- Commander William T. Riker: I'm closer to Deanna than I've ever been to anyone, but last night, she was someone that I had never seen before.
- [last lines]
- Counselor Deanna Troi: Looking back on the past few days, it's as though I'm looking at a holodeck projection... of someone else.
- Commander William T. Riker: That's how it seemed to all of us.
- Counselor Deanna Troi: Thanks for sticking by me.
- Commander William T. Riker: I always will... even when you're old and gray.
- Sev Maylor: [referring to Alkar] Have you mated with him yet?
- Counselor Deanna Troi: What?
- Sev Maylor: That's what you want, isn't it?
- Ambassador Ves Alkar: Mother. Please, come in.
- Sev Maylor: I can always tell. The ones with a certain look in their eye.
- Counselor Deanna Troi: [uncomfortable] I'd better go.
- Sev Maylor: And I'll tell you this: if you do, you'll regret it the rest of your life!
- Commander William T. Riker: Hi. It's that time again... The dreaded crew evaluation reports?
- Counselor Deanna Troi: [groans] Does it have to be today?
- Commander William T. Riker: It's not going to be any easier tomorrow.
- Counselor Deanna Troi: [more hoping than convinced] It might.
- Lt. Commander Data: [on seeing Troi dressed up with an unusual hairstyle] Counselor Troi has altered her appearance.
- Ambassador Ves Alkar: I think maybe my biggest asset is patience. I let everyone talk until they're exhausted. And when I start, they're too tired to argue.
- Ensign Janeway: He goes out of his way to criticize me.
- Counselor Deanna Troi: Do you know any reason he might do that?
- Ensign Janeway: No, that's why I'm here.
- Counselor Deanna Troi: Well. Maybe he's just tired of hearing you complain.
- Ensign Janeway: Pardon me?
- Counselor Deanna Troi: I know I'm certainly tired of it. How do you think it feels to listen to someone whine about themselves all the time?
- Ensign Janeway: Well, I didn't realize I was...
- Counselor Deanna Troi: This isn't Star Fleet Acadamy. You're not going to be caudled. If you can't take it here, you might think about a transport ship. There is a lot less pressure there.
- Ensign Janeway: But I love being on the Enterprise. I don't want to be anywhere else.
- Counselor Deanna Troi: If you're not up to it, you don't deserve to be here. Isn't that right?
- Ensign Janeway: I guess so.
- Counselor Deanna Troi: So you better take a hold of yourself or be prepared for transfer.
- Ensign Janeway: I will, counsellor, thank you.
- Counselor Deanna Troi: Glad I could help.
- Ambassador Ves Alkar: [Lumerian funeral meditation] Rohm gah, sevi rohm. An end to grief. An end to pain. Strength comes from love. And courage from wisdom.
- Ambassador Ves Alkar: I discovered long ago I had the ability to channel my darker thoughts - my unwanted emotions to others, leaving me unencumbered.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Is this what you've been doing to Counsellor Troi?
- Ambassador Ves Alkar: I hadn't planned it. I'd expected Maylor to live through the negotiation. Her death could not have been more untimely.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: So, then you deliberately used Deanna?
- Ambassador Ves Alkar: She's an empath. I was reasonably certain I could establish a link with her. Frankly, I was amazed when I saw how quickly she had aged. Usually my receptacles survive for years.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: [appalled] Receptacles?
- Ambassador Ves Alkar: Come now, Captain. Surely you can see there's a broader canvas here. If I came to these peace talks hindered by unwanted emotions, than the Rekags and Seronians would be condemned to go on fighting.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: You cannot explain away a wantonly immoral act because you think that it's connected to some higher purpose.
- Ambassador Ves Alkar: Captain, do you know how many people have died on this planet in the last 48 hours? Thousands. Deanna Troi is just one individual.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: That does not justify brutalising her nor any of the others you have used.
- Ambassador Ves Alkar: Ask the Rekag-Seronian children who go to bed each night in fear of their lives. Captain, I get no payment. I have no power base, no agenda. I am willing to risk my life simply to help others.
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Do you think that makes you appear courageous? Because you're mistaken. You're a coward, Alkar. You exploit the innocent because you're unwilling to shoulder the burdens of unpleasant emotions. Well, this time you will be held accountable. I'm taking you back to the Enterprise to release Counsellor Troi.
- Ambassador Ves Alkar: [serene as always] I have no intention of releasing her now or ever.
- [first lines]
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard: [voiceover] Captain's log, stardate 46071.6. We have been called to the aid of a transport ship, which has been attacked near Rekag-Seronia. Hostilities between the two factions on that planet have intensified recently, threatening an important Federation shipping route.