Jean-Luc Picard

Let us make sure history never forgets the name ... Enterprise.

Jean-Luc Picard (13 July 2305 -) is a character in the Star Trek fictional universe, the captain of the USS Enterprise-D and the Enterprise-E. He was played by British actor Patrick Stewart in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and subsequent films.

Quotes

These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before!

Someone once told me that time was a predator that stalked us all our lives. But I rather believe that time is a companion who goes with us on the journey — reminds us to cherish every moment because they'll never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we've lived.

Reports of my assimilation are greatly exaggerated.

• Make it so.
  • Catchphrase first used in "Encounter At Farpoint" (28 September 1987) by Gene Roddenberry, and thereafter used in many episodes and films, instructing a crew member to execute an order.

• Someone once told me that time was a predator that stalked us all our lives. But I rather believe that time is a companion who goes with us on the journey — reminds us to cherish every moment because they'll never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we've lived. After all, Number One, we're only mortal.
  • Star Trek Generations (1994) story by Brannon Braga, Ronald D. Moore and Rick Berman

• Reports of my assimilation are greatly exaggerated.
  • Emerging on the Enterprise-E bridge with his humanity fully intact, in Star Trek: First Contact (1996) story by Brannon Braga, Ronald D. Moore and Rick Berman; a derivative of the statement "Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated" attributed to Mark Twain, paraphrasing his remark: "The report of my death was an exaggeration."

Star Trek: The Next Generation

• Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before!
  • Introduction spoken during the opening credits of each episode, derived from the introduction to the original Star Trek series. Both versions are by Gene Roddenberry; the original referred to a "five year mission" rather than a "continuing mission", and said "no man" rather than "no one".

• If we're going to be damned, let's be damned for what we really are.
  • "Encounter At Farpoint" (28 September 1987) by Gene Roddenberry

• Being first at any cost is not always the point.
  • "Tin Man" (23 March 1990) by Dennis Putman Bailey and David Bischoff

• Let us make sure history never forgets the name ... Enterprise.
  • Statement to the entire crew in the alternate timeline towards the end of "Yesterday's Enterprise" (19 February 1990) story by Trent Christopher Ganino, Eric A. Stillwell Ira Steven Behr, Richard Manning, Hans Beimler, Ronald D. Moore

• Imprisonment is an injury, regardless of how you justify it.
  • "Allegiance" (26 March 1990) by Richard Manning and Hans Beimler

Quotes about Picard

Alphabetized by author

Picard stands as the bearer of Starfleet's conscience and an exemplar of moral autonomy. ~ Kevin Decker and Jason Eberl

• Captain Picard, is the exact opposite of a Hollywood action-hero.
  • Dirk Baecker, in Inclusion/ Exclusiom (2002), p. 76

• Picard stands as the bearer of Starfleet's conscience and an exemplar of moral autonomy.
  • Kevin Decker and Jason Eberl Star Trek and Philosophy: The Wrath of Kant (2008), p. 141

• Captain Picard is perceived to be a gentler soul than Captain Kirk.
  • Marc Dipaol, in War, Politics and Superheroes : Ethics and Propaganda in Comics and Film (2011), p. 30

• The new captain of the Enterprise, Jean-Luc Picard, is the wise man. He rules the Enterprise with a sagely wisdom.
  • Pallab Ghosh, in "Klingons on the Starship Bow" in New Scientist Vo. 117, issue 1605 (24 March 1988), p. 63

• As shown in his speech and actions, Picard is a man of intelligence, courage, integrity, compassion, courtesy.
  • Mark Jancovich and James Lyons, in Quality Popular Television : Cult TV, The Industry and Fans (2003), p. 111

• Patrick Stewart's identification with Jean-Luc Picard is a prime exemplar of the extreme entanglement between actor and character produced by cult television programs, yet in Stewart's case this entanglement has not precluded a very active and successful post-Star Trek career.
  • Sara Gwenllian-Jones and Roberta E. Pearson, in Cult Television (2004), p. 65

• Those ... who are familiar with the character Captain Picard, already know him to the the leader that we all wish we worked for, whose leadership gives us confidence and comfort in meeting the challenges we face each and every day, and the type of leader that we should strive to become.
  • Wess Roberts and Bill Ross in Make It So : Leadership Lessons from Star Trek, The Next Generation (1995), p. xi

• The bridge of the Enterprise, under the moderate and controlled command of Captain Picard, is a locus of "enlightened understanding."
  • Rosemarie Garland Thomson, Freakery: cultural spectacles of the extraordinary body (1996), p. 334

• The new captain, Jean-Luc Picard, was French and enjoyed reading, classical music, William Shakespeare, archaeology, and theatre.
  • Gary Westfahl, in The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy : Themes, Works, and Wonders (2005) Vol. 3, p. 1264

• Captain Picard is not the swashbuckler that Captain Kirk was.
  • Grace Lee Whitney, Jim Denney, and Leonard Nimoy in The Longest Trek: My Tour of the Galaxy (1998), p. 81

• Only question I
  Ever thought was hard
  Was do I like Kirk,
  Or do I like Picard?
  • Weird Al Yankovic, "White & Nerdy", Straight Outta Lynwood (2006).

External links

• Biography of Jean-Luc Picard at the official Star Trek website
• Jean-Luc Picard at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)