Star Trek (TV Series)

Journey to Babel (1967)

Leonard Nimoy: Mister Spock

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Quotes 

• McCoy : Spock, I've always suspected you were a little more human than you let on. Mrs. Sarek, I know about the rigorous training of the Vulcan youth, but tell me, did he ever run and play like the human children, even in secret?

  Amanda : Well, he, uh, he did have a pet Sehlat he was very fond of.

  McCoy : Sehlat?

  Amanda : It's sort of a... a fat teddy bear.

  McCoy : [grinning]  A teddy bear?

  Sarek : Excuse me, Doctor. It has been a rather long day for my wife. Captain.

  Captain James T. Kirk : Ambassador.

  McCoy : [needlingly Spock after Sarek and Amada have gone]  "A teddy bear."

  Spock : Not precisely, Doctor. On Vulcan the "teddy bears" are alive, and they have 6-inch fangs

• Amanda : And you, Sarek, would you also say thank you to your son?

  Sarek : I don't understand.

  Amanda : For saving your life.

  Sarek : Spock acted in the only logical manner open to him. One does not thank logic, Amanda.

  Amanda : Logic! Logic! I'm sick to death of logic! Do you want to know how I feel about your logic?

  Spock : Emotional, isn't she?

  Sarek : She has always been that way.

  Spock : Indeed. Why did you marry her?

  Sarek : At the time it seemed the logical thing to do.

• Captain James T. Kirk : [orbiting Vulcan]  Mr. Spock, we'll leave orbit in two hours. Would you care to beam down and visit your parents?

  Spock : Captain, Ambassador Sarek and his wife ARE my parents.

• McCoy : Mrs. Sarek, you must understand the chances are extremely small to find a way to produce sufficient T-negative blood.

  Spock : Indeed. I would estimate the odds...

  Amanda : [exasperated]  Please don't!

• Amanda : After all these years with humans, you still haven't learned to smile.

  Spock : Humans smile with so little provocation.

• Spock : There is no logic in Thelev's attack upon the captain. There is no logic in Gav's murder.

  Shras : Perhaps you should forget logic and devote yourself to motivations of passion or gain. Those are reasons for murder.

• Captain James T. Kirk : I'm sorry about your father.

  Spock : Yes, it could adversely affect our mission.

  Captain James T. Kirk : Aren't you worried about him?

  Spock : Worry is a human emotion, Captain. I accept what has happened.

• Amanda : When you were five years old and came home stiff-lipped, anguished, because the other boys tormented you, saying that you weren't really Vulcan, I watched you knowing that, inside... that the human part of you was crying, and I cried, too. There must be some part of me in you, some part that I still can reach. If being Vulcan is more important to you, then you'll stand there speaking rules and regulations from Starfleet and Vulcan philosophy and... and let your father die, and... then I'll hate you for the rest of my life.

  Spock : Mother...

  Amanda : Oh, go to him, now, please.

  Spock : I cannot.

• Captain James T. Kirk : [standing over a dead Tellarite]  How was he killed?

  McCoy : His neck was broken... by an expert.

  Captain James T. Kirk : Explain.

  McCoy : Well, from the nature and location of the break, I'd say the killer knew exactly where to apply pressure to snap the neck instantly.

  Captain James T. Kirk : Who aboard would have that knowledge?

  Spock : Vulcans. On Vulcan the method is called Tal-Shaya. It was considered a merciful form of execution in ancient times.

• Spock : Sarek understands my reason.

  Amanda : Well, I don't. It's not human. Oh, that's not a dirty word. You're human, too. Let that part of you come through. Your father's dying.

  Spock : Mother, how can you have lived on Vulcan so long, married a Vulcan, raised a son on Vulcan, without understanding what it means to be a Vulcan?

  Amanda : Well, if this is what it means, I don't want to know!

• McCoy : Where do you think you're going?

  Spock : I must see the captain.

  McCoy : My patients don't walk out in the middle of an operation.

• Amanda : Spock, you must turn command over to somebody else.

  Spock : Mother, when I was commissioned, I took an oath to carry out responsibilities which were clearly, and exactly, specified.

  Amanda : Any competent officer can command this ship. Only you can give your father the blood transfusion that he needs to live!

  Spock : Any competent officer can command this ship under normal circumstances. The circumstances are NOT normal. We are carrying over 100 valuable Federation passengers, we are being pursued by an alien ship, we are subject to possible attack, there has been murder and attempted murder on board. I cannot dismiss my duties.

  Amanda : "Duty"? Your duty is to your father!

  Spock : I know. But this must take precedence. If I could give the transfusion without loss of time or efficiency, I would. Sarek understands my reason.

  Amanda : Well, I don't. It's not human. Oh, that's not a dirty word. Let that part of you come through. Your father's dying!

  Spock : Mother, how can you have lived on Vulcan so long, married a Vulcan, raised a son on Vulcan, without understanding what it means to BE a Vulcan?

  Amanda : Well, if this is what it means, I don't want to know.

  Spock : It means to adopt a philosophy, a way of life which is logical and beneficial. We cannot disregard that philosophy merely for personal gain. No matter how important that gain might be.

  Amanda : [adamantly]  Nothing is as important as your father's life.

  Spock : Can you imagine what my father would say, if I were to agree, if I were to give up command of this vessel, jeopardize hundreds of lives, risk interplanetary war, all for the life of one person?

• Captain James T. Kirk : [Capt. Kirk is giving Sarek and his wife - Spock's parents - a tour of the USS "Enterprise"]  Mr. Spock, a moment if you please...

  Captain James T. Kirk : [Spock comes over to his parents and Capt. Kirk]  Explain the computer components.

  Sarek : [awkward pause, as Sarek looks at Spock a little coldly]  I gave Spock his first instruction in computers, Captain. He chose to devote his knowledge to Starfleet, instead of the Vulcan Science Academy.

  Spock : [looks a little uncomfortable]  If you will excuse me, Captain.

  [turns and walks away]