Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series)
The Bonding (1989)
Jonathan Frakes: Commander William Thomas 'Will' Riker
Quotes
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Lt. Commander Data : Since her death, I have been asked several times to define how well I knew Lieutenant Aster. And I heard you ask Wesley on the bridge how well he knew Jeremy. Does the question of familiarity have some bearing on death?
Commander William T. Riker : Do you remember how we all felt when Tasha died?
Lt. Commander Data : I do not sense the same feelings of absence that I associate with Lieutenant Yar. Although I cannot say precisely why.
Commander William T. Riker : Just human nature, Data.
Lt. Commander Data : Human nature, sir?
Commander William T. Riker : We feel a loss more intensely when it's a friend.
Lt. Commander Data : Hm... But should not the feelings run just as deep, regardless of who has died?
Commander William T. Riker : Maybe they should, Data. 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.
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[the mother of Jeremy, a little boy, has died in an away mission]
Commander William T. Riker : Do you know Jeremy well?
Wesley Crusher : [shakes his head] But I know what this is gonna be like for him.
Commander William T. Riker : That's part of life in Starfleet, Wesley.
Wesley Crusher : I know. They're very careful to prepare us for anything. But still...
Commander William T. Riker : I know.
Wesley Crusher : How do you get used to it? The telling them?
Commander William T. Riker : You hope you never do.
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Commander William T. Riker : [of the energy life form] She offers him everything. All we can offer is the cold reality of his mother's death.
Doctor Beverly Crusher : What would you choose? If somebody came along and offered to give you back your mother, father or husband - would any of us say no so easily?