The Measure of a Man (Star Trek: The Next Generation) Quotes

The Measure of a Man (Star Trek: The Next Generation) is a television program that first aired in 1970 . The Measure of a Man ended its run in 1970.

The Measure of a Man (Star Trek: The Next Generation) Quotes

• (Lt. Commander Data) "I am the culmination of one man's dream. This is not ego, or vanity. But when Dr. Soong created me, he added to the substance of the universe. If, by your experiments, I am destroyed, something unique, something wonderful will be lost. I cannot permit that. I must protect his dream."
• (Commander Bruce Maddox) "And so must I."

• (Lt. Commander Data) "Sir, there is a celebration on the Holodeck."
• (Commander William T. Riker) "I have no right to be there."
• (Lt. Commander Data) "Because you failed in your task?"
• (Commander William T. Riker) "No, God, no. I came that close to winning, Data."
• (Lt. Commander Data) "Yes, sir."
• (Commander William T. Riker) "I almost cost you your life."
• (Lt. Commander Data) "Is it not true that had you refused to prosecute, Captain Louvois would have ruled summarily against me?"
• (Commander William T. Riker) "Yes."
• (Lt. Commander Data) "That action injured you, and saved me. I will not forget it."
• (Commander William T. Riker) "You're a wise man, my friend."
• (Lt. Commander Data) "Not yet, sir. But with your help, I am learning."

• (Capt. Picard) "Data -- I understand your objections. But I have to consider Starfleet's interests. What if Commander Maddox is correct? There is a possibility that many more beings like yourself can be constructed."
• (Lt. Commander Data) "Sir, Lieutenant La Forge's eyes are far superior to human biological eyes, true?"
• (Capt. Picard) "M-hm."
• (Lt. Commander Data) "Then why are not all human officers required to have their eyes replaced with cybernetic implants?"
• (Lt. Commander Data) "I see. It is precisely because I am not human."

• (Capt. Picard) "Now, tell me, Commander, what is Data?"
• (Commander Bruce Maddox) "I don't understand."
• (Capt. Picard) "What is he?"
• (Commander Bruce Maddox) "A machine."
• (Capt. Picard) "Is he? Are you sure?"
• (Commander Bruce Maddox) "Yes."
• (Capt. Picard) "You see, he's met two of your three criteria for sentience, so what if he meets the third, consciousness, in even the smallest degree? What is he then? I don't know. Do you?"
• (Capt. Picard) "Do you?"
• (Capt. Picard) "Do you? Well, that's the question you have to answer."

• (Commander Bruce Maddox) "You are endowing Data with human characteristics because it looks human. But it is not. If it were a box on wheels, I would not be facing this opposition."

• (Capt. Picard) "Now, the decision you reach here today will determine how we will regard this -- creation of our genius. It will reveal the kind of a people we are, what he is destined to be; it will reach far beyond this courtroom and this -- one android. It could significantly redefine the boundaries of personal liberty and freedom; expanding them for some -- savagely curtailing them for others. Are you prepared to condemn him and all who come after him, to servitude and slavery? Your Honor, Starfleet was founded to seek out new life; well, there it sits.; Waiting."

• (Capt. Picard) "Well, we have a problem."
• (Lt. Commander Data) "I find myself in complete agreement with that assessment of the situation, sir."

• (Captain Phillipa Louvois) "I'm glad you felt you could -- well, come to me."
• (Capt. Picard) "The word 'trust' just isn't in your vocabulary, is it? Good try, nine out of ten for effort."

• (Lt. Commander Data) "Is that what is known as a 'poker face'?"

• (Capt. Picard) "You always enjoyed the adversarial process more than getting at the truth. Well, I hope that you've learned a little wisdom along the way."

• (Capt. Picard) "Phillipa Louvois. And back in uniform. It's been ten years, but seeing you again like this makes it seem like fifty. If we weren't around all these people, do you know what I would like to do?"
• (Captain Phillipa Louvois) "Bust a chair across my teeth."
• (Capt. Picard) "After that."
• (Captain Phillipa Louvois) "Oh, ain't love wonderful?"

• (Capt. Picard) "A single Data; and forgive me, Commander; is a curiosity. A wonder, even. But thousands of Datas; isn't that becoming -- a race? And won't we be judged by how we treat that race?"

• (Captain Phillipa Louvois) "It sits there looking at me; and I don't know what it is. This case has dealt with metaphysics; with questions best left to saints and philosophers. I am neither competent nor qualified to answer those. But I've got to make a ruling, to try to speak to the future. Is Data a machine? Yes. Is he the property of Starfleet? No. We have all been dancing around the basic issue: does Data have a soul? I don't know that he has. I don't know that I have. But I have got to give him the freedom to explore that question himself. It is the ruling of this court that Lieutenant Commander Data has the freedom to choose."

• (Captain Phillipa Louvois) "Overt sentimentality is not one of Captain Picard's failings. Trust me, I know."

• (Capt. Picard) "Your honor, a courtroom is a crucible. In it we burn away irrelevancies until we are left with a pure product; the truth, for all time."

• (Lt. Commander Data) "As Doctor Pulaski would at this junction no doubt remind us, life is rarely fair."

• (Commander William T. Riker) "The Commander is a physical representation of a dream; an idea, conceived of by the mind of a man. Its purpose: to serve human needs and interests. It's a collection of neural nets and heuristic algorithms; its responses dictated by an elaborate software written by a man, its hardware built by a man. And now -- and now a man will shut it off."
• (Commander William T. Riker) "Pinocchio is broken. Its strings have been cut."

• (Captain Phillipa Louvois) "I can use serving officers as legal counsel. You, as the senior officer, would defend."
• (Capt. Picard) "Very good."
• (Captain Phillipa Louvois) "And the unenviable task of prosecuting this case would fall on you, Commander, as the next most senior officer of the defendant's ship."
• (Commander William T. Riker) "I can't. I won't. Data's my comrade. We have served together. I not only respect him, I consider him my friend."
• (Captain Phillipa Louvois) "When people of good conscience have an honest dispute, we must still sometimes resort to this kind of adversarial system."
• (Commander William T. Riker) "You just want me to prove that Data is a mere machine. I can't do that, because I don't believe it. I happen to know better, so I am neither qualified nor willing. You're going to have to find someone else."
• (Captain Phillipa Louvois) "Then I will rule summarily based on my findings. Data is a toaster. Have him report immediately to Commander Maddox for experimental refit."

• (Capt. Picard) "I need your help."
• (Captain Phillipa Louvois) "An historic moment."

• (Capt. Picard) "Starfleet is not an organization that ignores its own regulations when they become inconvenient."

• (Capt. Picard) "Data, Captain Louvois has issued a ruling. You are the property of Starfleet Command. You cannot resign."
• (Lt. Commander Data) "see. From limitless options I am reduced to none, or rather one. I can only hope that Commander Maddox is more capable than it would appear."
• (Capt. Picard) "Data, you're not going to submit. We're going to fight this. I challenged the ruling. Captain Louvois will be compelled to hold a hearing. She may be overly attached to the letter of the law, but I suspect that she still understands its spirit. We will put to rest this question of your legal status once and for all. Now, I have been asked to represent you, but if there is some other officer with which you would feel more happy?"
• (Lt. Commander Data) "Captain, I have complete confidence in your ability to represent my interests"

• (Admiral Nakamura) "For five hundred years, every ship that has borne the name of the Enterprise has become a legend. This one is no different."

• (Lt. Commander Data) "And Commander, continue your work. When you are ready, I will still be here. I find some of what you propose -- intriguing."

• (Captain Phillipa Louvois) "You know, I never thought I would say this; but it's good to see you again. It brings a sense of order and stability to my universe to know that you're still a pompous ass -- And a damned sexy man."

• (Captain Phillipa Louvois) "And I expect you to do your duty in that courtroom. If I find for one minute that you are not doing your best, I will end this then and there."
• (Capt. Picard) "You don't have to remind us of our duty. You just -- just remember yours."
• (Captain Phillipa Louvois) "I have never forgotten it; not then, and certainly not now."

Add or Update Quotes

If you have a quote to add or change and want to let us know, please fill in the form below. Include the time in the film/video if possible so we can find it.