- Kai Opaka: Don't deny the violence inside of you, Kira. Only when you accept it can you move beyond it.
- Major Kira: I've known nothing but violence since I was a child.
- Kai Opaka: In the eyes of the Prophets, we're all children.
- Major Kira: I'm afraid the Prophets won't forgive me.
- Kai Opaka: They're just waiting for you to forgive yourself.
- Doctor Bashir: I'm sorry, Commander, but I've discovered we can't afford to die here, not even once!
- Doctor Bashir: What's going on?
- Commander Sisko: Talks about a ceasefire.
- Doctor Bashir: No kidding! How'd you arrange that?
- Commander Sisko: I told them we'd transport them off this moon.
- Doctor Bashir: Isn't that a bit like assisting a jailbreak?
- Commander Sisko: I don't need you to interpret the Prime Directive for me, Doctor.
- Zlangco: [to Sisko] So, you are the leader of the aliens.
- Commander Sisko: Benjamin Sisko. I'm Commander of a Federation space station.
- Zlangco: Federation?
- Shel-la: What does it matter to us, Zlangco?
- Zlangco: It matters to me.
- Commander Sisko: The Federation is made up of over a hundred planets who have allied themselves for mutual scientific, cultural and defensive benefits. The mission that my people and I are on is to explore the galaxy.
- Zlangco: [unimpressed] Such a noble purpose. They'll be no reward for our release, you know.
- Shel-la: You're being a fool, as usual.
- Zlangco: A fool... who has managed to outwit you, Shel-la... over and over again.
- Shel-la: [drawing his weapon] If you care to die again Zlangco... all you have to do is ask.
- Commander Sisko: [before things escalate back into conflict, Sisko comes between them] If you've had enough of this, then make your leaders stop and listen... you are fighting a war for the sake of war... your only reason to live is to make each other suffer. If you've suffered enough, then end this nightmare. I'm not here to be a mediator, but if you're asking for an alternative, I will give you one.
- Zlangco: We're listening.
- Commander Sisko: In a matter of days, when our rescue party arrives, I can arrange to transport you and your people off this moon... if both sides will simply stop the fighting until then.
- Shel-la: Zlangco, they will resettle us on different planets.
- Commander Sisko: If that's what you wish.
- Zlangco: [suspiciously] The two of you seem to have discussed this plan in some detail.
- Shel-la: Of course. His crew has been with us for the last two days.
- Zlangco: [to Sisko] Explain why you chose to ally yourselves with the Ennis.
- Commander Sisko: We have allied ourselves with no-one.
- Zlangco: One of your people fired a weapon at us.
- Commander Sisko: We were defending ourselves.
- Zlangco: I think you're lying.
- [turns to the Nol-Ennis]
- Zlangco: I don't know the alien. But I know Shel-la. I know how his mind works. I promise you... this is an Ennis trick to lure our entire population out of hiding to be slaughtered.
- Commander Sisko: That's not true.
- Zlangco: Fine, then the Ennis will surely be willing to make the first gesture of peace. Let them bring all of their people out into the open first... to prove their honourable intentions.
- Shel-la: [laughing at the very idea of a peace agreement he never intended to pursue] Do you think... that I would allow a single Nol... to escape this planet alive?
- Kai Opaka: You were right. Kira. They don't know how to do anything else but die. They've forgotten how to live.
- Kai Opaka: I didn't know how or why, but when we came through the wormhole, I knew I wouldn't be returning. You must tell our people, Kira, that I have answered the call of the Prophets. I was brought here because it is time for these people to begin their healing process - just as you were brought here to begin yours.
- Zlangco: No more than I would let an Ennis go free.
- [Zlangco spits on the ground in defiance and suddenly both sides attack each other]
- Commander Sisko: Dr. Bashir will give you any medical assistance he can, but understand, we can't take sides in your battle.
- Shel-la: It doesn't matter what I understand if the Nol capture you.
- Commander Sisko: We'd be willing to transport all of you away from here, if that's what you want.
- Shel-la: Away from here? To live one life, to die in peace? To us, this is an ancient prayer that had never been answered, Commander.
- [Major Kira has been ranting about the poor defense measures of the Ennis]
- Shel-la: [quietly] We used to defend ourselves better, Major - safety perimeters, counterattacks, preemptive strikes... And then we realized... that it was all pointless. When you cease to fear death, the rules of war change. You'll understand as the years begin to pass, Major.
- Shel-la: [holding up a phaser] This is an energy weapon?
- Commander Sisko: Yes.
- Shel-la: The Ennis stopped using directed energy weapons centuries ago. Not damaging enough.
- Shel-la: You give us a way to reprogram these microbes and we'll put an end to this war.
- Major Kira: You really think the fear of death will end the fighting? It never has in any other war.
- [last lines]
- Commander Sisko: Opaka - if we can ever find a way...
- Kai Opaka: My work is here now, Commander. But your pagh and mine... will cross again.
- Chief Miles O'Brien: Energising.
- Major Kira: [Kai Opaka has died in a Runabout crash but Doctor Bashir is desperately trying to revive her] Stay with us, Opaka! Stay with us!
- Lieutenant Dax: I've never heard of a differential magnetomer. How does it work?
- Chief O'Brien: I'll let you know as soon as I've finished making one.