Meredith Grey quotes from Grey's Anatomy

Meredith

[voiceover] Forgive and forget. That's what they say. It's good advice, but it's not very practical. When someone hurts us, we want to hurt them back. When someone wrongs us, we want to be right. Without forgiveness old scores are never settled. Old wounds never heal, and the most we can hope for is that one day we'll be lucky enough to forget.

Meredith

[voiceover] There is a reason surgeons learn to wield scalpels. We like to pretend we're hard, cold scientists. We like to pretend we're fearless. But the truth is we become surgeons because somewhere deep down we think we can cut away that which haunts us. Weakness, frailty, death.

Meredith

[voiceover] It isn't just surgeons. The truth is, I don't know anyone who isn't haunted by something or someone. And whether we try to slice the pain away with a scalpel or shove it in the back of a closet, our efforts usually fail. So the only way we can clear out the cobwebs is to turn a new page or put an old story to rest. Finally, finally to rest.

Meredith

[voiceover] There's this thing about being a surgeon. Maybe it's pride or maybe it's just about being tough. But a true surgeon never admits they need help unless absolutely necessary. Surgeons don't need to ask for help because they're tougher than that. Surgeons are cowboys. Rough around the edges. Hardcore. At least, that's what they want you to think.

Meredith

[voiceover] Deep down, everyone wants to believe they can be hardcore. But being hardcore isn't just about being tough it's about acceptance. Sometimes you have to give yourself permission to not be hardcore for once. You don't have to be tough every minute of every day. It's okay to let down your guard. In fact, there are moments when it's the best thing you could possibly do - as long as you choose your moments wisely.

Meredith

[voiceover] Before we were doctors, we were med students, which meant we spent a lot of time studying chemistry. [...] Organic chemistry, biochemistry, we learned it all. But when you're talking about human chemistry only one thing matters: either you've got it or you don't.

Meredith

[voiceover] Chemistry: either you've got it or you don´t.

Meredith

[voiceover] There comes a point in your life when you're officially an adult. Suddenly, you're old enough to vote, drink, and engage in other adult activities. Suddenly, people expect you to be responsible, serious, a grown up. We get taller, we get older. But do we ever really grow up?

Meredith

[voiceover] In some ways we grow up. We have families, we get married, divorced. But for the most part, we still have the same problems that we did when we were fifteen. No matter how much we grow taller, grow older, we are still forever stumbling, forever wondering, forever... young.

Meredith

[voiceover] We go into medicine because we want to save lives. We go into medicine because we want to do good. We go into medicine for the rush, for the high, for the ride. But, what we remember at the end of most days are the losses. What we lay awake at night replaying is the pain we caused or failed to cure. The lives we ruined or failed to save. So the experience of practicing medicine rarely resembles the goal. The experience too often is ass backwards and upside down.

Meredith

[to Derek] I don't want you to date other people. I may not be enough for you, but I'm trying here so I don't want you to date anybody but me. That's it. Except I'm scared as hell to want you. But here I am wanting you anyway. And fear means I have something to lose, right? And I don't want to lose you.

Meredith

[voiceover] Some days the whole world seems upside down. And then somehow, improbably, and when you least expect it, the world rights itself again.

Meredith

There are about a hundred steps between where we are right now and building our dream house. And they'll be fun steps and sexy steps. And we'll try not to fall down them together. Okay?

Meredith

[voiceover] We like to think that we are rational beings; humane, conscientious, civilized, thoughtful. But when things fall apart, even just a little, it becomes clear we're no better than animals. We have opposable thumbs, we think, we walk erect, we speak, we dream, but deep down we're all still rooting around in the primordial ooze; biting, clawing, scratching out an existence in the cold, dark world like the rest of the tree-toads and sloths.

Meredith

[voiceover] There's a little animal in all of us, and maybe that's something to celebrate. Our animal instinct is what makes us seek comfort, warmth, a pack to run with. We may feel caged, we may feel trapped, but still as humans we can find ways to feel free. We are each other's keepers, we are the guardians of our own humanity, and even though there's a beast inside all of us, what sets us apart from the animals is that we can think, feel, dream and love. And against all odds, against all instinct, we evolve.