Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series)

The Measure of a Man (1989)

Brian Brophy: Cmdr. Bruce Maddox

Photos 

Quotes 

• Capt. Picard : Now, tell me, Commander, what is Data?

  Commander Bruce Maddox : I don't understand.

  Capt. Picard : What is he?

  Commander Bruce Maddox : A machine!

  Capt. Picard : Is he? Are you sure?

  Commander Bruce Maddox : Yes!

  Capt. Picard : You see, he's met two of your three criteria for sentience, so what if he meets the third, consciousness, in even the smallest degree? What is he then? I don't know. Do you?

  Capt. Picard : [to Riker]  Do you?

  Capt. Picard : [to Louvois]  Do you? Well, that's the question you have to answer.

• Commander Bruce Maddox : You are endowing Data with human characteristics because it looks human. But it is not. If it were a box on wheels, I would not be facing this opposition.

• Commander Bruce Maddox : [of Data]  He is remarkable.

  Captain Phillipa Louvois : You didn't call him 'it'.

• Lt. Commander Data : I am the culmination of one man's dream. This is not ego, or vanity. But when Dr. Soong created me, he added to the substance of the universe. If, by your experiments, I am destroyed, something unique, something wonderful will be lost. I cannot permit that. I must protect his dream.

  Commander Bruce Maddox : And so must I.

• Capt. Picard : Captain's Log, Supplemental: Commander Bruce Maddox, having been thwarted by Data's abrupt resignation, is now seeking a legal remedy for his woes. Captain Louvois has requested my presence at those discussions.

  Commander Bruce Maddox : [the tone of his voice is heightened with disgust and anger]  Your response is emotional and irrational.

  Capt. Picard : [Seething with anger and hostility]  Irrational?

  Commander Bruce Maddox : You are endowing Data with human characteristics because it looks human, but it is not. If if it were a box on wheels, I would not be facing this opposition.

  Captain Phillipa Louvois : [Immediately amused by Maddox's analogy of Data]  Overt sentimentality is not one of Captain Picard's failings. Trust me, I know.

  Capt. Picard : [Looks at Captain Louvois with a gaze of disappointment and disapproval and then turns his eyes back to Maddox]  I will tell you again. Data is a valued member of my crew. He's an outstanding Bridge Officer.

  Commander Bruce Maddox : [speaks to Picard with a slight ease]  If I am permitted to make this experiment, the horizons for human achievement become boundless.

  [Walks to Captain Louvois] 

  Commander Bruce Maddox : Consider, every ship in Starfleet with a Data on board. Utilizing its extraordinary capabilities, acting as our hands and eyes in dangerous situations.

  Captain Phillipa Louvois : Look, you're preaching to the choir here. Why don't you get to the point?

  Commander Bruce Maddox : Data must not be permitted to resign.

  Capt. Picard : [a fuming Picard walks over to Maddox and close to Louvois]  Data is a Starfleet Officer. He still has certain rights.

  Commander Bruce Maddox : Rights, rights! I'm sick to death of hearing about rights! What about my right not to have my work subverted by blind ignorance?

  Captain Phillipa Louvois : We have rule of law in this Federation. You cannot seize people and experiment with them to prove your pet theories.

  Capt. Picard : [Relieved that she said that]  Thank you.

  Commander Bruce Maddox : [Anger now directed at Louvois]  Now you're doing it. Data is an extraordinary piece of engineering but it is a machine.

  [Sees Louvois sighing with disgust] 

  Commander Bruce Maddox : If you permit it to resign it will destroy years of work in robotics. Starfleet does not have to allow the resignation.

  Capt. Picard : [Has just lost all patience with Maddox]  Commander, who do you think you're working for? Starfleet is not an organization that ignores its own regulations when they become inconvenient. Whether you like it or not Data does have rights.

  Commander Bruce Maddox : [speaks calmly]  Let me put it another way. Would you permit the computer of the Enterprise to refuse a refit?

  Captain Phillipa Louvois : [Walks toward her desk, mulling over his logical statement]  That's an interesting point. But the Enterprise computer is property. Is Data?

  Commander Bruce Maddox : Of course.

  Captain Phillipa Louvois : [sighing]  There may be law to support this position.

  Capt. Picard : [Walks to Louvois, keeping his eyes locked on hers]  Then find it. A ruling with such broad-ranging implications must be supported. Phillipa... I hope you will use the same zeal that you did in the Stargazer court-martial.

  [a silent Captain Phillipa Louvois' eyes are locked with Picard's]