Grey's Anatomy is one of the longest-running dramas on television, ending its 18th season on the 26th of May with a season finale that adds to a legacy of cliffhanger season endings.
Though many, many characters have come and gone since the start of the show, they remain favorites years later. Fans still quote the wise words of George O'Malley despite his death at the end of season five, and stand by Alex Karev's many epic speeches even though he abruptly left in season 16. Ranker provided a list of the best quotes ever uttered on the series, with fans choosing which they love the most.
Richard's Words Of Wisdom
"We All Make Mistakes."
Richard Webber is not often used as comic relief on Grey's Anatomy. In fact, he's usually the stern voice of reason, setting all the other doctors straight. However, one of the best quotes from the show came from a rare moment of hilarity on Webber's part.
When discussing his decision to hire Mark Sloan at Seattle Grace, Richard had to remind Derek that he was doing it for the betterment of the hospital. Derek rebutted that Mark, his ex-best friend, had betrayed him by sleeping with his wife to which Richard expertly replied, "We all make mistakes." It proved true, and Derek and Mark were able to repair their bond and move past the infidelity.
George's Vow
"I know I'm not a lot of things that you've gone for in the past - I know, but I would never leave you. I would never hurt you. And I will never stop loving you.."
George O'Malley was a bit of a hopeless romantic. He was crushing hard on Meredith Grey from their first day on the job, and carried a torch for her until their awkward sexual encounter in season two.
Despite his lack of chemistry with each of his major romantic interests (Meredith, Callie, and Izzie), George's best trait was that he always vowed to protect those he loved. His quote about standing by his partner through thick and thin was exactly what every woman ever wanted to hear, even if he didn't live long enough to see it through.
Denny's Problem With Rules
"The things that I best - those are the things I wasn't supposed to do and I did them anyway. The thing is, life is too damn short to be following these rules."
Denny Duquette was a fan-favorite patient on Grey's, and had one of the most heartbreaking deaths early on in the series. His relationship with Izzie was adorable, even if it crossed so many patient/doctor boundaries.
Because of Denny's struggles with his health and his heart, he was not a stickler for rules. He wanted to live life fearlessly and on his own . His quote about life being too short to follow rules inspired Izzie after his death, and caused her to live for him and with him in mind.
Meredith's Fascination With Pain
"Maybe we like the pain. Maybe we're wired that way. Because without it, I don't know; maybe we just wouldn't feel real."
Meredith Grey has been no stranger to pain over the past 17 years. She survived various near-death experiences, lost her husband, and had to say goodbye to so many friends and family .
Meredith made it clear from early on in the series that pain wasn't always negative in her mind. In fact, she kind of craved it because she knew she was built to survive it. Meredith's endurance it what makes her such a compelling character all of these years later, but what really sticks with fans is her ability to feel her way through it all.
Arizona's Namesake
"Most people think I was named for the state, but it's not true. I was named for a battle ship. The U.S.S. Arizona."
Callie and Arizona's love story wasn't always a simple and easy one, but it was one of the more beautiful relationships on the show. One of the moments that proved they were meant to be was when Arizona spoke to Callie's father about how she was a good man in a storm, and how much she loved his daughter.
Arizona pulled Mr. Torres aside to share the story of her name. She wasn't named after a state, but a battleship. Her parents were proud of her for who she was and not who she loved, and she intended to love Callie fiercely with or without his permission.
Alex's Wedding Vows To Izzie
"Today, I become able to someone other than myself. Today, I become able to you. To our future. To all the possibilities that a marriage has to offer. Together, no matter what happens, I’ll be ready for anything."
Alex Karev had a lot of growth throughout his 16 seasons on Grey's Anatomy, but perhaps his first real step toward being a better person was when he delivered his wedding vows to his first wife, Izzie Stevens.
As she was dying from cancer and had numbered days to live, Izzie and Alex wed in a surprise ceremony. Alex was prepared to devote the rest of his life to the love of his life, and it was the first sign that he had drastically matured from the intern fans met in season one.
Lexie's Forgiving Her Big Sister
"Ever since I knew you existed, I had this fantasy about my big sister, and you have failed on every occasion to live up to that fantasy. But I still love you whether you are capable of letting me or not. So, I forgive you."
Lexie Grey was greeted with open arms by her big sister when she started her internship at Seattle Grace in season four. Instead, she was given the cold shoulder, something she could only put up with for so long before reaching her breaking point.
Lexie finally put her foot down and confronted Meredith, explaining that she wanted her to be something that she wasn't, but she was also never going to stop trying to make a connection between them. She forgave her without any good reason to, and made the first step in building their sister relationship.
Bailey Isn't Happy
"No-one holds a scalpel until I'm so happy I'm Mary Freaking Poppins."
Miranda Bailey is tough as nails, and has been since the very first season of Grey's Anatomy. She has never been easy on anyone, especially her class of interns.
Bailey added much needed comedic relief to a very serious medical drama, and one of her funniest lines came when she explained that no one would get to perform surgery until they made her happy. In fact, they needed to make her so happy she was Mary Poppins. It scared the interns off, but also prompted them to do much better.
Alex's Guide To A First Kiss
"You can't cheat your first kiss. Trust me, you don't want to. Cause when you find that right person for a first kiss, it's everything."
Alex Karev was a great doctor, sure, but his speciality was pediatrics. He was phenomenal with children, to the surprise of many of his friends and colleagues.
One of his greatest pieces of advice came when one of his patients wanted to have their first kiss. He explained that it's one of those things you can't rush, because it'll take away the magic. The advice changed his patient's mindset, and possibly their life.
Meredith Standing Up For Herself
"I make no apologies for how I chose to repair what you broke. You don't get to call me a wh*re!"
Meredith has had several iconic speeches over the course of Grey's, but perhaps her angry outburst toward Derek after he lied to her about his wife was the best.
Despite Derek's snide remarks and ridicule about her dating life following their split, Meredith stuck true to herself and reminded him that he was the one who gave up on them and gave up on her. He didn't get to label her or judge her, because he broke her. Meredith's words were excellent for young women watching at home that needed to be reminded of their worth.