Friday, May 1, 2009

This Above All Else : To Thine Own Self Be True

"This Above All Else : To Thine Own Self Be True." - Lord Polonius (Hamlet, Shakespeare)

I remember this immortal line distinctly, not from Shakespeare's play, but as quoted by Data in the Star Trek : The Next Generation Season 1 episode Hide and Q.

As Data said in response to Riker's admonishment, "But its what you've always wanted Data. To become human."

Data: "Yes Sir, that is true but I never wanted to compound one illusion with another. It might be real to Q, perhaps even you Sir but it would never be so to me. Was it not one of the Captain's favourite authors who wrote 'this above all, to thy known self be true'. Sorry Commander, I must decline."

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