Star Trek: 10 Greatest Captain Janeway Speeches

Being stranded in the Delta Quadrant means that fear is something felt a great deal onboard Voyager. Fear of loss; fear of death; and, most greatly, fear of the unknown. But when season 2's The Thaw sees Captain Janeway come face to face with a literal manifestation of fear itself, she more than overcomes its hold. 

Janeway enters the simulated world of "fear" entirely calm and collected, although certainly with an air of disdain for this unyielding being. The entire sequence shows the captain displaying total confidence and her luring of Fear into her trap is phenomenally executed. At first stroking his ego by acknowledging the positive benefits of the emotion: 

I've known fear. It's a very healthy thing most of the time. You warn us of danger, remind us of our limits, protect us from carelessness. I've learned to trust fear. 

 Before delivering the revelatory blow:

You know as well as I do that fear only exists for one purpose. To be conquered.

Not only is this final scene a display of wonderful acting, and of the fearless - no pun intended - determination of Captain Janeway, but it also enforces such a significant and strong message to viewers. As well as entertainment, Star Trek strives to encourage, bolden and reinforce the strengths, and weaknesses, of humanity, to push its audience into being the best versions of themselves that they possibly can be.

There is no greater message than that of this episode - fear does not control us, we control fear.