Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series)
The Measure of a Man (1989)
Jonathan Frakes: Commander William Thomas 'Will' Riker
Photos
Quotes
-
Lt. Commander Data : Sir, there is a celebration on the Holodeck.
Commander William T. Riker : I have no right to be there.
Lt. Commander Data : Because you failed in your task?
Commander William T. Riker : No, God, no. I came that close to winning, Data.
Lt. Commander Data : Yes, sir.
Commander William T. Riker : I almost cost you your life!
Lt. Commander Data : Is it not true that had you refused to prosecute, Captain Louvois would have ruled summarily against me?
Commander William T. Riker : Yes.
Lt. Commander Data : That action injured you, and saved me. I will not forget it.
Commander William T. Riker : [Brightening at his friend's perspective] You're a wise man, my friend.
Lt. Commander Data : Not yet, sir. But with your help, I am learning.
-
[Riker is doing his duty in the courtroom]
Commander William T. Riker : The Commander is a physical representation of a dream - an idea, conceived of by the mind of a man. Its purpose: to serve human needs and interests. It's a collection of neural nets and heuristic algorithms; its responses dictated by an elaborate software written by a man, its hardware built by a man. And now... and now a man will shut it off.
[Riker switches off Data, who slumps forward like a lifeless puppet]
Commander William T. Riker : Pinocchio is broken. Its strings have been cut.
-
Captain Phillipa Louvois : I can use serving officers as legal counsel. You, as the senior officer, would defend.
Capt. Picard : Very good.
Captain Phillipa Louvois : And the unenviable task of prosecuting this case would fall on you, Commander, as the next most senior officer of the defendant's ship.
Commander William T. Riker : I can't. I won't. Data's my comrade. We have served together. I not only respect him, I consider him my friend.
Captain Phillipa Louvois : When people of good conscience have an honest dispute, we must still sometimes resort to this kind of adversarial system.
Commander William T. Riker : You just want me to prove that Data is a mere machine. I can't do that, because I don't believe it. I happen to know better, so I am neither qualified nor willing. You're going to have to find someone else.
Captain Phillipa Louvois : Then I will rule summarily based on my findings. Data is a toaster. Have him report immediately to Commander Maddox for experimental refit.
-
Lt. Commander Data : [to a glum Riker in the extended version of the episode] But Commander... .Will... I have learned from your example.
Commander William T. Riker : What could you have possibly learned from that ordeal?
Lt. Commander Data : That at times, one must deny one's nature. Sacrifice one's own personal beliefs to protect another. Is it not true that had you refused to prosecute, Captain Louvois would have ruled summarily against me?
Commander William T. Riker : Yes.
Lt. Commander Data : That action injured you, and saved me. I will not forget it.
Commander William T. Riker : [Riker instantly cheers up] You're a wise man, my friend.
Lt. Commander Data : Not yet sir. But with your help, I am learning.
-
Commander William T. Riker : Okay, the game is five card stud, nothing wild. Ante up.