|  | TREKCORE > TNG > EPISODES > THE MEASURE OF A MAN > Audio Clips
Below are high quality audio caps from this episode presented in mp3 format. Please let us know if we've missed a favorite quote of yours from this episode and we'll try and add it! Many thanks to Kyle C. Haight for these files!
 |  |  Picard: "Captain's log, stardate: 42523.7. We are en route to the newly established Starbase 173 for port call. Crew rotation is scheduled and we will be unloading experiment modules." | | |  Data: "This game is exceedingly simple; with only 52 cards, 21 of which I will see, and four other players, there are limited number of winning combinations."
Geordi: "More to this than just the cards, Data."
Data: "Of course. The bets will indicate the relative strength of each hand."
O'Brien: "Time to pluck a pigeon!" | | |  Data: "Is that what is known as a 'poker face'?"
Riker: "Are you playing or not?"
Data: (considers) "I fold."
Everyone: "Ohhhh..."
Data: "You had nothing!"
Geordi: "He bluffed you, Data."
Data: "It makes very little sense to bet when you cannot win."
Riker: "But I did win, I was betting that you wouldn't call." | | |  Picard: "Phillipa Louvois...and back in uniform. It's been ten years, but seeing you again like this makes it seem like fifty. If we weren't around all these people, do you know what I'd like to do?"
Louvois: "Bust a chair across my teeth?"
Picard: "After that."
Louvois: "Ain't love wonderful?" | | |  Louvois: "You know, I never thought I would say this, but it's good to see you again. It brings a sense of order and stability to my universe to know that you're still a pompous ass." | | |  Picard: "Are the two of you acquainted?"
Maddox: "Yes, I evaluated Data when it first applied to the Academy."
Data: "And was the sole member of the committee to oppose my entrance on the grounds that I was not a sentient being."
Picard: "What exactly will this work entail?
Maddox: "I am going to disassemble Data." | | |  Maddox: "You are under my command."
Data: "No, sir. I am not under yours nor anyone else's command. I have resigned from Starfleet."
Maddox: "Resigned?! You can't resign..."
Data: "I regret the decision, but I must. I am the culmination of one man's dream. This is not ego, or vanity, but when Dr. Soong created me, he added to the substance of the universe. If, by your experiments, I am destroyed, something unique, something wonderful will be lost. I cannot permit that." | | |  Picard: "Captain's log, supplemental. Commander Bruce Maddox, having been thwarted by Data's abrupt resignation, is now seeking a legal remedy for his woes. Captain Louvois has requested my presence at those discussions." | | |  Maddox: "Would you permit the computer of the Enterprise to refuse a refit?"
Louvois: "That's an interesting point...but, the Enterprise computer is property. Is Data?"
Maddox: "Of course!"
Louvois: "There may be law to support this position."
Picard: "Then find it! A ruling with such broad ranging implications must be supported." | | |  Wesley: "Data, you're supposed to rip the wrapping off."
Data: "With the application of a little care, Wes, the paper can be utilized again."
Wesley: "Data, you're missing the point."
(Data rips up the wrapping paper) | | |  Louvois: "Data is a toaster. Have him report immediately to Commander Maddox for experimental refit." | | |  Riker: "Commander, what are you?"
Data: "An android."
Riker: "Which is what?"
Data: "Webster's 24th Century Dictionary, Fifth Edition, defines an android as 'an automaton made to resemble a human being.'"
Riker: "An automaton. Made by whom?"
Data: "Sir?"
Riker: "Who built you, Commander?"
Data: "Dr. Noonien Soong."
Riker: "And he was?"
Data: "The foremost authority on cybernetics."
Riker: "More basic. What was he?"
Data: "Human?"
Riker: "Thank you. Commander, what is the capacity of your memory and how fast can you access information?"
Data: "I have an ultimate storage capacity of 800 quadrillion bits. My total linear computational speed has been rated at 60 trillion operations per second."
Riker: "Your honour, I offer into evidence: prosecution's exhibit A; a rod of parsteel, tenstyle strength, 40 kilobars. Commander, would you bend that?"
Picard: "Objection! There are many life forms possessed with mega-strength. These issues are not relevant to this hearing."
Louvois: "I'm afraid I can't agree, Captain. Proceed with your demonstration, Commander."
(Data bends the bar)
Riker: "Drawing on the log of the construction of the prototype android Lore, also constructed by Noonien Soong, I request to be allowed to remove the Commander's hand for your inspection."
Picard: "Objection! Doesn't matter...objection withdrawn."
Louvois: "Proceed, Commander."
Riker: (whispers) "I'm sorry." (removes Data's arm) The Commander is a physical representation of a dream, an idea conceived of by the mind of a man, it's 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. (hits Data's off-switch) Pinocchio is broken; it's strings have been cut." | | |  Guinan: "Well, consider that in the history of many worlds there have always been disposable creatures. They do the dirty work, they do the work that no one else wants to do because it's too difficult or too hazardous, and an army of Datas all disposable, you don't have to think about their welfare, you don't think about how they feel. Whole generations of disposable people."
Picard: "You're talking about slavery."
Guinan: "I think that's a little harsh."
Picard: "I don't think that's a little harsh, I think that's the truth. That is a truth we have obscured behind a comfortable easy euphemism. 'Property.' But, that's not the issue at all, is it?" | | |  Picard: "You have no other portraits of your fellow crewmembers. Why this person?"
Data: "I would prefer not to answer that question, sir. I gave my word."
Picard: "Under the circumstances, I don't think Tasha would mind."
Data: "She was special to me, sir. We were...intimate." | | |  Computer Voice: "Verify: Maddox Bruce, Commander. Current assignment: Associate Chair of Robotics, Daystrom Technological Institute. Major papers..."
Picard: "Yes, yes, yes, suffice it to say, he's an expert. Commander, it is your contention that Lieutenant Commander Data is not a sentient being and therefore not entitled to all the rights reserved for all the life-forms within this Federation."
Maddox: "Data is not sentient, no."
Picard: "Commander, would you enlighten us; what is required for sentience?"
Maddox: "Intelligence, self-awareness, consciousness."
Picard: "Prove to the court that I am sentient."
Maddox: "This is absurd. We all know that you are sentient."
Picard: "So I am sentient, but Commander Data is not?"
Maddox: "That's right."
Picard: "Why? Why am I sentient?"
Maddox: "Well, you are self-aware..."
Picard: "Ah, that's the second of your criteria. Let's deal with the first, intelligence. Is Commander Data intelligent?"
Maddox: "Yes. It has the ability to learn and understand and to cope with new situations."
Picard: "Like this hearing?"
Maddox: "Yes."
Picard: "What about self-awareness? What does that mean? Why am I self-aware?"
Maddox: "Because you are conscious of your existence and your actions. You are aware of yourself and your own ego."
Picard: "Commander Data, what are you doing now?"
Data: "I am taking part in a legal hearing to determine my rights and status. Am I a person or property?"
Picard: "And what's at stake?"
Data: "My right to choose...perhaps my very life."
Picard: "'My rights.' 'My status.' 'My right to choose.' 'My life.' Well, seems reasonably self-aware to me, Commander...I'm waiting."
Maddox: "This is exceedingly difficult."
Picard: "Do you like Commander Data?"
Maddox: "I...I don't know it well enough to...like or dislike it."
Picard: "But, you admire him?"
Maddox: "Oh, yes. It is an extraordinary piece of..."
Picard: "...of engineering and programming. Yes, you have said that. Commander, you have devoted your life to the study of cybernetics in general."
Maddox: "Yes."
Picard: "And Commander Data in particular?"
Maddox: "Yes."
Picard: "And now you propose to dismantle him?"
Maddox: "So I can learn from it and construct more."
Picard: "How many more?"
Maddox: "As many as are needed. Hundreds, thousands, if necessary. There is no limit."
Picard: "A single Data, and forgive me Commander, is a curiosity, a wonder, even, but thousands of Datas? Isn't that becoming a race? And won't we be judged by how we treat that race? Now, tell me, Commander, what is Data?"
Maddox: "I don't understand."
Picard: "What is he?!"
Maddox: "A machine!"
Picard: "Is he? Are you sure?!"
Maddox: "Yes!"
Picard: "You see he's met two of your three criteria for sentience, so what if he meets the third; consciousness, in even the smallest degree?! What is he then? I don't know! Do you? (to Louvois) Do you? (to Riker) Do you? Well, that's the question you have to answer. Your honour, a courtroom is a crucible; in it, we burn away irrelevancies until we are left with a pure product; the truth, for all time. Now, sooner or later, this man, or others like him will succeed in replicating Commander Data, and the decision you reach here today will determine how we will regard this creation of our genius. It will reveal the kind of a people we are, what he is destined to be, it will reach far beyond this courtroom and this one android. It could significantly redefine the boundaries of personal liberty and freedom, expanding them for some and savagely curtailing them for others. Are you prepared to condemn him and all who come after him to servitude and slavery? Your honour, Starfleet was founded to seek out new life, well, there it sits! Waiting." | | |  Louvois: "Is Data a machine? Yes. Is he the property of Starfleet? No. We have all been dancing around the basic issue: does Data have a soul? I don't know that he has. I don't know that I have, but I have got to give him the freedom to explore that question himself. It is the ruling of this court that Lieutenant Commander Data has the freedom to choose." | | |  Data: "Sir, there is a celebration on the holodeck."
Riker: "I have no right to be there."
Data: "Because you failed in your task?"
Riker: "God, no. I came this close to winning, Data."
Data: "Yes, sir."
Riker: "I almost cost you your life."
Data: "Is it not true that if you refused to prosecute, Captain Louvois would have ruled summarily against me?"
Riker: "Yes."
Data: "That action injured you and saved me. I will not forget it."
Riker: "You're a wise man, my friend."
Data: "Not yet, sir, but with your help, I am learning." | |
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