famous scotty star trek quotes

• Character Quotes
• Star Trek (2009)

Scotty Quotes in Star Trek (2009)

Scotty quotes:.

Scotty : I like this ship! You know, it's exciting!

Spock Prime : What if I told you that your transwarp theory was correct, that is is indeed possible to beam onto a ship that is traveling at warp speed?

Scotty : I think if that equation had been discovered, I'd have heard about it.

Spock Prime : The reason you haven't heard of it, Mr. Scott, is because you haven't discovered it yet.

Scotty : I'm s... Wha... It... Are you from the future?

James T. Kirk : Yeah, he is. I'm not.

Scotty : Well, that's brilliant. Do they still have sandwiches there?

Spock Prime : You are, in fact, the Mr. Scott who postulated the theory of transwarp beaming?

Scotty : That's what I'm talking about! How do you think I wound up here? Had a little debate with my instructor on relativistic physics and how it pertains to subspace travel. He seemed to think that the range of transporting something like a... like a grapefruit was limited to about 100 miles. I told him that I could not only beam a grapefruit from one planet to the adjacent planet in the same system - which is easy, by the way - I could do it with a life form. So, I tested it out on Admiral Archer's prized beagle.

James T. Kirk : Wait, I know that dog. What happened to it?

Scotty : I'll tell you when it reappears. Ahem. I don't know, I do feel guilty about that.

Scotty : Except, the thing is, even if I believed you, right, where you're from, what I've done - which I don't, by the way - you're still talking about beaming aboard the Enterprise while she's traveling faster than light, without a proper receiving pad.

Scotty : [ to Keenser ] Get off there! It's not a climbing frame!

Scotty : [ back to Spock Prime ] The notion of transwarp beaming is like trying to hit a bullet with a smaller bullet whilst wearing a blindfold, riding a horse.

[ Spock writes on a paper ]

Scotty : What's that?

Spock Prime : Your equation for achieving transwarp beaming.

Scotty : [ to himself ] He's out of it

Scotty : [ reads the equation ] Imagine that! It never occurred to me to think of SPACE as the thing that was moving!

[ the U.S.S. Enterprise is being sucked into a black hole, seconds away from doom ]

Scotty : I'm giving her all she's got, Captain!

[ the bridge ceiling begins to crack as the ship's drawn closer ]

James T. Kirk : All she's got isn't good enough! What else ya got?

Scotty : Um... Okay, if we eject the core and detonate, the blast could be enough to push us away! I cannae promise anything, though!

[ the viewing window starts to rupture ]

James T. Kirk : DO IT, DO IT, DO IT!

Spock : We are traveling at warp speed. How did you manage to beam aboard this ship?

James T. Kirk : Hey, you're the genius. You figure it out.

Spock : As acting captain of this vessel, I order you to answer the question.

James T. Kirk : Well, I'm not telling, "Acting Captain." What, did...?

[ Kirk smiles ]

James T. Kirk : What, now, that doesn't frustrate you, does it? My lack of cooperation? That-that doesn't make you angry...

Spock : [ Spock turns to Scotty ] Are you a member of Starfleet?

Scotty : I, um, yes. Can I get a towel, please?

Spock : Under penalty of court martial, I order you to explain to me how you were able to beam aboard this ship while moving at warp.

Scotty : Well...

James T. Kirk : Don't answer him.

Spock : You will answer me.

Scotty : [ pause ] I'd rather not take sides.

[ Spock Prime and Kirk arrive at a derelict Starfleet outpost, and discover... ]

Scotty : You realize how unacceptable this is?

Spock Prime : Fascinating!

Scotty : Okay, I'm sure you're just doing your job, but could you not have come a wee bit sooner? Six months I've been here, living off Starfleet protein nibs and the promise of a good meal! And I know exactly what's going on here, okay? Punishment, isn't it? Ongoing! For something that was clearly an accident!

Spock Prime : [ pleased ] You are Montgomery Scott.

James T. Kirk : You know him?

Scotty : Aye, that's me. You're in the right place. Unless there's another hardworking, equally starved Starfleet officer around.

Keenser : Me.

Scotty : Get aff! Shut up! You don't eat anything! You can eat, like, a bean, and you're done. I'm talking about food. REAL food!

Scotty : I've never beamed three people from two targets onto one pad before!

Scotty : So, the Enterprise has had its maiden voyage, has it? She is one well-endowed lady. I'd like to get my hands on her "ample nacelles," if you pardon the engineering parlance.

James T. Kirk : Scotty, how we doin'?

Scotty : Dilithium chamber at maximum, Captain.

Scotty : [ noticing Keenser straddling a console ] GET DOWN!

Scotty : If it isn't Captain James Tiberius Perfect-Hair!

[ to Keenser ]

Scotty : Did you hear that? I called him "Perfect-Hair".

James T. Kirk : Where are you?

Scotty : Where are you?

James T. Kirk : Are you drunk?

Scotty : What I do on my private time is my business, Jim.

Scotty : Wait. Jim, if we go in there, we'll die! Do you hear me? The radiation will kill us! Will you listen to me? Look, what the hell are you doing?

James T. Kirk : I'm opening the door. I'm going in.

Scotty : The door's there to stop us from getting irradiated! We'd be dead before making the climb!

James T. Kirk : [ quietly ] You're not making the climb.

[ Kirk knocks out Scotty and enters the chamber ]

Scotty : [ Kirk and Bones return to the Enterprise on Nibiru ] Do you have any idea how ridiculous it is to hide a starship on the bottom of the ocean?

James T. Kirk : [ asking Scotty to investigate the coordinates Khan gave him ] I'm not exactly sure what you're looking for, but I have a feeling you'll know it when you see it. You may have been right about those torpedoes.

Scotty : [ surprised at Jim's admission ] I will consider that an apology. And I will consider that apology.

Scotty : Welcome aboard.

James T. Kirk : It's good to see you too, Scotty.

Scotty : [ to Khan ] Are you crazy? Whoever you are.

James T. Kirk : Just listen to him, Scotty. It's gonna be alright.

[ from trailer ]

Scotty : The ship's dead, sir! She's gone!

James T. Kirk : No, she's not...

Scotty : [ gesturing to the warp core ] Do you know what this is, Captain?

James T. Kirk : I don't have time for a lecture, Scotty!

Scotty : [ more forcefully ] Do you know what this is?

James T. Kirk : [ sighs ] It's a warp core.

Scotty : It's a radioactive catastrophe waiting to happen. A subtle shift in magnetic output from, say, firing one or more of six dozen torpedoes with an unknown payload could set of a chain reaction which would kill every living thing on this ship, letting these torpedoes on the Enterprise is the last straw!

James T. Kirk : What was the first straw?

Scotty : What was the...

Scotty : -there are plenty of straws, how about Starfleet confiscating my transwarp equation, and now some madman is using it to hop across the galaxy! Where'd you think he got it from!

James T. Kirk : We have our orders, Scotty.

Scotty : That's what scares me... this is clearly a military operation. Is that what we are now? Cause I thought we were explorers. I thought we...

James T. Kirk : Sign for the torpedoes. That's an order.

Scotty : Right. Well you leave me no choice but to resign my duties.

James T. Kirk : Oh come on, Scotty.

Scotty : You're giving me no choice, sir!

James T. Kirk : You're not giving me much of a choice!

Scotty : I will not stand by and...

James T. Kirk : You're just making exceptions, sign for the...

Scotty : [ forcefully ] Do you accept my resignation or not?

James T. Kirk : I DO!... I do. You are relieved Mr. Scott.

Scotty : [ after a long pause ] Jim... for the love of God, do not use those torpedoes.

[ hands Kirk his PADD and walks away, Keenser does the same ]

Scotty : No! I'm not signing anything! Now get these bloody things off my ship!

[ sees Kirk ]

Scotty : Captain!

James T. Kirk : Is there a problem, Mr. Scott?

Scotty : Aye, sir! I was just explaining to this gentlemen that I cannae authorize any weapons on board this ship without knowing what's inside them!

Spock : Mr. Scott raises yet another point that le...

James T. Kirk : Report to the bridge.

Spock : Captain.

[ leaves the engineering room ]

James T. Kirk : Mr. Scott, I understand your concerns but we need these torpedoes on board!

Scotty : Due respect, sir, but photo torpedoes run on fuel, now I cannae detect the type of fuel that's in the compartments on these torpedoes because it's shielded. Now I asked for the specifications but he says...

[ gestures to Torpedo Security ]

Torpedo Security : It's classified.

Scotty : [ repeating exasperatedly ] It's classified. So I said; no specs, no signature!

Sulu : [ from deck above ] Captain, flight checks complete, we're good to go, sir.

James T. Kirk : Thank you, Mr. Sulu.

Sulu : Yes, sir.

Scotty : Now if you'll excuse me, sir, I have a warp core to prime.

[ walks away ]

Scotty : [ to Keenser ] Get down!

Bones : Jim, your vitals are way off...

James T. Kirk : Report to the medbay.

[ follows Scotty to the warp core ]

James T. Kirk : Scotty! I need you to approve those weapons.

Scotty : It's been upgraded to a 10.9 by the guys at Harvard.

Adrian Helmsley : What does Caltech have to say?

Professor West : The whole city of Pasadena was wiped out just a few minutes ago.

Ark Communications Officer : The capital's been hit by a 9.4.

Ark Communications Officer : We've lost communication with the White House, sir.

Adrian Helmsley : Where's it centered?

Scotty : North Chesapeake Bay.

McCoy : [ Kirk runs in to the engine room and sees Spock inside the reactor compartment. He rushes over but McCoy and Scotty hold him back ] No! You'll flood the whole compartment!

Kirk : He'll die!

Scotty : Sir! He's dead already.

McCoy : It's too late.

[ They let go and Kirk walks to the glass and pushes the intercom button ]

Kirk : Spock!

[ Spock slowly walks over to the glass and pushes the intercom ]

Spock : The ship... out of danger?

Kirk : Yes.

Spock : Do not grieve, Admiral. It is logical. The needs of the many, outweigh...

Kirk : The needs of the few.

Spock : Or the one. I never took the Kobayashi Maru test until now. What do you think of my solution?

Kirk : Spock.

[ Spock sits down ]

Spock : [ Gasping ] I have been... and always shall be... your friend.

[ he places a Vulcan salute on the glass ]

Spock : [ Gasping ] Live long... and prosper.

[ Spock dies ]

Scotty : The energizer's bypassed like a Christmas tree, so don't give me too many bumps.

Preston : I believe you'll find everything ship-shape, Admiral.

Kirk : Oh, do you? Do you have any idea, Midshipman Preston, how many times I have had to listen to Mr. Scott on the comm, telling me his trouble? Do you have any idea of the ribbing I've had to endure in the officers' mess... to the effect that the Enterprise is a flying death trap?

Preston : Oh, no sir! Wha... this is the finest engine room in the whole Starfleet! If the Admiral can't see the facts for himself, then, with all due respect, he's as blind as a Tiberian bat!

Scotty : Ahem!

Preston : Sir!

Kirk : Midshipman, you're a tiger.

Scotty : My sister's youngest, Admiral. Crazy to get to space.

Kirk : Every young man's fantasy. Seem to remember it myself.

[ Kirk is invited to give a command to the new Enterprise-B ]

Kirk : Take us out.

Chekov : Very good, sir.

Scotty : Brought a tear to my eye.

Kirk : Oh, be quiet.

Scotty : Finding retirement a little lonely, are we?

Kirk : You know, I'm glad you're an engineer. With tact like that, you'd make a lousy psychiatrist.

Scotty : Loser.

Lou : Cat person.

Kirk : What are we all doing here?

McCoy : Maybe they're throwing us a retirement party.

Scotty : That suits me. I just bought a boat.

Uhuru : This had better be good. I'm supposed to be chairing a seminar at the Academy.

Chekov : Captain, isn't this just for top brass?

McCoy : If we're all here, where's Sulu?

Kirk : *Captain* Sulu, on assignment. Where's Spock?

[ 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.

Kirk : How much refit time before 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 : [ over the intercom ] Your reputation is secure, Scotty.

Kirk : 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.

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.

Captain Styles : 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.

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!

[ 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!

Elevator voice : Level please.

Scotty : Up your shaft.

Kirk : Mr. Scott, you're amazing!

Scotty : There's nothing amazing about it. I know this ship like the back of my hand.

[ walks into low-hanging beam, knocks himself out cold ]

Kirk : Stand by to execute emergency landing plan... "B."

[ a brief pause ]

Chekov : What's emergency landing plan "B?"

Scotty : I don't have a clue.

Kirk : [ on Comm system ] "B" as in Barricade.

Scotty : He can't be serious.

Scotty : [ to Kirk about ship status ] Ah. All I can say is they don't make them like they used to.

Kirk : You told me you could get this ship operational in two weeks, I gave you three, what happened?

Scotty : I think you gave me too much time, Captain.

Kirk : Very well, Mr Scott. Carry on.

Scotty : Aye, sir.

[ Spots a junior engineer nearby ]

Scotty : How many times do I have to tell you, the right tool for the right job!

McCoy : [ laughs ] I don't think I've ever seen him happier.

[ They enter the turbolift ]

Computer : Le-le-level?

Kirk : Bridge... I hope. I could use a shower.

Spock : [ looks at Kirk ] Yes.

Kirk : [ responds to a tapping within the wall ] What's that noise?

Spock : [ tapping continues ] I believe it is a primitive form of communication known as morse Code.

Kirk : You're right. I'm out of practice.

[ tapping ]

Kirk : That's an "S".

Spock : "T".

Kirk : "A"... "N"... "D", end of word.

McCoy : "Stand".

Kirk : New word... "B"... "A"...

Spock : "C"... "K".

McCoy : "Back". "Stand back".

Kirk ,  Spock ,  McCoy : "Stand back"?

[ the wall explodes ]

Scotty : [ on the other side of the wall ] What are you standing around for? Do you not know a jailbreak when you see one?

[ Chief Engineer Scott making a log entry ]

Scotty : USS Enterprise, shakedown crew's report. I think this new ship was put together by monkeys. Oh, she's got a fine engine, but half the doors won't open, and guess whose job it is to make it right.

Scotty : [ cursing, on his back trying to fix a computer console ] "Let's see what she's got," said the captain. And then we found out, didn't we?

Uhura : [ walking in ] I know you'll whip her into shape, Scotty, you always do.

Scotty : [ getting up ] Uhura, I thought you were on leave.

Uhura : And I thought we were supposed to be going together.

Scotty : Oh, I can't leave her now when she needs me the most.

Uhura : [ stroking Scotty's cheek ] I had a feeling you would say something like that, so I brought us...

[ whipping up two packages ]

Uhura : dinner.

Scotty : [ grabbing a package ] Oh, lassie. You're the most understanding woman I know.

Starfleet Officer : [ transmission on a malfunctioning computer ] Red-Red-Red Alert. Red Alert. Red-Red-Red Alert.

Scotty : I just fixed that damn thing! Turn it off, will you?

McCoy : Jim... if you ask me, and you haven't, I think this is a terrible idea. We're bound to bump into the Klingons, and they don't exactly like you.

Kirk : The feeling's mutual. Engine room.

Scotty : [ over the intercom ] Scotty here.

Kirk : We'll need all the power you can muster, mister.

Scotty : Don't you worry, Captain. We'll beat those Klingon devils, even if I have to get out and push.

Kirk : I hope it won't come to that, Mr. Scott.

Captain Doyle : Cappuccino? Espresso?

[ tries to dispense some, but the coffee machine flies sparks ]

Captain Doyle : Hey Scotty, can you get this machine to work?

Scotty : I'm givin' it all she's got, Captain! If I push it any farther, the whole thing'll blow!

Scotty : The aerodynamics work! He's breaking wind at 90!

[ faced with a 20th century computer ]

Scotty : Computer! Computer?

[ He's handed a mouse, and he speaks into it ]

Scotty : Hello, computer.

Dr. Nichols : Just use the keyboard.

Scotty : Keyboard. How quaint.

[ Kirk has just spoken very abruptly to Mr. Scott ]

Scotty : He's in a wee bit of a snit, isn't he?

Spock : He is a man of deep feelings.

Scotty : Aye, what else is new?

Scotty : Admiral, there be whales here!

McCoy : You, ah, realize of course that if we give him the formula we're altering the future.

Scotty : Why? How do we know he didn't invent the thing?

[ the crew is on a shuttlecraft pondering what their new starship will be ]

Sulu : ...I'm counting on the *Excelsior*.

Scotty : The *Excelsior*? Why in God's name would you want that bucket of bolts?

Kirk : A ship is a ship.

Scotty : Whatever you say so.

Scotty : Thy will be done.

[ the new starship USS *Enterprise* 1701-A emerges into view ]

Kirk : My friends.

Kirk : We've come home.

Scotty : Damage control is easy. Reading Klingon - that's hard.

[ Kirk is pacing back and forth, considering a below-decks room in the Klingon ship for possible whale transport ]

Kirk : Scotty, how long is this bay?

Scotty : About sixty feet, Admiral.

Kirk : Can you enclose it to hold water?

Scotty : [ laughs ] I suppose I could. You planning to take a swim?

McCoy : [ sourly ] Off the deep end, Mr. Scott!

Kirk : We got to find some humpbacks.

Scotty : Humpbacked... people?

Kirk : Whales, Mr. Scott, whales!

Scotty : [ over the intercom ] I'm ready, Spock! Let's go find George and Gracie!

Soren : Good heavens!

[ as he enters the dorm room ]

Soren : I thought you had to be convicted of a crime before you lived somewhere like this.

Eddie : Well it's not that bad. Plus, we haven't seen the rest of it yet.

[ opens closet door ]

Soren : Apparently, this is the rest of it.

Eddie : Well I like it. And I'll even let you have first choice of the beds.

Soren : Ooo, heavens, which stained mattress shall I choose?

Scotty : [ enters, coughing, sniffling, and clearing throat ] You the new guys? I'm Scotty. All right, all my food's labeled, so I'll know if you ate anything. I'm allergic to dairy, shellfish, red meat, melon, nuts, and kiwi, so don't bring any of that stuff around here.

[ sits down at computer ]

Scotty : The X-box is off limits. If you screw up any of my high scores, I'll blind you with my laser pointer.

Soren : [ Eddie enters the dormroom where Soren is hooked playing the XBox ] Whoa.

Scotty : [ to Eddie ] He's been like this since I got here yesterday.

Soren : Whoa.

Scotty : [ jumps to take back the console ] Give it back!

Soren : Back off Clearisil!

[ Scotty jumps backs to where he was ]

Scotty : [ Soren slaps Scotty's hand which was directing toward Soren's last royally-paid-for breakfast ] Hey, you cheap Swede!

Scotty : [ Scotty just realizing that Paige is present in the dormroom who has been there for a minute or so ] Dude. Dude, there's a chick in our room!

Paige : Where's Eddie?

Scotty : Oh, you mean, prince-who-ate-my-triscuits-and-didn't-replace-them?

Ens. Frank Pulver : You mean after everything I've told you, you think I *could* be a doctor?

Scotty : By rights, you should be a good one. You have more people to prove yourself to than anyone I ever heard of. You should cash in on that. My family's in business. They say the big trick is to turn liabilities into assets.

Bea : If I were a man, I wouldn't be a lapdog tied to any woman's apron strings.

Scotty : I might surprise you.

Bea : You probably won't.

Scotty : You're gonna realise, marriage is an idea whose time has come and gone.

Blu : [ Watching Belinda on tape ] What about her?

Scotty : For the inside man?

Blu : For you, she'd be perfect.

Scotty : Perfect? She only has nine fingers.

Scotty : [ Finds footage of Belinda stepping out of her dress ] Look what I found.

Ellie : You can't watch this.

Blu : Au contrare, it's our duty to watch this.

Scotty : This is evidence of a crime.

Ellie : It's a crime alright.

Blu : She'd be a nice girl for you.

Scotty : I'm not going out with any girl you've seen naked.

Blu : She's not naked.

Scotty : She will be in a minute.

Blu : [ Watching Chester Robb on tape ] What's with Barn here?

Scotty : He's lost in thought.

Blu : That's a place where he'd be lost.

Scotty : I'm a fuggin' idiot. I'm a fuggin' idiot. Fuggin' idiot, fuggin' idiot, fuggin' idiot...

Scotty : Leroy, did you know this is Chance Wayne... the famous Hollywood and Broadway celebrity?

Leroy : Really?

Bud : Sure. All bartenders become movie stars. Right, Chance?

Chance Wayne : Oh, well. What he's trying to say is that I had your job for too long.

Scotty : [ everyone is looking into the cellar after it flies open ] An animal? An animal? That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

Scotty : [ Taunting Cheryl by whispering ] Dead bodies in the cellar. Dead bodies in the...

Cheryl : Will you stop it!

Ash : Linda's still asleep. I don't know what else to do for her. It'll be dawn in a few hours so...

Scotty : I can't wait. I'm getting out of here... now!

Ash : Scotty, we can't take Linda anywhere with her leg like that. We don't even know if there is any other way back besides the bridge.

Scotty : Well... maybe there's an old road or a hiking trail or something. I mean, there must be another away around the cliff.

Ash : Listen to me. Linda cannot walk with her leg like that. She can't even stand up.

Scotty : So, we'll leave her here until we can send somebody back.

Ash : What, are you crazy? I'm not...

Scotty : [ interupting ] Look, I'm getting out of here! I don't care what happens to her! She's your girlfriend, you take care of her!

[ first lines ]

Scotty : Hey, Ash, where are we?

Ash : Well we just crossed the Tennessee border...

Scotty : I'm gonna break your face!

[ to Ash, after picking up a ceremonial dagger adorned with skulls ]

Scotty : This kinda looks like your old girlfriend! Ha ha ha.

Billy Buvanny : Scotty, you don't understand. I'm in love.

Scotty : Oh, you're in love.

Billy Buvanny : Yes, Scotty, I'm in love.

Scotty : Well, kiss me.

Billy Buvanny : Oh, shut up.

Scotty : Hey, listen, all dames are alike. There's no difference in any of 'em.

Billy Buvanny : Yeah, well Dee is different.

Scotty : Oh, yeah? Well, what's different about Dee?

Billy Buvanny : I'll tell ya. In the first place, she doesn't drink. And in the second place, she doesn't smoke.

Scotty : Oh, I see, she's like an old fashioned lamp. She don't smoke or drink, but, she goes out at nights.

Billy Buvanny : You think you're a wise guy.

Dave : Hey, Scotty, you're not Scotch, are you?

Scotty : No.

Dave : Then, why do they call you Scotty?

[ Scotty thinks ]

Scotty : Cause I'm Irish.

Scotty : Room?

Ross Haney : The best you got.

Scotty : Take your pick - there'll all bad.

Scotty : You know, I've only had three close friends in my day.

Ross Haney : Oh? Who were they?

Scotty : Two guns and a horse.

Scotty : Payne and Reynolds ran all the little ranchers off the range and they kept 'em off with lead. What do you plan to use for ammunition?

Ross Haney : Water.

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• Hikaru Sulu
• Test Administrator
• Burly Cadet #1
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• Vulcan Bully #2
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• All Character Quotes:

Montgomery Scott

• View history

Captain Montgomery Scott – often referred to as " Scotty " by his shipmates – was a male Human Starfleet officer who lived during the 23rd and 24th centuries .

For a period of nearly thirty years, he served as the chief engineer of both the USS Enterprise and the USS Enterprise -A , both under the command of Captain James T. Kirk . ( TOS : " Where No Man Has Gone Before "; Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country ; TNG : " Relics ", et al.)

With his reputation as a " miracle worker ", he was a man of superior technical and engineering skill, experience, and ingenuity. ( TOS : " The Doomsday Machine "; Star Trek III: The Search for Spock , Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home ; TNG : " Relics "; SNW : " Hegemony ")

• 1 Early life
• 2.1 Starfleet Academy
• 2.2.1 Service aboard the Stardiver
• 2.3.1 The five-year mission
• 2.3.2 Refitting the Enterprise
• 2.3.3 Battle with Khan
• 2.3.4 Stealing the Enterprise
• 2.4 Traveling back to 1986
• 2.5.1 The Sybok incident
• 2.5.2 Stopping a conspiracy
• 2.6.1 Maiden voyage of the Enterprise -B
• 2.6.2 En route to the Norpin colony
• 2.6.3 Reemergence in the 24th century
• 3.1 Klingon attack destroys Enterprise
• 3.2 Party on the Enterprise
• 4.1 Friendships
• 4.2 Romantic relationships
• 5 Holograms
• 6 Alternate timeline
• 7 Key dates
• 8 Memorable quotes
• 9.1 Appearances
• 9.2 Background information
• 9.3 Apocrypha
• 9.4 External links

Early life [ ]

Montgomery Scott was born in Scotland on Earth in 2222 . ( TNG : " Relics ") He spent part of his life in Aberdeen , once referring to himself as an "old Aberdeen pub-crawler." ( TOS : " Wolf in the Fold ") After having time travelled to 1986 , Scott was introduced in a cover story as being from Edinburgh . ( Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home ) Upon being asked how he adjusted to space travel, Scott once admitted, " I was practically born to it. " ( TOS : " The Lights of Zetar ")

Starfleet career [ ]

Starfleet academy [ ].

Scott joined Starfleet and began his engineering career in 2241 . ( TNG : " Relics ")

During his time at Starfleet Academy , he had Professor Pelia as an instructor, who considered him to be one of her best students. Nevertheless, he received some of the worst grades in her course, something he would remain embarrassed about well into his Starfleet career. ( SNW : " Hegemony ")

Early postings and assignments [ ]

Scott was commissioned as a Starfleet officer with the serial number SE 19754 T. ( TOS : " Wolf in the Fold ")

During his fifty-one-year career, he served on a total of eleven ships , including various freighters , cruisers and starships . ( TNG : " Relics ")

Over his career, Scott had experience working with PXK pergium reactors . The last time he had even seen one was in 2247 , that was, until he attempted to repair the reactor at the Janus VI colony twenty years later . ( TOS : " The Devil in the Dark ") For a time in his career, he had also served as an engineering advisor for the freighting-line base established in the Deneva system that operated between the Deneva colony and the outlying asteroid belts . ( TOS : " Operation -- Annihilate! ")

During the course of his career, Scott wrote several technical manuals , including one titled Operating Protocol - Flow Sensors . A copy of this manual was stored in the Engineering Systems Database aboard the USS Enterprise -D in 2366 . ( TNG-R : " Booby Trap ") He was also responsible for writing Starfleet Regulation 42/15 , entitled "Pressure Variances in IRC Tank Storage", which was part of the basic operational specifications for impulse engines . These specifications were admittedly written "a wee bit" conservatively. ( TNG : " Relics ")

Service aboard the Stardiver [ ]

As a lieutenant junior grade , Scott was stationed aboard the USS Stardiver when the Stardiver was attacked by the Gorn in the Shangdi system . As the sole survivor , he escaped by constructing a transponder using parts from the Stardiver 's Hubble K7C Stellar Assessment Array , which fooled the Gorn vessels into seeing his shuttle as one of their own. However, the shuttle had been damaged and Scott was forced to land on Parnassus Beta , in the adjacent system. Scott created a "Gorn trap" using faked human bio-signs and force fields to ensnare any Gorn in the area. Scott was later beamed aboard the Enterprise , where he was reunited with his former instructor Pelia . ( SNW : " Hegemony ")

Service aboard the Enterprise [ ]

The five-year mission [ ].

Lt. Commander Montgomery Scott in 2265

By 2265 , Scott was assigned to the USS Enterprise where he served as chief engineer under Captain James Kirk . ( TOS : " Where No Man Has Gone Before ") The Enterprise was the first ship on which he was the chief engineer. ( TNG : " Relics ")

Scott in 2266

His duties also included maintenance and operation of the Enterprise 's transporter systems. Three of his top engineers included Lieutenants Kyle , Leslie , and Gabler . He was understandably upset when Harper , an assistant engineer who was one of only twenty crewmembers selected to remain aboard the Enterprise during the M-5 multitronic unit test mission, was killed by an energy transfer beam used by the insane supercomputer to draw power directly from the ship's warp engines. ( TOS : " The Ultimate Computer "; TAS : " One of Our Planets Is Missing ", " The Terratin Incident ")

Scott also served as the ship's second officer , and often assumed command when both Kirk and Spock left the ship, or they both were incapacitated. Thus, he often faced critical diplomatic and military situations. ( TOS : " A Taste of Armageddon ", " Journey to Babel ", " Friday's Child ", " Bread and Circuses ", " A Piece of the Action ") In 2268 , Kirk noted him to commendation for his outstanding command performance without disobeying the Prime Directive and saving the landing party on planet 892-IV . ( TOS : " Bread and Circuses ") However in 2267 , Kirk jokingly "fired" Scott when he couldn't repair the ship's engines and break out of orbit around Gamma Trianguli VI . After the destruction of Vaal Kirk immediately "re-hired" him. ( TOS : " The Apple ") Despite being a capable command officer he never pursued his own command post because he "…never wanted to be anythin' else but an engineer." ( TNG : " Relics ")

By the late 2260s , Scott knew more about the warp engines aboard a Constitution -class starship than even the men who designed them. ( TOS : " The Apple ") Furthermore, Scott was diligent in keeping his professional skills up to date considering he was an avid reader of technical journals , which he considered his idea of relaxing. ( TOS : " The Trouble with Tribbles ") This knowledge and ability to save the ship in a jam eventually led to his reputation aboard the Enterprise as a "miracle worker." This was brought about by his reputation for being able to effect starship repairs faster than usually required. Scott later admitted that he often padded his estimates of time needed for repairs by a factor of four in order to appear that much faster. ( Star Trek III: The Search for Spock ; TNG : " Relics ") As he said to Geordi La Forge in the 24th century, " A good engineer needs to be a wee bit conservative, at least on paper. "

Scott aboard the SS Botany Bay

In 2268, Scott stated that he knew the Enterprise better than Larry Marvick , the man who designed the starship. When Marvick visited the ship, escorting the Medusan Ambassador Kollos , Scott made a bet, that he wouldn't find his way around the engine room. When Scott allowed him access to the warp engine controls, Marvick, under the madness brought on by the sight of the Medusan, attempted to take over the vessel and hurled it into the void surrounding our galaxy . ( TOS : " Is There in Truth No Beauty? ")

Scott is pronounced dead by McCoy on the bridge of the Enterprise

In 2267, Scott was attacked and killed by Nomad , a probe originally launched from Earth in the early 21st century . Kirk was distraught by the death of his valued chief engineer, but Nomad informed Kirk that Scott could be "repaired" and the probe revived Scott in sickbay. Later, Scott assisted Kirk and Spock in beaming Nomad out into open space before it exploded from Kirk talking it to death . ( TOS : " The Changeling ")

Later in 2267, Scott was thrown against a bulkhead of the Enterprise during an explosion caused by a female crewmember . This resulted in a severe concussion and possible amnesia . He was ordered to take time off for therapeutic shore leave on the planet Argelius II . While on Argelius he got into "a wee bit of trouble," as he later described it, when he was accused of murdering an Argelian woman named Kara . Scott's situation worsened when he was accused of two more murders, those of another Argelian, Sybo , and fellow officer Karen Tracy . Scott was later acquitted of the murder charges, following the discovery of a non-humanoid lifeform called Redjac in the form of Mr. Hengist , who was found to be responsible for the murders, and who admitted to being Jack the Ripper and other serial killers in previous incarnations. ( TOS : " Wolf in the Fold "; TNG : " Relics ")

Kirk amused by Scott's beaming the tribbles aboard the Klingon ship

" Well, it's green . "

Scott was extremely proud of the Enterprise . In fact, he was so proud that he once started a bar fight aboard Deep Space Station K-7 when a Klingon named Korax suggested that the ship should be hauled away as garbage. As a result, he was confined to his quarters by Kirk. Scott smiled and told Kirk the punishment would give him a chance to catch up on technical journals he had not had time to read. Shortly after the incident at K-7, Scott managed to rid the Enterprise of the tribbles which had infested the ship. Much to the pleasure of Captain Kirk, Scott, in collaboration with Spock and McCoy , beamed the tribbles aboard the IKS Gr'oth where they would be " no tribble at all ". ( TOS : " The Trouble with Tribbles ")

In 2268, Scott helped Kirk, Spock and McCoy regain control of the Enterprise after the ship was invaded by agents of the Kelvan Empire and set on a course to the Andromeda Galaxy . Before leaving the Milky Way Galaxy , Scott and Spock devised a plan to destroy the Enterprise at the galactic barrier , but Kirk decided against it. Later Scott tried to incapacitate the Kelvan agent Tomar by drinking various alcoholic beverages with him. He got Tomar so drunk that the alien passed out, but his plan was foiled when Scott himself passed out before he could leave his quarters. ( TOS : " By Any Other Name ")

Repairing his bairns

In the same year the Enterprise was hurled hundreds of light years away from a Kalandan outpost, and sabotage accelerated the ship to dangerously high warp speeds. Scott risked his life by entering the access crawlspace to the matter-antimatter reaction chamber to repair the fused matter-antimatter integrator , a procedure so dangerous that it was not to be undertaken while the integrator was in operation. When a faulty magnetic probe nearly ruined the procedure, Scott demanded that Spock eject him from the chamber into space, but Spock risked critical seconds to allow the engineer to successfully complete his task. ( TOS : " That Which Survives ")

Scott helplessly watching Kara aim a phaser at Kirk

In 2268 , Scott's position as second officer and chief engineer required him to participate in executing the auto-destruct sequence to prevent Bele from hijacking the Enterprise to return Lokai to the planet Cheron . ( TOS : " Let That Be Your Last Battlefield ") Scott also threatened the female Romulan Commander that he would use the auto-destruct to destroy the Enterprise and "as many of you as we can take with us" when it was surrounded by Romulan vessels during its espionage mission to appropriate the Romulans ' cloaking device . ( TOS : " The Enterprise Incident ")

Scott examining the Enterprise 's dilithium crystal

Also, in 2268, Scott prevented Garth of Izar from escaping the Elba II asylum to board the Enterprise when he challenged Garth, who, in the guise of Kirk, had attempted to order Scott to transport him to the ship, by requiring Garth to provide the countersign to the prearranged chess problem . ( TOS : " Whom Gods Destroy ")

Scott was romantically involved with Starfleet sciences division specialist Lieutenant Mira Romaine at least when she was aboard the Enterprise during its mission to Memory Alpha . Scott figured prominently in the successful attempt to prevent Romaine's body from being appropriated by the Zetarians . In carrying her occupied person to McCoy's decompression chamber , Scott insisted to Kirk, " Mira will not hurt me. " Nevertheless, he was thrown across the room by their influence. ( TOS : " The Lights of Zetar ")

Scott complained to Kirk that "one of those barefoot whaddyacallems " had entered engineering and "tried to incite my crew to disaffect". ( TOS : " The Way to Eden ")

In 2268, Scott was present in the transporter room along with Kirk, Spock and Lieutenant Dickerson when Presidential honors were rendered to the Excalbian who had taken the form of US President Abraham Lincoln . He scoffed in suggesting sarcastically that "Lincoln" would be followed by " …[King] Louis of France and [fourteenth-century King of Scots] Robert the Bruce ! " ( TOS : " The Savage Curtain ")

Refitting the Enterprise [ ]

Scott in 2273

In 2270 , Scott was promoted to the rank of commander and played a leading role in the massive eighteen- month Constitution II -class redesign and refit of the USS Enterprise while serving under Captain Will Decker . ( Star Trek: The Motion Picture )

Battle with Khan [ ]

In March 2285 , Scott was a participant in Saavik 's Kobayashi Maru scenario at Starfleet Training Command . Though not present on the bridge simulator , his voice was heard on speakers . After the scenario, he served aboard the Enterprise under the command of Captain Spock. He was the ship's chief engineer for a three week training cruise. Upon receiving a call for help from Regula I , Starfleet Command ordered an investigation by the Enterprise . With Rear Admiral Kirk assuming command, the cruise was cut short. The Enterprise became involved with Project Genesis and Khan Noonien Singh's attempt to steal the Genesis Device . Eventually, Kirk was able to stop Khan, but not before the latter had wrought extensive damage upon the Enterprise , requiring Captain Spock to sacrifice his life to save the ship. One of the casualties was Scott's nephew Peter Preston . Scott played the bagpipes at Spock's funeral. ( Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan )

Stealing the Enterprise [ ]

With the Enterprise safely at Spacedock One , Scott was promoted to captain and reassigned to the USS Excelsior as Captain of Engineering during the ship's early test runs. Scott detested his assignment aboard the Excelsior, citing the ship as little more than a "bucket of bolts" and didn't particularly care for Captain Lawrence H. Styles either. When Admiral Kirk resolved to steal the Enterprise and take it to the Genesis Planet without authorization to retrieve Spock's body, Scott was instrumental in their successful escape. He sabotaged Excelsior 's transwarp computer system by removing critical components, rigged an automation system that would allow Enterprise to be operated by only a handful of bridge officers, and hacked the space doors of Spacedock into opening.

When arriving at the Genesis planet, a Klingon Bird-of-Prey ambushed the Enterprise and opened fire, disabling Scott's automation system and leaving the ship as "a sitting duck". Scott, along with Kirk and Chekov, initiated the Enterprise 's auto-destruct sequence to prevent it from falling into Klingon hands. The crew beamed down to the planet, where they watched their beloved ship burn up in the atmosphere. This would have a lasting impact on Scott in later life, as Enterprise was "his home and where he had a purpose". ( Star Trek III: The Search for Spock ; TNG : " Relics ")

Traveling back to 1986 [ ]

Scott in 2286

In 2286 , Scott traveled back in time to 1986 along with the rest of the Enterprise crew to find a pair of humpback whales . In order to construct a water tank for them, he visited the Plexicorp facility as "Professor Scott" from Edinburgh . Making a deal with plant manager Nichols he gave him the formula of transparent aluminum in exchange for a sheet of plexiglass . When Dr. McCoy objected against "changing the future," Scott pointed out " How do we know he didn't invent the thing? ".

Chief engineer of the USS Enterprise -A [ ]

The sybok incident [ ].

After returning home, he was reassigned as chief engineer of the newly commissioned USS Enterprise -A. ( Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home ) For three weeks, after a shakedown cruise, the flaws in the starship's systems were being identified and repaired under the supervision of Scott. During this time, he regained his rank of captain, after temporarily reverting to a commander following the incident of stealing the original starship Enterprise . ( Star Trek V: The Final Frontier )

Stopping a conspiracy [ ]

Scott firing his phaser at Colonel West on Khitomer

In 2293 , after seven years of serving aboard the Enterprise -A, Scott, along with the rest of the Enterprise -A crew, were due to stand down. Scott played a role in exposing the Khitomer conspiracy . Upon beaming down to the surface of Khitomer , he shot Colonel West , who was about to assassinate the Federation president and kill Lieutenant Valeris , out of a window and several stories to his death. ( Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country )

Retirement [ ]

In 2293 , Scott obtained a boat in anticipation of his retirement from the Enterprise -A. ( Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country )

Maiden voyage of the Enterprise -B [ ]

Scott in 2293

Scott appeared as a " guest of honor " along with his former commanding officer , James T. Kirk, and his old crewmate, Commander Pavel Chekov , for the maiden voyage of the new Excelsior -class USS Enterprise -B , commanded by John Harriman . When the Enterprise -B responded to the distress call from two El-Aurian transports , Scott assisted in beaming a small group of survivors on board – 47 out of a total of 150. When the Enterprise became trapped in the energy ribbon the transports were in, Scott formulated a theory to use an antimatter discharge to disrupt the ribbon long enough for the vessel to break away. After Captain Kirk modified the deflector relays to emit a resonance burst , Scott and Hikaru Sulu 's daughter Demora were able to get the Enterprise clear. However, a hull breach was created on the secondary hull by the ribbon on the ship's way out and Kirk was presumed to be blown out into space . Upon being asked by Commander Chekov if anyone was in the deflector control room on Deck 15 when it was hit, Scott stared out the breach into space and solemnly stated " Aye ". ( Star Trek Generations )

En route to the Norpin colony [ ]

In 2294 , following his retirement from Starfleet, Scott traveled aboard the USS Jenolan to the Norpin colony , where he planned to spend his retirement. The Jenolan , however, encountered a Dyson sphere en route, and while attempting to investigate it, the transport crashed on its surface. Scott and Ensign Matt Franklin were the only survivors. Knowing that they didn't have enough supplies to wait for the ship's distress call to be picked up, Scott rigged the Jenolan 's transporter systems, and existed for seventy-five years in the ship's transporter buffer . ( TNG : " Relics ")

Reemergence in the 24th century [ ]

Scott in 2369 saying farewell to the crew of the Enterprise -D

In 2369 , Montgomery Scott was rescued by the USS Enterprise -D , but due to phase inducer failure, Franklin's pattern was too degraded to be recovered.

After Scott helped rescue the Enterprise -D from the Dyson sphere, Captain Picard rewarded him with the Enterprise 's shuttlecraft Goddard . ( TNG : " Relics ")

Sometime before 2387 , Montgomery Scott discovered the necessary formulas enabling transwarp beaming , which Spock later gave to a younger Scott in 2258 of the alternate reality . ( Star Trek )

Anything but canon scenarios [ ]

Klingon attack destroys enterprise.

Scott with Arex during the Klingon attack

In an anything but canon account, a fleet of D7-class battle cruisers once attacked the USS Enterprise . Scott was present on the bridge of the ship when this was happening. The captain was attempting to give the crew orders that would help save them from the Klingon 's continuous assault , but unfortunately, he continued using figures of speech that angered various crewmembers .

As a result, the Enterprise exploded due to continuous bombardment from disruptor blasts . ( VST : " Skin a Cat ")

Party on the Enterprise

Scotty playing the drums

In another anything but canon account, in a nonsensical setting in which the crew of the USS Enterprise and the USS Cerritos were actors in cartoon shows ; a party honoring the fiftieth anniversary of Scotty and the TOS era crew's cartoon was being celebrated . D'Vana Tendi of the Cerritos was present.

Although there was brief argument between the old cartoon and the new cartoon, but as William T. Riker and Hikaru Sulu left the turbolift and walked onto the bridge to join the party, the tension settled down and the party resumed, and the crew used their singing voices and musical instruments to play a song in the style of a music genre that Riker called Post Mainframe Acid-Cardassian Ten Forwardcore . By the end, Scotty told Tendi that he loved her and her crewmates on her ship , and he apologizes for arguing with her, and he admited she was cool because she got to use all the newest tech . Tendi even told him that she thought he was " hot ." While they were still playing in the band , the ship was attacked by a fleet of D7 class battle cruisers , which causes an explosion on the bridge to occur. ( VST : " Walk, Don't Run ")

Family and personal life [ ]

Scott had at least one sister , whose youngest child, Peter Preston , served aboard the Enterprise in 2285 as a midshipman during a Starfleet Academy training cruise. Preston was killed when the Enterprise was attacked and severely damaged by the USS Reliant in a surprise attack by Khan Noonien Singh . Scott was grief-stricken after the tragedy. ( Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan )

Scott enjoying a glass of Scotch

Scott had a love for good Scotch whisky , often making references to drinking or frequenting drinking establishments on more than one planet, even referring to himself once as an "old Aberdeen pub-crawler." ( Star Trek V: The Final Frontier ; TOS : " Wolf in the Fold ") He considered Scotch a drink for real men as opposed to, for instance, vodka which he referred to as "soda pop" and "milk diet". ( TOS : " The Trouble with Tribbles "). He did not like synthehol Scotch. ( TNG : " Relics ")

He took shore leave reluctantly and ran into trouble during shore leave on at least three occasions: a fistfight on Deep Space Station K-7, ( TOS : " The Trouble with Tribbles ") an arrest for murder on Argelius, ( TOS : " Wolf in the Fold ") and a "wee bout" requiring Dr. McCoy's attention. ( Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan )

He wore his Scottish Clan kilt on three occasions. ( TOS : " Is There in Truth No Beauty? ", " The Savage Curtain "; Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan ) He also played bagpipes, most notably playing " Amazing Grace " at the funeral for Captain Spock in 2285 . ( Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan ) Scott was fascinated to be handling an old-fashioned Scottish claymore . ( TOS : " Day of the Dove ")

Friendships [ ]

Despite his superior talents as an engineer, he was often the source of comic relief among the Enterprise crew , due to his use of the Scots language . ( TOS : " The Trouble with Tribbles ", " The Savage Curtain "; Star Trek III: The Search for Spock ; Star Trek V: The Final Frontier )

Romantic relationships [ ]

Although a gentleman at heart, life as an engineer for Scott was often lonely, as he often attempted to pursue hopeless relationships with much younger female officers that were often perceived as being out of his league.

Scott was first attracted to Carolyn Palamas and reacted bitterly to the Greek god Apollo 's infatuation with her. ( TOS : " Who Mourns for Adonais? ")

Scott was interested in Kara , prior to her murder . ( TOS : " Wolf in the Fold ")

While under the influence of Harry Mudd 's love potion crystals , Scott briefly became interested in M'Ress . After the effects wore off, he snapped at her during his hangover . ( TAS : " Mudd's Passion ")

Scott and Romaine

Scott later became infatuated with the newly transferred Mira Romaine in 2269 . ( TOS : " The Lights of Zetar ")

Years later, Commander Uhura began to show some romantic interest in Scott while she was under Sybok 's influence. Scott politely declined her advances, mindful of her condition. ( Star Trek V: The Final Frontier )

Holograms [ ]

Holographic Scott

During Dal 's many attempts at the Kobayashi Maru scenario , he requested that the computer select a new chief engineer for the recently departed Jankom Pog . He was given a holographic Scott as a replacement. Scott was the rank of captain and appeared as he did during the early 2290s . ( PRO : " Kobayashi ")

Alternate timeline [ ]

In an alternate timeline in which Captain Christopher Pike remained in the command of the Enterprise and avoided the accident that exposed him to delta radiation , Scott was serving aboard the Enterprise during the Neutral Zone Incursion . When he and Spock were working on restoring to phaser control to working order, he stated to Spock that he was "an engineer, not a miracle worker.". ( SNW : " A Quality of Mercy ")

Key dates [ ]

Scott and his engineering staff on the Enterprise -A

• 2222 : Montgomery Scott was born in Scotland, Earth
• 2242 : Began his Starfleet career
• 2259 : Rescued from Parnassus Beta by Christopher Pike and taken aboard the USS Enterprise ; rank: lieutenant junior grade
• 2265 : Assigned as chief engineer of the USS Enterprise ; rank: lieutenant commander
• 2270 : Assigned to refit crew of the USS Enterprise ; rank: commander
• 2285 : Promoted to captain while assigned to the USS Excelsior ; remained the rank of captain following theft of the Enterprise and hijacking of HMS Bounty
• 2286 : Assigned as chief engineer of the USS Enterprise -A
• 2293 : Guest of honor aboard the newly-commissioned USS Enterprise -B
• 2294 : Retired from Starfleet with the rank of captain ; lost aboard USS Jenolan on Dyson sphere
• 2369 : Discovered by the crew of the USS Enterprise -D

Memorable quotes [ ]

" I cannae change the laws of physics! I've got to have thirty minutes! " ( TOS : " The Naked Time ")

" Of course I could treat them to a few dozen photon torpedoes. " ( TOS : " A Taste of Armageddon ")

" Diplomacy! [derisive snort] The best diplomat I know is a fully activated phaser bank! " ( TOS : " A Taste of Armageddon ")

" Aye, the haggis is in the fire for sure. " ( TOS : " A Taste of Armageddon ")

" It's armed now. Press this one – thirty seconds later, poof. Once it's activated, there's no way to stop it. "

" Before they went into warp I transported the whole kit 'n' kaboodle into their engine room… where they'll be no tribble at all. " ( TOS : " The Trouble with Tribbles ")

" You mind your place, mister, or you'll be wearing concrete galoshes. " ( TOS : " A Piece of the Action ")

" It's… uh… [sniffs contents of bottle] Well, it's green . " ( TOS : " By Any Other Name ")

" All right, you lovelies. Hold together. " ( TOS : " The Paradise Syndrome ")

" That Vulcan won't be satisfied until these panels are a puddle of lead! " ( TOS : " The Paradise Syndrome ")

" Oh, my bairns! My poor, poor bairns… " ( TOS : " The Paradise Syndrome ")

" The Enterprise takes no orders, except those of Captain Kirk. And if you make any attempt to board or commandeer the Enterprise , it will be blown to bits along with as many of you as we can take with us! " ( TOS : " The Enterprise Incident ")

" I'll not take that, Mr. Spock! That transporter was functioning perfectly! Transport me down right now and I'll explain to those… gentlemen… " ( TOS : " The Mark of Gideon ")

" President Lincoln indeed! No doubt to be followed by Louis of France and Robert the Bruce. " ( TOS : " The Savage Curtain ")

" Mad! Loony as an Arcturian dogbird! " ( TOS : " The Savage Curtain ")

" Admiral, we have just finished eighteen months redesigning and refitting the Enterprise . How in the name of hell do they expect me to have her ready in twelve hours?! " ( Star Trek: The Motion Picture )

" It's borderline on the simulator, captain. I cannae guarantee that she'll hold up! " ( Star Trek: The Motion Picture )

" Give the word, admiral! " " Mr. Scott, the word is given. " " Aye, sir! "

" The more they overthink the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain. " ( Star Trek III: The Search for Spock )

" Up your shaft… "

" Hello, computer! " ( Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home )

" A keyboard. [in disgust] How quaint. " ( Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home )

" Why? How do we know he didn't invent the thing ? "

" Give me one more day, sir. Damage control's easy – reading Klingon, that's hard! "

" Admiral! There be whales here! "

" Don't you worry, captain. We'll beat those Klingon devils, even if I have to get out and push! " ( Star Trek V: The Final Frontier )

" I know this ship like the back o' me hand! " (at which point Scott knocks himself out cold on a low hanging pipe) ( Star Trek V: The Final Frontier )

" Whattaya standing around for?! Ye not know a jailbreak when ye see one?! "

" Borgus Frat! 'Let's see what she's got,' said the captain! And then we found out, didn't we? "

" USS Enterprise shakedown cruise report. I think this 'new' ship was put together by monkeys. Oh, she's got a fine engine, but half the doors won't open, and guess whose job it is to make it right? "

" That suits me, I just bought a boat. " ( Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country )

" Mr. Scott? " " Aye, sir? " " Did you find the engine room? " " Right where I left it, sir. "

" I'll bet that Klingon bitch killed her father! " ( Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country )

" Synthetic scotch, synthetic commanders… "

" N-C-C 1-7-0-1. No bloody A, B, C, or D. " ( TNG : " Relics ")

" I have spent my whole life trying to figure out crazy ways of doing things. " ( TNG : " Relics ")

" Starship captains are like children. They want everything right now and they want it their way. The secret is to give them what they need, not what they want. "

" The tank can't handle that much pressure. " " Where'd you get that idea? " " It's in the impulse specifications. " " Regulation 42/15: 'Pressure Variances in IRC Tank Storage'? " " Right. " " Oh, that. Forget it. I wrote it! "

" A good engineer is always a wee bit conservative, at least on paper. "

" I may be captain by rank… but I never wanted to be anything else but an engineer. " ( TNG : " Relics ")

Appendices [ ]

Appearances [ ].

• " Where No Man Has Gone Before "
• " The Corbomite Maneuver "
• " Mudd's Women "
• " The Enemy Within "
• " The Man Trap " (voice only; uncredited)
• " The Naked Time "
• " Balance of Terror "
• " The Galileo Seven "
• " The Menagerie, Part I "
• " The Squire of Gothos "
• " Tomorrow is Yesterday "
• " The Return of the Archons "
• " A Taste of Armageddon "
• " Space Seed "
• " The Devil in the Dark "
• " The City on the Edge of Forever "
• " Operation -- Annihilate! "
• " Catspaw "
• " Metamorphosis "
• " Friday's Child "
• " Who Mourns for Adonais? "
• " The Doomsday Machine "
• " Wolf in the Fold "
• " The Changeling "
• " The Apple "
• " Mirror, Mirror "
• " The Deadly Years "
• " I, Mudd "
• " The Trouble with Tribbles "
• " Bread and Circuses "
• " A Private Little War "
• " The Gamesters of Triskelion "
• " Obsession "
• " The Immunity Syndrome "
• " A Piece of the Action "
• " By Any Other Name "
• " Return to Tomorrow "
• " Patterns of Force "
• " The Ultimate Computer "
• " Assignment: Earth "
• " Spectre of the Gun "
• " Elaan of Troyius "
• " The Paradise Syndrome "
• " The Enterprise Incident "
• " And the Children Shall Lead "
• " Spock's Brain "
• " Is There in Truth No Beauty? "
• " The Empath "
• " The Tholian Web "
• " For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky "
• " Day of the Dove "
• " Plato's Stepchildren "
• " Wink of an Eye "
• " That Which Survives "
• " Let That Be Your Last Battlefield "
• " Whom Gods Destroy "
• " The Mark of Gideon "
• " The Lights of Zetar "
• " The Cloud Minders "
• " The Way to Eden "
• " Requiem for Methuselah "
• " The Savage Curtain "
• " All Our Yesterdays " (voice only)
• " Turnabout Intruder "
• " Beyond the Farthest Star "
• " Yesteryear "
• " One of Our Planets Is Missing "
• " The Lorelei Signal "
• " More Tribbles, More Troubles "
• " The Survivor "
• " The Infinite Vulcan "
• " The Magicks of Megas-Tu "
• " Once Upon a Planet "
• " Mudd's Passion "
• " The Terratin Incident "
• " The Time Trap "
• " The Ambergris Element "
• " The Eye of the Beholder "
• " The Jihad "
• " The Pirates of Orion "
• " The Practical Joker "
• " Albatross "
• " How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth "
• " The Counter-Clock Incident "
• Star Trek: The Motion Picture
• Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
• Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
• Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
• Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
• Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
• Star Trek Generations
• Star Trek Beyond (picture only)
• " Trials and Tribble-ations " (archive footage)
• " Kobayashi " (hologram)
• " A Quality of Mercy " (voice only)
• " Hegemony "
• " Skin a Cat "
• " Walk, Don't Run "

Background information [ ]

Montgomery Scott was played by actor James Doohan in all of the character's television and cinematic appearances set in the "prime" universe. An alternate timeline version of Scott was voiced by Matthew Wolf in SNW : " A Quality of Mercy " and portrayed by Martin Quinn in SNW : " Hegemony ".

The character of Montgomery Scott mostly originated from James Doohan himself. Doohan was asked by Director James Goldstone , to whom he had auditioned for another role only ten days prior, to come in and read a few lines from the script of TOS : " Where No Man Has Gone Before " for him, Gene Roddenberry , Robert H. Justman , Joseph D'Agosta , and Morris Chapnick . The role he was proposed for was an unnamed Chief Engineer. When Goldstone asked him to do some accents, Doohan did several ones, including Irish, Scottish, English, Russian, etc. Roddenberry asked him which one he would choose, and he said Scottish, due to Scotsmen being renowned for having great engineering skills. Thus, the character became Scottish, and it was apparently Doohan who named him "Scotty". ( The World of Star Trek ), [3]

Gene Roddenberry nearly dropped Scott from the series after the second pilot. He informed Doohan's agent, Paul Wilkins, that "we don't think we need an engineer in the series." Wilkins became irate and met with Roddenberry that day, and insisted on returning Doohan to the Enterprise , which turned out to be a favorable decision. ( Inside Star Trek: The Real Story , pp. 152-153)

NBC 's early- 1966 press brochure about Star Trek described Scott thus:

In the final draft script of TOS : " Mudd's Women " (dated 26 May 1966 ), Scott was described as "40… very military type." This suggests he was born in 2226 .

Although Scott does not appear in "The Menagerie, Part II", he did feature in the script for that episode. At the end of the teaser , he accompanied McCoy into the Enterprise 's hearing room, without having any lines of dialogue, eager to help Captain Kirk but unable to. Then, when the hearing-room screen abruptly came on in the first act of the script, Scott was ordered, by a Talosian projection of Commodore Mendez , to turn the screen off. Despite trying to do so with a remote control , he found that the screen wouldn't go off. Scott also appeared in a deleted scene from "The Menagerie, Part II". In it, after again accompanying McCoy into the hearing room, he announced that, thanks to McCoy, they had managed to determine which computers Spock had jammed in order to lock the ship on a course to Talos IV. As Scott explained, this discovery would allow the Enterprise officers to " safely cross-circuit that series out, return the vessel to manual control. " [4]

The series writer's guide (third revision, dated 17 April 1967 ) described Scott thus:

Although Doohan had lost the middle finger on his right hand during the Allied invasion of Normandy on D-Day, Scott had a right middle finger within the Star Trek storyline; any time a closeup was seen of Scott's right hand (working the transporter controls, etc.), someone else's hands were used, and when Scott appeared in wide shots, he usually hid his right hand from the camera. His loss was most evident in TNG : " Relics ", where the missing finger can be clearly seen in wide shots while talking to Captain Picard on the holodeck recreation of the original Enterprise bridge and in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier , when Scott is holding a bag of food. There is also a scene in TOS : " The Trouble with Tribbles " in which his missing digit is briefly seen as he holds a giant armful of tribbles. Star Trek: The Animated Series 's animation also depicted Scott as having all his fingers.

There was much debate, especially in Scotland, as to which Scottish city Montgomery Scott was born in. The character once described himself as an "Aberdeen pub crawler" in TOS : " Wolf in the Fold ". Confusing the matter was a 1970s interview with James Doohan in which he stated his belief that Scott came from Elgin, a town forty miles west of Aberdeen. Linlithgow, twenty miles west of Edinburgh has also been vocal in its claim, citing D.C. Fontana 's novel Vulcan's Glory . If either of these claims were correct, it would imply Scott had a relatively genteel upbringing, as the regional accent of Aberdeenshire was far more coarse and Gaelicised than Scott's. On the death of James Doohan, the local West Lothian Council announced plans to open a memorial exhibition for James Doohan in Linlithgow to commemorate his contribution to the Star Trek universe and make the town's claim to be the future birthplace of Montgomery Scott concrete. The exhibition, held at Annet House, Scott's "official" future childhood home opened in the summer of 2007. It was worth noting that in the non-canon story published in the UK comic magazine TV21 & Joe 90 #21 in 1970, Scott described his ancestors as " highlanders ". According to Who's Who in Star Trek #2 (DC Comics, April 1987), Scott was born in Glasgow. His actual accent implied he was raised in or near Edinburgh.

Simon Pegg , who portrayed Scott's alternate self in 2009 's Star Trek and its sequels (and was a Star Trek fan long before being cast in the role), concocted his own backstory for the character to settle the debate over the character's accent. [5]

One inconsistency that involved Scott was that, when the USS Enterprise -D rescued him from the transporter buffer of the USS Jenolan in "Relics", Commander William T. Riker said that he was from the "USS Enterprise ". Hearing this, Scott assumed "Jim Kirk himself" had arrived to find him; however, the film Star Trek Generations established that, before Scott embarked on his trip on the Jenolan , he witnessed Kirk get blown off the Enterprise -B, and though not known to him, into the Nexus , so he should have known Kirk wasn't alive to be able to find him. This was caused by the fact that the movie Star Trek Generations was filmed after "Relics", causing a retcon . (In what may have been an attempt to address the discrepancy, in the novel Star Trek Generations , Guinan tells Chekov that Kirk is , in fact, alive within the Nexus, though this information may not have reached Scott.) According to Ronald D. Moore , who wrote both "Relics" and Generations , Scott was included in the latter, despite the inconsistency, out of affection for the character. ( Star Trek Chronology )

Another minor inconsistency could be spotted in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home , where Scott wears uniforms with commander's insignia instead of captain's.

In an ultimately omitted line of dialogue from the final draft script of "Relics", Scott remarked, " Even starships are retired… some are just lucky enough to die in action. "

Evidently, Scott was obliquely referred to in the final draft script of ENT : " Fallen Hero ". A statement made by Charles Tucker III , regarding the warp reactor aboard Enterprise , was attributed to him in the scripted stage directions. The dialogue was, " I've given you all she's got, Captain! There's no more power! " A scene description about this section remarked, " His words foreshadow another fabled Starfleet engineer. "

In the unfilmed Star Trek: The First Adventure script, Scott was depicted as working with George Kirk on an experimental dilithium-fuelled warp jump before his disappearance.

Apocrypha [ ]

The nineteenth issue of the IDW comics series Star Trek: Ongoing reveals the alternate reality Scott's full name to be Montgomery Christopher Jorgensen Scott. Since Scott was born before the timeline split, he would therefore have the same full name in the prime universe.

With the introduction of Scott's origin story in the alternate reality , several novels set in the prime reality detail Scott's origins there:

According to Star Trek II: Biographies , Scott was born in 31 August 2121 in Aberdeen, Scotland to parents Robert Burns Scott and Mary Darnley. He has a brother named James McNeil Scott and a sister named Mary Darnley Scott.

According to Who's Who in Star Trek 2 , Scott was born in Glasgow, Scotland and has a sister named Fran. He spent a year working aboard the SS Deirdre before applying to Starfleet Academy. He became the Enterprise 's chief engineer after the previous chief engineer Hoyt retired.

The short story Bum Radish: Five Spins on a Turquoise Reindeer names his mother Arlyne Jorgensen Scott and his sister Kristen Scott.

The video game Star Trek: Starship Creator gives his parents' names as Mary and Vaughn Scott. His sister is named Linda Preston.

In the novel The Kobayashi Maru , Cadet Scott less-than-voluntarily entered the Command School at Starfleet Academy , but was reassigned to engineering after a Kobayashi Maru attempt in which he defeated a Klingon squadron using a tactic which he knew the the computer would believe to be viable even though field testing that he had participated in had disproved the theory on which the tactic was based. His position as captain in the scenario was arranged by an instructor who knew that Scott wanted to be in Engineering rather than Command to justify transferring Scott to engineering school.

In the D.C. Fontana novel Vulcan's Glory , in 2253 , Lieutenant Scott signed aboard the Enterprise as a junior engineer under Lieutenant Commander Caitlin Barry. In his early days aboard the ship, he set up a still in main engineering for producing Engine Room Hooch . Despite the popularity of the beverage, it was produced by an illegal still, and Scott along with the other engineers were warned never to produce the beverage again.

In the novel Enterprise: The First Adventure , by 2264 , Scott assumed the responsibilities of being chief engineer and was promoted to lieutenant commander under the command of Captain James T. Kirk . Scott was fiercely loyal to Captain Christopher Pike and initially he did not warm up to Kirk as he felt that the young captain could place the ship in jeopardy. Over time, the two officers put their initial differences behind them and became close friends.

In the comic issue Retrospect , Scott had an on-again, off-again relationship with a woman he'd known all his life named Glynnis Campbell ( β ). The comic tells the story of how they met and fell in love, went their separate ways, and eventually got married years later. They married shortly before the events of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , and she died in a shuttle accident during the Enterprise crew's period of exile on Vulcan . The Star Trek: Department of Temporal Investigations novel Forgotten History gives her credit for inspiring him to grow a mustache.

By the novel Ship of the Line , Scott has become a teacher at Starfleet Academy , but stands in as a temporary chief engineer aboard the USS Enterprise -E for its inaugural voyage under Morgan Bateson .

The novel Star Trek has Spock revealing that the Prime Scott was also stationed at Delta Vega , which Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman stated on the film's audio commentary were meant to be for the same reasons.

In the Starfleet Corps of Engineers novels , Scott was given command of the unit sometime after his retrieval from the Jenolan .

In Star Trek Online , players encountered Scott on Drozana Station in the year 2265 , helping him protect the station from an infestation of Devidians . He plays a major role in the "Agents of Yesterday" expansion pack, in which he is voiced by James Doohan's son Christopher Doohan , who had previously played the role in the fan series Star Trek Continues . 23rd century Starfleet characters first encounter him on the Enterprise during the time of the Babel Conference , where he discovers a temporal transponder left behind by an older Pavel Chekov . In the mission "Ragnarok", Scott finds himself in the 26th century , arriving aboard the USS Enterprise -J during the Battle of Procyon V ; he explains that he still carried Chekov's transponder at the time he was rescued from the Jenolan . Working together with Chekov, Scott installs the Tox Uthat aboard the Enterprise -J, which allows the Federation and its allies to defeat the Sphere-Builders . After the battle, Chekov returns Scott to the 24th century, but not before going back to the 23rd to see "their" Enterprise one last time.

In Star Trek Cats , Scott is depicted as a Scottish Fold cat .

In the novel Indistinguishable from Magic , Captain Scott commanded an SCE testbed ship, the USS Challenger . His crew included Lieutenant Commander Reginald Barclay , Lieutenant Commander Nog (chief of security), Dr. Alyssa Ogawa (CMO) and Dr. Leah Brahms as a civilian adviser. When called on to investigate the disappearance and reappearance of the starship Intrepid two hundred years prior, he requested a temporary transfer to his crew: Commander Geordi La Forge. The crew fought off an attempt by former DaiMon Bok of the Ferengi to hijack the Intrepid and use it to time travel and prevent his son from being killed by Captain Picard and solved the Intrepid mystery by discovering a powerful lifeform capable of traveling easily between galaxies and drawing starships with it. Scott was severely injured during the mission and developed a fatal condition. With his first officer dead, Scott named La Forge as his successor as captain. He stayed behind in the other galaxy that they were drawn to in order to ensure that the rest of the Challenger crew (and some Romulans who were also pulled there) got home. As the Challenger exploded, he set the transporter to potentially send himself to safety. His current fate is unknown.

External links [ ]

• Montgomery Scott at StarTrek.com
• Montgomery Scott at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Montgomery Scott at Wikipedia
• Montgomery Scott at the Star Trek Online Wiki
• 2 ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701)

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Published Aug 16, 2023

The Wit and Wisdom of Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott

The Enterprise's chief engineer is always at your service with his words of wisdom and Scottish charm.

StarTrek.com

Montgomery "Scotty" Scott , known as "the miracle worker" to his longtime comrades James T. Kirk and crew, was the chief engineer aboard the original  U.S.S. Enterprise  and its successor craft. Bullish on his Scottish ancestry, Scotty wears ceremonial kilts with his dress uniform, plays the bagpipes, and is renowned for his love of Scotch and his beverage collection from all parts of the galaxy.

To celebrate the arrival of Scotty on  Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , we're reflecting on the wit and wisdom of our favorite chief engineer.

Star Trek : The Original Series

"The Naked Time"

Diplomats! The best diplomat I know is a fully activated phaser bank!

A Taste of Armageddon

A cranky transporter's a mighty finicky piece of machinery to be gambling your life on, sir.

The Doomsday Machine

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

The more they overthink the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain.

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

Damage control is easy. Reading Klingon - that's hard.

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

Don't you worry, captain. We'll beat those Klingon devils, even if I have to get out and push!

Star Trek: The Next Generation

"Relics"

Starship captains are like children. They want everything right now and they want it their way. The secret is to give them what they need, not what they want.

Star Trek  (2009)

Star Trek (2009)

The notion of transwarp beaming is like trying to hit a bullet with a smaller bullet, whilst wearing a blindfold, riding a horse.

Star Trek Into Darkness

Do you have any idea how ridiculous it is to hide a starship on the bottom of the ocean?

Star Trek Beyond

You're part of something bigger now, lassie. Right? Don't give up on that. Cause we'll sure as hell never give up on you. That is what being part of a crew is all about.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

"Hegemony"

I'm an engineer, not a miracle worker, Mr. Spock.

Alternate Montgomery Scott, "A Quality of Mercy"

First, I jury-rigged the engines to increase their capacity. And secondly, well, I figured out how to hide in plain sight. When an armada of human-eating lizards come my way, I can get quite, uh, creative.

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Star Trek: Strange New Worlds streams exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Latin America, Brazil, South Korea, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In addition, the series airs on Bell Media’s CTV Sci-Fi Channel and streams on Crave in Canada and on SkyShowtime in the Nordics, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and Central and Eastern Europe. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

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Warp Speed Your Inspiration: 55 Iconic Star Trek Quotes for Fans

Last Updated on February 25, 2024

The Star Trek universe is full of wisdom and brilliant one-liners that are impressive for learning and food for thought. There are bound to be hundreds of amazing quotes to choose from with so many seasons, both new and old, to watch! Everyone has their favorites, so there is a classic quote here for you somewhere, whether it be Spock, Jean Luc Picard, Leonard McCoy, Scotty, or James T Kirk.

You could almost say it would be “highly illogical” not to read on! (If you know, you know). Before we give you 55 Quotes that will be sure to keep you wanting more Star Trek, let’s quickly discuss what Star Trek is (for those that have been living under a rock for 40 years!)

What is Star Trek?

Star Trek is an American science fiction program that Gene Roddenberry created. The very first series debuted over 50 years ago in 1966! Since then, a host of different spin-offs, mini-series, animated movies, cartoons, toys, games, and books/comics have been released. A cult following has developed around the movie, and many fans dress up as characters for conventions and even go as far as to do a V-shaped hand sign, whilst saying the classic catchphrase “live long and prosper”. Ironically, the Star Trek series continues to prosper, even 50+ years after its debut, long may it continue!

• “Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end.” — Spock
• “Madness has no purpose. Or reason. But it may have a goal.” — Spock
• “You mind your place, mister, or you’ll be wearing concrete galoshes.” — Scotty
• “ Confidence is faith in oneself. It can’t easily be given by another.” — Deanna Troi
• “Engage!” — Jean-Luc Picard
• “I have been and always shall be your friend.” — Spock
• “A lie is a very poor way to say hello.” — Edith Keeler
• “Live now; make now always the most precious time . Now will never come again.” — Jean-Luc Picard
• “Could you please continue the petty bickering? I find it most intriguing.” — Data
• “You may find that having is not so pleasing a thing as wanting. This is not logical, but it is often true.” — Spock
• “Please, Mrs. Troi! … and it’s Worf, not Woof.” — Lt. Worf
• “Insufficient facts always invite danger.” — Spock
• “I am a doctor, not a bricklayer.” — Dr. McCoy
• “Make it so!” — Jean-Luc Picard
• “Perhaps man wasn’t meant for paradise. Maybe he was meant to claw, to scratch all the way.” — Captain Kirk
• “Well, I know this much: We can’t avoid the future .” — William T. Riker
• “Respect is earned, not bestowed.” — Deanna Troi
• “Just before they went into warp, I beamed the whole kit and kaboodle into their engine room, where they’ll be no tribble at all.” — Scotty
• “I’m a doctor, not an escalator.” — Dr. McCoy
• “Yes, sir. I am attempting to fill a silent moment with non-relevant conversation.” — Data
• “Flair is what marks the difference between artistry and mere competence.” — William T. Riker
• “The only person you’re truly competing against is yourself.” — Jean-Luc Picard
• “Dammit, Jim!” — Dr. McCoy
• “You can use logic to justify almost anything. That’s its power. And its flaw.” — Captain Cathryn Janeway
• “Without followers, evil cannot spread.” — Spock
• “They used to say that if man was meant to fly, he’d have wings. But he did fly. He discovered he had to.” — Captain Kirk
• “When governments murder those who speak the truth, it is time to get new governments.” — Diane Duane
• “To all mankind: May we never find space so vast, planets so cold, heart and mind so empty, that we cannot fill them with love and warmth.” — Garth
• “I am not a merry man.” — Lt. Worf
• “Emotions are alien to me. I’m a scientist.” — Spock
• “Fear is the true enemy. The only enemy.” — William T. Riker
• “In critical moments, men sometimes see exactly what they wish to see.” — Spock
• “Compassion: That’s the one thing no machine ever had. Maybe it’s the one thing that keeps men ahead of them.” — Dr. McCoy
• “Sharing an orbit with God is no small experience.” — Deanna Troi
• “I would gladly risk feeling bad at times if it also meant that I could taste my dessert. — Data
• “I have been told that patience is sometimes a more effective weapon than the sword.” — Lt. Worf
• “Change is the essential process of all existence.” — Spock
• “Sometimes a feeling is all we humans have to go on.” — Captain Kirk
• “I cannae change the laws of physics! I’ve got to have thirty minutes!” — Scotty
• “If we’re going to be damned, let’s be damned for what we really are.” — Jean-Luc Picard
• “Live long and prosper!” — Spock
• “What does God need with a starship?” — Captain Kirk
• “Computers make excellent and efficient servants, but I have no wish to serve under them.” — Spock
• “Leave bigotry in your quarters; there’s no room for it on the bridge.” — Captain Kirk
• “Baby needs a new pair of shoes.” — Data
• “The prejudices people feel about each other disappear when they get to know each other.” — Captain Kirk
• “Things are only impossible until they are not.” — Jean-Luc Picard
• “I’m a doctor, not a mechanic.” — Dr. McCoy
• “If we resist, we die. If we don’t resist… we die.” — William T. Riker
• “A species that enslaves other beings is hardly superior, mentally or otherwise.” — Captain Kirk
• “Curious, how often you humans manage that which you do not want.” — Spock
• “A man either lives life as it happens to him, meets it head-on and licks it, or he turns his back on it and starts to wither away.” — Dr. Boyce
• “Humans do have an amazing capacity for believing what they choose — and excluding that which is painful.” — Spock
• “It’s not safe out here. It’s wondrous, with treasures to satiate desires both subtle and gross; but it’s not for the timid.” — Q
• “With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably.” — Jean-Luc Picard

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The Origins of 11 Famous Star Trek Lines

By rick marshall | nov 6, 2015.

Few franchises have had the cultural impact of the various Star Trek television series and movies, and nowhere is that more evident than in the snippets of dialogue that have become a part of the American vernacular—and in some cases, found their way abroad, too. Here are 11 of the most notable Star Trek catchphrases, as well as a little more information about their origins.

1. "Live Long and Prosper"

The Vulcan greeting and the finger-separating hand gesture that accompanies it first appeared in the second season of Star Trek: The Original Series , during an episode titled “Amok Time.” Spock himself (actor Leonard Nimoy) has made no secret of the fact that the gesture and phrase were his idea, and that he based them on Orthodox Jewish blessings he remembered from his childhood. In the Jewish blessing, the position of the fingers forms the Hebrew letter “Shin,” which represents the name “Shaddai” (Almighty God). Nimoy put his own spin on the traditional gesture by holding up just one hand (instead of both) and changing up the verbal blessing slightly.

2. "Highly Illogical..."

While Spock never shied away from questioning the logic of those around him—usually Kirk—it wasn't until the second season that he took things up a notch and deemed the actions of the native inhabitants of planet Omega IV “highly illogical” in the episode titled “The Omega Glory.” Previously, it had always just been “illogical” or, in rare cases, “most illogical,” but it took a pair of natives attacking Kirk in a jail cell for Spock to pair his trademark raised-eyebrow reaction with the term “highly illogical.” The phrase would then be repeated in several more episodes, as well as the subsequent films and J.J. Abrams' reboot of the franchise.

Bonus: “Highly Illogical” was also the name of Leonard Nimoy's 1993 music album featuring several songs he recorded in the 1960s (including “The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins”) as well as a few new tunes.

3. "Beam Me Up, Scotty"

One of the most interesting aspects of this phrase—a request directed at Chief Engineer Montgomery “Scotty” Scott for transport back to the USS Enterprise—is that it was never actually uttered in any of the Star Trek television series or movies. More often than not, the command was akin to “Three to beam up” or more directly, “Beam them up,” with the closest approximation being “Beam us up, Scotty” in a few episodes of the Star Trek animated series. However, William Shatner did say this line while reading the audio version of his novel Star Trek: The Ashes of Eden .

4. "I'm A Doctor, Not A..."

Everyone knows that Dr. Leonard McCoy is not an engineer, a coal miner, or an escalator, but that never stopped him from reminding his fellow crew members. The first time DeForest Kelley uttered his famous catchphrase as we know it was in a first-season episode titled “The Devil in the Dark.” In that episode, McCoy saw fit to let Kirk know that he was a doctor, not a brick-layer. It's worth noting that an earlier episode, “The Corbomite Maneuver," had him asking Capt. Kirk, “What am I, a doctor or a moon-shuttle conductor?” but it wasn't until much later in the season that we got the full line that would later be heard in just about every subsequent series, as well as the Star Trek films. The line even made it into J.J. Abrams' 2009 reboot, with Karl Urban (as McCoy) exclaiming, “I'm a doctor, not a physicist!”

5. "Make It So"

Captain Jean-Luc Picard's signature line was a part of Star Trek: The Next Generation from the very start, with actor Patrick Stewart uttering what would become his character's most memorable catchphrase in the pilot episode, “Encounter at Farpoint.” The episode was written by Gene Roddenberry himself, so it's likely that he wrote the line for Picard, though the phrase has been in use for quite a while in military circles as a way to tell someone to proceed with a command.

6. "To Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before..."

The infinitive-splitting opening narration for each episode of Star Trek: The Original Series (with the exception of the pilot episodes) was famously recited by William Shatner, but the actual origins of the line are uncertain at best. Some reports suggest that it was inspired by a 1958 White House press booklet promoting the space program, though some have speculated that it came from a statement made by explorer James Cook following an expedition to Newfoundland. Writer Samuel Peeples, who authored the pilot episode “Where No Man Has Gone Before,” is often credited with the decision to make the phrase such a significant part of the series. The line was eventually repeated—with a few minor tweaks—in each iteration of the series and films.

7. "Khaaannnn!"

Possibly the most meme-friendly line of dialogue ever to come out of the Star Trek universe, this scream of rage originated in (no surprise here) Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan . Left marooned on a dead planet by the evil villain Khan then taunted about his predicament, Kirk let loose with a primal roar—and the rest was viral-video history.

8. "I'm Givin' Her All She's Got, Captain!"

Much like “Beam me up, Scotty,” this famous catchphrase often associated with USS Enterprise Chief Engineer Montgomery “Scotty” Scott in Star Trek: The Original Series was never said in this exact form by actor James Doohan in the series or subsequent films. The closest approximation is a line in the second-season episode “The Changeling,” when Kirk asks Scotty to divert more power to the ship's shields. Scotty responds with, “Giving them all we got.” However, Doohan did utter every word of the famous line as part of a cameo in 1993's Loaded Weapon , in which he turns up as a panicky police officer trying to fix a coffee machine. Similarly, Simon Pegg used the same line “I'm givin' her all she's got, Captain!” in 2009's Star Trek reboot, in which he plays a young Montgomery Scott.

9. "Nuclear Wessels"

Russian crew member Pavel Andreievich Chekov's inability to pronounce the letter “V” became a recurring joke after the character was introduced in the second season of Star Trek: The Original Series as the ship's navigator. While it made for some funny moments throughout the series and subsequent movies, one of the most memorable pronunciation gaffes occurred during Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home , when Chekov begins asking passers-by in 1980s San Francisco where he can find “nuclear wessels.” Even though Walter Koenig had been playing the character for almost 20 years before The Voyage Home hit theaters, the two-word line soon became indelibly connected with his portrayal of the character.

10. "Resistance Is Futile"

This famous line was first uttered by robotic aliens The Borg in the epic third-season finale of Star Trek: The Next Generation , titled “Best of Both Worlds, Part 1.” Not only did the 1990 episode offer up one of the greatest cliffhangers in television history, but it also coined a phrase that would live forever in the nightmares of fans—mainly because it was recycled for use in countless other series and films down the road.

11. "Set Phasers To Stun"

It was established early on in Star Trek: The Original Series that the phasers used by the crew of USS Enterprise had a “stun” setting (as mentioned in “The Man Trap” episode), and both Kirk and Spock often found themselves instructing their crewmates to use the non-lethal capabilities of their standard-issue weapons. However, it wasn't until the second season of Star Trek: The Animated Series that we first heard Kirk issue the command “Set phasers to stun.” The line eventually became an oft-repeated order in subsequent series, turning up in both Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: The Next Generation , as well as many of the movies (including 2009's reboot).

This article originally appeared in 2013.

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories .

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

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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• Movie quotes

“Star Trek” quotes

“- Scotty: I told him that I could not only beam a grapefruit from one planet to the adjacent planet in the same system, which is easy, by the way, I could do it with a life form. So, I tested it out on Admiral Archer's prized beagle. - James T. Kirk: Wait, I know that dog. What happened to it? - Scotty: I'll tell you when it reappears. Ahem. I...” (continue) (continue reading) Simon Pegg - Scotty Chris Pine - James T. Kirk

“Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise . Her ongoing mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life-forms and new civilizations; to boldly go where no one has gone before.” Leonard Nimoy - Spock Prime

“- Scotty: [to Spock Prime] Are you from the future? - James T. Kirk: Yeah, he is. I'm not. - Scotty: Well, that's brilliant. Do they still have sandwiches there?” Simon Pegg - Scotty Chris Pine - James T. Kirk

“- James T. Kirk: My mouth is itchy. Is that normal? - Bones: Well, those symptoms won't last long. I'm going to give you a mild sedative. - James T. Kirk: Oh, I wish I didn't know you.” Chris Pine - James T. Kirk Karl Urban - Bones

“The purpose is to experience fear, fear in the face of certain death, to accept that fear, and maintain control of oneself and one's crew . This is the quality expected in every Starfleet captain.” Zachary Quinto - Spock

“Space is disease and danger wrapped in darkness and silence.” Karl Urban - Bones

“- James T. Kirk: Now, what is it with you, Spock? Hm? Your planet was just destroyed, your mother murdered, and you're not even upset! - Spock: If you are presuming that these experiences in any way impede my ability to command this ship, you are mistaken. - James T. Kirk: And yet you were the one who said fear was necessary for command .” Chris Pine - James T. Kirk Zachary Quinto - Spock

“I got nowhere else to go. The ex-wife took the whole damn planet in the divorce. All I got left is my bones.” Karl Urban - Bones

“- Burly Cadet: Hey, farm-boy, maybe you can't count, but there are four of us and one of you. - James T. Kirk: So go get some more guys and then it'll be an even fight .” Jason Matthew Smith - Burly Cadet Chris Pine - James T. Kirk

“If you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” Zachary Quinto - Spock

“- Spock: We are traveling at warp speed. How did you manage to beam aboard this ship? - James T. Kirk: Hey, you're the genius. You figure it out. - Spock: As acting captain of this vessel , I order you to answer the question.” Zachary Quinto - Spock Chris Pine - James T. Kirk

“What is necessary is never unwise.” Ben Cross - Sarek

“- Young Spock: I presume you've prepared new insults for today. - Vulcan Bully: Affirmative. - Young Spock: This is your thirty-fifth attempt to elicit an emotional response from me.” Jacob Kogan - Young Spock Colby Paul - Vulcan Bully

“- Uhura: Gaila, who is he? - Gaila: Who's who? - Uhura: The mouth- breather hiding under your bed? - James T. Kirk: [comes out from under Gaila's bed] You can hear me breathing?” Zoe Saldana - Uhura Rachel Nichols - Gaila Chris Pine - James T. Kirk

“Coming back in time, changing history... that's cheating.” Chris Pine - James T. Kirk

“- Flight Officer: You need to get back in your seat, now. - Bones: I suffer from aviophobia, it means fear of dying in something that flies! - Flight Officer: Sir, for your own safety, sit down or else I'll make you sit down!” Darlene Tejeiro - Flight Officer Karl Urban - Bones

“- James T. Kirk: I'm coming with you. - Spock: I would cite regulation, but I know you will simply ignore it. - James T. Kirk: See? We are getting to know each other.” Chris Pine - James T. Kirk Zachary Quinto - Spock

“- Spock: Cadet Kirk, you somehow managed to install and activate a subroutine in the programming code, thereby changing the conditions of the test. - James T. Kirk: Your point being? - Admiral Richard Barnett: In academic vernacular, you cheated.” Zachary Quinto - Spock Chris Pine - James T. Kirk Tyler Perry - Admiral Richard Barnett

“- Uhura: I'm impressed. For a moment there, I thought you were just a dumb hick who only has sex with farm animals. - James T. Kirk: Well, not only.” Zoe Saldana - Uhura Chris Pine - James T. Kirk

- Spock: I feel anger for the one who took Mother's life… an anger I cannot control. - Sarek: I believe ... that she would say, "do not try to". You asked me once why I married your mother. I married her because I loved her. Zachary Quinto - Spock Ben Cross - Sarek

“- Spock: In the face of extinction, it is only logical that I resign my Starfleet commission and help rebuild our race. - Spock Prime: And, yet, you can be in two places at once. I urge you to remain in Starfleet. I have already located a suitable planet on which to establish a Vulcan colony. Spock, in this case, do yourself a favor: put aside...” (continue) (continue reading) Zachary Quinto - Spock Leonard Nimoy - Spock Prime

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Star Trek Scotty Quotes

I canna’ change the laws of physics, but I can work miracles within them.

Ye canna’ break the laws of physics, but ye can certainly bend ’em.

If somethin’s broke, I can fix it. If it ain’t broke, I’ll make it better.

The laws of physics may be absolute, but I’m the genius who can find loopholes.

Scotty is always ready to give it all she’s got, even when she’s on her last leg.

I don’t believe in no-win scenarios, I believe in miracles.

Some engineers push the limits, I break ’em and then fix ’em.

If something can go wrong, I’m the man who can make it go right.

Engineering isn’t just about logic, it’s about daring to dream.

Engineers don’t just solve problems, we create solutions that nobody else thought possible.

Aye, I can make this ship run faster than the speed of light, if ye give me enough miracle matter.

If ye don’t have faith in me, ye don’t have faith in miracles.

Beam me up, Scotty? More like, beam me up and amaze ’em, Scotty!

A true engineer sees complications as opportunities for innovation.

The impossible is only impossible until a stubborn engineer comes along.

I’m not just an engineer, I’m a wizard with a wrench.

If there’s a problem, I’ll give you not one solution, but a multitude of possibilities.

A true engineer can turn a pile of scraps into a masterpiece.

I don’t just fix things, I improve them beyond imagination.

My tools may be old-fashioned, but my ideas are lightyears ahead.

I don’t believe in limitations, I believe in pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

I don’t just work with machines, I dance with them.

The secret to great engineering is a dash of inspiration and a whole lot of perspiration.

I don’t just think outside the box, I build a whole new box.

I’m not just a miracle worker, I’m a dream maker.

I can make this ship do things even the manual didn’t know it could do.

I’m not just an engineer, I’m a magician of technology.

The laws of physics tremble in fear of what I can accomplish.

I don’t just build machines, I breathe life into them.

I’m not just an engineer, I’m a hero in a jumpsuit.

I’m not afraid of the unknown, I revel in it.

When you need a miracle, I’m the man who can make it happen.

I don’t have limits, I have possibilities.

There’s no problem that can’t be solved with a little ingenuity and a lot of Scotch.

I don’t just see problems, I see elegant solutions.

I may be an engineer, but I’m also a magician of the impossible.

The laws of physics may be strict, but I’m the master of bending the rules.

The difference between a good engineer and a great engineer is the willingness to take risks.

I’m not just a genius, I’m a miracle worker with a Scottish accent.

I don’t just succeed, I excel.

I’m not just an engineer, I’m a visionary with a toolkit.

Success is not always about logic, sometimes it’s about creativity.

The boundaries of engineering are set by those who dare to surpass them.

Failure is not an option, it’s just a temporary setback on the road to success.

I don’t just fix problems, I obliterate them.

Engineering is not just a profession, it’s a way of life.

I’m not just a technician, I’m an artist of machines.

The impossible exists to be conquered by those who dare to dream.

I don’t just see the pieces, I see the grand design.

I’m not just an engineer, I’m a miracle worker in a red shirt.

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• Dr. McCoy : "He's dead, Jim."
• [ Opening narration ]
• Capt. Kirk : Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its 5-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.
• Scotty : When are ya gonna get off of that milk diet Laddy? Now Scotch is a real drink for a man.
• Chekov : Scotch was invented by a little old lady from Leningrad.
• Capt. Kirk : All right, you mutinous, disloyal, computerized half-breed. We'll see about you deserting my ship.
• Spock : The term "half-breed" is somewhat applicable, but "computerized" is inaccurate. A machine can be computerized, not a man.
• Capt. Kirk : What makes you think you're a man? You're an overgrown jackrabbit. An elf with a hyperactive thyroid.
• Spock : Jim, I don't understand...
• Capt. Kirk : Of course you don't understand. You don't have the brains to understand. All you have is printed circuits.
• Spock : Captain, if you will excuse me.
• [ Tries to activate the transporter ]
• Capt. Kirk : [ blocks Spock's way and interupts ] What can you expect from a simpering, devil-eared freak whose father was a computer and his mother an encyclopedia.
• Spock : My mother was a teacher. My father an ambassador.
• Capt. Kirk : Your father was a computer, like his son. An ambassador from a planet of traitors. The Vulcan never lived who had an ounce of integrity...
• Spock : Captain, please don't...
• Capt. Kirk : You're a traitor from a race of traitors. Disloyal to the core. Rotten! Like the rest of your subhuman race. And you've got the GALL... to make love to that girl!
• Spock : That's enough.
• Capt. Kirk : Does she know what she's getting, Spock? A carcass full of memory banks who should be squatting on a mushroom? Instead of passing himself off as a man? You belong in the circus, Spock, not a starship. Right next to the dog face boy!
• [ Spock begins beating the stew out of Kirk - he picks up a stool, ready to hit Kirk, then stops - the spore's influence is gone ]
• Capt. Kirk : Had enough? I never realized what it took to get under that thick hide of yours. Anyhow, I don't know what you're so mad about. It isn't every first officer who gets to belt his captain... several times.
• Spock : You did that to me deliberately.
• Capt. Kirk : Believe me, Mr. Spock. It was painful. In more ways than one.
• [ Grabs his hurting arm ]
• Spock : The spores. They're gone. I don't belong anymore.
• Capt. Kirk : You said they were benevolent and peaceful. Violent emotions overwhelm them, destroy them. I had to make you angry enough to shake off their influence. That's the answer, Mr. Spock.
• Spock : That may be correct, Captain, but trying to initiate a brawl with over 500 crewmen and colonists is hardly logical.
• Capt. Kirk : I had something else in mind. Can you put together a subsonic transmitter? Something we can hook into the communication station and broadcast over the communicators?
• Spock : It can be done.
• Capt. Kirk : Good. Let's get to work.
• Spock : Captain! Striking a fellow officer is a court-martial offense.
• Capt. Kirk : Well, if we're both in the brig, who's gonna build the subsonic transmitter?
• Spock : That is quite logical, Captain.
• Capt. Kirk : You'd make a splendid computer, Mr Spock. Spock
• Spock : [ taken aback ] That is very kind of you, Captain!
• [ repeated line ]
• James T. Kirk : Beam me up, Scotty. - This line was never actually spoken in the television series.
• Dr. McCoy : I'm a doctor, not an engineer.
• James T. Kirk : There seems to be no sign of intelligent life anywhere...
• Capt. Kirk : There's no such thing as the unknown- only things temporarily hidden, temporarily not understood.
• Dr. McCoy : The next thing you'll know, I'll be talking to myself.
• Chekov : A madman got us into this, and it's beginning to look like only a madman can get us out.
• Spock : Facinating
• Uhura : Bridge to Captain Kirk!
• Capt. Kirk : Kirk, here.

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22 Famous Star Trek Quotes that Will Live Forever

If you haven’t watched Star Trek , you’ve at least heard about it. The sci-fi television series created by Gene Roddenberry has earned millions of fans over the years.

Roddenberry was allegedly inspired by Gulliver's Travels and a TV series called Wagon Train to create Star Trek.  Each episode of the series is built as an incredible adventure, but also as a morality tale, considering that the episodes depict cultural realities and conflicts like war and peace, sexism, human rights, religion, economics, loyalty, racism and technology.

RELATED:  19 Yoda Quotes to Keep You Away From the Dark Side and Awaken the Greatness Within

Due to this approach, Star Trek is not only about space adventure and exploration. The franchise is also recognized for being one of the first TV series with a multiracial cast and applauded for its attitude toward civil rights.

The Star Trek world was full of wisdom and great lines, but here are 22 of the most meaningful quotes from its characters . 

A man either lives life as it happens to him, meets it head-on and licks it, or he turns his back on it and starts to wither away. -- Dr. Boyce

Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end. -- Spock

You may find that having is not so pleasing a thing as wanting. This is not logical, but it is often true. -- Spock

Live now ; make now always the most precious time. Now will never come again. -- Jean-Luc Picard

Sometimes a feeling is all we humans have to go on. -- Captain Kirk

With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably. -- Jean-Luc Picard

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

If we're going to be damned, let's be damned for what we really are. -- Jean-Luc Picard

Insufficient facts always invite danger. -- Spock

Perhaps man wasn't meant for paradise. Maybe he was meant to claw, to scratch all the way. -- Captain Kirk

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

Compassion: that's the one thing no machine ever had. Maybe it's the one thing that keeps men ahead of them. -- Dr. McCoy

Change is the essential process of all existence. -- Spock

Without followers, evil cannot spread. -- Spock

Our species can only survive if we have obstacles to overcome . You remove those obstacles. Without them to strengthen us, we will weaken and die. -- Captain Kirk

Curious, how often you humans manage to obtain that which you do not want. -- Spock

One man cannot summon the future. But one man can change the present! -- Spock

To all mankind -- may we never find space so vast, planets so cold, heart and mind so empty that we cannot fill them with love and warmth. -- Garth

You know the greatest danger facing us is ourselves, and irrational fear of the unknown. There is no such thing as the unknown. Only things temporarily hidden, temporarily not understood. -- Captain Kirk

A species that enslaves other beings is hardly superior -- mentally or otherwise. -- Captain Kirk

Now, I don't pretend to tell you how to find happiness and love, when every day is a struggle to survive. But I do insist that you do survive, because the days and the years ahead are worth living for! -- Edith Keeler

Live long and prosper! -- Spock

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Man Explains Why He Prioritizes Giving His Wife Alone Time

Being a parent is a wonderful crazy ride. But it's also physically, emotionally, and mentally draining. It's a continuous cycle of putting someone else's needs ahead of your own, and sometimes?

You just really need a break.

In a candid post that has gone viral on both TikTok and Instagram (racking up a staggering 31 million views combined), one husband explains why he prioritizes giving his wife alone time every single week, and honestly, we should all be taking notes.

Why a Husband Prioritizes Alone Time For His Wife

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Former NFL player and motivational speaker Cedric Thompson Jr. and his wife, Charlotte, share three young children, ages 6, 4, and 1.

To say their household is chaotic is an understatement. Life with littles is all-consuming and amidst the diapers, constant demands, and neverending loads of laundry, it's not just easy to lose sight of your own needs, it's easy to lose YOURSELF, particularly if you're the primary caregiver.

Cedric understands this first-hand.

He starts the now-viral video with a gentle reminder for all moms, saying, "You should not feel guilty for having alone time ."

And while this should be a given, the reality is that moms and guilt go together like peanut butter and jelly. Guilt doesn't come with a handy on-off switch and as any mom knows it's nearly impossible to let that guilt go.

Cedric explains that what his wife does with her alone time is "quite frankly, none of my business." What he does know is that when she's out, he doesn't want her to worry or feel rushed. He's got it handled.

"I don't want her to get lost in being a mother or a wife," he continues.

"I want her to take the time to remind herself who she is and the things that she wants to do."

Whether that's just getting away for a chance to chill and relax or meeting up with friends.

“At the end of the day, we’re a team,” he concludes. “My wife is my teammate. And sometimes your teammates need a break. When she comes back home and puts those hats back on, she can wear those hats in the way that she wants to after being rejuvenated from having that alone time.”

Important Conversation Around Needing Alone Time After Having Kids

Screenshots of a man holding a toddler

@ascedbyme/TikTok

Charlotte isn't the only one who gets uninterrupted alone time one evening a week, Cedric does too. It's taken a while for the couple to figure out how to do it consistently but now they make sure to give each other the space and time they need to recharge, blissfully alone.

"My biggest motto in life is that you have to take care of yourself in order to take care of those around you. That's the only way that you can really show up the best." Cedric Thompson Jr.

Turns out Cedric's 1-minute and 7-second video hit a nerve and opened up an important conversation about giving your partner "me-time." Nearly 20,000 people took to the comments to share their thoughts and not all of them were good.

Because, of course, there were some people who just didn't get it (*sigh*).

"Does anyone post these drippy videos about "daddy's alone time" no they don't. Says it all really (eye-roll emoji)."

"Beta vibes."

"This shouldn't be celebrated doing your duty as a father shouldn't feel like such a burden to the point where you have to tell everyone you do it."

Others praised Cedric for being a supportive partner.

"This is how grown, mature men successfully manage a marital relationship, especially one with young children. Kudos to you sir."

Some commenters legitimately wanted to know how to make it work for both partners, asking:

"honest question: how do you navigate this need for alone time for yourself as well?"

And others were downright heartbreaking.

"How do I send this to my husband w/o sending to my husband? He knows NOTHING about mom alone time. But he knows about dad alone time."

"And this is one of the reasons I'm leaving my partner of 7 years. He thinks I'm lazy for having alone time from our 3 kids."

"The reaction has been interesting," Cedric told Newsweek . "It's hard to explain all that goes on in my wife having alone time in 60 seconds, and when people don't have the full context, they can make assumptions, which is understandable."

The Importance of Quality Time Alone

Woman in black zip-up jacket leaning on large log at daytime

Needing alone time doesn't mean you're a bad parent, it means you're HUMAN.

Sometimes you need to stop, just so you can keep on going. Sometimes you need to leave the presence of your children so you can return and be more present with them.

According to experts, everyone needs some time on their own to rest and reflect. In fact, alone time is crucial for mental health and well-being and is a healthy way to recharge, destress, and recenter yourself.

Parenthood is amazing, yes. But it's also often overwhelming. Providing space and time for EACH partner to get away and take a break is essential, not just for the individual, but for the family as a whole.

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Back To The Futur II Movie Still

You've probably heard the old saying, "promises were made to be broken." How many of us have pinky swore with a childhood friend that we'll always be besties no matter what? Only to grow up and grow apart.

Sometimes our promises may be ever sillier. Like the good old "wedding pact." You know, when two friends promise each other: "If we're not married in 30 years, we'll get married"? How many times has that happened? Probably never (but if it has happened, please submit your story to [email protected])!!

But sometimes, it really is the strangest promises that come true. And for science teacher Patrick Moriarty, when he made this bizarre promise to his class of 1978, he was going to make damn sure it came true.

He Made Them an Offer They Couldn’t Refuse... But May Just Forget

Nearly 50 years ago, in Upstate New York, Patrick Moriarty was only beginning his teaching career. He was just 22 years old and he was all hands on deck when it came to shaping the leaders of tomorrow. In fact, "looking into the future" was something Mr. Moriarty was pretty good at.

As the story goes, one day the science teacher handed his class a worksheet which outlined the earth's solar system, demonstrating to his students how all the complicated stars and constellations and planets in the sky are miraculously connected. Of course, his students were fascinated by the wonder of the great unknown. I mean, what kid doesn't love space — or at least, Star Wars? Then, in the middle of his lesson, Mr. Moriarty had a passing observation...that would shockingly come full circle nearly half a century later — literally.

"I said to the kids, 'Hey, why don't you just go ahead and circle that eclipse and we'll get together,' and after I did that, I did that for the next 16 years with all of my classes that I taught Earth science to." - Patrick Moriarty

One of the worksheets he handed out showed that in April 2024 (almost 50 years into the future), a once-in-a-lifetime scientific event would take place. There would be a solar eclipse passing over their small town. It was right then and there Mr. Moriarty had a passing thought, that turned into a long con plan. He swore that in 50 years, they would all get together again, and watch the spectacular solar eclipse, side by side.

His junior high students were convinced he was joking. They played along letting him know they "couldn't wait." Then as it does, time passed. The school year ended. His students grew up. And the world changed drastically, but what was written in the stars never changed.

But Mr. Moriarty was no ordinary teacher. He was a man with a plan, armed with a passion for science and a heart of gold. He distributed worksheets showing the paths of upcoming eclipses, circling the one they'd see in 2024.

Decades later, Mr. Moriarty's promise seemed like a distant memory, an old story that might never see the light of day again. After all, his former students had scattered far and wide, building careers, families, and lives that were miles away from their junior high classroom. Yet, despite the distance, the spirit of the original promise lingered in the back of Moriarty's mind.

In the age of social media, he had a new tool to track down his former students. With a single Facebook post, Mr. Moriarty invited his old class to a gathering at his Rochester, New York, home to watch the eclipse. It was a long shot — who would remember a promise made so long ago?

But to his surprise, the notifications began to pour in. Former students from across the country responded with excitement. A simple Facebook event, born from a half-century-old worksheet, had the power to rekindle the sense of wonder that once filled his classroom.

Over 100 Students Showed up to Complete the “Longest Homework Assignment in History”

When the big day finally arrived, Mr. Moriarty's driveway was buzzing with energy. Former students, some now in their 50s and 60s, gathered together to keep the promise alive. They came with their families, their stories, and even their yearbooks, ready to catch up and reminisce about the good old days.

“When teachers go into education, they hope that they can be that kind of teacher that would have an impact on people and make a difference for people. And this event right here just firmed it up for me that I guess I did okay.” - Patrick Moriarty, The Washington Post

Mr. Moriarty, now in his late 60s, could hardly believe his eyes. Over 100 people showed up, eager to complete what they jokingly called "the longest homework assignment in history." For some, it was a trip down memory lane, while for others, it was a chance to reconnect with friends they hadn't seen in decades.

As the sky darkened and the eclipse reached its peak, everyone grew quiet, lost in the moment. Even though clouds obscured the eclipse, it didn't matter. What mattered was that they were together, keeping the promise alive.

The Real Lesson Could Never Be “Eclipsed”

The eclipse itself was incredible, but it was just the backdrop for something far more meaningful. For Mr. Moriarty, the real magic was in the connections made that day — the stories shared, the laughs had, and the memories relived. It was a reminder that a simple promise made in a junior high classroom could bring people together decades later.

The gathering proved that a teacher's influence can last a lifetime. The bond between Mr. Moriarty and his students was stronger than the sun, moon, and stars combined. It was a celebration of friendship, loyalty, and the enduring impact a teacher can have on the lives of their students.

"The eclipse itself … took a back seat to what this was all about. The eclipse was my catalyst more than anything.” - Patrick Moriarty

As the day came to a close, Mr. Moriarty couldn't help but feel grateful. Not just for the eclipse, but for the people who made it all worthwhile. It was a lesson that even the biggest promises can be kept if you believe in them enough. This was one promise that could never be eclipsed.

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75 of the Most Inspiring Star Trek Quotes

Fans have always known that Star Trek is an amazing show. The rest of us would do well to get on board. The series is actually full of timeless and universal wisdom.

The fascinating characters in the Star Trek series offer insights about ourselves and others, and encourage us all to live well. Here are 75 of the most inspiring Star Trek quotes.

Our Favorite Star Trek Quotes

• “Evil does seek to maintain power by suppressing the truth.” “Or by misleading the inoccent.” Spock and Dr. McCoy
• “Improve a mechanical device and you may double productivity. But improve man, you gain a thousandfold.” Khan Noonien Singh
• “Compassion: that’s the one thing no machine ever had. Maybe it’s the one thing that keeps men ahead of them.” Dr. McCoy
• “It is possible to commit no errors and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life.” Captain Jean-Luc Picard
• “You can use logic to justify almost anything. That’s its power. And its flaw.” Captain Cathryn Janeway
• “Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end.” Spock
• “Things are only impossible until they’re not.” Captain Jean-Luc Picard
• “I am pleased to see that we have differences. May we together become greater than the sum of both of us.” Surak
• “Without followers, evil cannot spread.” Spock
• “The prejudices people feel about each other disappear when they get to know each other.” Captain James T. Kirk
• “Time is fluid…like a river with currents, eddies, backwash.” Spock
• “A library serves no purpose unless someone is using it.” Mr. Atoz
• “Humans do have an amazing capacity for believing what they choose — and excluding that which is painful.” Spock
• “Live now; make now always the most precious time. Now will never come again.” Captain Jean-Luc Picard
• “Change is the essential process of all existence.” Spock
• “Without freedom of choice there is no creativity.” Captain James T. Kirk
• “With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably.” Captain Jean-Luc Picard
• “Live long, and prosper.” Spock
• “If we’re going to be damned, let’s be damned for what we really are.” Captain Jean-Luc Picard
• “Human beings do not survive on bread alone … but on the nourishments of liberty. For what indeed is a man without freedom … naught but a mechanism, trapped in the cogwheels of eternity.” Harry Mudd
• “Your will to survive, your love of life, your passion to know … Everything that is truest and best in all species of beings has been revealed to you. Those are the qualities that make a civilization worthy to survive.” Lai the Vian
• “There is a way out of every box, a solution to every puzzle; it’s just a matter of finding it.” Captain Jean-Luc Picard
• “You may find that having is not so pleasing a thing as wanting. This is not logical, but it is often true.” Spock
• “Sometimes a feeling is all we humans have to go on.” CaptainJames T. Kirk
• “I speak of rights! A machine has none; a man must. If you do not grant him that right, you have brought us down to the level of the machine; indeed, you have elevated that machine above us!” Samuel T. Cogley
• “When you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” Spock
• “Those who want war will find causes, no matter how many of them you take away.” Diane Duane
• “A little suffering is good for the soul.” Captain James T. Kirk
• “The heart is not a logical organ.” Dr. Janet Wallace
• “Pain is a thing of the mind. The mind can be controlled.” Spock
• “To all mankind — may we never find space so vast, planets so cold, heart and mind so empty that we cannot fill them with love and warmth.” Garth
• “It can be argued that a human is ultimately the sum of his experiences.” Benjamin Sisko
• “It would seem that evil retreats when forcibly confronted.” Yarnek of Excalbia
• “When a child is taught, it’s programmed with simple instructions, and at some point, if its mind develops properly, it exceeds the sum of what it was taught, thinks independently.” Dr. Daystrom
• “When governments murder those who speak the truth, it is time to get new governments.” Diane Duane
• “Believing oneself to be perfect is often the sign of a delusional mind.” Data
• “I would be delighted to offer any advice I can on understanding women. When I have some, I’ll let you know.” Captain Jean-Luc Picard
• “Intuition, however illogical, is recognized as a command prerogative.” Captain James T. Kirk
• “Violence in reality is quite different from theory.” Spock
• “I object to intellect without discipline; I object to power without constructive purpose.” Spock
• “It’s hard to believe that something which is neither seen nor felt can do so much harm.” “That’s true. But an idea can’t be seen or felt.” Vanna and Captain James T. Kirk
• “Time is the fire in which we burn.” Malcolm McDowell
• “Men don’t talk peace unless they’re ready to back it up with war.” Col. Green
• “It’s time you learned that freedom is never a gift. It has to be earned.” Captain James T. Kirk
• “May I point out that I have gotten a chance to examine your counterparts closely. They are brutal, savage, uncivilized and illogical. They are in every way examples of Homo sapiens, the very flower of humanity.” Spock
• “There’s only one kind of woman …” “Or man, for that matter. You either believe in yourself or you don’t.” Captain James T. Kirk and Harry Mudd
• “Life and death are seldom logical.” “But attaining a desired goal always is.” Dr. McCoy and Spock
• “This is why one must be careful with life,” her father had said, in very controlled wrath. “Death is the most hateful thing. Don’t allow the destruction of what you can never restore.” Diane Duane
• “Can you imagine how life could be improved if we could do away with jealousy, greed, hate …” “It can also be improved by eliminating love, tenderness, sentiment — the other side of the coin.” Dr. Roger Corby and Captain James. T Kirk
• “I fail to comprehend your indignation, sir. I have simply made the logical deduction that you are a liar.” Spock
• “Many Myths are based on truth.” Spock
• “To be human is to be complex. You can’t avoid a little ugliness – from within – and from without.” Captain James T. Kirk
• “Every living thing wants to survive.” Spock
• “Superior ability breeds superior ambition.” Spock
• “Look at these three words written larger than all the rest, and with special pride never written before or since — tall words, proudly saying, “We the people” … these words and the words that follow … must apply to everyone or they mean nothing.” Captain James T. Kirk
• “A lie is a very poor way to say hello.” Edith Keeler
• “To boldly go where no man has gone before.” Captain James T. Kirk
• “It is necessary to have purpose.” Alice #1
• “Madness has no purpose. Or reason. But it may have a goal.” Spock
• “When the personality of a human is involved, exact predictions are hazardous.” Dr. McCoy
• “If I can have honesty, it’s easier to overlook mistakes.” Captain James T. Kirk
• “A father doesn’t destroy his children.” Lt. Carolyn Palamas
• “Our species can only survive if we have obstacles to overcome. You remove those obstacles. Without them to strengthen us, we will weaken and die.” Captain James T. Kirk
• “Behind every great man, there is a woman — urging him on.” Harry Mudd
• “Another dream that failed. There’s nothing sadder.” Captain James T. Kirk
• “We’re a most promising species, Mr. Spock, as predators go. Did you know that? I frequently have my doubts. I don’t. Not any more. And maybe in a thousand years or so, we’ll be able to prove it.” Captain James T. Kirk
• “One man cannot summon the future. But one man can change the present!” Alternate Mr. Spock
• “Curious, how often you humans manage to obtain that which you do not want.” Spock
• “We prefer to help ourselves. We make mistakes, but we’re human — and maybe that’s the word that best explains us.” Captain James T. Kirk
• “Now, I don’t pretend to tell you how to find happiness and love, when every day is a struggle to survive. But I do insist that you do survive, because the days and the years ahead are worth living for!” Edith Keeler
• “Leave bigotry in your quarters; there’s no room for it on the bridge.” Captain James T. Kirk
• “The release of emotion is what keeps us healthy. Emotionally healthy.” “That may be, Doctor. However, I have noted that the healthy release of emotion is frequently unhealthy for those closest to you.” Dr. McCoy and Spock
• “How we deal with death is at least as important as how we deal with life.” Captain James T. Kirk
• “Insults are effective only where emotion is present.” Spock
• “Too much of anything, even love, isn’t necessarily a good thing.” Captain James T. Kirk

Related: Ron Swanson Quotes

These quotes from Star Trek offer encouragement and inspiration. And if you are a huge Star Trek fan they will bring you back to an episode of the TV show or a specific Star Trek Movie. In either case, they will bring a smile to your face. They help us remember that, regardless of the place, time, or situation we find ourselves in, living well is important. Yes, we are complex. But then, we are human.

Related: The Best Spock Quotes  and Ready Player One Quotes

I’m Alice Judy and AnQuotes is a fun hobby for me. We know that everyone loves a great quote and our mission here is simple – to be the best and most interesting quote site in the world! If you have quotes you would like us to cover, please contact us.

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36 Iconic Captain Kirk Quotes For Star Trek Fans

Famous Captain Kirk Quotes from Star Trek

Funny captain kirk quotes.

James T Kirk is one of the most iconic characters from the 'Star Trek' media franchise, he first appeared in 'Star Trek: The Original Series', serving as captain of USS Enterprise.

He leads his team on a mission to explore new worlds and planets as he says, "boldly go where no man has gone before." He leads his team from the front and sometimes takes risks to get what he set out for.

Captain James T Kirk and 'Star Trek' became a cultural phenomenon through the decades. It inspired many fans to create spin-offs too.

The 'Star Trek' franchise and the series, movies, several spins off, and animated series have a cult following. When the original Captain James T Kirk breathes his last, he says, “Oh my,” an expression which says how he feels about passing away from this world to another.

After William Shatner, the role was recently reprised by Chris Pine from 2009 to the present. Pine’s portrayal could be seen as a bit reckless, but he is a go-getter and plays the role with aplomb.

If you like this article of Captain Kirk quotes, you could also read Captain Picard quotes and Spock quotes .   

When he talks about getting into the Warp speed, Captain James T Kirk sometimes said, "Ahead warp factor one". Many such Captain James T Kirk quotes are spread across the Star Trek Franchise and have become a part of the people’s everyday language.

Let’s read some of the best Captain Kirk quotes to Scotty and some other 'Star Trek' quotes.

1. “How we deal with death is at least as important as how we deal with life.”

- Captain James T Kirk.

2. “They used to say that if man was meant to fly, he’d have wings. But he did fly. He discovered he had to.”

3. “Genius doesn’t work on an assembly line basis.”

4. “Without freedom of choice there is no creativity. The body dies.”

5. “You know the greatest danger facing us is ourselves, an irrational fear of the unknown. But there’s no such thing as the unknown — only things temporarily hidden, temporarily not understood.”

6. “Intuition, however illogical, Mr. Spock, is recognized as a command prerogative.”

7. “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!”

8. “It’s a mystery. And I don’t like mysteries. They give me a bellyache, and I got a beauty right now.”

- Star Trek, Season One: The Man Trap.

9. Captain James T. Kirk: “You suspect some danger?”

Mr. Spock: “Insufficient facts always invites danger, Captain.”

Captain James T. Kirk: “Well, I’d better get some facts.”

- Star Trek, Season One: Space Seed.

10. Capt. Kirk: “Bones, you ever hear of a doomsday machine?”

Dr. McCoy: “No, I’m a doctor, not a mechanic.”

- Star Trek, Season Two: The Apple.

11. James T Kirk: “If Spock were here and I were there... what would he do?”

McCoy: “He’d let you die.”

- 'Star Trek'.

12. “Let me explain what’s happening here. You are a criminal. I watched you murder innocent men and women. I was authorised to end you, and the only reason why you are still alive is because I am allowing it...So shut your mouth!”

13. “There will always be those who mean to do us harm. To stop them, we risk awakening the same evil within ourselves. Our first instinct is to seek revenge when those we love are taken from us. But that’s not who we are."

14. "We are here today to re-christen the USS Enterprise and to honour those who lost their lives nearly one year ago. When Christopher Pike first gave me his ship, he had me recite the Captain’s Oath.

Words I didn’t appreciate at the time. Now I see them as a call for us to remember who we once were and who we must be again. And those words?

Space... the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise, her five-year mission to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilisations. To boldly go where no one has gone before.”

15. James T Kirk: “Vice Admirals don’t fly, do they?”

Commodore Paris: “No. They don’t.”

James T Kirk: “No offence Ma’am, but... where’s the fun in that?”

16. “Conquest is easy. Control is not.”

17. “Love sometimes expresses itself in sacrifice.”

18. “There’s another way to survive — mutual trust and help.”

19. “I haven’t faced death. I’ve cheated death. I’ve tricked my way out of death and patted myself on the back for my ingenuity; I know nothing.”

 - 'Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan '.

20. “... the prejudices people feel about each other disappear when they get to know each other.”

- 'Elaan Of Troyius'.

21. “Perhaps man wasn’t meant for paradise. Maybe he was meant to claw, to scratch all the way.”

- 'This Side Of Paradise'.

22. “Leave bigotry in your quarters; there’s no room for it on the bridge.”

-  'Balance of Terror'.

23. “Our species can only survive if we have obstacles to overcome. You remove those obstacles. Without them to strengthen us, we will weaken and die.”  

24. “What is a man but that lofty spirit, that sense of enterprise, that devotion for something that cannot be sensed, cannot be realized but only dreamed, the highest reality?”

25. “We prefer to help ourselves. We make mistakes, but we’re human–and maybe that’s the word that best explains us.”

26. “One of the advantages of being a captain, Doctor, is being able to ask for advice without necessarily having to take it.”

There are many discussions about Captain Kirk’s leadership style. It is said that Captain James T Kirk was a hands-on leader who made sure his team was safe and always won against the bad guys.

He understood how to lead by example. In a spin of the series 'Star Trek: The Next Generation', Jean Luc Picard was the USS Enterprise captain from 1987. Let’s read some more quotes by Captain Kirk.

27. “Risk is our business. That’s what this starship is all about. That’s why we’re aboard her.” - Captain James T Kirk.

28. “All I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by. You could feel the wind at your back in those days. The sounds of the sea beneath you, and even if you take away the wind and the water it’s still the same.

The ship is yours. You can feel her. And the stars are still there, Bones.”

29. “Worlds may change, galaxies disintegrate, but a woman always remains a woman.”

30. “I don’t believe in no-win scenarios.”

31. “The odds are against us and the situation is grim.”

32. “A meeting is an event where minutes are taken and hours wasted.”

33. Mirror Spock: “One man cannot summon the future.”

Captain James T. Kirk: “But one man can change the present.”

34. “We’re a most promising species, Mr. Spock, as predators go. Did you know that?

I don’t. Not anymore. And maybe in a thousand years or so, we’ll be able to prove it.”

35. “I have to take him back inside myself. I can’t survive without him. I don’t want to take him back. He’s like an animal. a thoughtless, brutal animal. And yet it’s me. Me!”

36. Captain James T. Kirk: “You’d make a splendid computer, Mr. Spock.”

Spock: [taken aback] “That is very kind of you, Captain!”

Here at Kidadl , we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for [Captain Kirk quotes for Star Trek Fans], then why not take a look at Battlestar Galactica quotes or [ Babylon 5 quotes ].

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Bachelor of Arts specializing in English and Drama, Master of Arts specializing in Performance: Design and Practice

Luca Demetriou Bachelor of Arts specializing in English and Drama, Master of Arts specializing in Performance: Design and Practice

Experienced in writing and sub-editing, Luca holds a Bachelor's in English Literature and Drama from the University of Birmingham, where he served as the culture editor at Redbrick Paper. He is currently pursuing a Master's in Performance: Design and Practice at the University of the Arts in London, showcasing his passion for the arts, performance, and history. With a keen interest in traveling, Luca enjoys exploring new cultures and experiencing diverse perspectives.

1) Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the Buy Now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published but we cannot guarantee that on the time of reading. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.

2) At Kidadl, we strive to recommend the very best activities and events. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.

3) Because we are an educational resource, we have quotes and facts about a range of historical and modern figures. We do not endorse the actions of or rhetoric of all the people included in these collections, but we think they are important for growing minds to learn about under the guidance of parents or guardians.

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Screen Rant

8 sci-fi movie inventions ruined by real science.

Plenty of science fiction movies have presented fantastic technology which remains pure fiction, with actual science refuting its ability to exits.

• Big-screen sci-fi gadgets like lightsabers and transporters are pure fantasy due to real-world physics limitations.
• From shrinking tech to time travel, many sci-fi devices rely on impossible concepts like bypassing the laws of nature.
• Holograms and cryogenic stasis may look cool in movies, but real-life science still has a long way to go to make them a reality.

Science fiction movies often encourage audiences to dream up technologies beyond their wildest dreams, making them seem realistic enough to be plausible, only to be bitterly disappointed by the limitations of real-world science. The most ambitious science fiction movies have presented a wide variety of settings, from the spacefaring fantasy worlds of Star Wars to the grounded realism of films like Arrival . As a result, the cutting-edge inventions presented by these films run the gamut of plausibility, with many being closer to magic than science.

The laws of physics are a definitive roadblock in the path of developing many of the most famous science fiction devices in the real world. Try though they might to explain away reality-defying objects with undiscovered materials, rare elements, or fictional applications of real-world physics, some of the most exciting ideas from the genre are doomed to never make it past the ideation stage, operating on assumptions about the natural world that simply can't be replicated in reality. No matter the technology level humans are able to one day achieve, some sci-fi gadgets will sadly manifest in the real world.

10 Great Science Fiction Movies Set In Historical Times

8 lightsabers, the star wars series.

One of the most iconic movie weapons ever created, lightsabers need little introduction. The mythical weapons of both the legendary Jedi order and the insidious Sith, these blazing hot swords of pure light can slice through nearly anything in the Star Wars universe , barring specialty-made materials like Durasteel. Not only that, but they're also capable of deflecting bolts from energy-based blaster weapons, making them an impressive source of offense as well as defense. In the lore of the franchise, the lightsabers are powered by the mysterious Kyber crystals.

The lightsabers operate on different laws of physics than those in reality . Creating a powerful enough beam of light to cut through solid metal would result in a much longer, unwieldy weapon, not limited in its projection to a mere three feet. Even ignoring the issues regarding the lightsabers' power source, which would easily need to be connected to some kind of power-generating backpack with today's available technology, the ability of the weapons to physically clash with one another disobeys the properties of light. In reality, crossing lightsabers would simply pass through one another.

7 Transporters

The star trek series.

With its signature sound and colorful special effects, Transporters are some of the most iconic imagery of the legendary science fiction franchise, opening up the imagination to instantaneous planetside travel without the need of landing shuttles or orbital drop pods.

The only thing better than traveling at speeds surpassing light itself is the ability to near-instantly teleport, and plenty of science fiction films have put their own spin on the concept . Perhaps the most famous is the Transporter technology of the Star Trek series, activated by a remote operator at the behest of the classic phrase, " Beam me up, Scotty! " With its signature sound and colorful special effects, Transporters are some of the most iconic imagery of the legendary science fiction franchise, opening up the imagination to instantaneous planetside travel without the need of landing shuttles or orbital drop pods.

The issue with teleportation technology isn't so much the scientific possibility, but the philosophical concerns regarding teleporting a thinking human . It's actually not too outlandish to imagine the disintegration of physical objects into intangible data that can then be received at a different access point and reconstituted. In real life, scientists have succeeded in teleporting single photons . Yet there's no guarantee that if a human being were to use teleportation, their exact copy would retain any of their previous memories. Even if they did, the technical death and copying of a single person creates an uncomfortable "Ship of Theseus" problem.

The Dune Series

Frank Herbert's Dune novels have been seeing an incredible resurgence in popularity thanks to Denis Villeneuve's excellent adaptations, introducing hordes of new fans to the far-out technology of the series for the first time. Dune: Part One and Dune: Part Two both feature some pretty unbelievable technology, such as prophetic psychoactive drugs and bullet-deflecting energy shields. However, one charming piece of iconic Fremen equipment, the Thumper, seems like a straightforward mechanical device -- Simply plant it in the sand, allow the pulses to travel, and wait for a giant sand worm to show up .

Unfortunately, even the humble Thumper seems to be outside the reach of believable technology, despite seeming like a simple mechanical device. As pointed out by pop-culture physicist Niel DeGrasse Tyson on Twitter following Dune: Part Two 's release, the idea of soundwaves traveling through sand in order to draw out a subterranean creature is impossible on any planet . Sand is an incredibly effective dampener of sound, meaning that even massive shockwaves sent through a desert wouldn't have much of an effect. The idea that the Shai-Hulud could hear across such vast distances underground is impossible to begin with.

5 Hyperdrives

Another unbelievable invention to spring from the mind of George Lucas, the Hyperdrives of Star Wars fame have less than a passing relationship with the real-world laws of physics. In the universe, Hyperdrives operate by propelling a spacefaring vessel to velocities greater than the speed of light, allowing them to enter the mysterious dimension of Hyperspace . In reality, the speed of light is a limit inherent to the laws of physics, meaning that it would take an infinite amount of energy for material objects to accelerate to the lightspeed, let alone surpass it.

The controversial Holdo Maneuver of Star Wars: The Last Jedi further complicates matters. Assuming that Hyperspace is an immaterial dimension that objects traveling faster than the speed of light quickly enter, they shouldn't be able to have an effect on the physical world. Otherwise, it makes no sense that the Star Wars series isn't filled with lightspeed weaponry being haphazardly fired across every naval battle between spaceships. Regardless, the premise of outspeeding light itself is in direct defiance of a proven universal constant.

4 Holograms

The star wars series, the star trek series, the mcu.

Holograms are one of the most iconic science fiction creations, being inherent to no single series. Popularized time and time again by Star Wars , Star Trek , and even Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universes , holograms present a far more futuristic idea for a user interface, interacting with technology with constructs of light that might even respond to human touch . Unfortunately, the real-world behavior of light particles once again rears its ugly head when it comes to the actual practicality of holograms.

Holograms do exist in a sense, infamously used by the musical talents of Hatsune Miku and the late Tupac. However, these projections are quite literally the work of smoke and mirrors, relying on optical illusions, meaning that true holograms are still a distant dream of sci-fi creators . In actuality, it would be impossible to establish a way for light to arbitrarily stop at a predetermined distance, meaning that any attempt at creating a hologram would quickly devolve into a standard projector screen. That's not even to mention the concept of being able to touch and move holograms around Tony Stark-style.

3 Shrinking

Honey, i shrunk the kids.

Shrinking technology has a flirtatious relationship with science fiction movies, showing up in places like the MCU's Ant-Man trilogy and the upcoming reboot of Honey, I Shrunk The Kids . There's even a strangely specific trope used in various TV shows regarding a situation in which characters are forced to undergo a fantastic voyage within the body of another character, typically with the aid of a shrinking submarine. It's fascinating to imagine exploring the world from a more diminutive point of view , allowing scientists to study natural phenomena like insects up close and personal, though the dangers would certainly be palpable.

Sadly, the concept of shrinking a living being down to size remains a distant dream of fantastical science fiction movies. Atoms are the basic building blocks of all matter, and to shrink an object, one would either have to be made out of less atoms or change the actual size of the atoms themselves, both of which present their own problems . In the case of the former, this could work with certain inorganic matter, but no living thing could survive the process. Otherwise, atoms are simply the smallest unit that physical matter can be subdivided into, with no exceptions.

The 20 Best Science Fiction TV Series Of All Time

2 backwards time travel, the back to the future trilogy, the terminator series.

From the Terminator franchise to the Back to the Future trilogy, each movie has its own rules for time travel.

Time travel has long been the subject of fascination for science fiction movies, being a subgenre all of its own. From the Terminator franchise to the Back to the Future trilogy, each movie has its own rules for time travel. While time travel to the future could be theoretically possible, with movies like Interstellar exploring the delicate relationship high-speed travel and time have with one another, moving backwards is a scientific impossibility. Some versions of general relativity suggest that the necessary warping of spacetime time travel would require wouldn't allow potential voyagers to move backwards in the time stream .

One of the better episodes of Futurama, season 6, episode 7, " The Late Philip J. Fry ", played with this concept. Professor Farnsworth, Fry, and Bender all booking a one-way ticket to the distant future, comically witnessing the birth of a new universe identical to their own, allowing them to return to their own time in a roundabout sense. While it may be possible to step into the future, going backwards a la Marty McFly is a pure fantasy .

DID YOU KNOW: in one of the first drafts of Back to the Future (1985), the creators made the time machine into a kind of refrigerator (via Collider ).

1 Cryogenic Stasis

Another way to time travel in a sense, the concept of cryogenic stasis has been played with in a great deal of science fiction films . Used most notably in the Alien franchise , the scantily-clad warrant officer Ellen Ripley begins the first film fresh out of a cryogenic stasis pod, allowing herself and the rest of her crew to endure the brutal distances of interstellar travel. In real life, the effects of such technology would extend far beyond one's legs falling asleep.

Freezing someone to wake them up at a later time is simple enough in concept -- After all, some real world frogs and insects use a similar form of hibernation to last through tough winters. Over such dramatic time periods, however, ice crystals would inevitably form between the very cells of the human body, wreaking havoc on the hapless sleeper. Additionally, the levels of glucose that creatures who use cryogenic stasis in real life use as a sort of biological antifreeze would easily kill a human being, making such techniques exist only in the realm of science fiction .