10 Star Trek Quotes to Inspire You for National Space Day
Star Trek has been boldly going where no human has gone before since the 1960s, paving the way for sci-fi as we know it today. This franchise is chock full of inspiring, thought-provoking, and motivational quotes to fuel us in our day to day.
To celebrate National Space Day, it feels apropos to share some of my favorite words of wisdom from the series that took us to outer space and beyond.
“Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end.” – Spock (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)
“Logic” is defined as “reasoning conducted or assessed according to strict principles of validity.” Who would know more about logic than everyone’s favorite half-Vulcan science officer, Spock? Logic can lead us to wisdom, which we usually gain from experience. That deeper knowledge and comprehension will only benefit us as we move through life. I need a bracelet akin to those “WWJD?” ones, but it says, “WWSD?”
“The best way to know yourself is to know others.” – Capt. Philippa Georgiou (Star Trek: Discovery)
While we can’t base our self-worth on others or value our worth through external validation, Captain Philippa Georgiou’s point still stands. We can know ourselves by, say, how we help others in times of crisis and otherwise. Through how we care for those around us and what we learn from them, we can gain a more profound understanding of who we are.
“The only way to defeat fear is to tell it ‘No.'” – Capt. Michael Burnham (Star Trek: Discovery)
The courageous Captain Michael Burnham knows a thing or two about defeating fear. When fear stares you in the face, simply tell it “no.” You can beat it by rejecting it. Of course, that can prove challenging when plagued with the incessant feeling of anxiety, but sometimes, the only way to step out of that is to turn against it actively.
“To be alive is a responsibility, as well as a right.” – Jean-Luc Picard (Star Trek: Picard)
Who’s wiser than Jean-Luc Picard, our fave captain of the USS Enterprise? Of course, the above quote isn’t from Star Trek: The Next Generation, but it proves he’s only grown more knowledgeable with age. While living is undoubtedly a right and a privilege, it’s also a noble responsibility. We’re responsible for how we handle our right to life, primarily how we treat our planet and those around us.
“Change is the essential process of all existence.” – Spock (Star Trek: The Original Series)
Nobody loathes change more than I do. Well, unwelcome change, that is. However, Spock says it best with the above quote. Change is essential. It’s also inevitable. One could call it a constant presence in life. We’re not always in control of it, but we can seize the reins regarding our response to it. That’s why it’s so crucial to be malleable. Go with the flow, y’all.
“There’s surviving, and then there’s living. It’s your choice. – Capt. Christopher Pike (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds)
Captain Christopher Pike is a man who knows his fate. He understands the critical distinction between “surviving” and “living,” and we could all stand to take a page out of his book. It feels like we’re all collectively trying to survive at the moment, but at some point, we should attempt to live. That said, at the end of the day, the choice is yours and yours alone.
“Before we can care for others, we must care for ourselves.” – Saru (Star Trek: Discovery)
Saru is the self-care king we didn’t know we needed. He’s well aware of how vital it is to love ourselves before extending that love to others. To care for yourself isn’t selfish; it’s selfless. How can you expect to tend to others’ needs if your well is empty? Fill ‘er up, friends. Bust out those face masks and squeeze in a cuddle session with your pets.
“That’s the wonderful thing about crayons. They can take you to more places than a starship.” – Guinan (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
Human creativity and imagination are boundless. Think of the most beautiful, evocative works of art you’ve seen or heard in your lifetime. The science fiction genre itself is a feat of human innovation. Give someone a crayon, as Guinan wisely states, and they can take you to more places than a starship. Perhaps someday, our ships will boldly go where no human has gone before, but until that day, we’ve still got crayons.
“‘Impossible’ is a word humans use far too often.” – Seven of Nine (Star Trek: Voyager)
Seven of Nine makes a valid point here. When has “impossible” ever served us as a species, especially concerning our inventions? Would we even be where we are today if history’s grand inventors thought what they attempted to do was “impossible?” Let’s strike that word from our vocabulary books.
“If we turn our backs on our principles, we stop being human.” – Capt. Kathryn Janeway (Star Trek: Voyager)
Part of being human is holding fast to our principles and strengthening our moral center. History proves that when we abandon our principles or cling tightly to false ones, things end badly for us. Of course, there are genuinely rotten, malicious folks whose actions are reprehensible, but I’m referring to the rest of us who aren’t pieces of excrement. If we abandon what makes us human — our morals — we stop being human. Thanks, Captain Kathryn Janeway!
What are your favorite Star Trek words of wisdom? Join the conversation alongside other Star Trek fans over at side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!