How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.
Quote #1
SPOCK [recording]: Don't grieve, Admiral. It is logical. The needs of the many outweigh—
KIRK [recording]: The needs of the few.SPOCK [recording]: Or the one. And I have been, and always shall be, your friend. Live long and prosper.
The Search for Spock opens with this "previously on" moment from The Wrath of Khan. We hope you enjoy it, too, because you're going to be seeing it a lot. Point is: Spock's loyalty to Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise causes the events of this entire film.
Quote #2
MORROW: I'm sorry, Mr. Scott, but there will be no refit.
KIRK: Admiral, I don't understand. The Enterprise is not…
MORROW: Jim, the Enterprise is 20 years old. We feel her day is over.
KIRK: But we had requested…We'd hoped to take her back to Genesis.
MORROW: That is out of the question.
Kirk's loyalty to Starfleet is well-documented in the Original Series and the previous two films. But does he receive the same loyalty in return? Nope. It's not like they're going to use the Enterprise, just give the man the keys already.
Quote #3
KRUGE: We are going to this planet. Even as our emissaries negotiate for peace with the Federation, we will act for the preservation of our race. We will seize the secret of this weapon, the secret of ultimate power.
KLINGON: Success, my lord.
Like Kirk, Kruge's loyalties aren't in line with his superiors. Unlike Kirk, who supports his friends and family, Kruge supports the "preservation of [his] race." Never a good objective to mix with ultimate weapons, in our humble opinions.
Quote #4
MORROW: No. Absolutely not, Jim. You're my best officer, but I am Commander of Starfleet, so I don't break rules.
KIRK: Don't quote rules to me. I'm talking about loyalty and sacrifice. One man who's died for us, another with deep emotional problems.
In this scene, Kirk decides his loyalties lie with Spock by disregarding a direct order from his superior officer. Morrow made a similar decision earlier, deciding his loyalty was with politics and public opinion rather than with his officers.
Quote #5
SCOTTY: As promised, she's all yours, sir. All systems automated and ready. A chimpanzee and two trainees could run her.
KIRK: Thank you, Mr. Scott, I'll try not to take that personally. [Sighs.] My friends, I can't ask you to go any further. Dr. McCoy and I have to do this. The rest of you do not.
CHEKOV: Admiral, we're losing precious time.
Like Kirk, the crew of the Enterprise decides their loyalty lies with their admiral and Spock. This is no small sacrifice. They're throwing away careers they have worked years to build. And what about their 401Ks? No offense to the original crew, but some of them were already nearing retirement by Trek III.
Quote #6
KIRK: Saavik? David?
SAAVIK: Admiral, David is dead.
KIRK: You Klingon bastard, you've killed my son. [Whimpers.] You Klingon bastard, you've killed my son! You Klingon bastard.
David must also choose where his loyalties lie in the film. Like his father, he chooses loyalty to his friends, realizing that the Genesis project is a failure. Unlike his father, it doesn't end so well for him.
Quote #7
SAREK: Only time will answer. Kirk, I thank you. What you've done is—
KIRK: What I have done, I had to do.
SAREK: But at what cost? Your ship, your son.
KIRK: If I hadn't tried, the cost would've been my soul.
Sarek, buddy, you forgot to mention Kirk's career and the injuries he got fighting Kruge. Even so, loyalty is such an integral part of Kirk's character that he could not have done otherwise. As he says, to have ignored it would have been a violation of self.