Picard: Do you like Commander Data?
-: I don't know it well enough to like or dislike it.
-: But you admire him?
-: Oh yes, yes, it's an extraordinary piece of-
-: Engineering and programming, yes, you have said that.
Commander, you have devoted your life
to the study of cybernetics in general?
-: Yes.
-: And Commander Data in particular?
-: Yes. -: And now you propose
to dismantle him?
-: So that I can learn from it and construct more.
-: How many more? -: As many as are needed!
Hundreds, thousands if necessary!
(sighing) There is no limit.
(Picard sighing)
-: A single Data, and forgive me, Commander, is a curiosity.
A wonder, even, but thousands of Datas?
Isn't that becoming
a race?
And won't we be judged by how we treat that race?
Now, tell me, Commander, what is Data?
(tense music)
-: I don't understand.
-: What is he?
-: A machine!
-: Is he? Are you sure?
-: Yes!
-: You see, he's met two of your three criteria
for sentience, so what if he meets the third?
Consciousness, in even the smallest degree!
What is he then?
I don't know, do you?
Do you?
Well, that's the question you have to answer.
(intense clang)