After a half-century's worth of adventures aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise, its multi-generational crews, other starships and outposts across the galaxy, Star Trek has produced much thought-provoking material challenging its fans to reflect on the most important real-world issues through a science fiction lens. With season 4 of Star Trek Discovery recently ending, now seems a good time look back at the most poignant quotes across the franchise.
Enthusiasts of the franchise on Reddit have pinpointed several prophetic instances on a feed authored by u/dgl6y7 that are worthy of study. The respondents agree that some of the best examples were spoken in Star Trek: The Next Generation. However, a few others stand out from the original 1960s series, its movies, and spin-offs.
James T. Kirk's trusted former chief engineer Montgomery Scott responded to his captain's inquiry of how their friend Hikaru Sulu managed to raise a family while serving in Starfleet and how his daughter Demora had risen to helm the Enterprise-B in Star Trek Generations.
An observer on Reddit, hobulargobularizer, appreciated the big picture sentiment in Scotty's response to Kirk's bewilderment stating, "I think about that quote as a way to remind me not to lose sight of the important things."
Reflecting on events he relived through one of Q's interventions, Captain Picard relates to Commander Riker details of his academy days where he was a womanizer, gambler, and fighter. And on one occasion was nearly stabbed to death, saved only by an artificial heart.
Picard realized at the conclusion of "Tapestry" that events based on his choices may not have been optimal. However, they shaped his character in ways he had yet to realize leading Redditor VermiciousKnnid to identify "as someone who struggled with a lot of repressed pain and acting out in my youth, this moment was (and remains) huge for me."
Wesley Crusher's heart had been broken by a young princess being escorted to her wedding as part of an arranged marriage in the TNG episode "The Dauphin." Guinan, the ship's bartender, offered these words of comfort, stemming from her own experiences with heartache.
Redditor Gerbil23 found comfort from a "surprise and heartbreaking separation" when they encountered this exchange between the young teen and the ship's skipper "that helped a lot," to ease their personal angst.
The bond shared between James T. Kirk and Spock of Vulcan, as friends versus officers of the Starship Enterprise, is summed up beautifully by this note uttered by a resurrected Spock following the mission to save his life in Star Trek III: The Search For Spock.
For Past_Effect_8256, this declaration perfectly defines the premise of Star Trek, a relationship between a human and alien, "the beauty that is the friendship and brotherly bond between them, forged over the course of countless adventures and heartbreaks."
Dr. Bruce Maddox of Starfleet's science division wanted Data to voluntarily submit to his research on furthering the advancement of his breed of android. Following his refusal, Riker is appointed a reluctant prosecutor and Picard defends his rights at a hearing.
Redditor Carthonn found the climax of "The Measure of a Man," quite profound because Riker felt unworthy of Data's victory celebration until his artificial friend praises him "for enduring the torture of prosecuting one of his crew mates which in effect saved him."
After days of enduring sleep deprivation, truth serum, and verbal interrogation, Captain Picard's Cardassian captor in TNG's "Chain of Command," insisted he agree there were five lights shinning in his office when in fact there were only four. Picard did not comply.
When the captain does not surrender and is released gave Redditor Cultural-Ocelot-3692 reason to cheer. "I love how he owns and takes back his dignity throughout his ordeal," they write, commenting on Picard's ability to forgive not forget.
Through a Bajoran prophet bearing the likeness of his deceased wife, Deep Space Nine Commander Benjamin Sisko realizes during flashbacks in the series pilot "Emissary", one of Deep Space Nine's best episodes, that his love for her was so powerful that it did not allow his unconscious mind to accept her death at the Battle of Wolf 359.
Redditor khaoticneutralzone felt vindicated after years of battling PTSD when they viewed Sisko becoming "frustrated with himself because he keeps going back to that awful memory and he can't stop it," allowing them the freedom to classify their "experiences real and valid."
When Wesley Crusher fails to admit his culpability in the tragic death of an academy classmate during a standard flight exercise gone awry, Picard hits him with an unforgettable lecture about the standards expected of a career Starfleet officer.
Redditor addctd2badideas agrees wholeheartedly with Picard's convictions adopting them to further their practice of "dedication to intellectual and emotional honesty, even if I don't necessarily nail it every time."
While a maverick in many situations as Captain of the Enterprise, Kirk knew when to project strength and confidence to his crew of 430 during The Original Series episode "The Corbomite Maneuver" as the ship lay at the mercy of Balok, a faceless alien voice from a giant yellow circular vessel.
The wisdom of Kirk's observation struck Redditor TheHudgepudge as curious and heightened their enthusiasm for the unknown paraphrasing that "questions help make the unknown known. And there is always more to learn, so there are always more questions to ask."
During a wargames exercise in the TNG episode "Peak Performance," Data is flabbergasted when he is bested by a humanoid opponent in a strategy game. His loss causes him to doubt his ability to serve as first officer for the exercise until Picard reminds him that he is not perfect.
The most profound quote from all of Trek to date is an unexpected analysis given by a human to an artificial lifeform about his infallibility is relatable, according to Redditor sunrae3584 believing "it's something I have to remember when I start berating myself."
