Babylon 5

[Opening credits voiceover.] : It was the dawn of the third age of mankind, ten years after the Earth/Minbari war. The Babylon Project was a dream given form. Its goal: to prevent another war by creating a place where humans and aliens could work out their differences peacefully. It's a port of call, home away from home for diplomats, hustlers, entrepreneurs, and wanderers. Humans and aliens wrapped in two million, five hundred thousand tons of spinning metal, all alone in the night. It can be a dangerous place, but it's our last best hope for peace. This is the story of the last of the Babylon stations. The year is 2258. The name of the place is Babylon 5.

— Babylon 5 hope

: [arguing with Garibaldi] We made a mistake, I'm sorry. Here, open my wrists. [offers Garibaldi his wrists] : Centauri don't have major arteries in their wrists. Londo: Of course not! What, do you think I am stupid?

— Babylon 5 art

: I'm in the middle of fifteen things, all of them annoying.

— Babylon 5 teen

: The best way to understand someone is to fight him, make him angry. That's when you see the real person.

— Babylon 5 fight

Ivanova: I do not like Santiago. I've always thought that a leader should have a strong chin. He has no chin, and his vice president has several. This to me is not a good combination.

— Babylon 5 good

Londo: My people…we have a way, you see. We know how, and sometimes even when, we are going to die. Comes in a dream. In my dream, I am an old man, it's twenty years from now, and I am dying. My hands wrapped around someone's throat, and his around mine. We have squeezed the life out of each other. The first time I saw G'Kar, I recognized him as the one from the dream. It will happen. Twenty years from now, we'll die with our hands around each other's throats.

— Babylon 5 life

Londo: What reasonable explanation is there for the slaughter of unarmed civilians? : Curious. We wondered the same thing when you invaded our world. The wheel turns, does it not, Ambassador? Londo: We should have wiped out your kind when we had the chance. G'Kar: What happened? Run out of small children to butcher?

— Babylon 5 children

: They are alone. They are a dying people. We should let them pass. : The Narn or the Centauri? Kosh: Yes.

— Babylon 5 people

Ivanova: Mr. Garibaldi, you're sitting at my station, using my equipment. Is there a reason for this, or to save time should I just snap your hand off at the wrist?

— Babylon 5 time

Londo: The Council can go to hell! And the emergency session can go to hell! And you, Vir, you can go to hell too—I would not want you to feel left out.

— Babylon 5 hell

Garibaldi: Afterwards, if you like, you can stop by my quarters and I can show you my most favorite thing in the universe. Okay, okay, my second most favorite thing in the universe.

— Babylon 5 war

Londo: Blood calls out for blood.

— Babylon 5 blood

Londo: Just now, would you really have killed me? Garibaldi: Yes. Yes, I would have. But I'm just as glad I didn't have to. The paperwork's a pain in the butt.

— Babylon 5 pain

[An unknown ship on collision course with the station.] : This is not a clear and present danger? I must read the rule book again.

— Babylon 5 anger

Soul Hunter: The soul we save: not all, only the special ones. Leaders, thinkers, poets, dreamers, blessed lunatics.

— Babylon 5 soul

: It's all so brief, isn't it? Typical human lifespan is almost a hundred years, but it's barely a second compared to what's out there. It wouldn't be so bad if life didn't take so long to figure out. Seems you just start to get it right and then…it's over. Ivanova: Doesn't matter. If we lived 200 years we'd still be human, we'd still make the same mistakes. Franklin: You're a pessimist. Ivanova: I'm Russian, doctor. We understand these things.

— Babylon 5 life

: They will join with the souls of all our people. Melt one into another until they are born into the next generation of Minbari. Remove those souls and the whole suffers. We are diminished, each generation becomes less than the one before. Soul Hunter: A quaint lie, pretty fantasy. The soul ends with death, unless we act to preserve it.

— Babylon 5 death

: I really hate it when you get heroic. Cuts into my business. A man's got to earn a living, you know.

— Babylon 5 business

Soul Hunter: I have come for you, Satai Delenn, to save your soul at any cost.

— Babylon 5 soul

Soul Hunter: I will be careful. You will hardly feel it when your body dies.

— Babylon 5 body

Soul Hunter: You will feel as if you are falling. Do not be afraid. I will be here to catch you.

— Babylon 5 you

Soul Hunter: You would plan such a thing? You would do such a thing? Incredible!

— Babylon 5 soul

Soul Hunter: Why do you fight for her? Don't you understand? She is Satai. She is Satai! I've seen her soul. They're using you. They're using you!

— Babylon 5 soul

Franklin: So, I hear you saw something. : Yes…something. [Sinclair walks away, smiling.] Franklin: Well, uh, you think you can be a little more specific? [Franklin chases after Sinclair.] Sinclair: I'm not sure. I don't know if I'll ever be sure. Franklin: Well, I still don't believe it. And I'd be careful if I were you, Commander. That sort of talk will get you sent off on a very long vacation.

— Babylon 5 man

Soul Hunter #2: If I may ask, what happened to my brother's collection? Sinclair: [with a sly smile] Life's full of mysteries. Consider this one of them.

— Babylon 5 smile

: Gentlemen, of all things in life, are females not the finest? : On that, Mollari, we can at least agree. [takes a drink from Londo's bottle]

— Babylon 5 life

Londo: What do you want, you moon-faced assassin of joy?

— Babylon 5 joy

Londo: [to Adira] We Centauri live our lives for appearances, position, status, title. These are the things by which we define ourselves. But when I look beneath the mask I am forced to wear, I see only emptiness. And then I think of you, and then I say…to Hell with appearances.

— Babylon 5 live

[Ivanova talks to her father for the last time] Andrei Ivanov: Is that you, Susan? : Yes. Andrei Ivanov: Oh dear God! I never thought I'd see your face again. It makes this easier. Susan, I know I haven't been the best of fathers to you. But when your mother passed on and your brother was killed in the war I was too wrapped up in my own grief to pay attention to your needs. And when you joined EarthForce against my wishes… Ivanova: You don't have to say this, Father. Andrei Ivanov: Yes, Yes I must. There's no more time. I want you to know how proud I am of you, Susan. I always have been. But a father should give his daughter love as well as respect, and in that I failed you. I'm sorry, I'm ashamed. Forgive me. [she nods her head] Andrei Ivanov: Thank you, dushenka moya. Ivanova: "Little soul." You haven't called me that for…Papa!

— Babylon 5 love

: The last time I gave an interview, they told me to just relax and say what I really felt. Ten minutes after the broadcast I got transferred to an outpost so far off the star maps you couldn't find it with a hunting dog and a Ouija board. : [smiling] Don't sweat it. Just be that charming, effervescent Commander we've all come to know and love. What's the worst that could happen? They fire you, ship you off to the Rim, and I get promoted to Commander. I don't see a problem here. Sinclair: .

— Babylon 5 love

Vance Hendricks: Stephen, there's a Martian war machine parked outside. . : Tell them to make an appointment.

— Babylon 5 war

[ISN reporter Mary Ann Cramer tries to press Sinclair for information, but Ivanova steps in front of her.] : Don't. You're too young to experience that much pain.

— Babylon 5 pain

Sinclair: You forgot the first rule of the fanatic: when you become obsessed with the enemy, you become the enemy!

— Babylon 5 you

Mary Ann Cramer: Is it worth it? Should we just pull back? Forget the whole thing as a bad idea, and take care of our own problems, at home. Sinclair: No. We have to stay here. And there's a simple reason why. Ask ten different scientists about the environment, population control, genetics, and you'll get ten different answers, but there's one thing every scientist on the planet agrees on. Whether it happens in a hundred years or a thousand years or a million years, eventually our Sun will grow cold and go out. When that happens, it won't just take us. It'll take Marilyn Monroe, and Lao-Tzu, and Einstein, and Morobuto, and Buddy Holly, and Aristophanes…[and] all of this…all of this…was for nothing. Unless we go to the stars.

— Babylon 5 men

: [singing] So many fishies, left in the sea So many fishies, but no one for me! I'm thinking of thinking of hooking a love Soon after supper is done.

— Babylon 5 love

Narn Courier: Are you Ambassador G'Kar? G'Kar: This is Ambassador G'Kar's quarters. This is Ambassador G'Kar's table! This is Ambassador G'Kar's dinner! Which part of this progression escapes you?!

— Babylon 5 art

: Do you know what the last Xon said just before he died? [clutches chest] AAAAGGGHHHH! . . . [A drunken Londo climbs across a dinner table as he describes a collection of Centauri statues.] Londo: This is Ben-Zed, god of food! And…Li, goddess of passion! And Mo-goth, god of the underworld, and protector of front doors. Gods by the bushel! Gods by the pound! Gods for all occasions!! [He leans toward a discomfited Delenn.] Londo: Have I ever told you that you are very cute for a Minbari? [He crawls over to Garibaldi.] Londo: Oh! And you are cute, too, in an annoying sort of way. Everybody's cute. Everybody's cute! Even me. But in purple, I'm stunning! [He passes out on the table.] : Ah! He has become one with his inner self! : He's passed out. Vir: That too.

— Babylon 5 god

G'Kar: And you have no idea how that [a black flower sent to G'Kar as a sign that he is about to be assassinated] got into my bed? Na'Toth: Ambassador, it is not my place to speculate on how anything gets into your bed. Your reputed fascination with Earth women, for instance. . . . G'Kar: The Earthers have a phrase: Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. I believe they stole it from us.

— Babylon 5 women

[Delenn meets her new aide at customs] : You can look up, Lennier of the Third Fane of Chu'Domo. : It is forbidden. Delenn: I cannot have an aide who will not look up. You will be forever walking into things.

— Babylon 5 will

[Sinclair's pocketed link beeps, interrupting Catherine.] Catherine Sakai: I don't mean to alarm you, but your pants are talking to you. : I know.

— Babylon 5 you

[Sinclair is listening to an audio recording ofUlysses in his quarters] Catherine: Tennyson? Jeff, you've been caught on that one since the Academy! What's it take to drag you into the 23rd century? Sinclair: We find meaning where we can. Catherine: Ah, and which are you? "An idle king…doling unequal laws unto a savage race that hoard and sleep and feed and know not you"? Or, "this gray spirit, yearning in desire to follow knowledge like a sinking star"? Sinclair: I didn't know you'd memorized it! Catherine: I lived with you for a year. I didn't have much choice.

— Babylon 5 knowledge

[Sinclair grabs Catherine's wrist as she moves to leave his quarters.] Catherine: Don't touch me unless you mean it.

— Babylon 5 art

G'Kar: That hurt. Na'Toth: Ambassador, it was the only way to disable the paingivers. I had to hit them as hard as possible, as often as possible, and still make it appear as though I were beating you into another incarnation. G'Kar: And you didn't enjoy it in the least? Na'Toth: I didn't say that.

— Babylon 5 pain

[In a transport tube, Talia explains the finer points of telepathy to a client while Garibaldi looks her over.] : Casual thoughts are very easy to block, but strong emotions have a way of slipping through sometimes, whether you want them to or not. [she suddenly becomes aware of Garibaldi's thoughts and elbows him in the stomach] Michael Garibaldi: [as she and her client exit the tube] Ooh! I think I'm in love.

— Babylon 5 love

: No, now's a fine time… [he looks up and spots the two Psi Cops, Bester and Kelsey–instantly realizing that they've been communicating telepathically with him] Sinclair: Get out…of my head! You want to talk to me, talk to me! : Apologies, Commander. It saves considerable time.

— Babylon 5 time

[G'Kar tries to dissuade a skeptical Catherine from her flight to Sigma 957.] : Let me pass on to you the one thing I've learned about this place. No one here is exactly what he appears. Not Mollari, not Delenn, not Sinclair, and not me.

— Babylon 5 light

[Garibaldi harbors a very rude thought towards Bester] Bester: Anatomically impossible, Mr. Garibaldi. But you're welcome to try.

— Babylon 5 war

Catherine Sakai: Just one question: why? G'Kar: Why not? Catherine Sakai: That's not an answer. G'Kar: Oh, yes it is. It's simply not an answer you like, or the answer you expected. There's a difference. Narns, Humans, Centauri, we all do what we do for the same reason: because it seemed like a good idea at the time.

— Babylon 5 time

Talia: Do you know what it's like when telepaths make love, Commander? You drop every defense, and it's all mirrors: reflecting each other's feelings deeper and deeper…until, somewhere along the line, your souls mix. And it's a feeling so profound it makes you hurt. It's the only moment in a telepath's life when you no longer hear the voices.

— Babylon 5 love

[Bester has explained the details of the Psi Corps program that made Jason Ironheart what he is] Bester: It was a calculated risk! : Good old Psi Corps. You guys never cease to amaze me. All the moral fiber of Jack the Ripper! What do you do in your spare time, juggle babies over a fire pit? Oops, there goes another calculated risk! Psi Cop Kelsey: You're not helping the situation. Ivanova: Lady, you are the situation!

— Babylon 5 time

: You're a vicious man. : I'm Head of Security. It's in the job description.

— Babylon 5 man

[Vir pleads with Londo for a young star-crossed Centauri couple.] : But they love each other! : Love. Pah! Overrated. [Londo fetches a set of three pictures of Centauri women.] Londo: Here. Look. These are my three wives: Pestilence, Famine, and Death. Do you think I married them for their personalities? Their personalities could shatter entire planets! Londo: Arranged marriages. Every one. But they worked out, they inspired me! Knowing that they were waiting at home for me is what keeps me here — 75 light-years away!

— Babylon 5 love

Londo: Something my father said. He was old, very old at the time. I went into his room, and he was sitting alone in the dark, crying. So I asked him what was wrong, and he said, "My shoes are too tight, but it doesn't matter, because I have forgotten how to dance." I never understood what that meant until now. My shoes are too tight, and I have forgotten how to dance.

— Babylon 5 time

: Human ways are often unfathomable. But in time, one learns to live with them. : If one has an exceedingly strong constitution.

— Babylon 5 time

: Everyone lies, Michael. The innocent lie because they don't want to be blamed for something they didn't do, and the guilty lie because they don't have any other choice.

— Babylon 5 lies

[A mysterious man accuses Sinclair of selling out to the Minbari at the Battle of the Line.] Sinclair: We never had a chance. You say we could have won, but you weren't there, you didn't see them! When I looked at those ships, I…I didn't just see my death — I saw the death of the whole damn human race! Knight Two: Then why did they surrender?! Sinclair: I don't know! Maybe the universe blinked. Maybe God changed His mind. All I know is that we got a second chance!

— Babylon 5 death

[Ambassador Kosh hires commercial telepath Talia for an mysterious job.] : We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering. [Later, after the first meeting] Kosh: We shall commence again tomorrow at the hour of longing.

— Babylon 5 men

: All the clearances seem to be in order, and the pay is very generous. However, there's something I still don't understand. Kosh: Understanding is a three-edged sword.

— Babylon 5 understanding

Kosh: Ahh. You seek meaning. Talia: Yes. Kosh: Then listen to the music, not the song.

— Babylon 5 music

Ivanova: [to a Drazi ship threatening to fire on the station] Vakar Ashok, our gun arrays are now fixed on your ship. They will fire the instant you come into range. You will find their power most impressive…for a few seconds.

— Babylon 5 power

[Sinclair returns to C&C to see how Ivanova is handling the armed vessels from many outraged non-aligned worlds.] : Well, I've managed to get the ship captains engaged in a debate over who has the best claim to Jha'dur. The winner will be the first to attack. : Creative.

— Babylon 5 world

[A distressed Talia presses Kosh for the meaning of his "business deal" with Abbut.] Talia: What is he? And what was on that data crystal he gave you? Kosh: Reflection. Surprise. Terror. For the future.

— Babylon 5 future

[A gloating "Deathwalker" Jha'dur reveals the secret of her immortality drug.] Jha'dur: You and the rest of your kind take blind comfort in the belief that we are monsters, that you could never do what we did. The key ingredient in the anti-agapic cannot be synthesized. It must be taken from living beings. For one to live forever, another one must die. You will fall upon one another like wolves. It will make what we did pale by comparison. The billions who live forever will be a testimony to my work. And the billions who are murdered to buy that immortality will be the continuance of my work. Not like us? You will become us.

— Babylon 5 work

[Sinclair and Garibaldi are discussing the actions of Kosh during this episode] Sinclair: They say God works in mysterious ways. : Maybe so. But He's a con man compared to the Vorlon.

— Babylon 5 work

M'Ola: No one knows what is written in the stream [of Time] until the waters surround him.

— Babylon 5 water

: After that [pacing to and fro], maybe I'll try pacing fro and to, just for the kick of it.

— Babylon 5

Ivanova: Don't worry about me. I'll just sit here and knit something.

— Babylon 5 worry

: The avalanche has already started. It is too late for the pebbles to vote.

— Babylon 5 art

: Sure is for people with nothing on the line. You and me? We just get on with it.

— Babylon 5 people

: May God save us from false religion.

— Babylon 5 religion

: Who asked you to play God? Franklin: Every damn patient who comes through that door, that's who. People come to doctors because they want us to be gods. They want us to make it better…or make it not so. They want to be healed and they come to me when their prayers aren't enough. Well, if I have to take the responsibility, then I claim the authority too. I did good. And we both know it. And no one is going to take that away.

— Babylon 5 god

Franklin: I'm waiting. For an apology. Sinclair: You'd better check the temperature in Hell first.

— Babylon 5 waiting

Sinclair: Sometimes doing the right thing doesn't change anything.

— Babylon 5 time

: Lieutenant Commander Ivanova, escort Major Kemmer off the Observation Dome. : With pleasure. [to Kemmer] You are going to resist, I hope.

— Babylon 5 hope

Major Lianna Kemmer: I demand you open a channel to Earth at once! Ivanova: I am a Lieutenant Commander in Earthforce, Major. I do not take demands. If you have a request, I'll consider it. Maj. Kemmer: Very well, then. I request that you open a channel to Earthdome! Ivanova: Request denied. Have a nice day.

— Babylon 5 art

G'Kar: The Universe is run by the complex interweaving of three elements: energy, matter, and enlightened self-interest.

— Babylon 5 men

Sinclair: You're more trouble than a toilet full of snakes, but I couldn't run this station without you. : Commander, I sense a huge pay raise coming my way. Sinclair: Hah. Dream on.

— Babylon 5 man

[G'Kar is informed thatis the only person on the station that has a flower he needs for a religious ceremony] : Why does the universe hate me?

— Babylon 5 hate

[Londo Mollari returns to his quarters to find the door open and G'Kar sitting at his table] G'Kar: You left your door unlocked, Ambassador. Careless of you. I thought it best to sit here and guard your room until you returned. Londo: And did you find anything of interest in my humble quarters while you were 'guarding it'? G'Kar: [obviously disappointed] No.

— Babylon 5 art

: You should never hand someone a gun unless you're sure where they'll point it.

— Babylon 5 you

Senator Hidoshi: You are not the most popular person in government circles right now. [After the call ends] Sinclair: [unhappily] So what else is new?

— Babylon 5 men

: I've always had a hard time getting up when it's dark outside. : But in space, it's always dark. Ivanova: [morosely] I know. I know.

— Babylon 5 time

[Lord Kiro dismisses his aunt's vision of Babylon 5's destruction.] Lord Kiro: She's been wrong before. On my first birthday, she said that someday I would be killed by…shadows.

— Babylon 5 vision

: What do you want? : To be left alone! [Londo leaves the lift and quickly walks away.] Morden: Is that it? Is that really all, Ambassador? [Londo sighs, then turns around.] Londo: All right. Fine! You really want to know what I want? You really want to know the truth? I want my people to reclaim their rightful place in the galaxy. I want to see the Centauri stretch forth their hand again, and command the stars! I-I want a rebirth of glory, a renaissance of power. I want to stop running through my life like a man late for an appointment, afraid to– to look back, or to look forward. I want us to be what we used to BE! I want…I want it all back, the way that it was! Does that answer your question? [He turns and walks off.] Morden: [smiling] Yes. Yes, it does.

— Babylon 5 life

: [meeting Morden in a corridor] Leave this place. They are not for you. Go. Leave. NOW.

— Babylon 5 you

[Boxer Walker Smith decks a man trying to knife a distracted Garibaldi from behind.] Walker Smith: One of these days, Garibaldi…you're gonna learn to watch your back.

— Babylon 5 man

Rabbi Yossel Koslov: Without forgiveness, you cannot mourn. And without mourning, you can never let go of the pain.

— Babylon 5 pain

Walker Smith: Any ideas on how I should fight this guy? : From inside a Main Battle Tank would be nice.

— Babylon 5 ideas

[Sinclair watches Garibaldi wolf down his food.] : They say food tastes better if you chew it first. : Don't talk, I've seen you eat. Does the term "" ring a bell?

— Babylon 5 food

[A silver-suitedstands before a Babylon 5 ombudsman, who listens to a .] Plaintiff Flinn: We went through their archives, and we found proof…that his great-grandfather abducted my great-grandfather, and just took him away in a spaceship! Frankly, Your Honor, we want damages! Ombuds Wellington: [to alien] How do you plead? [The alien holds up a card with curious image on it.] Ombuds Wellington: Could I please have a translation team in here?! [to himself] Why is it Ombuds Zimmermann never gets these cases? Only me?

— Babylon 5 self

[Delenn has offered to help Aldous in his search for the Holy Grail] Jinxo: That's really nice! I mean, with the war and all, I figured you folks would…well, you know. : There are two castes of Minbari, the warrior caste and the religious caste. The warrior caste would not understand. It is not their way. : [slyly] So we will not tell them, and spare them the confusion. Aldous: These two sides of your culture, do they ever agree on anything? Delenn: [soberly] Yes. And when they do, it is a terrible thing. A terrible power, . Let us hope it never again happens in our lifetime.

— Babylon 5 life

Sinclair: We've confiscated the fake encounter suit. It's a pretty close match to your own, at least from the outside. : Why? Sinclair: Deuce wanted to make people think he had the Vorlons working for him. He figured it would add to his image and intimidate people. Kosh: Why? Sinclair: Well, after all, no one knows exactly what you look like. That makes some people a little nervous. Kosh: Good.

— Babylon 5 people

Garibaldi: There he goes–Jinx-…Thomas. Sinclair: Mm-hmm. : You never did tell me what you think about that curse. Sinclair: What curse? Garibaldi: You know. That bit about if he leaves Babylon 5, the same thing that happened to Babylons 1, 2, 3 and 4 would happen to us. Sinclair: Oh, that curse. You're not taking it seriously, are you? Garibaldi: Me? No, of course not. You? Sinclair: No. Garibaldi: So, how long until he hits jump? Ivanova: [working her console] Oh, right about…now! [the ship goes through the jump gate without incident] Garibaldi: No boom? Sinclair: No boom. Ivanova: No boom today. Boom tomorrow. There's always a boom tomorrow. [Sinclair and Garibaldi exchange an exasperated look and wander off.] Ivanova: What?! Look, somebody's got to have some damn perspective around here. Boom. Sooner or later. BOOM!

— Babylon 5 change

: Protests are as much use with the Vorlons as fairy wings on a cement truck.

— Babylon 5 men

[Ivanova confronts Psi Corps specialist Harriman Gray.] : Mr. Gray. I'm grateful the Psi Corps has given you a purpose in life. [She looks him directly in the eye] But when that purpose includes scanning my mind to prove my loyalty, it's not only an invasion of my privacy, but my honor! As for fear, if you enter my mind for any reason, I will twist your head off and use it for a chamberpot!

— Babylon 5 life

Garibaldi [to himself]: If I kill , I would start a war.

— Babylon 5 war

Lennier: I am about to embark on the mysteries of the "fuel injection system."

— Babylon 5

Computer: And the last gasoline-powered motorcycle was built in 2035.

— Babylon 5 power

Garibaldi: If I knew who God was, I'd thank her.

— Babylon 5 god

[Garibaldi enters the casino to find an angry, inebriated Ivanova mopping the floor with the patrons.] Ivanova: Are you gonna arrest me, Garibaldi? Garibaldi: No way! I wanna live to see the future.

— Babylon 5 future

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