A brown glove with one raised finger casts an exclamation-mark-shaped shadow on pale ground.

Original artwork, not a still

Kirk

I would not presume to debate you.

— Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan • 1982

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

Kirk declines to presume to debate the listener. The qualified refusal states his position without establishing whether it is sincere, strategic or followed by an argument.

Context reviewed

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