What episode is this line from?

[Embatr]

Hi Everyone

A colleague at work likes to quote this line from Star Trek, and I would love to find the episode for him that it is from. Apparently Kirk goes missing and the following dialogue goes something like this:

Spock: Mr. Sulu, scan the entire universe quadrant by quadrant until the captain is located.
Sulu: But that could take years!
Spock: All the more reason to begin immediately.

Thanks in advance to all the fans!

 

[Captain Robert April]

It sounds reminiscent of a few episodes, but the use of the word "universe" tells me that this is a major misquote.

This is probably the bit your friend is misremembering...

From "The Mark of Gideon":

MCCOY: Well, where do we start, Mister Spock?
SPOCK: Institute a sensor scan three hundred and sixty degrees, one degree at a time.
MCCOY: You mean you're going to scan space for him?
SULU: But, sir, that could take years.
SPOCK: Then the sooner you begin, the better.
SULU: Aye, sir.

 

[Embatr]

Hey Captain April, I bet that's it! Thanks for the timely reply. Now I'm off to view that episode

 

[Roberta Lincoln]

Hi, It's either from That Which Survives or Gamesters of Triskelion

I'd bet on That Which Survives (if I were a betting man, which I am not!).

 

[ToddPence]

You would lose. Captain Robert April already correctly identified the source.

 

[Captain Robert April]

Did I mention that I'm working on the new edition of the Concordance?