Quark Always Breaks A Sacred Ferengi Rule In Star Trek
In Star Trek, Ferengi, like the Deep Space Nine bartender Quark, live by the Rules of Acquisition, a kind of cultural bible that helps them worship capitalism. We’ve learned about many of the rules over the years, and even when they sound silly to use “hoo-mans,” these rules are presented as sacred to the Ferengi. That’s why it’s ironic that Ferengi exemplar Quark keeps breaking the sixth Rule of Acquisition: “Never allow family to stand in the way of opportunity.”
The Rules Of Acquisition
This rule is first mentioned in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode “Nagus” when Quark is talking to the Ferengi Grand Nagus Zek. The planetary leader mentions a recent discussion with Quark’s cousin Barbo and how Quark “betrayed him to the authorities and left him to rot behind bars” while running away with all of their ill-gotten profits.
At this point, Quark defensively brings up the sixth Rule of Acquisition, pointing out that this rule expressly encourages Ferengi to throw their family under the bus if it means making money.
The Pursuit Of Profit
If we only had this Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode to go by, then Quark would seem like he takes this sacred Ferengi rule very seriously. Not only does he express no remorse about betraying his cousin in the name of profit, but he praises his brother Rom for attempted murder.
In this case, Rom had teamed up with Zek’s son Krax to kill Quark, but when the murder is called off by the revelation that Zek had faked his own death to test his son, Quark simply praised Rom for having “the lobes” to try to kill his own brother.
Quark’s Heart Grew Three Sizes
However, future episodes of this Star Trek series deepened the relationship between Quark and his brother, and that closeness later extended to Rom’s son Nog and Rom’s wife, Leeta. As everyone became closer, Quark became less and less likely to sell any of them out for money. In fact, the longer you watch the show, the more you’ll see Quark breaking the sixth Rule of Acquisition on a regular basis.
Risking His Life For Others
For example, after Zek gets into a relationship with Quark’s mom, the Ferengi bartender surgically transforms himself into a woman to restore Zek to power and preserve his mother’s happiness. On another occasion, Kira and Rom were being held prisoner on the station by Dominion forces planning to execute them, and Quark heroically rescued them, even managing to gun down a Jem’hadar.
Speaking of Quark in battle, he later killed a Jem’hadar who invaded the infirmary during the siege of AR-558, saving his nephew’s life.
Good Ferengi Let Family Suffer
All of these Star Trek misadventures have something in common: if Quark had been a good Ferengi who obeyed the sacred Sixth Rule of Acquisition, he would have let the family members suffer and die before risking his own neck (certainly, the opportunity to live is one family shouldn’t disrupt in Ferengi society). Instead, Quark consistently rose to the occasion, putting his life and reputation on the line again and again in the name of helping those he loves.
It’s always possible, of course, that Quark kept violating this rule out of love, but he might have just wanted to keep the family members around as potential resources. It’s like the 111th Rule of Acquisition always says: “Treat people in your debt like family… exploit them.”
