Buzz
Few franchises have left as lasting a mark on culture as the various Star Trek TV shows and films. This influence is most apparent in the memorable dialogue lines that have become embedded in American speech—and, in many instances, have spread internationally. Here are 11 of the most famous Star Trek quotes, along with a bit of history behind each one.
1. "Live Long and Prosper"
The famous Vulcan greeting and its signature hand gesture debuted in the second season of Star Trek: The Original Series, during the episode titled “Amok Time.” Spock, portrayed by Leonard Nimoy, openly acknowledged that both the gesture and the phrase were his creations, inspired by Orthodox Jewish blessings from his childhood. The hand position forms the Hebrew letter “Shin,” symbolizing the name “Shaddai” (Almighty God). Nimoy adapted the gesture by using just one hand instead of two, and slightly altered the verbal blessing.
2. "Highly Illogical..."
Spock was no stranger to calling out the illogical behavior of those around him—especially Captain Kirk—but it wasn’t until the second season that he raised the stakes by labeling the actions of the inhabitants of planet Omega IV as “highly illogical” in the episode titled “The Omega Glory.” Prior to this, his go-to term was simply “illogical,” or on occasion, “most illogical.” However, it was the sight of two natives attacking Kirk in a prison cell that prompted Spock to combine his signature raised-eyebrow expression with the now-iconic phrase “highly illogical.” The line would go on to be featured in multiple subsequent episodes, films, and J.J. Abrams’ reboot of the franchise.
Bonus: “Highly Illogical” was also the title of Leonard Nimoy's 1993 music album, which included a mix of songs recorded in the 1960s (such as “The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins”) and a few new tracks.
3. "Beam Me Up, Scotty"
One of the most fascinating aspects of this famous line—a request for transport back to the USS Enterprise directed at Chief Engineer Montgomery “Scotty” Scott—is that it was never actually spoken in any of the original Star Trek TV episodes or films. The command was typically something more like “Three to beam up” or the more straightforward “Beam them up,” with the closest variation being “Beam us up, Scotty” in a few episodes of the Star Trek animated series. However, William Shatner did say this iconic line while reading the audio version of his novel Star Trek: The Ashes of Eden.”
4. "I'm A Doctor, Not A..."
Dr. Leonard McCoy is known for frequently reminding his fellow crew members about the limits of his expertise—whether it be in engineering, coal mining, or even as an escalator. His famous catchphrase first appeared in a first-season episode titled “The Devil in the Dark,” where McCoy clarified to Kirk that he was a doctor, not a brick-layer. While the phrase became iconic, it was preceded by an earlier line in “The Corbomite Maneuver,” where McCoy asked, “What am I, a doctor or a moon-shuttle conductor?” It wasn’t until later in the season that McCoy’s full catchphrase emerged, which would go on to be repeated in almost every subsequent series and film. The phrase even made its way into J.J. Abrams' 2009 reboot, with Karl Urban (as McCoy) declaring, “I'm a doctor, not a physicist!”
5. "Make It So"
Captain Jean-Luc Picard’s trademark phrase was part of Star Trek: The Next Generation from the very first episode. Patrick Stewart delivered what would become Picard's most iconic line in the pilot, “Encounter at Farpoint.” Written by Gene Roddenberry, it’s likely he penned the line specifically for Picard, though “Make it so” had been in use for quite some time in military settings as a command to proceed with an order.
6. "To Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before..."
The iconic opening narration of Star Trek: The Original Series, featuring the famous infinitive-splitting phrase, was almost always recited by William Shatner, with the exception of the pilot episodes. The exact origin of the line remains a mystery, though some sources suggest it was inspired by a 1958 White House press booklet promoting the space program. Others believe it may have been influenced by an observation made by explorer James Cook after a voyage to Newfoundland. Samuel Peeples, the writer of the pilot episode “Where No Man Has Gone Before,” is often credited with making the line a central part of the series. It was later featured in each version of the series and films, with a few slight adjustments.
7. "Khaaannnn!"
Arguably the most meme-worthy line from the Star Trek universe, this roar of fury comes from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Stranded on a barren planet and taunted by the villain Khan, Kirk responded with an iconic, primal scream, which quickly became a staple in pop culture and viral video lore.
8. "I'm Givin' Her All She's Got, Captain!"
Much like the phrase “Beam me up, Scotty,” this well-known catchphrase associated with Chief Engineer Montgomery “Scotty” Scott from Star Trek: The Original Series was never actually spoken in this precise form by actor James Doohan in the show or the films. The closest version appears in the second-season episode “The Changeling,” where Scotty replies to Kirk’s request to boost the ship's shields with, “Giving them all we got.” However, Doohan did deliver the full line in 1993's Loaded Weapon, where he made a cameo as a flustered police officer attempting to repair a coffee machine. Additionally, Simon Pegg reprised the line as a young Montgomery Scott in 2009’s Star Trek reboot, saying, “I'm givin' her all she's got, Captain!”
9. "Nuclear Wessels"
Pavel Andreievich Chekov, the Russian navigator aboard the USS Enterprise in Star Trek: The Original Series, became the subject of many humorous moments due to his difficulty pronouncing the letter “V.” This running joke gained further attention in the 1980s when Chekov, portrayed by Walter Koenig, asked pedestrians in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home where he could find “nuclear wessels” in San Francisco. Despite Koenig having portrayed Chekov for nearly two decades before this film, this line became inextricably linked with his character’s portrayal and remains a fan favorite.
10. "Resistance Is Futile"
This iconic phrase was first spoken by The Borg, a race of cybernetic aliens, in the climactic third-season finale of Star Trek: The Next Generation, titled “Best of Both Worlds, Part 1.” The 1990 episode not only provided one of television's most memorable cliffhangers but also birthed a phrase that would haunt fans’ imaginations for years, repeated in numerous other Star Trek series and films.
11. "Set Phasers To Stun"
It was established early in Star Trek: The Original Series that the phasers aboard the USS Enterprise had a non-lethal “stun” setting, first mentioned in the episode “The Man Trap.” Kirk and Spock frequently found themselves directing their crew members to use this setting when necessary. However, it wasn’t until the second season of Star Trek: The Animated Series that we heard Kirk specifically say, “Set phasers to stun.” This command soon became a staple phrase, repeated in later series like Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: The Next Generation, as well as in several films, including the 2009 reboot.
This article originally appeared in 2013.
