Star Trek: The Next Generation had a lot of great lines, but only a few truly live in our heads!
Star Trek, of course, was famous for its iconic lines like “Beam me up, Scotty,” “I’m a doctor, not a…” and “Live long and prosper.” It took a while for The Next Generation to connect with fans in the writing, yet it had its own share of great lines too.
Many came from the great speeches Picard would make which Patrick Stewart delivered with gravitas. There were also gems from other characters, like Worf’s toughness and Data's understanding of humanity. These are twenty quotes from The Next Generation that live on with its fans and why that series remains so loved.
“Make it so/Engage.”
The two most common lines used by Picard in practically every episode of the series. “Make it so” is so commonplace that it was even used as the title of a book using TNG episodes to inspire business leaders. The way Patrick Stewart said it was authoritative and strong to give the okay to whatever plan the crew came up with.
Likewise, “engage” turned a simple command to go to warp or activate a device into a declaration that this had to work. The way Stewart made both these simple lines so iconic speaks volumes to his talent.
“Resistance is futile”
From their first appearance, the Borg were unlike any Star Trek threat. They weren’t pure villains, yet far more evil than the Klingons or Romulans could hope to be. It wasn’t just their cyborg appearances or how they attacked, but their cold, emotionless quest to assimilate all life, and truly believing it was for the best.
Their constant mantra was chilling, more so by how they could back it up by being so unstoppable. It was downright horrifying when a Loctus said it in Stewart’s voice. It’s become a famed line for all of Star Trek fandom and has been carried to the rest of the franchise to sell the Borg as a massive threat.
“Today is a good day to die.”
Technically, the first time we hear this in “Sins of the Father,” it’s “it is a good day to die.” Taken from a Native American phrase, it’s now become completely associated with the Klingons and works as both a boast and a show of their lack of fear of death. For Klingons, going out in a blaze of glory is always preferable to dying of old age, and ready to give their all in battle. Worf does quote the line in First Contact for a great moment that makes Klingons even cooler.
“I am not a Merry Man!”
For a funnier Worf line, “Qpid” has this gem. Q plays one of his wildest games by taking the crew into a recreation of Sherwood Forest with Picard’s romantic interest, Vash, as Maid Marian and Q as the Sheriff of Nottingham. Picard is Robin Hood, Riker is Little John, Data is Friar Tuck, and Worf is stuck in the costume of Will Scarlett.
So the line of Worf declaring “I am not a Merry Man” works not just for Worf not wanting to play this game, but his overall temperament. It’s the best line in an already hilarious episode that shows Michael Dorn’s underrated comedic chops.
“There. Are. Four. Lights!”
One of the darkest moments for Picard (next to the Borg) is in the two-part “Chain of Command.” As part of a secret mission against the Cardassians, Picard has to give up command of the Enterprise. He ends up being captured and subjected to a brutal interrogation at the hands of Gul Madred (a brilliantly cast David Warner).
A key aspect is Picard forced to stare at four bright lights while Madred tries to break him and make him believe there are five. Picard refuses it over and over, yelling that there were only four. It becomes more chilling in the closing moments when a rescued Picard confesses to Troi that, for a moment, he would have sworn there were five lights, not four. That adds more gravitas to an already powerful scene.
“Tea. Earl Gray. Hot.”
James Bond has “martini, shaken not stirred.” Picard has his own specific drink order, which he always orders in a brisk line to the replicator. The show plays on it from time to time with how seriously Picard takes his drink and gets upset when it’s either too cool or lukewarm. Sometimes it’s suggested he could use a milder drink, but Picard sticks with this, and many a fan has emulated both the drink and the way it’s ordered to make it a fun treat.
"We must strive to be more than we are, Lal. It does not matter that we will never reach our ultimate goal. The effort yields its own rewards.”
“Data’s Daughter” has Data creating his own android “offspring” Lal. There’s some good drama of Data trying to teach her about life and humanity before a tragic end. His words to Lal on improving herself are inspiring, as Data points out that even if one doesn’t match their goals, just trying for them gives their lives purpose. It becomes bittersweet given Lal’s fate, yet Data’s words still say so much about his character and TNG as a whole.
“With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censured, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably.”
“The Drumhead" is one of TNG’s more meaningful episodes. The search for a Romulan mole has the crew aided by Admiral Norah Satie, known for uncovering spies. At first, it goes well until Picard realizes Satie is overzealous and sees threats and enemies everywhere. That includes targeting Picard himself as a traitor.
In an inquiry, Picard uses the above quote to illustrate the dangers of this witch hunt, which were first said by Satie’s own father. That sends her over the edge to scream about Picard’s “treason” and how she will expose a conspiracy that only exists in her mind. A Starfleet superior literally walks out of the room as Picard uses Satie’s own words and zeal to reveal how far she’s gone.
“Villains who twirl their mustaches are easy to spot. Those who cloak themselves in good deeds are well camouflaged.”
Another great “Drumhead” quote is at the end when Worf apologizes to Picard for aiding Satie as he believed in her search. Picard points out how the most dangerous villains are the ones who put on the air of doing good and may even believe it themselves. He emphasizes that people like Satie are necessary, but they have to balance vigilance with obsession, a good lesson for all.
“If you can't take a little bloody nose, maybe you ought to go back home and crawl under your bed. 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 is an intriguing persona as he’s often a mischievous trickster. However, other times, he can be downright terrifying in how he sees other beings as toys. “Q Who” proved that as Q decides to teach Picard a lesson in the dangers of the universe by sending the Enterprise thousands of light-years across the universe. That leads to the first conflict with the Borg that kills 17 crew members.
Picard is outraged at this as they battle the Borg, with Q sending them back to their own space. Before he leaves, Q gives the above line and Picard is forced to accept this harsh lesson in how Starfleet is truly unprepared for the greater danger of the universe around them.
“There are many parts of my youth that I'm not proud of... there were loose threads... untidy parts of me that I would like to remove. But when I pulled on one of those threads... it had unraveled the tapestry of my life.”
Another lesson from Q came in “Tapestry” when Picard is mortally wounded in a freak bombing. He’s met in an afterlife by Q, who gives Picard a chance to go back in time and prevent the events leading to him getting an artificial heart. Picard does so only to find that it changes his entire life, so rather than being a captain, he’s a lowly ensign scientist.
Q sets things right with Picard, noting how, as much as everyone wants to correct their mistakes, it risks ruining what forms their life. It’s another good lesson from Star Trek that anyone can take to heart.
“Things are only impossible until they're not.”
“When the Bough Breaks” may be an otherwise forgettable first-season episode, but it has this gem. Trying to break through a planet shield, Data warns Picard that it may be impossible. Picard uses that quote, which can practically be a mantra for the entire Star Trek franchise and inspire anyone to keep fighting seemingly insurmountable odds.
“Your honor, the courtroom is a crucible; in it, we burn away irrelevancies until we are left with a purer product: the truth, for all time.”
“Measure of a Man” is the first truly great TNG episode. A Starfleet scientist wants to take Data apart for an experiment, arguing he’s only a machine and not a sentient being. Picard argues for Data in a courtroom with Riker forced on the opposing side. Thus, we get a fine showcase for Picard’s speeches, pressing to recognize Data and that Starfleet is all about discovering new life and he counts. That wins the case and proves how you want Picard in your corner anytime.
“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.”
There are two ways to see Picard’s epic talk in First Contact. It was meant to show how Picard’s anger and obsession with the Borg were overwhelming his reason and preventing him from destroying the Enterprise to take them out. The way it was delivered was seen by many fans as Picard daring to take a stand against the Borg, no matter the cost.
It’s not helped by how Picard initially backs down to set the self-destruct button, only to end up beating the Borg after all. Still, it’s been quoted even within the franchise itself to show its power as a major Trek movie moment.
“Seize the time, Meribor. Live now. Make now always the most precious time. Now will never come again.”
“The Inner Light” is one of the most emotional TNG episodes of all time. An alien probe blasts Picard and lets him live a full lifetime on another world. As he gets used to this planet and starts a family, Picard has to face how the planet is slowly dying around him.
His grown daughter confronts her father about this, as her boyfriend has just proposed to her. Picard gives her the above advice, telling her to seize what time and happiness she has now. It’s one of the many emotional moments that make this one of the most impactful episodes of the entire franchise.
“Let's make sure history never forgets... the name..."Enterprise"!”
Time travel tales are common in Star Trek, and "Yesterday's Enterprise” remains one of the best. A time warp caused the Enterprise-C to be brought into the future, missing its fate, sacrificing itself to save Klingons from a Romulan attack. Without that, the Federation and Klingons are at war with a darker Enterprise-D (including a still alive Tasha Yar), fighting a losing battle.
Told by Guinan that things are wrong, Picard decides the only way to fix the timeline is to send the Enterprise-C back to its fate. When a Klingon fleet attacks, the Enterprise-D holds them off with Picard delivering that declaration. It works, restoring the timeline and history surely lives up to Picard’s vow.
“Darmok and Jalad… at Tanagra”
An intriguing episode, “Darmok,” has the ship meeting an alien race that speaks via metaphors to their own history and culture. Picard and the alien captain (played by Trek veteran Paul Winfield) are beamed to a nearby planet, with Picard at first thinking they have to fight each other, but really facing a common foe. The above line is repeated a few times before Picard gets the meaning of joining forces. It’s been used by fans as an unusual turn on a formula Trek storyline and an inventive episode.
“Shut up Wesley”
Wil Wheaton has long made peace with how hated Wesley Crusher was. He’s even the first to talk about how annoying the character came off in the show’s first seasons. Thus, it’s no shock that fans love to quote Picard’s own lines telling Wesley to be quiet, although they may use harsher language. Wheaton has at least shown a sense of humor about Wesley, and the character is less loathed now, yet it’s too easy to feel the same way when watching the early seasons of TNG.
“Five-card stud, nothing wild. And the sky’s the limit”
To wrap up the list, what better scene than the finale of the original TNG run? After a crazy time travel adventure, Picard finally joins the rest of the crew for a game of poker. It’s a wonderful sendoff, showing the close bond of the crew and how they’ve become a finale and wonderful for the series to end without any huge conflict, just this warm scene. It got a nice callback in the Picard finale, as TNG was always about the crew itself being such a winner for fans.
Star Trek: The Next Generation streaming on Paramount+.