William Shatner‘s Captain Kirk was the first face of the Star Trek franchise when the space opera launched in 1966, and he remains one of its most pivotal figures. He’s one of the saga’s most heavily quoted characters, and there’s no shortage of great lines to choose from. However, there’s one that I believe is still arguably the best speech from Kirk. It dates back as far as Star Trek goes and has been nearly impossible to top. It encapsulates everything that makes the sprawling franchise so enticing and enduring.

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