Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series)

Who Watches the Watchers (1989)

Patrick Stewart: Captain Jean-Luc Picard

Photos 

Quotes 

• [Liko is about to shoot Picard to prove that the latter is a supernatural being] 

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : If you believe I am all-powerful, then you cannot hurt me. If, however, I am telling the truth, and I am mortal... you will kill me. But if the only proof you will believe is my death... then shoot.

• Nuria : [after seeing a human woman die]  You do have limits. You are not masters of life and death.

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : No, we're not. We can cure many diseases, we can repair injuries, we can even extend life. But for all our knowledge, all our advances - we're just as mortal as you are. We're just as powerless to prevent the inevitable.

• Captain Jean-Luc Picard : Dr. Barron, I cannot, I *will not* impose a set of commandments on these people. To do so violates the very essence of the Prime Directive!

  Dr. Barron : Like it or not, we have rekindled the Mintakans' belief in the Overseer.

  Commander William T. Riker : And are you saying that this belief will eventually become a religion?

  Dr. Barron : It's inevitable. And without guidance, that religion could degenerate into inquisitions, holy wars, chaos.

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : Horrifying. Dr. Barron, your report describes how rational these people are. Millennia ago, they abandoned their belief in the supernatural. Now you are asking me to sabotage that achievement, to send them back into the dark ages of superstition and ignorance and fear? NO!

• Captain Jean-Luc Picard : Get up. You must not kneel to me.

  Nuria : You do not wish it?

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : I do not deserve it.

• Nuria : You have taught us there is nothing beyond our reach.

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : Not even the stars.

• Nuria : [after being shown around the Enterprise]  Perhaps one day, my people will travel above the skies.

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : Of that, I have absolutely no doubt.

• [last lines] 

  Nuria : I wish you good journeys, Picard. Remember my people.

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : Always.

• Dr. Barron : Picard, I must protest. You're endangering Palmer with this delay!

  Captain Jean-Luc Picard : I am aware of that. But each of us, including Dr. Palmer, took an oath that we would uphold the Prime Directive - if necessary, with our lives.

• Captain Jean-Luc Picard : Different in appearance, yes. But we are both living beings. We are born, we grow, we live and we die. In all the ways that matter, we are alike.