Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series)

The First Duty (1992)

Patrick Stewart: Captain Jean-Luc Picard

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Quotes 

• Capt. Picard : The first duty of every Starfleet officer is to the truth, whether it's scientific truth or historical truth or personal truth! It is the guiding principle on which Starfleet is based. And if you can't find it within yourself to stand up and tell the truth about what happened, you don't deserve to wear that uniform!

• Capt. Picard : I would never have graduated if you...

  Boothby : You made a mistake. There isn't anybody among us who hasn't been young enough to make at least one.

  Capt. Picard : Nevertheless...

  Boothby : You did what you had to do, what you thought was best. I just made sure that you listened to yourself. You needed to get your bearings; I knew that. The important thing is what you did with your life afterwards; seems you did okay. That's enough thanks for me.

• Capt. Picard : Do you remember the first day you came aboard this ship? Your mother brought you on the bridge.

  Wesley Crusher : Yes, sir.

  Capt. Picard : You even sat in my chair. I was annoyed. Presumptuous child playing on my ship... But I never forgot how you already knew every control, every display... You behaved as though you belonged on the bridge. And then later, when I decided to make you an acting ensign, I was convinced you could be an outstanding officer. And I never questioned that conviction - until now.

• [last lines] 

  Capt. Picard : It's not gonna be easy... staying here on campus... everyone knowing what you did. You have difficult times ahead.

  Wesley Crusher : Yes, sir. Thank you, Captain.

  Capt. Picard : You knew what you had to do. I just made sure that you listened to yourself. Good bye, Cadet.

  Wesley Crusher : Good bye, Captain.

• Capt. Picard : Mister Locarno has been expelled.

  Wesley Crusher : They should have expelled all of us.

  Capt. Picard : So Commander Albert believes. And they very nearly did. Mister Locarno made an impassioned plea for the rest of you. He said that, as squadron leader, he'd convinced you to attempt the Kolvoord maneuver... and then to cover up the truth. He asked to take full responsibility.

  Wesley Crusher : So Nick did just what he said he'd do... He looked out for the team, made what he felt was the best decision. That's a lot more than I can say for myself.

• Capt. Picard : You could use a good herbicide instead of pulling the weeds with your bare hands.

  Boothby : M-hm... And you could explore space on a holodeck instead of a starship.

• Commander William T. Riker : When I was at the Academy, we had a Vulcan superintendent who had memorized the personnel files of every single cadet, knew everything about them. It was like having your parents around all the time.

  Capt. Picard : My superintendent was a Betazoid, full telepath. When he sent for you to his office, he didn't have to ask what you'd done.

• Capt. Picard : You told the truth up to a point. But a lie of omission is still a lie.

• [first lines] 

  Capt. Picard : [voiceover]  Captain's log, stardate 45703.9. We are en route to Earth, where it will be my pleasant duty to deliver this year's commencement address at Starfleet Academy. I'm also looking forward to seeing Wesley Crusher again. His flight team will perform a demonstration near Saturn that will be transmitted to the graduation ceremonies.