It's Only a Paper Moon

[Nog explains to Vic why he's afraid to leave Vic's Las Vegas holosuite program]

Nog: When the war began, I wasn't happy or anything. But I was eager. I wanted to test myself. I wanted to prove I had what it took to be a soldier. And I saw a lot of combat. I saw a lot of people get hurt. I saw a lot of people die. But I didn't think anything was going to happen to me. And then suddenly, Dr. Bashir is telling me he has to cut my leg off. I couldn't believe it. I still can't believe it. If I can get shot, if I can lose my leg, anything can happen to me, Vic. I could die tomorrow. I don't know if I'm ready to face that. If I stay here, at least I know what the future is going to be like.

Vic Fontaine: You stay here, you're gonna die. Not all at once, but little by little. Eventually, you'll become as hollow as I am.

Nog: You don't seem hollow to me.

Vic Fontaine: Compared to you, I'm hollow as a snare drum. Look, kid, I don't know what's going to happen to you out there. All I can tell you is that... you've got to play the cards life deals you. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. But at least you're in the game.