--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 'Star Trek' is a 'Wagon Train' concept…" description: "\"'Star Trek' is a 'Wagon Train' concept - built around characters who travel to worlds 'similar' to our own, and meet the action-adventure-drama which b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab0/gene-roddenberry-8483_action_star-trek-is-a-wagon-train-concept-built_3217150.jpg" --- # 'Star Trek' is a 'Wagon Train' concept - built around… ![“'Star Trek' is a 'Wagon Train' concept - built around characters who travel to worlds 'similar' to our own, and meet the action-adventure-drama which become our stories. Their transportation is the cruiser 'S.S. Yorktown,' performing a well-defined and long-range Exploration-Science-Security…” quote by Gene Roddenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab0/gene-roddenberry-8483_action_star-trek-is-a-wagon-train-concept-built_3217150.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab0/gene-roddenberry-8483_action_star-trek-is-a-wagon-train-concept-built_3217150.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab0/gene-roddenberry-8483_action_star-trek-is-a-wagon-train-concept-built_3217150.jpg) > “'Star Trek' is a 'Wagon Train' concept - built around characters who travel to worlds 'similar' to our own, and meet the action-adventure-drama which become our stories. Their transportation is the cruiser 'S.S. Yorktown,' performing a well-defined and long-range Exploration-Science-Security mission which helps create our format.” [Gene Roddenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-roddenberry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Star Trek mirrors classic Westerns, using space travel to explore familiar human themes through adventure. **In simple terms:** Star Trek is like a sci‑fi Western. Key Takeaway Recognize timeless storytelling patterns. Themes adventure exploration humanity culture mythology Mood nostalgic thoughtful Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - creative writing - media analysis - education - team building Key Concepts genre blending hero’s journey social commentary Questions to Reflect On - In what ways does the “frontier” motif resonate today? - How does the series address contemporary social issues? A Different Perspective Comparisons may oversimplify each work’s unique context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [Astronomy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronomy/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Exploration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exploration/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Mission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mission/) [Missions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missions/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Star trek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/star-trek/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/train/) [Transportation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transportation/) [Travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [If my characters travel somewhere, I generally write about a place I know to give the scenes more authenticity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/if-my-characters-travel-somewhere-i-generally-write-about-a-place-i/) [Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/) > [When you have a show that's called Jessica Jones, if Jessica Jones isn't in a scene the rest of it become almost irrelevant until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-rosenberg/when-you-have-a-show-that-s-called-jessica-jones-if-jessica-jones-isn/) [Melissa Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-rosenberg/) > [When the Revolutionary War ended in 1781, not everyone was celebrating. It is estimated that between 15 and 20 percent of the population back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-martin/when-the-revolutionary-war-ended-in-1781-not-everyone-was-celebrating/) [Rachel Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-martin/) > [I declare that civil war is inevitable and is near at hand. When it comes the descendants of the heroes of Lexington and Bunker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-houston/i-declare-that-civil-war-is-inevitable-and-is-near-at-hand-when-it-2/) [Sam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-houston/) > [The good news was that Enterprise and the newly arrived Yorktown had attacked the Marshall and Gilbert islands. Those attacks had a great effect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-adams/the-good-news-was-that-enterprise-and-the-newly-arrived-yorktown-had/) [Jack Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-adams/) > [For the most part, only the light characters travel. Who are you that have no task to keep you at home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/for-the-most-part-only-the-light-characters-travel-who-are-you-that/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am not much an advocate for traveling, and I observe that men run away to other countries because they are not good in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-not-much-an-advocate-for-traveling-and-i-observe-that-men-run/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Let us remember with devotion that the flag we love and honor is the flag of freedom that flew in victory at Yorktown, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/let-us-remember-with-devotion-that-the-flag-we-love-and-honor-is-the/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [We don't have much wisdom about the second half when things really open up and end up looking a lot more progressive. In my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/we-don-t-have-much-wisdom-about-the-second-half-when-things-really/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [I notice how it takes a lazy man, a man that hates moving, to get set on moving once he does get started off,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/i-notice-how-it-takes-a-lazy-man-a-man-that-hates-moving-to-get-set/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [Swingers are all from the suburbs and consequently brain-addled by car pools, shopping malls, and welcome wagons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-heimel/swingers-are-all-from-the-suburbs-and-consequently-brain-addled-by/) [Cynthia Heimel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-heimel/) > [Out here you better have a gun, and a gun in the wagon ain't good for nothin'. I believe what the old Quaker said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/out-here-you-better-have-a-gun-and-a-gun-in-the-wagon-ain-t-good-for/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [Little red wagon, little red bike, I ain’t no monkey but I know what I like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/little-red-wagon-little-red-bike-i-ain-t-no-monkey-but-i-know-what-i/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Consider the core of the mind to be a wagon, with will-power to be carried about in it. Push it to a place where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takuan-soho/consider-the-core-of-the-mind-to-be-a-wagon-with-will-power-to-be/) [Takuan Soho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takuan-soho/) > [Sometimes they were together so often that it felt as though they really were a couple; sometimes weeks and months would go by before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-they-were-together-so-often-that-it-felt-as-though-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Gene Roddenberry > [Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-roddenberry/space-the-final-frontier-these-are-the-voyages-of-the-starship/) [Gene Roddenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-roddenberry/) > [Star Trek was an attempt to say that humanity will reach maturity and wisdom on the day that it begins not just to tolerate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-roddenberry/star-trek-was-an-attempt-to-say-that-humanity-will-reach-maturity-and/) [Gene Roddenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-roddenberry/) > [It is important to the typical 'Star Trek' fan that there is a tomorrow. They pretty much share the 'Star Trek' philosophies about life:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-roddenberry/it-is-important-to-the-typical-star-trek-fan-that-there-is-a-tomorrow/) [Gene Roddenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-roddenberry/) > [His name is 'Mr. Spock.' And the first view of him can be almost frightening - a face so heavy-lidded and satanic you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-roddenberry/his-name-is-mr-spock-and-the-first-view-of-him-can-be-almost/) [Gene Roddenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-roddenberry/) > [It is the struggle itself that is most important. We must strive to be more than we are. It does not matter that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-roddenberry/it-is-the-struggle-itself-that-is-most-important-we-must-strive-to-be/) [Gene Roddenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-roddenberry/) > [“Reality is incredibly larger, infinitely more exciting, than the flesh and blood vehicle we travel in here. If you read science fiction, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-roddenberry/reality-is-incredibly-larger-infinitely-more-exciting-than-the-flesh/) [Gene Roddenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-roddenberry/) > [“I handed them a script and they turned it down. It was too controversial. It talked about concepts like, 'Who is God?' The Enterprise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-roddenberry/i-handed-them-a-script-and-they-turned-it-down-it-was-too/) [Gene Roddenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-roddenberry/) > [...nuclear warfare is not necessary to cause a breakdown of our society. You take a large city like Los Angeles, New York, Chicago-their water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-roddenberry/nuclear-warfare-is-not-necessary-to-cause-a-breakdown-of-our-society/) [Gene Roddenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-roddenberry/) > [The Strength of a civilization is not measured by its ability to fight wars, but rather by its ability to prevent them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-roddenberry/the-strength-of-a-civilization-is-not-measured-by-its-ability-to/) [Gene Roddenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-roddenberry/) > [I hope that I helped to build a fierce pride in what we are and what we can do if we set our minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-roddenberry/i-hope-that-i-helped-to-build-a-fierce-pride-in-what-we-are-and-what/) [Gene Roddenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-roddenberry/) > [For most people, religion is nothing more than a substitute for a malfunctioning brain. If people need religion, ignore them and maybe they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-roddenberry/for-most-people-religion-is-nothing-more-than-a-substitute-for-a/) [Gene Roddenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-roddenberry/) > [My model for Kirk was Horatio Hornblower from the C.S. Forester sea stories. Shatner was open-minded about science fiction and a marvelous choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-roddenberry/my-model-for-kirk-was-horatio-hornblower-from-the-c-s-forester-sea/) [Gene Roddenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-roddenberry/) > [I was tired of writing for shows where there was always a shoot-out in the last act and somebody was killed. 'Star Trek' was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-roddenberry/i-was-tired-of-writing-for-shows-where-there-was-always-a-shoot-out/) [Gene Roddenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-roddenberry/) > [It has become a crusade of mine to demonstrate that TV need not be violent to be exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-roddenberry/it-has-become-a-crusade-of-mine-to-demonstrate-that-tv-need-not-be/) [Gene Roddenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-roddenberry/) > [They say that ninety per cent of TV is junk. But ninety per cent of everything is junk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-roddenberry/they-say-that-ninety-per-cent-of-tv-is-junk-but-ninety-per-cent-of/) [Gene Roddenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-roddenberry/) [Explore all 80 Gene Roddenberry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-roddenberry/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "'Star Trek' is a 'Wagon Train' concept - built around characters who travel to worlds 'similar' to our own, and meet the action-adventure-drama which become our stories. Their transportation is the cruiser 'S.S. Yorktown,' performing a well-defined and long-range Exploration-Science-Security mission which helps create our format.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gene Roddenberry" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-roddenberry/star-trek-is-a-wagon-train-concept-built-around-characters-who-travel/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-roddenberry/star-trek-is-a-wagon-train-concept-built-around-characters-who-travel/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab0/gene-roddenberry-8483_action_star-trek-is-a-wagon-train-concept-built_3217150.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab0/gene-roddenberry-8483_action_star-trek-is-a-wagon-train-concept-built_3217150.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab0/gene-roddenberry-8483_action_star-trek-is-a-wagon-train-concept-built_3217150.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“'Star Trek' is a 'Wagon Train' concept - built around characters who travel to worlds 'similar' to our own…” — Gene Roddenberry", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Gene Roddenberry", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-roddenberry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "'Star Trek' is a 'Wagon Train'...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-roddenberry/star-trek-is-a-wagon-train-concept-built-around-characters-who-travel/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-roddenberry/star-trek-is-a-wagon-train-concept-built-around-characters-who-travel/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```