"He intrigues me, this Picard. Remarkably analytical and dispassionate, for a human. I understand why my father chose to mind-meld with him. There's almost a Vulcan quality to the man."

":Wesley Crusher: He'd listen to everyone's opinion, then make his own decision. But he's Captain Picard."

":William T. Riker: In your position, it's important to ask yourself one question. What would Picard do?"

":Wesley Crusher: But what if it's something really important. I mean, not just a mineral survey. What if someone dies because I made a mistake?"

":William T. Riker: Then you're wrong. It's arrogant to think you'll never make a mistake."

":Wesley Crusher: But what if I'm wrong?"

":William T. Riker: Wes, responsibility and authority go hand in hand. I know you're responsible, now we've got to teach you a little bit of authority. One of the reasons you've been given command is so you can make a few right decisions, that will establish a pattern of success and help build self-confidence. If you don't trust your own judgment, you don't belong in the command chair."

"Picard and his crew were all human carbon copies of Spock—even-keeled, rational, and almost impossibly ethical. (Spock himself says so of Picard in “Unification,” the one “Next Generation” episode in which he appears.) That left little room for identification. You could aspire to be more like Picard, the very model of compassion and culture, but you could never truly understand his moral universe. He was nothing like us twenty-first-century humans. He was too alien."

"Those ... who are familiar with the character Captain Picard, already know him to be 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."

":Kate Pulaski: True. But you are not a commonplace man."

":Jean-Luc Picard: Oh, come on. This is a routine procedure - quite commonplace."

":Kate Pulaski: Saving your life."

":Jean-Luc Picard: [waking up after the operation] What the hell are *you* doing here?"

"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."

"As shown in his speech and actions, Picard is a man of intelligence, courage, integrity, compassion, courtesy."

"The new captain of the Enterprise, Jean-Luc Picard, is the wise man. He rules the Enterprise with a sagely wisdom."

"Seven of Nine: Oh, you are definitely your father's son. He, too, has a knack for the, um, poetic drive-by observation. Can be very annoying. But it can also make a person feel seen."

"Seven of Nine: The USS Voyager. She made her name farther out than... any of those other relics had ever gone. I was reborn there. She was my home. Her crew were my family. And now..."

"When I was in middle school and watching “Star Trek” I imagined we were moving closer toward the show’s version of the future: egalitarian, democratic, creative. Now when I watch the show, I vacillate between hope and escapism. I want to believe that “Star Trek” is predictive of how things will turn out for humanity. I want us to wander the universe in brightly colored uniforms, listening to operas sung by sentient robots. I hope we will find our way to peace. But if that’s not what the future holds, if it’s more war and injustice and greed that we’re headed for, then all I want is to watch Captain Picard hold court on the bridge one more time."

"Captain Picard is perceived to be a gentler soul than Captain Kirk."

"Picard stands as the bearer of Starfleet's conscience and an exemplar of moral autonomy."

":K'mpec: Nonsense. You are an accomplished mediator. This is no different than any other dispute requiring your services."

":Jean-Luc Picard: K'mpec, you cannot possibly be serious. A Federation officer has no business in ..."

":K'mpec: No one on the Council can be trusted, and I have my reasons for wanting an outsider."

":Jean-Luc Picard: I will?"

":K'mpec: After I die, you will act in my name to arbitrate the struggle for power."

"Captain Picard is the hero we need right now. He exemplifies in some ways even more then James Kirk—and I’m not gonna get into the Kirk vs Picard argument because I love Captain Kirk, he was my first captain—but Picard is even more of an exemplar of everything that is best about Star Trek’s vision for the future."

"Jean-Luc Picard! Chief contact with the Q Continuum. Arbiter of succession for the Klingon Empire. Savior of Earth from Borg invasion. Captain of the Enterprises D and E. The man even worked alongside the great Spock."

"Captain Picard, is the exact opposite of a Hollywood action-hero."

"Jean-Luc Picard taught me how to speak. I’m pretty sure that I already knew how to say words by the time that I was watching ‘’Star Trek: The Next Generation’’ with my parents, but Patrick Stewart’s captain is how I remember learning that words and communication are noble and important. That you can be strong without imposing yourself physically on others. That making an effort to unite yourself with other people is powerful as well as merely desirable."

"There is a tide in the affairs of men Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat; And we must take the current when it serves, Or lose our ventures."

"You don't leave the doors open if you want to keep the wolves out."

"Fate has a way of surprising us."

"You’re only ever really as good as those around you. Your crew become a part of you. Complete you. They lift you up to accomplish the things you never could do alone."

"[to Beverly Crusher] Look, I know that time is precious, but do you think you could give me a moment or two with Jack?"

"I think we all need connection. Don't we?"

"Y’know, there will be a time when you will need to remember that no matter how bleak or unwinnable a situation, as long as you and your crew remain steadfast in your dedication, one to another, you are never ever without hope."