Captain Jean-Luc Picard Quotes in Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)

Data: [as B-4] Move, puny human animal!

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: [lowly] A bit less florid, Data...

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Duty. A starship captain's life is filled with solemn duty. I have commanded men in battle. I have negotiated peace treaties between implacable enemies. I have represented the Federation in first contact with twenty-seven alien species. But none of this compares with my solemn duty today... as best man. Now, I know, on an occasion such as this, it is expected that I be gracious and fulsome in my praise on the wonders of this blessed union, but have the two of you considered what you were doing to me? Of course you're happy, but what about *my* needs? This is all a damned inconvenience. While you're happily settling in on the Titan, I will be training my new first officer. You all know him. He's a tyrannical martinet who will never, *ever*, allow me to go on away missions.

Data: That is the regulation, sir. Starfleet code section 12, paragraph 4...

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Mr. Data...

Data: Sir?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Shut up.

Data: Yes, sir.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: [turning to the wedding guests] 15 years I've been waiting to say that.

Commander Deanna Troi: That was a lovely toast.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: It's from the heart.

Commander Deanna Troi: And you needn't worry. I'm going to brief your new counselor on everthing she needs to know.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Oh, like hell you are. You already know too much about me. But I take it that there will be no speeches during the ceremony on Betazed?

Commander William T. Riker: No, no speeches and... no clothes.

Data: [toasting Riker and Troi] Ladies and gentlemen, and invited transgendered species. In my study of Terran and Betazoid conjugal rites, I have discovered it is traditional to present the happy couple with a gift. Given Commander Riker's affection for archaic musical forms, I have elected to present the following in honor of their conjugation.

Data: Do you have a name, sir?

B-4: I am... B-4.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: B-4? Dr. Soong's penchant for whimsical names seems to have no end.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: If I may, just a word of advice about your first command?

Captain William T. Riker: Anything.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: When your first officer insists that you can't go on away missions...

Captain William T. Riker: Ignore him. I intend to.

[pause]

Captain William T. Riker: Serving with you... has been an honor.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: The honor was mine - Captain.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: To absent friends... To family.

[Deanna starts crying over Data's heroic death]

Commander William T. Riker: First time I saw Data, he was leaning against a tree in the holodeck, trying to whistle. Funniest thing I ever saw. No matter what he did, he couldn't get the tune right. What was that song? I can't remember the song...

Geordi La Forge: Captain, we are being hailed.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: On screen.

[He realizes that the screen has been destroyed, along with the entire front wall of the bridge]

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: ...Open a channel.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: What is all this about?

Praetor Shinzon: It's about destiny, Picard. It's about a Reman outcast.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: You're not Reman!

Praetor Shinzon: And I'm not quite Human! So what am I? My life is meaningless as long as you're still alive. What am I while you exist? A shadow? An echo?

Praetor Shinzon: You don't trust me.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I have no reason to.

Praetor Shinzon: You have every reason. If you had lived my life, and experienced the suffering of my people, you'd be standing where I am.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: And if you had lived my life, you would understand my responsibility to the Federation.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: If your issues are with me, then deal with me. This has nothing to do with my ship, nothing to do with the Federation!

Praetor Shinzon: Oh, but it does. We will no longer bow before anyone as slaves. Not the Romulans and not your mighty Federation. We are a race bred for war... and conquest.

[Picard is raising a toast to Riker and Troi]

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Will Riker, you have been my trusted right arm for fifteen years. You have kept my course true and steady. Deanna Troi, you've been my guide... and my conscience. You have helped me recognize the better parts of myself.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: [to both] You are my family. And in best maritime tradition, I wish you both clear horizons. My good friends - make it so. The bride and groom!

Wedding guests: The bride and groom!

Commander William T. Riker: Captain, I don't have to remind you...

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I appreciate you concern, Number One. But I've been itching to try the Argo.

Commander William T. Riker: [smiles] I'll bet.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Captain's prerogative. There's no foreseeable danger and your wife would never forgive me if anything were to happen to you. You have the bridge... Mr. Troi!

[the bridge crew snickers]

Commander Deanna Troi: What's he doing?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: He wants to look me in the eye...

[last lines]

B-4: [singing brokenly to himself] Never saw the sun... never saw the sun... never saw... the sun...

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: [helping along] Shining so bright.

B-4: [singing brokenly to himself] Shining so bright... never saw things...

[hums the rest of the line]

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: [helping along] Going so right...

B-4: [singing to himself] Going so right...

[Picard leaves his office, with a wistful yet hopeful smile on his face]

Admiral Janeway: The Son'a, the Borg, the Romulans - you seem to get all the easy assignments.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Just lucky, Admiral.

Admiral Janeway: Let's hope that luck holds. Janeway out.

Admiral Janeway: Jean-Luc. How'd you like a trip to Romulus?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: With or without the rest of the fleet?

Commander Deanna Troi: [pleading] It's tradition, Worf! You of all people should appreciate that.

Worf: [angry and a little embarrassed] I will not do it!

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: [entering the bridge] Won't do what, Mr. Worf?

Worf: Captain, I do not think it is appropriate for a Starfleet officer to appear... naked.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Oh, come now. A big, handsome, strapping fellow like you? What can you be afraid of?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Don't worry, Number One, we'll still have you to Betazed with plenty of time to spare.

Commander William T. Riker: Thank you, sir.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Where we will *all* honor the Betazoid tradition. Now, if you'll excuse me - I'll be in the gym.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I'm trying to believe you, Shinzon. If there is one ideal that the Federation holds most dear, it is that all men, all races can be united. What better example? A Starfleet captain, standing in the Romulan Senate. Nothing would make me more proud than to take your hand in friendship - in time... when that trust has been earned.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Look at me, Shinzon. Your heart, your hands, your eyes are the same as mine. The blood pumping within you, the raw material is the same. We have the same potential.

Praetor Shinzon: That's the past, Captain.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: It can be the future. Buried deep within you, beneath all the years of pain and anger, there is something that has never been nurtured: the potential to make yourself a better man. And that is what it is to be human. To make yourself more than you are. Oh, yes - I know you. There was a time you looked at the stars and dreamed of what might be.

Praetor Shinzon: Childish dreams, Captain - lost in the dilithium mines of Remus.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: It amazes me how little you know yourself.

Praetor Shinzon: I'm incapable of such an act!

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: You *are* me! The same noble Picard blood runs through our veins. Had you lived my life, you'd be doing *exactly* as I am. So look in the mirror. See yourself. Consider that, Captain. I can think of no greater torment for you.

Praetor Shinzon: Shinzon? I'm a mirror for you as well.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Not for long, Captain. I'm afraid you won't survive to witness the victory of the echo over the voice.

[In the attempt to find an alternative exit, Picard intends to blast with a shuttle through the inner shuttle bay doors and fly through the Scimitar]

Data: Do you think this is a wise course of action, sir?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: We're about to find out, Data.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: [after being transported to the Scimitar] Why am I here? Why have you done this?

Praetor Shinzon: [sarcastically] I was lonely.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: If I had lived his life, is it possible that I would have rejected my humanity?

Data: The B-4 is physically identical to me, although his neural pathways are not as advanced. But even if they were, he would not be me.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: How can you be sure?

Data: I aspire, sir, to be better than I am. B-4 does not. Nor does Shinzon.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Captain's personal log, supplemental. We're heading toward Federation space at maximum warp. The crew has responded with the dedication I've come to expect of them. And like a thousand other commanders on a thousand other battlefields, I wait for the dawn.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: [on seeing the Scimitar for the first time] She's a predator...

Commander William T. Riker: [referring to the two decloaking Romulan warbirds] Just when I thought this couldn't get any worse.

Worf: We are being hailed.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: On screen.

Commander Donatra: Captain Picard. Commander Donatra of the Warbird Valdore. Might we be of assistance?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Assistance?

Commander Donatra: The Empire considers this a matter of internal security. We regret you've become involved.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: [relieved] Commander, when this is over, I owe you a drink.

[the Valdore is attacked]

Commander Donatra: Romulan ale, Captain. Let's get to work.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: You heard the lady. Let's go to work!

Praetor Shinzon: Were we Picards always warriors?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I think of myself as an explorer.

Praetor Shinzon: Well... were we always explorers?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I was the first Picard to leave our solar system. It... caused quite a stir in the family. But... I'd spent my youth...

Praetor Shinzon: ...looking up at the stars, dreaming about what was up there; about...

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: ...new worlds...

Praetor Shinzon: There is so much we need to talk about.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I will be interested to know *what* we are talking about.

Praetor Shinzon: Unity, Captain. Tearing down the walls between us, to recognize that we are one. I'm talking of the thing that makes us the same. Peace. We want peace.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I really wanted to believe Shinzon. But this thalaron radiation just can't be explained away. Whatever he is after, it isn't peace.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: For now we see but through a glass darkly.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: The man who is Shinzon of Remus and Jean-Luc Picard could never exterminate the population of an entire planet. He's better than that.

Praetor Shinzon: He is what his life has made him.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I don't know if all this has made any sense, but I wanted you to know what kind of man he was. In his quest to be more like us, he helped us to see what it means to be human.

B-4: My... my brother was not human?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: No, he wasn't. But his wonder, his curiosity about every facet of human nature allowed all of us to see the best parts of ourselves. He evolved; he embraced change, because he always wanted to be better than he was.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: [Quoting "Moby Dick"] And he piled upon the whale's white hump, the sum of all the rage and hate felt by his whole race. If his chest had been a cannon, he would have shot his heart upon it.

Lt. Commander Worf: The Defiant?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Adrift but salvageable.

Cmdr. William Riker: Tough little ship.

Lt. Commander Worf: Little?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Mr. Worf... I regret some of the things I said to you earlier.

Lt. Commander Worf: "Some"?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: As a matter of fact, I think you're the bravest man I have ever known.

Lt. Commander Worf: Thank you, sir.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Initiate auto-destruct sequence. Authorization: Picard, 4 7 Alpha Tango.

Dr. Beverly Crusher: Computer, Commander Beverly Crusher. Confirm auto-destruct sequence. Authorization: Crusher, 2 2 Beta Charlie.

Lt. Commander Worf: Computer, Lieutenant Commander Worf. Confirm auto-destruct sequence. Authorization: Worf, 3 7 Gamma Echo.

Computer: Command authorization accepted. Awaiting final command.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Destruct sequence: Alpha 1. 15 minutes, silent countdown. Enable.

Computer: Auto-destruct in 15 minutes. There will be no further audio warnings.

Dr. Beverly Crusher: So much for the Enterprise-E.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: We barely knew her.

Dr. Beverly Crusher: Think they'll build another one?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Plenty of letters left in the alphabet.

Lieutenant Commander Data: Captain, I believe I am feeling... anxiety. It is an intriguing sensation. A most distracting...

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Data, I'm sure it's a fascinating experience, but perhaps you should deactivate your emotion chip for now.

Lieutenant Commander Data: Good idea, sir.

[beep]

Lieutenant Commander Data: Done.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Data, there are times that I envy you.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I'm about to commit a direct violation of our orders. Those of you who wish to object, you do so now. It will be noted in my log.

Lieutenant Commander Data: Captain. I believe I speak for everyone here, sir, when I say...

[pause]

Lieutenant Commander Data: To hell with our orders.

Lily Sloane: Jean Luc, blow up the damn ship!

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: No! Noooooooooo!

[Smashes glass and model ships with his phaser]

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I will not sacrifice the Enterprise. We've made too many compromises already; too many retreats. They invade our space and we fall back. They assimilate entire worlds and we fall back. Not again. The line must be drawn here! This far, no further! And *I* will make them pay for what they've done!

Lily Sloane: You broke your little ships.

Lieutenant Commander Data: [about the Borg Queen] She brought me closer to humanity than I ever thought possible. And for a time, I was tempted by her offer.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: How long a time?

Lieutenant Commander Data: 0.68 seconds sir. For an android, that is nearly an eternity.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: We are not going to lose the Enterprise. Not to the Borg. Not while I'm in command.

[Picard takes the phaser from Lily, and inspects it]

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Maximum setting. If you had fired this, you would have vaporized me.

Lily Sloane: [sheepish] It's my first ray gun.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Six years ago, they assimiated me into their collective. I had their cybernetic devices implanted throughout my body. I was linked to the hive mind. Every trace of individuality erased. I was one of them. So you can imagine, my dear, I have a somewhat unique perspective on the Borg, and I know how to fight them. Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do.

Lily Sloane: I am such an idiot. It's so simple. The Borg HURT you, and now you're going to HURT them back!

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: In my century, we don't succumb to revenge. We have a more evolved sensibility.

Lily Sloane: BULLSHIT! I saw the look your face when you shot those Borg on the Holodeck. You were almost ENJOYING it!

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: How dare you.

Lily Sloane: Oh, come on, Captain. You're not the first man to get a thrill out of murdering someone! I see it all the time!

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: GET OUT!

Lily Sloane: Or what? You'll kill me, like you killed Ensign Lynch?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: There was no way to save him.

Lily Sloane: You didn't even try! Where were your evolved sensibilities then?

Lily Sloane: You gotta go?

[Picard nods "Yes"]

Lily Sloane: I envy you... the world you're going to.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I envy YOU... taking these first steps into a new frontier. I shall miss you, Lily.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: The economics of the future are somewhat different. You see, money doesn't exist in the 24th century.

Lily Sloane: No money? You mean, you don't get paid?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: The acquisition of wealth is no longer the driving force of our lives. We work to better ourselves and the rest of humanity. Actually, we're all like yourself and Dr. Cochrane.

Cmdr. William Riker: We finished our first sensor sweep of the neutral zone.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Oh, fascinating. Twenty particles of space dust per cubic meter, 52 ultraviolet radiation spikes, and a class-2 comet. Well, this is certainly worthy of our attention.

Cmdr. William Riker: Captain, why are we out here chasing comets?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Let's just say Starfleet has every confidence with the Enterprise and her crew - they're just not sure about her Captain. They believe that a man who was once captured and assimilated by the Borg should not be put in a situation where he would face them again. To do so would introduce "an unstable element to a critical situation."

Cmdr. William Riker: That's ridiculous. Your experience with the Borg makes you the perfect man to lead this fight.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Admiral Hayes disagrees.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Mr. Worf, do you remember your zero G combat training?

Lt. Commander Worf: I remember how it made me sick to my stomach.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: You want to destroy the ship and run away, you coward.

Lt. Commander Worf: If you were any other man, I would kill you where you stand.

[Picard asks the Borg Queen to exchange Data for himself]

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Let him go. He's not the one you want.

Borg Queen: Are you offering yourself to us?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Offering myself...? That's it, I remember now! It wasn't enough that you assimilate me... I had to give myself freely to the Borg. To you!

Borg Queen: You flatter yourself! I've overseen the assimilition of countless millions. You were no different!

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: You're lying. You wanted more than just another Borg drone. You wanted a human being with a mind of his own, who could bridge the gulf between humanity and the Borg! You wanted a counterpart! But I resisted. I fought you.

Borg Queen: You can't begin to imagine the life you denied yourself.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: [looking at the Phoenix] Isn't it amazing? This ship used to be a nuclear missile.

Lieutenant Commander Data: It is an historical irony that Dr. Cochrane would choose an instrument of mass destruction to inaugurate an era of peace.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I don't have time for this.

Lily Sloane: Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt your little quest. Captain Ahab has to go hunt his whale!

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: What?

Lily Sloane: You do have books in the 24th century.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: This is not about revenge.

Lily Sloane: LIAR!

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: This is about saving the future of humanity!

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Reports of my assimilation have been greatly exaggerated.

Lily Sloane: [threatening with a phaser] You want to help me? Get me out of here!

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Alright. You want a way out? Here it is.

[Picard opens window, revealing the Earth far, far below]

Lily Sloane: What is this?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Australia. New Guinea. Solomon Islands. Montana will be up soon, but you may want to hold your breath - it's a long way down!

[last lines]

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Mr. Data, lay in a course for the 24th century. I suspect our future is there waiting for us.

Lieutenant Commander Data: Course laid in, sir.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Make it so.

Lt. Commander Worf: The Borg have cut primary power to all decks... *except* sixteen.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: The Borg won't stay on deck sixteen.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: [Picard, Worf and Hawk are walking to the main deflector dish on the Enterprise hull. Picard notices Worf is breathing heavily] How are you doing, Mr. Worf?

Lt. Commander Worf: Not well, sir.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Try not to look at the stars. Keep your eyes on the hull.

[Worf turns his attention to the hull, and looks up toward the deflector dish]

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Let's go.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: It's not too late. Locutus could still be with you. Just in the way you wanted: an equal. Let Data go, and I will take my place at your side. Willingly, without any resistance.

Borg Queen: Such a noble creature. A quality we sometimes lack. We will add your distinctiveness to our own. Welcome home... Locutus.

Cmdr. Deanna Troi: Bridge to Captain Picard.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Go ahead.

Cmdr. Deanna Troi: We've just received word from the Fleet. They've engaged the Borg.

[Picard puts his hand on the Phoenix]

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: It's a boyhood fantasy... I must have seen this ship hundreds of times in the Smithsonian but I was never able to touch it.

Lieutenant Commander Data: Sir, does tactile contact alter your perception of the Phoenix?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Oh, yes! For humans, touch can connect you to an object in a very personal way, make it seem more real.

[Data also puts his hand on the Phoenix]

Lieutenant Commander Data: I am detecting imperfections in the titanium casing... temperature variations in the fuel manifold... it is no more "real" to me now than it was a moment ago.

Cmdr. Deanna Troi: [observing from a catwalk] Would you three like to be alone?

Lieutenant Commander Data: [We see a 24th century Earth. It looks shattered and broken-up] The atmosphere contains high concentrations of methane, carbon monoxide, and fluorine.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Life signs?

Lieutenant Commander Data: Population approximately nine billion... all Borg.

[first lines]

Borg Queen: Locutus...

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I am Locutus of Borg. Resistance is futile.

Lily Sloane: [pointing a phaser] I don't care who you're with! Get me the hell out of here! NOW!

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: That's not going to be easy.

Lily Sloane: Well, you'd better find a way to make it easy, soldier, or I'm going to start PUSHING BUTTONS!

Borg Queen: What's wrong, Locutus? Isn't this familiar? Organic minds are such fragile things. How could you forget me so quickly? We were very close, you and I. You can still hear our song.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Yes, I... I remember you. You were there all the time. But... that ship... and all the Borg on it were destroyed...

Borg Queen: You think in such three-dimensional terms. How small you've become.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I've accessed a Borg neuroprocessor and I've discovered what they're trying to do. They're transforming the deflector dish into an interplexing beacon.

Lt. Hawk: [confused] "Interplexing"?

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: It's a subspace transmitter. If they activate the beacon, they'll be able to establish a link with the Borg living in this century.

Dr. Beverly Crusher: But in the 21st century, the Borg are still in the Delta quadrant.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: They'll send reinforcements. Humanity will be an easy target. Attack the Earth in the past to assimilate the future.

Lily Sloane: Watch your caboose, Dix.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: I intend to.