Star Trekis a groundbreaking science fiction franchise that has captivated audiences for more than five decades. The series typically centers around a famous starship, the USS Enterprise, as it travels through space and encounters new civilizations. Their characters have also inspired a devoted fan base, leading to the release ofStar Trek: Picardin 2020, 22 years after the end ofStar Trek: The Next Generation. William Riker is, no doubt, one of these notable characters.
William Riker, portrayed by actorJonathan Frakes, is one of the most beloved characters in theStar Trekfranchise. Serving as the first officer aboard the USS Enterprise. Riker is smart, bold, and very confident. He can also sometimes be very arrogant, disregarding the enterprise chain of command.
Riker’s character changes over the course of the series, as he has to deal with a lot of problems, from meetings with aliens to moral issues that test his beliefs. As he went from being a young, ambitious officer to a well-recognized leader, he became one of the most important people inStar Trek. His famous lines are also what make him stand out. Here are some of his best quotes.
12“What’s a knockout like you doing in a computer generated gin joint like this?”
One of Riker’s best pick-up lines. He said this to Minuet on the holodeck, expressing how someone as beautiful and sophisticated as she is, would be in such a mundane setting. The line is also ironic, given that Minuet is a holograph. She is not a real person, but rather a figment of Riker’s imagination. She is intelligent, witty, and beautiful, and Riker quickly falls in love with her. They spend some time together in the holodeck, talking, dancing, and playing music. However, their relationship was doomed from the start. Because Minuet is a computer program, and Riker cannot truly have a real relationship with her. Although,Minuet is arguably his greatest love in the show.
11“Without trust, there’s no friendship, no closeness, none of the emotional bonds that make us who we are.”
This is one of the most emotional scenes between Commander William Riker and Lieutenant Commander Data. They discuss the concept of trust and its potential for betrayal. Especially on this journey, as they travel through space, facing friends and foes. Riker explains that trust is essential for building and maintaining close relationships. Without trust, they cannot truly open up to friends and share their thoughts and feelings.
This was thought-provoking for Data, as he reflects on the absence of emotional consequences, since he lacks human emotions, while Riker acknowledges that he willingly takes that risk every time trust is involved.
10“Fate. It protects fools, little children, and ships named Enterprise.”
No doubt, the Starship Enterprise has a long and storied history of survival in theStar Trekuniverse. The ship has survived several dangerous encounters and battles. The Enterprise probably has some sort of supernatural protection. This quote from Riker is one of the best inStar Trek. On this occasion, the crew and ship barely escaped annihilation from a strange enemy ship. He said it to remind his crew that the Enterprise is a powerful ship with a skilled and lucky crew.
9"The more difficult the task, the sweeter the victory"
Commander Riker says this to Deanna Troi in theStar Trek: The Next Generationepisode “Captain’s Holiday.” In this episode, Captain Picard served as a negotiator for a trade dispute between the Gemarians and the Dachlyds. The Gemarians and the Dachlyds are two neighboring species with a long history of conflict. Troi tells him the negotiation would prove to be a difficult one.
However, Riker does not doubt the confidence he has in his captain’s skills as a diplomat. In the end, Picard negotiated a mutually beneficial agreement between the two species. The agreement was based on a compromise, and both sides were satisfied with the outcomes.
8“Maybe if we felt any loss as keenly as we felt the death of one close to us, Human history would be a lot less bloody.”
This quote is from one of the most emotional moments inStar Trek. The USS Enterprise had lost Lieutenant Aster to an explosion during an away mission in 2366. Data, unable to comprehend human nature, had asked Riker why he didn’t feel the same feelings ofabsence as with Lieutenant Yar.
Riker explains to Data that the death of a close one is one of the most painful experiences that a human can go through. It can also lead to violence and hatred. Riker also suggests that human history would be much less bloody if humans felt the same pain and loss for every loss they experienced. Humans would be less likely to go to war and commit violence.
7“Is this a rescue mission or a continuation of the torture?”
Riker and Deanna Troi share a complicated romantic history. Still, Riker loves her and can be jealous when it comes to her. This is seen when Worf’s expression of feelings and sensitivity toward Troi makes Riker uneasy. This happens when Worf rescues Troi and Commander Riker fromCaptain Vadic’s (Amanda Plummer)ship, the Shrike. Worf expresses his deep feelings for Troi, counting the days since he last saw her and mentioning how her empathic gifts have helped him during his self-reflection. Troi responds delightfully, while Commander Riker is visibly disgusted. He interrupts the conversation between his wife and her ex-boyfriend, finding Worf’s comments inappropriate.
Worf continues, stating that his personal growth has been influenced by Troi in various ways, leading Riker to question whether the conversation was a rescue mission or torture.
6“Some days you get the bear, and some days the bear gets you.”
You rarely see Picard run away from a battle or confrontation before. However, after discovering that T’Pel was a Romulan spy who had infiltrated the Federation as a Vulcan ambassador, he had to run away with his tail between his legs. This moment is definitely not one ofPatrick Stewart’s best moments as Jean-Luc Picard.
T’Pel was a spy working to sabotage peace talks between the Federation and the Romulan Empire. The Enterprise crew eventually discovered T’Pel’s true identity, but it was already too late, and she was able to escape back to Romulus with the help of a Romulan warship.
Riker’s quote was a way of acknowledging that the Enterprise had been beaten. He saw that the captain was angry and felt betrayed, and he said it to help the captain stay calm. Stating that the Romulans had gotten away with their plan, but that the Enterprise crew had done their best to stop them.
Related:Star Trek: Captain Picard’s 15 Best Quotes, Ranked.
5“The name of my ship is the Lollipop. It’s a good ship”
There have been moments when Riker makes humorous statements in extreme situations. Riker uses the name “USS Lollipop” as a ruse to fool the holographic duplicate of Captain Paul Rice. It’s a clever and humorous way to expose the hologram, and it’s one of the fan-favorite Riker quotes.
This was a very serious scene that still had fans laughing. It’s funny how Commander Riker and other crew members kept straight faces as he made this remark. Well, it worked out well, since it startled the holograph, making Riker realize it was a fake sent to extract information from him.
4“I don’t want to die, but if I have to, I’d like to do it with a little pride.”
William Riker is very courageous. He has demonstrated courage on numerous occasions throughout theStar Trekseries. He has led daring rescue missions to save the crew, even when he knows the odds are stacked against him.
His courage is very admirable. Even displaying it when he is on his deathbed.Riker had been infected by an alien parasitewhile on an away mission. Dr. Katherine Pulaski estimated that the infection will reach Riker’s brain and kill him within hours. To survive, Riker would have to relive his memories. He tells Deanna Troi that he didn’t want to die, but he’d love to do it with a little pride if he had to. In the end, Riker’s body was able to fight off the virus, and he is cured.
3“Yes, absolutely, I do indeed concur wholeheartedly.”
Commander Riker’s humorous response when the computer asks if he concurs with aborting the auto-destruct sequence. The Enterprise had been trapped in a black void with no way to leave, and a Romulan vessel had appeared. Captain Picard and the crew decided to destroy the ship, killing everyone on board in the explosion, rather than being taken prisoners of Nagilum. Even worse, they could be killed instantly by the Nagilum.
However, the Enterprise survived, since the Nagilum relented and allowed the ship to leave, just before the self-destruct sequence activated. Riker’s response is a memorable and iconic moment inStar Trek,since a simple “Yes” would have sufficed.
