Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series)

The Best of Both Worlds: Part 1 (1990)

Patrick Stewart: Captain Jean-Luc Picard

Photos 

Quotes 

• [Capt. Picard has been assimilated by the Borg] 

  Locutus : I am Locutus - of Borg. Resistance - is futile. Your life, as it has been - is over. From this time forward, you will service - us.

• Capt. Picard : Mister Worf, dispatch a subspace message to Admiral Hanson. We have engaged the Borg.

• Guinan : Trouble sleeping?

  Capt. Picard : It's something of a tradition, Guinan - Captain touring the ship before a battle.

  Guinan : Hmm. Before a *hopeless* battle, if I remember the tradition correctly.

  Capt. Picard : Not necessarily. Nelson toured the HMS Victory before Trafalgar.

  Guinan : Yes, but Nelson never returned from Trafalgar, did he?

  Capt. Picard : No, but the battle was won.

  Guinan : Do you expect this battle to be won?

  Capt. Picard : We may yet prevail. That's a... a conceit. But... it's a healthy one. I wonder if the Emperor Honorius watching the Visigoths coming over the seventh hill truly realized that the Roman Empire was about to fall. This is just another page in history, isn't it? Will this be the end of *our* civilization? Turn the page.

• Guinan : This isn't the end.

  Capt. Picard : You say that with remarkable assuredness.

  Guinan : With experience. When the Borg destroyed my world, my people were scattered throughout the universe. We survived - as will humanity survive. As long as there's a handful of you to keep the spirit alive, you will prevail - even if it takes a millennium.

• The Borg : Captain Jean-Luc Picard, you lead the strongest ship of the Federation fleet. You speak for your people.

  Capt. Picard : I have nothing to say to you; and I will resist you with my last ounce of strength.

  The Borg : Strength is irrelevant. Resistance is futile. We wish to improve ourselves. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service ours.

  Capt. Picard : Impossible. My culture is based on freedom and self-determination.

  The Borg : Freedom is irrelevant. Self-determination is irrelevant. You must comply.

  Capt. Picard : We would rather die.

  The Borg : Death is irrelevant. Your archaic cultures are authority-driven. To facilitate our introduction into your societies, it has been decided that a human voice will speak for us in all communications. You have been chosen to be that voice.

• Capt. Picard : What's your impression of Shelby?

  Commander William T. Riker : She knows her stuff.

  Capt. Picard : She has your full confidence?

  Commander William T. Riker : Well, I think she needs supervision. She takes the initiative a little too easily, sometimes with risks.

  Capt. Picard : [tuts]  Sounds like a young Lieutenant Commander I recruited as a first officer.

  Commander William T. Riker : Perhaps.

• Capt. Picard : [from his personal log]  We continue to prepare our defenses for the inevitable confrontation, but... I must admit, on this night I contemplate the distinct possibility that no defense may be adequate against this enemy.

• Admiral J. P. Hanson : [on Shelby]  She'd make you one hell of a first officer.

  Capt. Picard : I already have a hell of a first officer.

• [Picard talks to Riker about taking the post as captain of another ship] 

  Commander William T. Riker : With all due respect, sir - you need me. Particularly now.

  Capt. Picard : Indeed. Starfleet needs good captains, particularly now.

• Commander William T. Riker : [the Borg want Captain Picard]  What the hell do they want with you?

  Lt. Cmdr Elizabeth Paula Shelby : I thought they weren't interested in human life forms. Only our technology.

  Capt. Picard : That priority seems to have changed.