Original artwork, not a still
Live long and prosper.
— Star Trek: The Original Series • 1966
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
A blessing wearing the uniform of logic. Spock offers it as a farewell and a kindness in a culture that hides every feeling, and Leonard Nimoy's hand gesture made it a sign you can give across a room. Fans use it as a signature, a thank-you and a goodbye; after Nimoy's death in 2015 the salute filled social media.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Star Trek: The Original SeriesShow the scene
The greeting and the hand salute that goes with it, fingers split between the middle and ring fingers, both debut in "Amok Time", the opening episode of the second season. Spock is driven home to Vulcan by the mating urge called pon farr, and Kirk disobeys Starfleet orders to take him there. On Vulcan the matriarch T'Pau uses the salute, and the words are the formal Vulcan farewell. Behind the scenes, the actress playing T'Pau could not form the gesture, so she made it with her other hand just out of frame.
Sources (2)
- Memory Alpha: Amok Time (episode)Summary and Background informationReference checked
- Memory Alpha: Vulcan saluteintroReference checked
Context reviewed
