Grey’s Anatomy: 10 Quotes That Will Stick With Us Forever

A memorable line of dialogue or observation is worth its weight in TV gold. Grey’s Anatomy, the Shonda Rhimes-created drama now in its 16th season, has its fair share of beautiful and powerful quotes, thanks to the smart things that the characters say and Meredith Grey’s voiceovers.

Let’s take a look back at this beloved series and see what lines have been the most moving. Read on to find out 10 Grey’s Anatomy quotes that will stick with us forever.

10 “We’re adults. When did that happen? And how do we make it stop?”

Did Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) say this… or is she totally reading our minds? Sometimes Meredith is so spot-on in her observations of life and adulthood that we can’t believe it, and this is definitely one of those times.

This quote reminds us that Meredith and the interns have come since the first season. It also makes us feel nostalgic for the episodes when they all lived in her house and had to deal with being thrown into such a new and scary world at the hospital. This quote will always stick with us since it’s something that we ask ourselves regularly.

9 “You know how when you were a little kid and you believed in fairy tales? That fantasy of what your life would be – white dress, Prince Charming who’d carry you away to a castle on a hill…”

…But the thing is, it’s hard to let go of that fairy tale entirely because almost everyone still has that smallest bit of hope and faith that one day they’ll open their eyes and it will all come true.

One of Meredith Grey’s famous voiceovers, this quote from the first season episode “Save Me” is beautiful and true. It’s why we love Grey’s Anatomy: the main character always has a wise way of approaching the situations that we all deal with in our daily lives.

Meredith makes a really good point that it’s tough to stop wanting fairy tales and fantasies to actually become reality. Everyone can relate to that.

8 “Doesn’t matter how tough we are, trauma always leaves a scar…”

It follows us home, it changes our lives, trauma messes everybody up, but maybe that’s the point. All the pain and the fear and the crap. Maybe going through all of that is what keeps us moving forward. It’s what pushes us. Maybe we have to get a little messed up, before we can step up.

This is something that Alex Karev (Justin Chambers) says in the fifth season episode “Elevator Love Letter,” and it’s super profound. It’s even more profound because Alex says it.

At first glance, this character seems cold and unable to get really emotional and deep, but this quote proves that he’s got a big heart. And he knows a lot about what it means to go through something difficult and push through, coming out stronger on the other side.

7 “Enough! This is NOT dating. I want moonlight, and flowers, and candy and people trying to feel me up. Nobody is trying to feel me up. Nobody is even looking at me…”

I’m an intern, do the two of you have any idea how much effort it takes to do all this? I am waxed and plucked and I have a clean top on. And the two of you are looking at each other.

Meredith says this quote in the season three episode “Sometimes a Fantasy” and it’s another one that will stick with us forever. She’s explaining that she wants romance, but since she’s complaining that her beauty routine can take a while, that brings humor to the moment.

Meredith always excels at being both honest and hilarious, which is a reason why we love her (and a reason why we love this particular quote).

6 “Don’t let the roller skates fool you. Peds is nothing but hardcore.”

Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw) is missed because of awesome quotes like this one. She definitely seems like she lives on sunshine and rainbows and doesn’t think about anything dark or sad, but she’s a brilliant doctor who helps kids every day.

This is such a memorable quote because it sums up what everyone thinks when they meet Arizona. It’s easy to underestimate such a cheerful person, but she proves herself time and time again.

5 “Just because people do horrible things, it doesn’t always mean they’re horrible people.”

There are so many good Grey’s Anatomy quotes that stick with us, and this one deserved a spot on this list since it’s something that Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl) says that still resonates on the show today.

Izzie is describing a life lesson that we all have to learn. We know that we’re growing up when we realize that what she’s saying is true: life is messy and complex and people do all kinds of things for many reasons.

4 “Oh, screw beautiful. I’m brilliant. If you want to appease me, compliment my brain.”

Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) always says the absolute perfect thing, and her character is known for her empowering and feminist statements, including this one.

This is a powerful reminder for anyone who has felt undermined in the workplace or in their personal life. Everyone deserves to be complimented on how smart they are, and we’re thankful to Cristina for coming right out and saying it.

3 “I am calling post-it, Zola, Bailey, the tumors on the wall, ferryboat scrub caps. I thought D.C. was everything. I was wrong. You… you’re everything. I love you.”

Derek says this quote in episode 17 of season 11 called “With Or Without You.” It comes on the heels of the huge fight that Derek and Meredith have had over his going to Washington to work for the President. Meredith wanted him to stay with their family, he wanted to go, and it caused a huge rift in their relationship.

This is definitely one of the most memorable quotes on Grey’s Anatomy because Derek is putting his heart on the line and proving that he wants to be with his wife above everything else. The quote also has a lot of sadness behind it since Meredith says that she can’t live without him… but, of course, it’s not long before he passes away after a car accident. A lot of tears.

2 “It’s a beautiful day to save lives.”

A list about Grey’s Anatomy quotes that will stick with us forever has to include what Derek says before every surgery that he performs. This quote has a lot going on, even if it’s a seemingly simple sentence.

For one thing, this quote proves that Derek’s McDreamy status and reputation has always been well deserved. Is there a better thing for a surgeon to say before trying to save someone’s life? Probably not. This quote is also great because it proves that while the doctors have very complex love lives, they really are trying to help people.

1 “I can’t go. We have to dance it out. That’s how we finish.”

The number one Grey’s Anatomy quote that will stick with us forever is when Cristina Yang is about to move away to Switzerland and she tells Meredith that it’s time to dance it out once more.

Is it possible to remember this line without crying? Probably not, so we won’t even try. We’ll just remember this beautiful friendship and the bond that these two characters have always shared… and wish that Cristina would come back so they can keep dancing together.

About The Author

Aya Tsintziras
(1742 Articles Published)

Aya Tsintziras is a freelance writer who writes about pop culture and TV. She has a Political Science degree from the University of Toronto and a Masters of Journalism from Ryerson University. She loves coffee, reading, working out, and watching TV. She lives in Toronto with her husband.

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