George Takei Quotes

Powerful George Takei for Daily Growth

About George Takei

George Takei, renowned actor, social media sensation, and human rights activist, was born on April 20, 1937, in Los Angeles, California. Raised in a Japanese-American family, he spent part of his childhood in Santa Ana and San Jose before the family was forcibly relocated to an internment camp during World War II due to Executive Order 9066. This formative experience significantly influenced Takei's social activism later in life. Takei began his acting career on Broadway after graduating from UC Berkeley with a degree in acting. However, it was his portrayal of Hikaru Sulu, the helmsman of the Starship Enterprise, on the original "Star Trek" series that catapulted him to global fame. His character's role evolved over time, making Sulu the first Asian-American starship captain in a leading television series. After "Star Trek," Takei continued to act in films and TV shows, but his influence off-screen is equally significant. He co-authored two autobiographies, "To the Stars" (1994) and "Oh Myyy! There Goes the Internet" (2016), detailing his personal journey from internment camps to Hollywood stardom, as well as his advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights. Takei's public coming out in 2005 and subsequent marriage to Brad Altman in 2008 made him a prominent figure in the fight for marriage equality. His advocacy has extended to other social justice issues, including immigration reform and combating racism. On social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, Takei has amassed millions of followers, using his platform to share stories, advocate for human rights, and entertain with wit and humor. One of his most famous lines, "Oh myyyy!", has become a cultural phenomenon. George Takei's life and work exemplify resilience, activism, and the power of storytelling.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Oh my."

The exclamation "Oh my" is often used to express mild surprise, shock, or a sense of exasperation in English language colloquialisms. In this context, as spoken by George Takei, it may suggest a reaction to an unexpected event, a moment of realization, or a gentle reproach, given his iconic character's calm and measured demeanor on the Star Trek series. The phrase holds universal resonance, as people worldwide can relate to feelings of surprise and wonderment in their daily lives.


"I have been and always will be your friend."

This quote by George Takei, who played Hikaru Sulu in Star Trek, signifies deep friendship, loyalty, and enduring connection. It implies a commitment to stand by someone through thick and thin, no matter the circumstances or challenges they may face together. The message is one of unwavering support, camaraderie, and a bond that transcends time, emphasizing the importance of strong friendships in our lives.


"A lifetime isn't long enough to list all the things I am thankful for."

This quote by George Takei suggests an abundant appreciation and gratitude for life, acknowledging that there are innumerable aspects of his existence worth celebrating. It implies a deep sense of contentment and joy derived from recognizing and cherishing the myriad blessings he encounters daily. In essence, it conveys a profound awareness and appreciation of the goodness and richness in life.


"Resistance is futile, you will be assimilated." (This one is a humorous reference to his role in Star Trek)

This quote, a humorous reference from George Takei's character Sulu on Star Trek, signifies an acceptance of inevitable change or adaptation, often in the face of overwhelming opposition or power. It suggests that resistance may be futile when up against something indomitable, and eventually, assimilation or integration becomes the only viable option. However, it doesn't necessarily imply surrender or defeat; instead, it highlights resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity.


"Once we take a moment to seek one another out, we realize that our differences are but small obstacles on the vast landscape of our shared humanity."

This quote emphasizes the importance of understanding and connecting with others despite our differences. It suggests that when we acknowledge our diversity and make an effort to engage with each other, we can recognize that these differences are trivial compared to our common humanity. In essence, it's a call to empathy, reminding us that our shared experiences as human beings often outweigh the apparent barriers that might separate us.


I am the grandson of immigrants from Japan who went to America, boldly going to a strange new world, seeking new opportunities. My mother was born in Sacramento, California. My father was a San Franciscan. They met and married in Los Angeles, and I was born there.

- George Takei

Father, America, Japan, New Opportunities

My grandmother lived to 104 years old, and part of her success was she woke up every morning to a brand new day. She said every morning is a new gift. Her favorite hobby was collecting birthdays.

- George Takei

Gift, Woke, Part, Brand New

Even before I could vote, I was involved in the political arena. My father was an admirer of Adlai Stevenson, and he took me to the Stevenson for President headquarters, and he volunteered me. That was my introduction to electoral politics, which was exciting and fun and thrilling and very theatrical.

- George Takei

Politics, Very, Volunteered, Thrilling

It has a Nazi echo, doesn't it? The Jews had to wear that Star of David, and Donald Trump is saying all Syrians have to carry an ID card and they can, without warrant, go into any Syrian's home or a mosque.

- George Takei

Mosque, Trump, Donald, Syrian

On a bus, your eyes, ears, and pores are open absorbing in the variety, the wonder, and the magic of the city. It's a wonderful way to get to know the city.

- George Takei

City, Magic, Bus, Ears

When Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the same-sex marriage bill, my blood was boiling. I had been silent, but that night, Brad and I watched the news and saw all these young people pouring out on Santa Monica Boulevard venting their rage, and I said, 'I have to speak out.'

- George Takei

Young, Been, Boulevard, Brad

I was four years old when Pearl Harbor was bombed on December 7, 1941 by Japan, and overnight, the world was plunged into a world war. America suddenly was swept up by hysteria.

- George Takei

Old, Harbor, Japan, Hysteria

'Star Trek' is science fiction. 'Star Wars' is science fantasy. Based on the episodes I worked on, I think with 'Star Wars: Clone Wars,' we're starting to see a merging, though. It does deal, philosophically, with some of the issues of the time, which is always something 'Star Trek' was known for.

- George Takei

Some, Deal, I Think, Merging

You know what the lowest rated episode we ever had was? Where Captain Kirk kissed Uhuru - a white man kissing an African-American woman. All the stations in the American South - in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana - refused to air it. And so our ratings plummeted.

- George Takei

Woman, South, Kissed, Kirk

I may not have trekked through the galaxies in reality. But I have trekked all over this planet: Australia, Asia, Latin America, Europe.

- George Takei

Through, Over, Galaxies, I May Not

I've known Lisa Lampanelli for quite some time. We did the Shatner roast together. Lisa didn't know Shatner, but she's a popular roaster, so she was invited to do it, and she is fantastic. Actually, despite her public image, she's a very sweet lady and very sensitive. She cries very easily. Most people don't know that.

- George Takei

Some, Very, Quite Some Time, Fantastic

ISIS itself regularly fuels hatred of gay people and violence towards them. It broadcasts gruesome executions of homosexuals thrown blindfolded from rooftops.

- George Takei

Thrown, Gruesome, Fuels, Rooftops

When I came out, I was 68, and I was totally prepared for my career to recede when I spoke to the press for the first time. What happened after that blew me away. I started getting more offers. My career blossomed.

- George Takei

Career, Away, Spoke, Recede

When Pearl Harbor was bombed, young Japanese-Americans, like all young Americans, rushed to their draft board to volunteer to fight for our country. That act of patriotism was answered with a slap in the face. We were denied service and categorized as enemy non-alien.

- George Takei

Young, Country, Harbor, Bombed

It was an egregious violation of the American Constitution. We were innocent American citizens, and we were imprisoned simply because we happened to look like the people who bombed Pearl Harbor. It shows us just how fragile our Constitution is.

- George Takei

Innocent, Constitution, Bombed

They didn't incarcerate the Japanese-Americans in Hawaii. That's the place that was bombed. But the Japanese-American population was about 45 percent of the island of Hawaii. And if they extracted those Japanese-Americans, the economy would have collapsed. But on the mainland, we were thinly spread out up and down the West Coast.

- George Takei

Percent, About, Collapsed, Bombed

As my audience grew more diverse, I started interjecting social justice advocacy and commentaries about LGBT equality, and it just kept growing more.

- George Takei

Audience, More, Social, Advocacy

At the core of 'Star Trek' is Gene Roddenberry's vision of the future. So much of science-fiction is about a dystopian society with human civilization having crumbled. He had an affirmative, shining, positive view of the future.

- George Takei

Civilization, About, Had, Shining

I marched back then - I was in a civil-rights musical, Fly Blackbird, and we met Martin Luther King.

- George Takei

King, Martin Luther, Musical, Luther

I was doing a civil rights musical here in Los Angeles, and we sang at one of the rallies where Dr. Martin Luther King spoke, and I remember the thrill I felt when we were introduced to him. To have him shake your hand was an absolutely unforgettable experience.

- George Takei

Doing, I Remember, Here, Luther

I was blessed with my career. I passionately love acting. And it's given me a good livelihood.

- George Takei

Love, Career, Given, Livelihood

I discovered that funny animal pictures - memes - would get a lot of likes and shares.

- George Takei

Discovered, Lot, Would, Shares

I'm a civic busybody and I've been blessed with an active career.

- George Takei

Blessed, Career, Been, Civic

We have to remember that Putin was a member of the KGB. He has already demonstrated that kind of macho, dictatorial attitude. Russia has breached their pledge to uphold the Olympic charter. This is a great opportunity for the IOC to say we cannot, given the situation that exists currently, allow the Olympics to take place in Russia.

- George Takei

Allow, Olympic, We Cannot, Putin

This political climate today reminds me of what my father must have gone through in 1942, when the winds of war and fires of hate were surrounding him. We have a candidate for the presidency of the United States, Donald Trump, using the same rhetoric that my father must have heard from elected officials.

- George Takei

Through, Trump, Donald, Fires

I grew up in the age of radio. That was my main boyhood form of entertainment: lying on the living room floor with my ears affixed to the radio. I loved shows like 'The Phantom,' 'Cisco Kid,' and even 'Happy Theater' when I was younger.

- George Takei

Happy, Kid, Entertainment, Phantom

In Indiana, gays and lesbians can be fired from their jobs with impunity, and in Arkansas, it's the same thing. We need those protective laws to truly have an equal society.

- George Takei

Fired, Laws, Lesbians, Impunity

My father told me about American democracy. And he said you have to be actively engaged in the political process to make our democracy work. So I've been doing that my entire life. Civil rights movement. The peace movement during the Vietnam conflict. The movement to get an apology and redress for Japanese-Americans.

- George Takei

Doing, Been, Engaged, Redress

Children are amazingly adaptable. What would be grotesquely abnormal became my normality in the prisoner of war camps. It became routine for me to line up three times a day to eat lousy food in a noisy mess hall. It became normal for me to go with my father to bathe in a mass shower.

- George Takei

Shower, Bathe, Became, Noisy

I intend to live life, not just exist.

- George Takei

Live, Exist, Just, Intend

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