Star Trek: First Contact - Wikiquote (2025)

Star Trek: First Contact (Paramount Pictures, 1996) is the eighth feature film based on the popular Star Trek science fiction television series. In it, the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation again encounter their adversaries, the Borg, and this time attempt to prevent the Borg from changing history by conquering the Earth of the 21st century through the use of time travel. The film is from a script by Brannon Braga and Ronald D. Moore, with music composed by Jerry Goldsmith.

Directed by Jonathan Frakes. Written by Rick Berman, Brannon Braga, and Ronald D. Moore.

• We are the Borg. Lower your shields and surrender your ships. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile.

[The Enterprise crew have found Zefram Cochrane]

Deanna Troi: [very drunk] Time line?! This is no time to argue about time! We don't have the time. [she pauses, then looks confused.] What was I saying?

William Riker: You're drunk.

Troi: [offended] I am not.

Riker: [laughs] Yes, you are.

Troi: Look, he wouldn't even talk to me unless I had a drink with him. And then, it took three shots of something called tequila just to find out he was the one we're looking for. And I spent the last 20 minutes trying to keep his hands off me. [she pokes Riker in the chest] So don't go criticizing my counseling technique!

Riker: [laughs] Sorry.

Troi: [defensively] It's a primitive culture. I'm just trying to blend in.

Riker: You're blended all right.

Zefram Cochrane: Let me just make sure that I understand you correctly, Commander. A group of cybernetic creatures from the future have traveled back through time to enslave the human race... and you're here to stop them?

William Riker: That's right.

Cochrane: Hot damn! You're heroic.

Riker: It is one of the pivotal moments in human history, Doctor. You get to make first contact with an alien race, and after you do, everything begins to change.

LaForge: Your theories on warp drive allow fleets of starships to be built and mankind to start exploring the Galaxy.

Troi: It unites humanity in a way no one ever thought possible when they realise they're not alone in the universe. Poverty, disease, war. They'll all be gone within the next fifty years.

Riker: But unless you make that warp flight tomorrow morning before eleven fifteen, none of it will happen.

Cochrane: And you people, you're all astronauts, ... on some kind of star trek?

[Riker notices Dr Cochrane belittling his own future achievements but talks about his aspirations for the Phoenix]

William Riker: Someone once said, "Don't try to be a great man. Just be a man and let history make its own judgements."

Zefram Cochrane: That's rhetorical nonsense. Who said that?

Riker: [smiling] You did. Ten years from now.

[Picard is furious and slams to Worf's irritatte. After they started kicking and punching each other on self-destructing the Enterprise on account of his previous assimilation possibly clouding his judgment]

Picard: (Angrily) You're afraid, you jerk! You're here to destroy the ship, and run away! He was weak and foolish like his father, so I won't let him do any work! You coward! With our combined strength, we can end this destructive conflict, and bring order to the galaxy! (gets even more aggressive & angry) I DON’T WANNA SEE YOU OR TALK AND DON’T HERE SEE ME AGAIN!! (super screaming in anger with rage) YOU ARE NOT GOING OUT THERE WITHOUT BACKUP!!!!!

Beverly Crusher: (enraged) How dare you? HOW DARE YOU!?!? How frickin’ dare you lose your hot temper at us!? We were created to do my bidding!!! What you are doing now is being a big bully, TO DEMOCRACY!!! Your feelings have now betrayed…to…us…like... that!! You…You too late, Jean-Luc!

Worf: [in unison, enraged at being called a coward, knowing it's a serious insult to Klingons, aghast, outraged] I do…(furious) I think I do... You did being torn apart! I don't want to be part of this pain! I know you did just say that, you did just say that! but I don't know If you bellowed at me, I WILL DIE WHERE YOU STAND!!!!!!!!!!!!

Picard: If you are suffering as much as I am, I lied when I told you that the cloning process had work alone! Besides, I've ruined their lives, and together we can rule the galaxy as father and son! I wish I'd never know is how close you are to accomplishing my bridge!

Jean-Luc Picard: Begin auto-destruct sequence, authorization Picard-four-seven-alpha-tango! So much hate them!

Beverly Crusher: Computer, Commander Beverly Crusher. Confirm auto-destruct sequence, authorization Crusher-two-two-beta-Charlie.

Worf: Computer, I don't want to hear anymore about against me. Don't you turn against me!" Confirm auto-destruct sequence. Authorization Worf-three-seven-gamma-echo.

Computer: Command authorization, the Chancellor is very powerful. You'll need my help if you're going to arrest him. You're not all-powerful new enemy, Captain. Apology accepted to worf.

Picard: You were right. You were right about me, Lieutenant Commander Worf, It seems, in your anger, I'm sorry to say that. This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard, I should be! Some day I will be... I will be the most powerful captain when i was upset about what happened, and I know when i bother at sloane. I am becoming more powerful than any starships has ever dreamed of. And I'm doing it for alpha-one, 15 minutes, silent countdown. Enable, to protect you.

Computer: Self-destruct in 15 minutes. Awaiting final code to begin auto-destruct sequence.

Crusher: He's jealous for the Enterprise-E.

Picard: We barely knew her.

Crusher: You think they'll be turned, he would become a powerful ally...?

Picard: Yes. Yes. He would be a great letters left in the alphabet.

William Riker: Everybody ready to make some history?

Geordi LaForge: Always am.

Zefram Cochrane: I think I forgot something.

Riker: What?

Cochrane: I don't know, probably nothing.

Deanna Troi: [at launch center] All personnel, clear the Launch Bay. Space Rocket Ship Phoenix, Green light for launch sequence.

Cochrane: Oh God, now I remember!

LaForge: What?

Cochrane: Where is it?

LaForge: What?!

Cochrane: We can't lift off without it!

Riker: Geordi, we've got to abort!

Cochrane: No, no, wait I've found it! [Troi looks at the countdown clock] Let's rock 'n' roll! [plugs a small disc into a slot in the Phoenix control panel]

Troi: Primary engine ignition on. Beginning liftoff countdown. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Phoenix, liftoff! - [removes headset just as "Magic Carpet Ride" begins blaring through everyone's headsets and the Phoenix lifts off]

Borg Queen: Destroy them. [Data fires three quantum torpedoes at the Phoenix] Watch your future's end. [sees torpedoes home in on the Phoenix, but is shocked when they miss] DATA!

Data: [in a mocking tone] Resistance...is futile! [breaks open the coolant conduit on the warp core and coolant starts to flood the room]

Data: She brought me closer to humanity than I ever thought possible, and for a time...I was tempted by her offer.

Jean-Luc Picard: How long a time?

Data: Zero-point-six-eight seconds, sir. For an android, that is nearly an eternity.

[The Vulcans have landed to meet Cochrane.]

Vulcan: [flashes Vulcan greeting] Live long and prosper.

Zefram Cochrane: [tries to respond with greeting but opts to shake Vulcan's hand instead] Thanks.

• Resistance is Futile.
• Earth. Population Nine Billion. None Human.

• Star Trek:First Contact quotes at the Internet Movie Database
• Official Star Trek: First Contact web site