Captain James T. Kirk set the standard for all captains that followed in the Star Trek franchise, and in many ways he is still considered the best to ever sit in the big chair. Known for his quick wit and "unique" approach to diplomacy, Kirk let his personality shine through when leading a starship.
While Kirk was predominantly a man of action, he was also known to sling a few great quotes on occasion as well. Through the years, Kirk not only expressed himself through what he did, but he also showed his depth of character through what he said. And now, with the fourth Star Trek movie now confirmed, it's certain there will be even more great quotes to add to his repertoire.
Revenge Isn't The Answer
"Our First Instinct Is To Seek Revenge When Those Who We Love Are Taken From Us. But That's Not Who We Are."
Though the newer Star Trek films take place in an alternate universe, some of the main characters' best traits still showed through. Star Trek: Into Darkness put its version of Captain Kirk through similar challenges that Kirk faced in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, and both films are essentially about loss in the face of impossible odds.
Kirk's quote is a great summation of his philosophy and shows that he sees loss as a group experience. By saying "who we are", Kirk reminds everyone that not only are they a crew that serves together, they are a crew that can pull together in tough times as well.
All Too Human
"We Prefer To Help Ourselves. We Make Mistakes, But We're Human--And Maybe That's The Word That Best Explains Us."
Star Trek is from the human perspective, but it also is an exploration of humanity and how we interact with the world around us. One of Captain Kirk's unmistakable traits is just how human he is, especially in contrast to his Vulcan companion, Spock.
Speaking for the entire species in the episode "I,Mudd", Kirk does an excellent job of explaining the best and worst of what makes humanity great. Kirk, by proxy, admits that he himself is fallible, and that is what makes him so good at his job.
Give Us Time
"We're A Most Promising Species...As Predators Go...And Maybe In A Thousand Years Or So, We'll Be Able To Prove It."
The classic episode "Arena" was one of the rare moments that the villain was just as right as the hero when Kirk and the Gorn were pitted against each other in battle. Though their fighting was fierce, ultimately, Kirk refused to kill the alien even though it was trying to kill him.
After proving his ingenuity in battle, Kirk couldn't help but gloat a bit about his victory. When speaking to Spock, the quote shows that he is doubly proud of his victory in the fight, both physically and morally when he lets the Gorn live.
It Has Its Advantages
"One Of The Advantages Of Being A Captain, Doctor, Is Being Able To Ask For Advice Without Necessarily Having To Take It."
Besides Spock, Kirk's favorite verbal sparring partner was the gruff but likable Dr. McCoy. Despite his best efforts to slow Kirk down in the episode "Dagger of the Mind", the captain goes full speed ahead against the Doc's well-meaning orders.
Though Kirk's reputation as a brash and reckless captain is somewhat unfair, his quote in "Dagger of the Mind" is a bit of evidence to the contrary. Ultimately, Kirk makes decisions that puts himself in danger, and he is perfectly willing to accept the consequences.
No Room For Hate
"Leave Any Bigotry In Your Quarters; There's No Room For It On The Bridge."
Introduced in the episode "Balance of Terror", the Romulans quickly became a formidable enemy for the Federation as soon as they burst on the scene. The Enterprise's first encounter with the mysterious race pushed the crew to their limits, but Kirk never sacrificed his morality.
Despite the fact that the Romulans presented a clear and present danger, Kirk would not allow hatred to taint his decision-making. In his quote, Kirk subtly hints that he himself might harbor a certain amount of bigotry, but he refuses to allow it to color any decisions he makes.
What Does He Know?
"I Haven't Faced Death. I've Cheated Death. I've Tricked My Way Out Of Death And Patted Myself On The Back For My Ingenuity; I Know Nothing."
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan pushed all of the familiar Trek characters to their breaking points, and the story is essentially about Kirk's aging. Throughout the film, the once daring captain comes to realize a lot about himself when he is finally presented with a no-win situation.
When death becomes inescapable, Kirk realizes that a lot of what he believed about himself was untrue and that he had merely bluffed his way through life. Showing great maturation as a character, Kirk admits to others that he is woefully unprepared for the challenge that he faces from Khan.
His Prerogative
"Intuition, However Illogical, Mr. Spock, Is Recognized As A command Prerogative."
Spock served not only as a perfect first officer to Kirk, but he also represented the polar opposite of the captain's philosophy. Dictated purely by logic, the Vulcan often couldn't understand the intangible trait that Kirk most brilliantly exhibited--intuition.
Kirk's gut served him well throughout his career and especially in the episode "Obsession" where he uses his human intuition to track down an entity that once harmed him. The quote also serves to remind viewers that, though Kirk plays fast and loose, he is in charge and his decision is final.
Nothing To Fear But...
"The Greatest Danger Facing Us Is Ourselves, An Irrational Fear Of The Unknown. But There's No Such Thing As The Unknown--Only Things Temporarily hidden."
Echoing the famous words of a U.S. President, Kirk reminds his crew that humanity's greatest hurtle is overcoming a fear of the unknown. "The Corbomite Maneuver" sees the crew trapped by a mysterious entity, and Kirk must use his bluffing skills to save the day.
The episode is one of the most re-watchable of the series because it is not only an exciting story, but is a perfect illustration of what makes Kirk great. Kirk understands that sometimes the only way to win is to create new rules, just as he does with his fictional "Corbomite".
No Choice In The Matter
"Without Freedom Of Choice There Is No Creativity. The Body Dies."
Though he exists within a military style organization like Starfleet, Captain Kirk is not one to be bossed around. "Return of the Archons" puts Kirk's rugged individualism against a hive-mind like society that craves structure and control more than anything else.
Creativity is one of Kirk's best leadership traits and in the episode he explains that all of humanity would be lost without it. Kirk understands that without a choice, people are unable to exhibit the best and worst of humanity, and they are ultimately pointless.
A Life And Death Scenario
"How We Deal With Death Is At Least As Important As How We Deal With Life."
Coming like a prophesy at the beginning of the film, Kirk's words become more and more true throughout Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Though he is scolding Saavik about the Kobayashi Maru test in the quote, it doesn't rob it of any of its power later in the story.
The film is about Kirk's own reaction to a no-win situation, and unlike the test, the result is seemingly permanent. Seeing as how death is a natural part of life, Kirk understands that the two are inextricably linked, even if he isn't emotionally prepared for it.