Summary

Michael Burnham offers leadership through eloquent speeches and loyalty.
She remains steadfast in her principles and values, demonstrating bravery.
Despite her typically reserved demeanor, Michael shows moments of humor and compassion.

With Michael Burnham, Star Trek: Discovery told a different kind of story for the franchise. The protagonist was not a captain, but a disgraced former officer, charged with mutiny and given a second chance at serving on a starship. Together with her crew, Michael weathers the war with the Klingons, unravels the mysteries of time travel, and even forges ahead to face challenges 900 years into the future.

Though she comes across as rather stoic, especially at first, Michael has plenty of resonant, memorable lines throughout the series. She may not be the most outwardly expressive, but when the moment calls for it, she can rally her crew and inspire her friends with her words. These are some of Michael's best quotes in Discovery.

"But tonight, I will face one of my greatest challenges so far. Tonight, we are having... A party."

More Daunting Than Any Red Alert

Season 1, Episode 7, "Magic To Make The Sanest Man Go Mad"

Michael isn't exactly a social butterfly. For her, the concept of socializing in a relaxed environment with her crewmates — many of whom are still wary of her due to her committing mutiny not long ago — is more intimidating than an entire Klingon war fleet.

When the crew throws a party at the beginning of this episode, Michael expresses her apprehension in her personal log. It's a sentiment that many viewers can relate to: being intimidated by loud music, tipsy colleagues, and a chance encounter with a love interest. Fortunately, Michael is called away before she has to spend too much time in the thick of the festivities.

"You brought this ship through time. You carried this crew on your shoulders. You are a captain in the truest sense of the word."

Loyalty Towards Captain Saru

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Season 3, Episode 3, "People of Earth"

When Discovery makes its jump into the future and Michael reunites with the crew, the question of the captaincy is still up in the air. Saru approaches Michael for a discussion, as they had agreed to decide which of them would captain the ship once they reached their destination. However, Michael declares that there is no discussion to be had, and Saru should captain the ship, with these lines showing her support.

Not only does this moment reinforce their friendship, but it shows how far the two of them have come. At the beginning of the series, Michael and Saru were wary of each other after what happened to their previous ship. But now, Michael knows Saru better than anyone, and sees his strengths more clearly than even he does. She trusts him to guide the crew, and to guide her, through this unfamiliar universe.

"It is by the principles of the United Federation of Planets that I live. And by them, I will most certainly die."

Michael Lays Down Her Ideals

Season 1, Episode 3, "Context Is For Kings"

When Captain Gabriel Lorca offers Michael a position on the Discovery, she initially turns him down. She theorizes that his experiments relate to illegal new forms of weaponry and that, due to her mutiny on the Shenzhou, Lorca expects that she will be willing to work outside the confines of Federation law. She makes it clear that if Lorca wants someone who's willing to cast aside Starfleet ideals, he's got the wrong woman.

Burnham is wrong about one thing: Discovery's research isn't about weapons, but travel. Upon learning about the spore drive and its potential, Michael decides to stay. However, her initial words of refusal resonate throughout her time on the crew. When Lorca does turn out to be untrustworthy, Michael stands against him. When faced with impossible challenges, she greets them with bravery, determination, and curiosity. Though she committed mutiny in the past, she holds true to the values that Starfleet instills in its officers.

"Fortunately for you, I was raised on Vulcan. We don't do funny."

Classic Deadpan Humor

Season 2, Episode 2, "New Eden"

After an away mission that resulted in Captain Pike shattering his ribs, he calls Michael into his office to discuss the mission, the seven red signals, and the mysterious "angel." As he greets Michael, he warns her not to make him laugh, and this is her response. Unfortunately for Captain Pike, he finds this statement humorous in itself, causing him to wince in pain.

Michael is often reserved, especially in the show's early seasons, but she has an occasional penchant for dry humor. This early interaction with Captain Pike, whether she intended to make him laugh or not, is the perfect example of one of her rare quips.

"There are a million ways to get to the captain's chair. Find your own."

Tilly's Training Regimen

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Season 1, Episode 6, "Lethe"

Michael and her roommate, Ensign Sylvia Tilly, have been bonding, and discuss Tilly's goal of becoming a captain. Michael has recommended Tilly a strict training program, and is holding her to it to make sure she doesn't falter. She offers advice wherever she can, hoping to help her eager young friend.

Over the course of the episode, though, a visit from her foster father Sarek forces Michael to reflect on her past and the events that brought her to where she is today. By the end, her perspective has changed, and she tells Tilly that she gave her bad advice. She encourages Tilly to find her own path towards her goals, to which Tilly responds that she already has.

"The only way to defeat fear is to tell it no."

Fear Itself

Season 1, Episode 15, "Will You Take My Hand?"

As the crew prepares to take on the Klingons with Mirror Georgiou's plan to end the war, Michael remembers a parable of a young soldier speaking with her master before battle. The master tells the soldier how to recognize fear, to which the soldier asks: "Once I know fear, how will I defeat it?" Michael muses that she and the crew are pondering the same question now.

By the end of the episode, though, the crew has faced that fear and come out the other side. For their actions in battle, Michael and several other Discovery crewmembers receive the Medal of Honor. In her acceptance speech, Michael invokes the parable again, this time including the general's answer: this memorable line. To defeat fear is to refuse to give into it, to refuse to let go of what is right. Michael goes on to say that she is guilty of falling to fear before — but won't allow it to rule her in the future.

"I'm just glad I'm the one leading her final mission. And that I'll have a chance to say goodbye."

A Farewell To A Friend

Season 5, Episode 10, "Life, Itself"

In the epilogue to the series finale, Michael Burnham has one last mission aboard Discovery: take it to a set of coordinates in deep space, where she will leave it there to wait. For what, Michael doesn't know; this is a Red Directive mission. Zora, Discovery's sentient computer, must likely wait for longer than Michael's lifespan.

As Michael prepares to head out, she speaks this line to Booker (who, at this point, is her husband of several decades). Discovery is so much more than a ship — she's a friend, a protector, a stalwart ally all these years. She has carried Michael and the crew through so much, and Michael is grateful for the opportunity to have one last ride.

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