Battlestar Galactica (TV Series)

Sine Qua Non (2008)

Edward James Olmos: Admiral William Adama

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Quotes 

• Admiral William Adama : Mr. Lampkin, what are you doing here?

  Romo Lampkin : Writs of forfeiture for the ships you're borrowing. The captains want to be absolved of any blame should anything untoward happen.

  [Adama takes the legal papers and examines them] 

  Romo Lampkin : One of the less ennobling consequences of a legal culture. No one wants responsibility. Lee said you once gave him something before a mission. A lighter, was it?

  [Adama begins signing them] 

  Admiral William Adama : Belonged to my father. Foolish to think a hunk of metal could keep him safe.

  Romo Lampkin : And yet, that's what we do, isn't it? Hang on to hope, in every hopelessly irrational way that we can.

  [Romo looks at the fighter crews below them] 

  Romo Lampkin : But not like those poor bastards, giving away their luck, just when they need it most. It's like they've given up.

  Admiral William Adama : If you never been in combat, you have no idea what they're thinking.

  Romo Lampkin : I always imagined you a realist, Admiral, not one to indulge a vain hope at the cost of lives. But then, everyone has his limits. "Sine qua non", as they say.

  Admiral William Adama : "Without which not."

  Romo Lampkin : Yes. Those things we deem essential, without which we cannot bear living, without which life in general loses its specific value... becomes abstract.

  Admiral William Adama : You may have a point, Counselor.

  Romo Lampkin : And while I'm on a roll, Tom Zarek may not be an ideal president, but we could do worse.

  Admiral William Adama : You're right. There are limits to my realism. Goodbye, Counselor.

• [Immediately following his conversation with Romo Lampkin, we see the Admiral in quarters speaking to Apollo about Laura Roslin] 

  Admiral William Adama : I can't give up on her. I can't let her go. I've lost my objectivity. And now that I see that, I have no choice. Tell the Quorum that I am relinquishing command, effective immediately.