I just don't know how to feel about this Data quote. The meme is crafted like fine Corinthian leather, but every time I hear this line in Insurrection, I cringe. Spiner is doing his best to sell it, noamsayin. He always does, he gives 100%.
I feel you on this one.. its definitely a bit campy / cringe looking at it now. But I was 16 when this came out and had grown up with Data in TNG and it was definitely a "Oh shit just got real" moment.. at the time
Yeah! If Data's going to use a colorful 20th century metaphor while waving a phaser rifle, then the next scene should have been pure fan service cheese- Bullhonkey Bev, Troi, Riker, Data, Picard and Geordi on horseback, wearing dusters, shepherding the refugees from Planet Botox to safety. We have finally resolved the moral dilemma, it took 2/3 of the run time, the crew are sacrificing their careers for these pacifist dumb dumbs, go all out on the metaphor.