- Adult Jake Sisko: If you had shown up yesterday, or the day before, or a week ago, I would have said 'no', and sent you on your way. But here you are - today of all days. And somehow it seems like the right time for me to finally tell this story...
- Adult Jake Sisko: There's only one first time for everything, isn't there? And only one last time too. You think about such things when you get to be my age; that today may be the last time you sit in your favorite chair, or watch the rain fall, or enjoy a cup of tea by a warm fire.
- Melanie: [on Ben Sisko's accident] I'm not sure I could ever get over losing somebody like that; right in front of my eyes.
- Adult Jake Sisko: People do. Time passes, and they realize that the person they lost is really gone. And they heal.
- Melanie: Is that what happened to you?
- Adult Jake Sisko: No - I suppose not.
- Captain Sisko: I'm proud of what you've accomplished.
- Adult Jake Sisko: None of it matters - now that I know that you're out there lost somewhere.
- Captain Sisko: Of course it matters. You have a wife; a career. And don't think because I'm not around much, that I... don't want grandchildren!
- Captain Sisko: Jake - you didn't have to do this. Not for me.
- Adult Jake Sisko: For you, and for the boy that I was. He needs you, more than you know. Don't you see? We're going to get a second... chance.
- Melanie: Thank you - for everything.
- [she kisses Jake and prepares to leave]
- Adult Jake Sisko: It was a pleasure meeting you, young lady.
- Captain Sisko: I'm no writer; but if I were, it seems to me I'd wanna poke my head up every once in a while and take a look around, see what's going on. It's life, Jake. You can miss it if you don't open your eyes.
- Adult Jake Sisko: You must understand that when a person my age says he is dying, he's only admitting to the inevitable. Besides, we old people need to remind everyone to pay special attention to us.
- Korena: I suppose you're gonna ask me to chew your food for you?
- Nog: I have to admit, I've been more popular with women since I stopped asking them to do that.
- Adult Jake Sisko: I tried to tell you that twenty years ago.
- Nog: I'm a slow learner.
- Adult Jake Sisko: It was me. It was me all along. I've been dragging you through time like an anchor. And now it's time to cut you loose.
- Adult Jake Sisko: I... want you to promise me something.
- Melanie: Anything!
- Adult Jake Sisko: While you're studying my stories, poke your head up every once in a while. Take a look around. See what's going on. It's life, Melanie.
- Melanie: And you can miss it if you don't open your eyes.
- Melanie: I savoured those stories. I read them slowly, one each day. And when I was done, I wished I hadn't read them at all. So I could read them again, like it was the first time.