The world of Science-Fiction lost a true icon in late February of 2015, as Leonard Nimoy passed away of complications related to a chronic illness known as COPD.  Nimoy is of course, best known as the half-human, half-alien Mr. Spock of television’s Star Trek franchise.  As Spock, Nimoy appeared in three television seasons in the 1960s and in eight feature films in the Star Trek universe.

Spock Quote on Logic.jpg

Leonard Nimoy was the son of Ukrainian Jewish immigrants and was raised in Boston.  He once remarked that he was the son of aliens who was born a citizen, and then when he went to Hollywood to pursue an acting career, he went from being a citizen to being an alien.  The alien, of course, was the Vulcan named Spock, a logical science officer on board the USS Enterprise, a starship captained by Spock’s best friend, James T. Kirk (William Shatner, who ironically, was an actual alien, having been born in Canada).  Fans took to the pointy-eared Federation officer in large part because he was so familiar, yet so different.  The character of Spock exhibited loyalty, precision, and logic mixed with true wisdom to make science and geekiness (before it was a word, even) truly cool.  And it was the little touches by Nimoy that brought to the character a uniqueness unseen among space alien characters in Hollywood.  When presented with something dangerous, mystical, or unexplainable, Spock would often utter a one-word expression: “Fascinating,” that summed up everything in one logical word.

As with any iconic, long-standing fictional character, there are many quotes by Leonard Nimoy as Spock from both the Star Trek television show and from the many Star Trek movies in which he starred.

Here are a selection of memorable Spock Quotes by Leonard Nimoy:

“… The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.”
from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

” I have been, and always shall be, your friend.”

from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

“Logic is the beginning of wisdom … not the end.”
from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)

“… When you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”
from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)

“… You may find that having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting. This is not logical, but it is often true.”
Spoken to Spock’s fiancé, T’Pring in Amok Time,” Season 2, Episode 1(1967)

“Live long and prosper.”
First used in Amok Time,” Season 2, Episode 1(1967), and in multiple episodes and movies ever since