Film Quote of the Day: William Shatner's Captain Kirk Monologue That Defines What 'Star Trek' is All About

Star Trek is one of the most hopeful shows on Television. It has inspired generations (pun intended) by encouraging people to explore, be the best version of themselves, and take risks.

But underneath all the futuristic tech, aliens, and diplomatic missions, Star Trek is ultimately about the human spirit and what it takes to survive in this galaxy.

It can be hard to really put into words what makes the franchise tick. I mean, this thing has spawned movies, series,s and has been around for sixty years.

But if you want a quote that gets Star Trek perfectly right, you have to go back to the original show, to a speech from William Shatner's Captain Kirk that lays out the entire ethos of Starfleet in a single speech.

Let's dive in.

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The Scene in Question

Okay, you know the deal with Star Trek: it's about a spaceship flying around for Starfleet, righting wrongs and learning things in outer space.

Well, in Season 2, Episode 18, titled "Return to Tomorrow," the crew of the Enterprise encounters three disembodied, highly advanced alien minds housed in glowing spheres.

This is one of the most famous episodes of all time and was totally mind-blowing in the 60s when it aired, and even now.

These ancient sphere heads ask for permission to temporarily possess the bodies of Kirk, Spock, and Dr. Ann Mulhall so they can construct android bodies and regain physical life.

The crew is not totally on board with possession. I mean, the risks are insane...and that's what Kirk thinks is the point.

He reminds his bridge crew that every monumental leap in human history came with immense, terrifying risk.

And it puts the whole series into context.

"They used to say if man was meant to fly, he’d have wings. But he did fly. He discovered he had to. Do you wish to figure out the theory of the magnetic flow density: The space-time continuum? Metamorphosis? First, satisfy check-list items. Then, perform analysis. Then, synthesize... They're human beings. They're going to die! They're going to die unless we help them... They used to say if man was meant to fly, he'd have wings. But he did fly. He discovered he had to. Do you wish to figure out the theory of the magnetic flow density? The space-time continuum? Metamorphosis? First, satisfy check-list items. Then, perform analysis. Then, synthesize... Risk! Risk is our business. That's what this starship is all about. That's why we're aboard her."

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What The Quote Means

I think the quote's meaning is pretty straightforward. We get the context inside the psidoes for sure, but the greater point is the idea of boldly going where no man has gone before, and the risks involved.

To be human is to take chances and to do things that challenge us.

Let me put all this into context: Science fiction of the 60s was atomic age stuff that capitalized on fear. A lot of it was great! But Star Trek was really hopecore.

It was a future we wanted to be a part of, one that united all people and showed us to be the best humans.

It argues that human progress is an active choice that requires a willingness to embrace danger.

Not in a reckless way, but in a way that gets you outside your comfort zone and risks something to advance what we know and what we can accomplish.

That's beautiful.

Summing It All Up

Star Trek is one of those shows that can suck you in and keep you for a while. Not just because they have so many episodes and series, but because it's nice to explore who we are and what we believe.

"Risk is our business" isn't just a great line of dialogue; it’s the founding mantra of the entire Star Trek universe.

It's the perfect drive for any creative to understand that we do what we do because there are risks involved, and that's what makes the pursuit of answers or art, or anything else that you care about, matter.

Let me know what you think in the comments.