on their homeworld Cheron, and that hatred eventually led to a civil war that eradicated the planet’s entire population. Kirk’s plea for cooler heads to prevail goes unheeded by the duo, yet his rational argument to pause the conflict and take time to reconsider their positions remains profound. Kirk exposes hate as a fault that can be avoided, so long as one chooses to put that hatred behind them.

9. “Don’t let them promote you, don’t let them transfer you, don’t let them do anything that takes you off the bridge of that ship, because while you’re there, you can make a difference.” - Star Trek Generations

What happens when two iconic captains meet? The elder, more experienced officer shares his knowledge with his counterpart, of course! Having gone through the process of being promoted to the rank of admiral and realizing how much he missed the bridge of a starship, Kirk implores Picard to recognize the positive change that he can effect for others while being out among the stars and leading his own ship through perilous rescues, consular duties, and humanitarian aid.

8. “Excuse me, I’d just like to ask a question. What does God need with a starship?” - Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

After reaching Sha Ka Ree and encountering the entity that claims to be the galaxy’s supreme deity, Kirk observes an oddity in God’s request to use the U.S.S. Enterprise-A as a means to carry his power throughout the heavens. As a result, Kirk questions the being’s divinity by delivering one of the most quotable lines in all of Star Trek . The captain’s ability to recognize the entity’s error and fearlessly present his query ultimately helps convince Sybok, Spock, and McCoy that the group is dealing with an alien presence rather than a supernatural deity.

7. “I don't believe in a no-win scenario.” - Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

Trapped in the caverns of Regula I without any apparent hope for rescue, Saavik recoils when she learns that Kirk reprogrammed the Kobayashi Maru simulation so that he could rescue the ship. Saavik argues that the captain never truly faced the test’s “no-win scenario,” and Kirk calmly responds that he does not believe in such a situation. While some might see this as arrogance, Kirk knows that a captain must demonstrate confidence and strength to their crew. Of course, Kirk follows this discourse by contacting Spock and revealing that he had a plan of escape plotted out all along.

6. “We’re human beings with the blood of a million savage years on our hands, but we can stop it! We can admit that we’re killers, but we’re not going to kill today. That’s all it takes… knowing that we’re not going to kill today.” - “A Taste of Armageddon”

On Eminiar VII, where wars are fought with computers and citizens are willingly disintegrated as casualties, Kirk acknowledges humanity’s brutal past while also pointing out that we can better ourselves by choosing not to repeat our mistakes. We must decide to be better than our earlier selves and can move beyond our violent wrongs by accepting the conviction that we will cease those actions immediately.

5. “The needs of the one outweighed the needs of the many.” - Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

Having risked his career, endangered his crew, and lost his son and his starship on a quest to reunite Spock’s body with his katra, Kirk is rewarded with the apparent resurrection of his old friend. Still acclimating to his return, Spock questions why the captain would put so much on the line to come back for him. Kirk flips the popular Vulcan maxim around, illustrating that the plight of a single being can be just as important as the larger galactic picture. In a sense, Kirk posits that fighting for the many is fruitless without placing equal emphasis on the suffering of individuals, particularly those closest to us.

4. “You know that pain and guilt can’t be taken away with the wave of a magic wand! They’re the things we carry with us, the things that make us who we are. If we lose them, we lose ourselves. I don’t want my pain taken away, I need my pain!” - Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

After Sybok lets McCoy relive his father’s passing, the doctor implores Kirk to permit Spock’s half-brother to do the same for him and release his pain. The captain’s response evokes the hard-earned wisdom that many of our toughest trials and most unbearable losses teach us invaluable lessons that shape our personalities and guide us through life. Kirk speaks truth to the fact that our pain is an integral part of who we become.

3. “Death, destruction, disease, horror… that’s what war is all about, Anan. That’s what makes it a thing to be avoided. You’ve made it neat and painless… so neat and painless, you’ve had no reason to stop it.” - “A Taste of Armageddon”

In another ardent appeal on Eminiar VII, Kirk outlines the true tragedies of war to Anan 7. The planet’s search to create “humane” warfare has resulted in an endless cycle of death that consumes lives without any end in sight. Free of disease and collateral destruction, the two warring planets do not feel compelled to approach each other diplomatically and engage in peace talks. By explaining to Anan 7 the devastating results inherent in a real war, Kirk finally convinces the Eminian Union’s First Councilman to rethink his position and approach his counterpart with a peaceful overture.

2. “Where I come from, size, shape, or color makes no difference… and nobody has the power.” - “Plato’s Stepchildren”

Ridiculed by his fellow Platonians just because of his height and lack of psychokinetic powers, Alexander asks Kirk what society is like where he is from. The captain’s reply stands as a symbol of the equality that our planet still strives for and demonstrates the ideals of the utopia that Gene Roddenberry envisioned for humanity’s future. Embracing diversity continues to be a driving force behind the stories that Star Trek tells.

1. “Well, here's one thing you can be sure of, Mister. Leave any bigotry in your quarters, there's no room for it on the bridge.” - “Balance of Terror”

Blaming the Romulans for the death of his ancestors, Lieutenant Stiles openly displays distrust toward the alien species. Once the crew gets a glimpse of the Romulans and recognizes that they may be related to Vulcans, Stiles turns his ire against Spock and refers to the first officer with disdain. Kirk overhears the abusive tone and offers one of the most clear-cut rebukes of intolerance that the series ever produced. With the words “the bridge” acting as a metaphor for our society as a whole, Kirk pulls no punches when he declares that such bigotry does not belong in our civilization.

This article was originally published on March 22, 2021.

Jay Stobie (he/him) is a freelance writer who has contributed articles to the official Star Trek website and Star Trek Magazine, as well as to Star Wars Insider and the official Star Wars website. Jay also serves as a part-time assistant and consultant advising many actors and creatives who work on his favorite sci-fi shows and films. He can be found on Twitter and Instagram at @StobiesGalaxy.

Stay tuned to StarTrek.com for more details! And be sure to follow @StarTrek on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .

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Every Upcoming Star Trek Movie & TV Show

Star trek: starfleet academy casts holly hunter as series lead, bridgerton season 3's colin & pen romance complaint doesn't make sense compared to daphne & anthony.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, set in the 32nd century, will feature a massive set for the main Academy building in San Francisco.
Boothby, the wise groundskeeper from Star Trek: The Next Generation, left a lasting impression on characters like Picard and Janeway.
Starfleet Academy in the 32nd century may not have a traditional groundskeeper, but a character like Boothby could still help shape cadets.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy should have a helpful groundskeeper like Boothby (Ray Walston) from Star Trek: The Next Generation . Although not much has been revealed about the upcoming Starfleet Academy series, it has been confirmed that the series will be set in the 32nd century as a direct spin-off of Star Trek: Discovery . Star Trek's newest show will reportedly feature a massive set for the main Academy building, which will be located in San Francisco just like the original Starfleet Academy campus.

Previous Star Trek shows have only shown glimpses of Starfleet Academy, such as in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 5, episode 19, "The First Duty" when Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) visits after Cadet Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) is in a training accident. While there, Picard catches up with the Academy's head groundskeeper, Boothby, who once offered advice to a younger Jean-Luc. Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) and Commander Chakotay (Robert Beltran) had also crossed paths with Boothby while at the Academy. Although Boothby only appeared in one episode of TNG and two of Star Trek: Voyager (as a duplicate or in a vision), he left quite a lasting impression.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will be the first Star Trek television series set at Starfleet Academy, as well as the first show geared toward a young adult audience.

Star Trek is ending series like Discovery and Lower Decks but renewed Strange New Worlds while setting up new streaming and theatrical movies.

Who Was Boothby In Star Trek: The Next Generation?

"he's the groundskeeper. one of the wisest men i ever knew.".

As Starfleet Academy's groundskeeper, Boothby was always around on campus, ready to offer advice to any young Starfleet cadets who needed it. Even after becoming Captain of the USS Enterprise-D, Picard still considered Boothby to be "one of the wisest men [he] ever knew." With this high praise, Picard told Wesley Crusher to seek out the groundskeeper upon arriving at Starfleet Academy. Although there were likely more efficient ways to tend to Starfleet Academy's grounds during the 24th century, Boothby preferred to do his work by hand. Boothby may have been cranky on occasion, but he clearly cared about the cadets and often followed their careers.

When Picard approached Boothby in TNG's "The First Duty," he wanted to thank the groundskeeper for helping him graduate, but Boothby said that watching Picard's soaring career had been thanks enough. Much like Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) on the USS Enterprise-D, Boothby may not have officially been a counselor, but he had the ability to help people see their problems from a new perspective. While aboard the USS Voyager in the Delta Quadrant, Chakotay recreated a hologram of Boothby to serve as his boxing coach, and he later saw the groundskeeper in a vision quest. While the young Janeway was at the Academy, Boothby regularly brought her fresh roses.

Academy Award-winner Holly Hunter joins Star Trek: Starfleet Academy as the series lead, playing a Captain and the Academy's Chancellor.

Will Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Get Its Own Boothby?

Could boothby's descendants have followed in their ancestor's footsteps.

The Starfleet Academy of the 32nd century has only recently been reopened after the devastation caused by the Burn, so it will likely be very different from the Academy shown in past series. Not only has the technology advanced significantly since the 24th century, but Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets are both still in the process of rebuilding. While there is likely no need for a human (or alien) groundskeeper to maintain the Academy's grounds, Star Trek : Starfleet Academy should still have a character like Boothby. Starfleet needs intelligent, talented officers more than ever, and a character like Boothby could help shape history-making Starfleet cadets .

Whether one of Boothby's descendants has continued the family business or an android was created to fulfill a similar purpose , a groundskeeper is the perfect position for a wise advice-giver. Starfleet Academy is likely one of the most difficult periods for many young cadets, as they struggle to figure out how they want to spend the rest of their lives. Many of them will need someone like Boothby to help them through their Academy years. In only a few scenes, Starfleet Academy's groundskeeper became a memorable and fully realized character, and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy should definitely get its own Boothby.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will premiere at a future date on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy

After being closed for over a hundred years, Starfleet Academy is reopening its doors to those who wish to pursue a career as Starfleet Officers. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will follow a new group of cadets as they come of age, and build friendships, rivalries, and romantic relationships while being threatened by a new adversary that could destroy the Academy and the Federation itself.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: The Next Generation is the third installment in the sci-fi franchise and follows the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew members of the USS Enterprise. Set around one hundred years after the original series, Picard and his crew travel through the galaxy in largely self-contained episodes exploring the crew dynamics and their own political discourse. The series also had several overarching plots that would develop over the course of the isolated episodes, with four films released in tandem with the series to further some of these story elements.

Giant Freakin Robot

Best Star Trek Series Doesn't Get Enough Credit For Franchise First

Posted: May 30, 2024 | Last updated: May 30, 2024

<p>Star Trek: Deep Space Nine gets a lot of credit these days and deservedly so. Among other things, it was the first series in the franchise to take a serialized storytelling approach and the first to feature a Black actor as its lead. One thing no one really talks about is how DS9 was the first Star Trek series to give us a genuine detective as one of its heroes–Odo, the station’s chief of security.</p>

Best Star Trek Series Doesn’t Get Enough Credit For Franchise First

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine gets a lot of credit these days and deservedly so. Among other things, it was the first series in the franchise to take a serialized storytelling approach and the first to feature a Black actor as its lead. One thing no one really talks about is how DS9 was the first Star Trek series to give us a genuine detective as one of its heroes–Odo, the station’s chief of security.

<p>In the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Elementary, My Dear Data,” the holodeck plays a major role in how Captain Picard and the rest of the crew defeat Moriarity, their evil genius foe. </p><p>To give Data a real challenge, Geordi La Forge orders the holodeck to create a foe worthy of the brainy android; taking those instructions a bit too literally, the holodeck ends up giving the Sherlock Holmes villain access to the ship’s computer. </p><p>Moriarity uses his control over ship systems to bargain for continued existence in the real world, but he is told by Picard that, for the time being, that is completely impossible. </p>

Other Trek Heroes Solved Mysteries, But Not Full Time

Of course, Star Trek heroes other than Odo liked to play detective–most memorably Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s Data (as Sherlock Holmes) and Captain Picard (as the gumshoe Dixon Hill).

Spock is always adept at solving a mystery as well. But for Odo fighting crime isn’t a holodeck diversion or something he’s was forced to do occasionally because of the strangeness of the station crew’s adventures–figuring out who’s behind a crime is his 9-to-5 as well as his passion.

<p>Star Trek: Deep Space Nine‘s singular setting requires a character more like Odo than that straight-laced Starfleet officers like TNG‘s Worf or Star Trek: Voyager‘s Tuvok. It needs someone like the classic gumshoes who don’t play by the rules.</p><p>Worf is more soldier than detective. Tuvok–while facing his share of intriguing mysteries–largely deals with internal security aboard the titular ship, where the list of suspects is usually confined to the crew. He can call up near limitless information on any one of those crew members–most of whom he outranks–at a moment’s notice.</p>

DS9 Needs A Detective Who Breaks The Rules

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine‘s singular setting requires a character more like Odo than that straight-laced Starfleet officers like TNG‘s Worf or Star Trek: Voyager‘s Tuvok. It needs someone like the classic gumshoes who don’t play by the rules.

Worf is more soldier than detective. Tuvok–while facing his share of intriguing mysteries–largely deals with internal security aboard the titular ship, where the list of suspects is usually confined to the crew. He can call up near limitless information on any one of those crew members–most of whom he outranks–at a moment’s notice.

<p>I truly love his character, but the simple truth is that Star Trek: Discovery characters wouldn’t be dealing with tribbles in the 32nd century if Sisko hadn’t let Odo bring one of the creatures with him to the 24th century. Sisko is a character who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty, and if a fan mentions “Sisko’s war crimes” in a conversation, you’d have to ask which ones he’s even talking about. Ironically enough, though, his biggest crime might have been an act of kindness…violating the Temporal Prime Directive in a way that brought the tribbles back from extinction and let them once more pose a threat to everyone in the galaxy. </p><p>Sorry, space dad. You really dropped the ball on this one, and the galaxy has been paying for it for nearly a millennia. </p>

DS9’s Setting Is Much More Complex

On Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Odo confronts a much more complex situation. He deals with crimes aboard a space station whose population fluctuates every time a ship departs or arrives–and they depart and arrive all the time.

Odo’s culprits could be one of the Starfleet personnel on board, one of the Bajoran Militia, one of the thousands of civilians who make a permanent home on DS9, or one of its many daily visitors.

For all the Changeling knows, every time he looks into a crime, the guilty party could be deep in the Gamma Quadrant by the time his investigation begins.

Not to mention Star Trek: Deep Space Nine saddles Odo with a unique political and legal situation. Federation’s Starfleet runs DS9, but according to the laws of Bajor. The question of whether it’s Federation or Bajoran law that rules on the station sometimes seems a little arbitrary (i.e. it depends on what works better for the story).

Hippocratic Oath

The Season 4 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode “Hippocratic Oath” perfectly illustrates why Odo needed to be the franchise’s first detective.

The third episode of Season 4 takes place shortly after the arrival of Worf as a regular cast member, who finds it impossible to let go of his security chief instincts from his time on the Enterprise.

More direct in his time as security chief than Odo, Worf has a low opinion of how the Changeling does his job.

When Worf gets wind of Quark making an illicit deal, he assumes Odo isn’t doing anything about it.

The Klingon takes matters into his own hands and unintentionally ruins the Changeling’s long-brewing sting operation.

It’s the kind of investigation Star Trek: Deep Space Nine could have Odo doing on the regular, but that you would never see on TNG or Voyager. The crew of those ships combat smuggling on board by not allowing smugglers on board. DS9 can’t afford that luxury.

Improbable Cause

A favorite of mine that illustrates why Star Trek: Deep Space Nine needed a more hard-nosed detective like Odo is Season 3’s “Improbable Cause.”

The first half of a two-parter, “Improbable Cause” opens with an explosion in Garak’s tailor shop. Most of the episode follows Odo’s investigation into the blast.

Hitting dead ends, Odo finally makes some headway when he has a clandestine meeting with an unnamed Cardassian–presumably a high-ranking member of either Cardassia’s military or its government.

This contact is another beautiful example of why Star Trek: Deep Space Nine needs someone more like Odo. As the security chief aboard a station at the center of one of the most politically volatile parts of the galaxy, having resources inside the Cardassian government would be invaluable to the Changeling.

Conversely, I can’t think of another Trek series in which such a secret “Deep Throat” like contact would make sense. Sure, having those kinds of clandestine buddies could have helped the heroes of Voyager navigate certain sectors of the Delta Quadrant, but by the time they could forge the kinds of relationships necessary to make those resources possible, they’re well on their way to a part of space where those contacts are useless.

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For a lot of people, buying car insurance is like buying sliced bread. It’s not the most exciting purchase, and the options all seem similar. So thrifty shoppers might simply reach for the cheapest thing on the shelf. But like cheap bread, cheap car insurance may leave you wishing you spent a little more on quality.

“The cheapest is not always the best,” warns Jessica McNally, an agency owner with Goosehead Insurance in Dallas. That’s because there are lots of factors that make up a car insurance company. And while price is one of them, it’s best to look at the bigger picture.

Here’s what to look for when picking the best car insurance company.

1. Choose a financially stable company

The best car insurance companies have plenty of money on hand to pay for customers’ claims. It’s important to check an insurer’s financial stability before buying a policy, especially if it’s a smaller insurer you’ve never heard of.

There are several independent agencies that evaluate the financial strength of insurance companies. One example is A.M. Best. You can use its online search tool to find an insurer’s financial strength rating. Companies with a rating of A or higher are considered to have an excellent ability to pay out customer claims.

2. Check customer satisfaction ratings and reviews

Not every insurer is customer-first. That’s why it’s important to research the customer satisfaction of insurers you’re considering.

You can turn to surveys from companies like J.D. Power to find insurers with the best customer satisfaction scores [0] J.D. Power . Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Plummets as Rates Continue to Surge, J.D. Power Finds . Accessed May 21, 2024. View all sources . Or, if you don’t mind doing a little detective work, you can compare customer complaints against insurers by using the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ website . But take other people’s emotionally charged comments about companies or agents you might read online with a grain of salt, McNally advises.

3. Look for convenience

A great auto insurer should offer multiple ways to manage a policy. For example, some insurers allow customers to use a mobile app to file and track claims. But it’s hard to tell how simple it’ll be to file a claim or perform other essential tasks, like paying your premium, before becoming a customer.

Some telltale signs that an insurer will be easy to work with are high mobile app ratings, flexible customer service hours and an easy-to-use website with helpful content. Consider asking a company representative to walk you through the claims process to learn what you’ll need to do if you have to file a claim. And pay attention to how the company communicates with you. "If they don't properly communicate, well, that's a warning sign," says Michael DeLong, a research and advocacy associate for the nonprofit Consumer Federation of America.

4. Pick an affordable company

Car insurance premiums are stretching to record-breaking heights [0] U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS . Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) . Accessed May 21, 2024. View all sources , and almost half of U.S. consumers shopped for a new car insurance policy in the past year, according to an April 2024 report by J.D. Power [0] J.D. Power . Half of Auto Insurance Customers Currently Shopping for New Policies, J.D. Power Finds . Accessed May 21, 2024. View all sources . The best car insurance companies offer competitive rates and a variety of potential discounts.

It’s not hard to get car insurance quotes online from many companies. Make sure you compare the same coverage options throughout the quote-gathering process. And don’t forget to look for car insurance discounts, like breaks for being a good driver, paying your premium in full or driving a new car.

More tips to find the best car insurance

When shopping for the best car insurance, keep the following tips in mind.

Assess your needs. Before buying car insurance, take a moment to reflect on what’s important to you and your family. For example, maybe you prioritize affordability and a well-polished mobile app, but don’t need accident forgiveness .

Consider small insurers. There are lots of small insurance companies you’ve probably never heard of. These regional insurers may provide lower rates and better customer service than the big companies you see advertised on TV.

Work with an independent agent. While it may be easy to get quotes yourself, independent car insurance agents and brokers can streamline the process. These experts vet companies and compile quotes from small and large insurers on your behalf. Independent agents and brokers can especially come in handy if you have a less-than-perfect driving record and can’t find insurance on your own.

Do your research. Search online for recent mentions of a company in the news before buying a policy, recommends DeLong. If you find a company has lots of recent lawsuits against it, you may want to think twice about signing on the dotted line. “And if they've had to pay out settlements, that's an even bigger red flag,” DeLong says.

Shop around once a year. Make a practice of shopping for car insurance every year — especially if price is important to you. Insurers adjust car insurance rates regularly, so what might have been the most affordable option last year may no longer be a bargain.

On a similar note...

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The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.
The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. #Vulcanwisdom #
Star Trek Needs of the one, outweigh the needs of the many
Star Trek Today
"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few."
A great quote from I am Spock by Leonard Nimoy. FIRST OFFICER NIMS

COMMENTS

Spock's Illogic: "The Needs of the Many Outweigh the Needs of the Few"
With this week's DVD release of Star Trek into Darkness, now is a good time to evaluate or reevaluate the oft-stated Star Trek claim, "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" (or "the one"). This claim is made in various scenes in the films, including in the latest one. Let's first consider some instances and the relevant contexts.
"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Or the one."
James Kirk and Spock. The story behind the quote: The quote was actually mentioned twice in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. The first time is relatively early in the film. Spock is actually in command of the Enterprise when it receives a distress call from another starship. Kirk, now an admiral decides to take command due to the emergency.
Do the Needs of the Many Outweigh the Needs of the Few?
The most memorable, of course, is: The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one. This statement was made by Spock in The Wrath of Khan. Spock says, "Logic clearly dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.". Captain Kirk answers, "Or the one.". This sets up a pivotal scene near the end of the film.
Star Trek Quotes: Leonard Nimoy's Best Spock Quotes
In memory of Nimoy, let's take a look back at 10 of Spock's finest quotes. 10. "May I say that I have not thoroughly enjoyed serving with humans? I find their illogic and foolish emotions a ...
"Because the Needs of the One . . . Outweigh the Needs of the Many
David would almost certainly have died whether Kirk had come back for Spock or not.) Kirk, in a wonderful reversal from the second movie, tells Spock that he did this "because the needs of the one . . . outweigh the needs of the many.". This triggers Spock to remember their last words and Kirk's name.
Quotes
This line was spoken by Spock (played by Leonard Nimoy) in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, directed by Nicholas Meyer (1982). When you think about the iconic character Spock from Star Trek, the second thing that comes to mind, after pointy ears, is his obsession with logic. This predisposition has launched a thousand memes and is key to his ...
Kirk & Spock
Kirk & Spock - The Needs Of The One Outweigh The Needs Of The ManyStar Trek III (1984)
Star Trek Week: 28 Universally Known Star Trek One-Liners
The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one. -Mr. Spock in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. 8. I have been and always shall be your friend. -Mr. Spock in Star Trek II: The ...
Kirk: The needs of the one outweighed the needs of the many.
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. 1984. Stars: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan. Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi. Rating: PG. Runtime: 105 minutes. Devoted Star Trek fans will surely cite the "even number" rule in evaluating the Original Crew Movie Collection, but all six of these films qualify as rousing ...
Best Spock Quotes: Wisdom and Logic from the Star Trek Icon
Spock Quotes. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end. In critical moments, men sometimes see exactly what they wish to see. Insufficient facts always invite danger. It is curious how often you humans manage to obtain that which you do not want.
"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few"
Think of Star Trek's quote: "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" (or "the one") In the context of Star Trek, does the many/few refer to a specific group of many/few beings or m...
Quote by Spock played by Leonard Nimoy: "The needs of the many outweigh
The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Or the one. ... Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. ... ― Spock played by Leonard Nimoy tags: star-trek. Read more quotes from Spock played by Leonard Nimoy. Share this quote: Like Quote. Recommend to friends. Friends Who Liked This Quote.
Spock Logic The Needs of the Many
Mr. Spock knew that the needs of the many, are greater than the needs of the few. Or of the one. What is the political message? One of hope. One of compas...
The 25+ Best Spock Quotes in Star Trek History
That Man On The Bridge. I have a responsibility to this ship, to that man on the bridge. I am what I am, Leila. If there are self-made purgatories, then we all have to live in them. Mine can be no worse than someone else's. 13 votes.
The Needs of the Many Outweigh The Needs of the Few
Probably my favorite scene in all of Star Trek. Most people attach themselves to Kirk and Spock's conversation at the end or the ensuing affair afterward, bu...
50 Star Trek Quotes Inspiring You to Boldly Go Into Your Future
Below are 50 of the best quotes from the original series, to inspire you to test the limits of your own potential and go boldly where you have never gone before. 1. "A man either lives life as it ...
Star Trek: Spock's 15 Best Quotes, Ranked
10 "Captain, you almost make me believe in luck." Paramount Television. Luck is entirely illogical, according to Spock. Those who put their stock in luck are asking to be let down, but Captain ...
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock: Directed by Leonard Nimoy. With William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan. Admiral Kirk and his bridge crew risk their careers stealing the decommissioned U.S.S. Enterprise to return to the restricted Genesis Planet to recover Spock's body.
Star Trek: The 10 Best Spock Quotes
In one of Spock's most hilarious out-of-context quotes, he brushes off a bit of the human vernacular that he picked up while exploring Earth. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country was the last go-around for the original crew, and the film was as hilarious as it was entertaining. Showing that he has warmed somewhat to humanity, Spock lets the crew know exactly what he feels about their ...
15 Spock Quotes for Logical Living
In memory of Nimoy's beloved character and his eternal wisdom, here are some thoughts from Spock about logical living. "Insufficient facts always invite danger.". "In critical moments men ...
Explore the Wisdom of the Stars: 49 Inspiring Star Trek Quotes
List of 60 Star Trek Quotes. "Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before.". - Captain James T. Kirk, Star Trek: The Original Series. "Live long and prosper.".
Captain Kirk's Wisest Quotes
To celebrate Star Trek legend William Shatner's birthday, we thought today would be an excellent time to reflect on the many pieces of wisdom that his character Captain James T. Kirk delivered throughoutStar Trek: The Original Series and over the course of seven films. Kirk conveyed his insight in many ways, ranging from clever quips and signature one-liners to profound statements and ...
Why Star Trek's "City On The Edge Of Forever" Is So Important
Later Star Trek series inherit the DNA of "The City on the Edge of Forever" with episodes using Star Trek's time travel rules, in which actions in the past have consequences for the future.Time-traveling Star Trek characters must blend in, and make difficult choices with personal stakes in the past. Notably, in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 3, "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and ...
Emotions aren't modern Star Trek's defining trope nor should they ...
Star Trek: Discovery critics have had a field day with "Labyrinths," the eighth episode of the series final season. When Captain Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) is trapped in a puzzle only her mind ...
Needs of the one, outweigh the needs of the many.
Watch how a classic Star Trek dilemma challenges the moral principle of sacrificing the few for the many.
Star Trek's Next Show Needs A New Boothby
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy should have a helpful groundskeeper like Boothby (Ray Walston) from Star Trek: The Next Generation.Although not much has been revealed about the upcoming Starfleet Academy series, it has been confirmed that the series will be set in the 32nd century as a direct spin-off of Star Trek: Discovery.Star Trek's newest show will reportedly feature a massive set for the ...
Best Star Trek Series Doesn't Get Enough Credit For Franchise First
Of course Star Trek heroes other than Odo liked to play detective-most memorably Star Trek: The Next Generation's Data (as Sherlock Holmes) and Captain Picard (as the gumshoe Dixon Hill).
It's not just guilty or not guilty. Here are all the possible outcomes
Those records, prosecutors allege, were made in connection with a scheme to mask the true source of former Trump fixer Michael Cohen's $130,000 payment to silence porn star Stormy Daniels on the ...
How to Get The Best Car Insurance
1. Choose a financially stable company. The best car insurance companies have plenty of money on hand to pay for customers' claims. It's important to check an insurer's financial stability ...