- Sloan: [referring to Bashir's solitary confinement when he was a prisoner of the Dominion] Did you meet with anyone during that week?
- Doctor Bashir: I was alone.
- Sloan: You're sure about that?
- Doctor Bashir: Wait, um, let me think... Was I alone in solitary? Yes - I think I was.
- [last lines]
- Captain Sisko: You said that Sloan tried to recruit you?
- Doctor Bashir: I turned him down.
- Captain Sisko: He doesn't strike me as a man who takes 'no' for an answer. And the next time he asks you to join his little group, you will say 'yes'!
- Odo: Well, congratulations, Doctor. Looks like you're going to get to play a spy after all; only this time - for real.
- Doctor Bashir: You promised me that you wouldn't go kayaking again until your shoulder had a chance to heal.
- Chief O'Brien: I know; but I can't stay away. It's like the river calls to me.
- Doctor Bashir: Yes, it's saying "Stay away, don't come near me, or I'll hurt you more!"
- [Bashir is being investigated by Section 31]
- Doctor Bashir: What does Section 31 do, apart from kidnapping Starfleet officers?
- Sloan: We search out and identify potential dangers to the Federation.
- Doctor Bashir: And once identified?
- Sloan: We deal with them.
- Doctor Bashir: How?
- Sloan: Quietly.
- [Bashir gets his breakfast delivered to his quarters, but it turns out to be live gagh]
- Doctor Bashir: Ugh... It's a little early for gagh...
- [reads the card of the adressee]
- Doctor Bashir: I hope you're enjoying my scones, Worf.
- Doctor Bashir: I can't believe the Federation condones this kind of activity.
- Odo: Personally I find it hard to believe they wouldn't. Every other great power has a unit like Section 31 - the Romulans have the Tal Shiar, the Cardassians had the Obsidian Order...
- Doctor Bashir: But what does that say about us? When push comes to shove, are we willing to sacrifice our principles in order to survive?
- Captain Sisko: I wish I had an answer for you, Doctor.
- Doctor Bashir: Because if what you say to me is true, you function as judge, jury and executioner, and that's too much power for anyone.
- Sloan: We're on the same team. We believe in the same principles that every other Federation citizen holds dear.
- Doctor Bashir: And yet you violate those principles as a matter of course.
- Sloan: In order to protect them.
- Doctor Bashir: Well, I'm sorry, but the ends don't always justify the means.
- Sloan: Really? - How many lives do you suppose you've saved in your medical career?
- Doctor Bashir: What has that got to do with anything?
- Sloan: Hundreds, thousands? Do you suppose those people give a damn that you lied to get into Starfleet Medical? I doubt it. We deal with threats to the Federation that jeopardize its very survival. If you knew how many lives *we've* saved, I think you'd agree that the ends do justify the means. I'm not afraid of bending the rules every once in a while if the situation warrants it. And I don't think you are either.
- Sloan: I've had enough of your lies, Doctor! You think you're smarter than the rest of us, don't you? You think you're smarter than the millions of brave men and women who put their lives on the line for the Federation? You want to do things the hard way - fine. But I'm gonna get the truth out of you, and when I'm done, I'm gonna take whatever is left of you and I'm gonna lock it away.
- Doctor Bashir: What if I decide to expose you?
- Sloan: Let's just say, I'm not gonna lose any sleep over it.