35 Star Trek Quotes

For decades, "Star Trek" has captivated audiences with its imaginative storytelling, complex characters, and profound philosophical insights. Embedded within its episodes and films are quotes that have transcended the screen to embolden, inspire, and challenge viewers. Whether you're a lifelong fan or new to the series, these memorable lines offer a glimpse into the heart and soul of the "Star Trek" universe. Join us as we delve into a curated collection of the top 35 Star Trek quotes that continue to resonate and inspire across generations.

1. “Resistance, however, is useless. (1939)” - A. E. Van Vogt

2. “I handed them a script and they turned it down. It was too controversial. It talked about concepts like, 'Who is God?' The Enterprise meets God in space; God is a life form, and I wanted to suggest that there may have been, at one time in the human beginning, an alien entity that early man believed was God, and kept those legends. But I also wanted to suggest that it might have been as much the Devil as it was God. After all, what kind of god would throw humans out of Paradise for eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. One of the Vulcans on board, in a very logical way, says, 'If this is your God, he's not very impressive. He's got so many psychological problems; he's so insecure. He demands worship every seven days. He goes out and creates faulty humans and then blames them for his own mistakes. He's a pretty poor excuse for a supreme being.” - Gene Roddenberry

3. “[Kirk] paced back toward his command chair, all eyes on him. "He must have a weakness.""Certainly," Chekov said. "Is he not basically humanoid? He could be poisoned, phasered, stabbed-"Kirk sneered. "Without killing him, Ensign."With a shrug, Chekov turned quietly back to his console, pulling his hands from his lap and placing them on the controls.” - Dave Galanter

4. “Ambition is a funny thing. It’s like being a Trekkie in that if you admit to it, those around you are mock supportive of your confidence but are quick to call you a loser behind your back.Or maybe that’s the opposite of being a Trekkie.” - Christy Leigh Stewart

5. “To the brave crew and passengers of the Kobayshi Maru…sucks to be you.” - Peter David

6. “The Romulans may rip this base in half, pal. They may even kill me. But I'll be damned if they're going to keep me from enjoying a refreshing beverage.” - Michael Jan Friedman

7. “A ship doesn't look quite the same from inside, does it? A wise sailor,' Robert said, fanning his arms, 'will one time stand upon the shore and watch his ship sail by, that he shall from then on appreciate not being left behind.' He grinned and added, 'Eh?'George gave him a little grimace. 'Who's that? Melville? Or C.S. Forrester?'It's me!' Robert complained. "Can't I be profound now and again?'Hell, no.'Why not?'Because you're still alive. Gotta be dead to be profound.'You're unchivalrous, George.” - Diane Carey

8. “-When I was growing up, Lieutenant Uhura was a major role model for me, a strong black woman on the bridge of a starship…-In a miniskirt, answering the interplanetary telephone?” - Suzanne Brockmann

9. “Yeah, the whole family knows. It's no big deal. One night at dinner I said, 'Mom, you know the forbidden love that Spock has for Kirk? Well, me too.' It was easier for her to understand that way.” - Holly Black

10. “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.” - Gene Roddenberry

11. “["The Devil in the Dark"] impressed me because it presented the idea, unusual in science fiction then and now, that something weird, and even dangerous, need not be malevolent. That is a lesson that many of today's politicians have yet to learn.” - Arthur C. Clarke

12. “A writer is very much like the captain on a star ship facing the unknown. When you face the blank page and you have no idea where you're going. It can be terrifying, but it can also be the adventure of a lifetime.” - Michael Piller

13. “Star Trek?” I asked her. “Really?” “What?” she demanded, bending unnaturally black eyebrows together. “There are two kinds of people in the universe, Molly,” I said. “Star Trek fans and Star Wars fans. This is shocking.” She sniffed. “This is the post-nerd-closet world, Harry. It’s okay to like both.” “Blasphemy and lies,” I said.” - Jim Butcher

14. “This is space. It's sometimes called the final frontier.(Except that of course you can't have a final frontier, because there'd be nothing for it to be a frontier to, but as frontiers go, it's pretty penultimate . . .)” - Terry Pratchett

15. “And off we go, out onto the highway looking for a little fun. Perhaps a flatbed truck loaded with human cadavers will explode in front of a Star Trek reunion. One can only dream and hope.” - George Carlin

16. “...They are merely scars, not mortal wounds and you must use them to propel you forward.” - Peter David

17. “She was right. Peace was the way. She was right. But at the wrong time.” - James Blish

18. “PICARD: There is no greater challenge than the study of philosophy. WESLEY: But William James won't be in my Starfleet exams. PICARD: The important things never will be. Anyone can be trained in the mechanics of piloting a starship. WESLEY: But Starfleet Academy PICARD: It takes more. Open your mind to the past. Art, history, philosophy. And all this may mean something.” - Gene Roddenberry

19. “Matter of internal security - the age-old cry of the oppressor.Picard” - Gene Roddenberry

20. “But things are not as they teach us- for the world is hollow and I have touched the sky!” - Rik Vollaerts

21. “The president has listened to some people, the so-called Vulcans in the White House, the ideologues. But you know, unlike the Vulcans of Star Trek who made the decisions based on logic and fact, these guys make it on ideology. These aren't Vulcans. There are Klingons in the White House. But unlike the real Klingons of Star Trek, these Klingons have never fought a battle of their own. Don't let faux Klingons send real Americans to war.” - David Wu

22. “So the captain, the first officer and the ship's doctor and sometimes the engineer all beam down to a planet. Together." "The entire complement of the senior officers?"Billy nodded"And who has the command of the ship?""I don't know. Junior officers I guess.""If they worked for me I would have them court-martialed. That sounds like a dereliction of duty.""I know. I know. I always thought it odd myself. But that's not the point.""What is the point?""They're usually accompanied by a guy in the red shirt. Always a crew member you've never seen before. And as soon as you see the shirt, you know he's going to die.” - Michael Scott

23. “Star Trek was an attempt to say that humanity will reach maturity and wisdom on the day that it begins not just to tolerate, but take a special delight in differences in ideas and differences in life forms. […] If we cannot learn to actually enjoy those small differences, to take a positive delight in those small differences between our own kind, here on this planet, then we do not deserve to go out into space and meet the diversity that is almost certainly out there.” - Gene Roddenberry

24. “Do I look like I watch Star Trek?” - Michael Scott

25. “Live long and prosper” - Theodore Sturgeon

26. “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 won't kill, today.” - Robert Hamner

27. “Romulan or Vulcan?' the ushers asked each guest.Marion, who had been poised to say 'friends of the bride' had responded to the question with an open-mouthed stare, and Jay Omega answered, 'Klingon!" which got them seats in the back row of the Romulan side.” - Sharyn McCrumb

28. “Is the groom going to go where no man has gone before?” - Sharyn McCrumb

29. “As an adult, getting paid thousands of dollars a week to say, “Aye, Sir. Course laid in” is a seriously sweet gig, but when I was a teenager, it sucked.” - Wil Wheaton

30. “The first duty of every Starfleet officer is to the truth, whether it's scientific truth or historical truth or personal truth! It is the guiding principle on which Starfleet is based! If you can't find it within yourself to stand up and tell the truth about what happened, you don't deserve to wear that uniform!” - Ronald D. Moore and Naren Shankar

31. “BILLY: Did you ever watch Star Trek?MACHIAVELLI: Do I look like I watch Star Trek?BILLY: It's hard to tell who's a Trekkie.MACHIAVELLI: Billy, I ran one of the most sophisticated secret service organizations in the world. I did not have time for Star Trek. (pause) I was more of a Star Wars fan. Why do you ask?BILLY: Well, when Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock beamed down to a planet, usually with Dr. McCoy and sometimes with Scotty from engineering...MACHIAVELLI: Wait a minute--what's Mr. Spock again?BILLY: A Vulcan.MACHIAVELLI: His rank.BILLY: The first officer.MACHIAVELLI: So the captain, the first officer, the ship's doctor, and sometimes the engineer all beam down to a planet. Together. The entire complement of the senior officers?BILLY: (nods)MACHIAVELLI: And who has command of the ship?BILLY: (shrug) I don't know. Junior officers, I guess.MACHIAVELLI: If they worked for me I'd have them court-martialed. That sounds like a gross dereliction of duty.BILLY: I know. I always thought it was a little odd myself.” - Michael Scott

32. “He grumbles incoherently, opens the window a fraction and continues to smoke away. It’s like every time Sidney Drake enters a new location he has to readjust the atmosphere, akin to one of those sci-fi shows where they oxygenate the planet, but for my dad it’s in a suffocating reverse. He replaces the clean wholesome air with a non-stop puff of toxic poison.” - Tom Conrad

33. “When taking Spock to see the spores, Leila comments, "It's not much further." having been beaten about the head severely on the difference between "further" and "farther," I believe I can say with some trembling confidence that she should say, "it's not much farther." "Further" means "to a greater extent or degree" whereas "farther" means "to a greater distance." (I know this is really picky, but hey, that's my business.)” - Phil Farrand

34. “To boldly go where no uploaded metahuman colony has gone before' has a certain ring to it, doesn't it?” - Charles Stross

35. “Don't be afraid to make an ass of yourself. I do it all the time, and look what I got." (Spoken at a graduation ceremony while holding aloft an honorary doctoral degree from McGill University)” - William Shatner with Chris Regan