Claire Underwood quotes from House of Cards

Claire Underwood

There were political realities we couldn't ignore.

Do you ever wonder why so many people hate Washington? It's because of people like you using phrases like that.

Claire Underwood

What if you lose?

Frank Underwood

I will not be a placeholder president, Claire. I will win. And I will leave a legacy.

Claire Underwood

You mean we will.

Viktor Petrov

So, this is what he does. He leaves the seduction to you. Isn't there a word for that in English...?

Claire Underwood

For what?

Viktor Petrov

Pimping. He's pimping you out.

Claire Underwood

How charming you are.

Viktor Petrov

Thank you. And you make a much better First Lady than ambassador, from what my people tell me. [uncomfortable pause] Only teasing. More wine for the ambassador, please.

Frank Underwood

[about Corrigan] He was a coward, and I'm glad he's dead.

Claire Underwood

He had more courage than you'll ever have.

Frank Underwood

Do you really wanna discuss courage, Claire? Because anyone can commit suicide, or spout their mouths off in front of a camera. You wanna know what takes courage? Keeping your mouth shut, no matter what you may be feeling. Holding it all together when the stakes are this high.

Claire underwood

We're murderers, Francis.

Frank Underwood

No, we're not. We're survivors.

Claire Underwood

If we can't show respect for one brave man and still accomplish what we set out to do, then I'm disappointed in both of us.

Frank Underwood

I never should have made you ambassador.

Claire Underwood

I never should have made you president. [leaves]

Frank Underwood

[to the audience] What're you lookin' at?!

Claire Underwood

I can't believe we've become this.

Frank Underwood

Become what?

Claire Underwood

Like everyone else.

Claire Underwood

I was thinking...

Tom Yates

About what? Mrs. Underwood?

Claire Underwood

Jumping.

Tom Yates

Jumping?

Claire Underwood

You ever have that feeling? In conversation?

Tom Yates

Which feeling?

Claire Underwood

On a bridge, you look over and... step back...

Tom Yates

Do you need me to get someone?

Claire Underwood

He proposed, and I said, 7 years. If it's still good, another 7. If not... every 7 years. I don't hate campaigning. What I hate is... how much I need... of...

Tom Yates

How much you need each other.

Claire Underwood

I didn't jump. I didn't step back. I... [faints]

Claire Underwood

We've been lying for a long time, Francis.

Frank Underwood

Of course we have. Imagine what the voters would think if we started telling the truth.

Claire Underwood

There's a lot more to Francis and me than what you wrote.

Tom Yates

Maybe so, but I never got a chance to ask.

Claire Underwood

Then ask. Whatever you want.

Tom Yates

Why aren't you with him in Iowa?

Claire Underwood

[pause] I'm headed there tomorrow.

Tom Yates

You see? I ask a question, and neither of you answer. It's tiresome constantly swinging a sledgehammer at the facade, just to get a glimpse beneath the cracks.

Claire Underwood

Tell me what you see.

Tom Yates

Somebody who's lost. But I don't know, maybe it's all for the best. I'd rather imagine who you might be than who you actually are. Good luck, Claire.

Frank Underwood

You can't have it both ways. You want an equal partner when it suits you. You want a man to take charge when it suits you. And I'm just supposed to just, what, divine when you want which? Stop being so selfish. You're better than that.

Claire Underwood

I'm not being selfish.

Frank Underwood

You are. We're in the middle of an election, and look at us.

Claire Underwood

That's exactly it. Look at us, Francis. We used to make each other stronger, or at least I thought so. But that was a lie. We were making you stronger. And now I'm just weak and small, and I can't stand that feeling any longer.

Frank Underwood

All right. What do you want? What is the goddamn alternative? Please, Claire, tell me, because I don't understand. All I'm hearing is, it's not enough. That the White House is not enough. That being First Lady is not enough. Not enough!

Claire Underwood

No. It's you that's not enough.

Frank Underwood

When we lose because of you, there will be nothing. No plan, no future. We will only be has-beens. You want to amount to something? Well, here is the brutal fucking truth, and you can hate me, you can be disgusted, you can feel whatever it is that you wanna feel, because frankly, I am beyond caring: without me, you are nothing. You're right, this office has one chair, and you have always known that, from the very beginning. And if you suddenly can't stomach that, well then I'm a fool for having married you in the first place. But I don't have time to be a fool. I have to run this country, and win a nomination. I am doing my job. Doug is out there doing his job. And it is now time for you to do yours. You want me to take charge? Fine, I'm taking charge. [grabs her face and forces her to look at him] You will get on that plane tomorrow, you will come to New Hampshire, you will smile and shake hands and kiss babies, and you will stand with me on a stage and you will be the First Lady! And you do all that, I don't give a damn if you vomit on your own time!

Claire Underwood

Francis, I'm not going with you to New Hampshire.

Frank Underwood

Yes you are. I'll see you in the car.

Claire Underwood

I'm leaving you.

Claire Underwood

I'm asking for your help. If you refuse to give it...

Elizabeth Hale

Help? You didn't lift a finger to help me when I got sick.

Claire Underwood

You didn't tell me you were sick!

Elizabeth Hale

Because you had turned your back on me! Oh, you are such a disappointment.

Claire Underwood

You don't want me to sell this house out from under you, but I will.

Elizabeth Hale

[pulling off her chemo wig] I am the mother. I am the mother!

Claire Underwood

We make each other stronger. Can we agree to that?

Frank Underwood

When it's working, but it's not working.

Claire Underwood

We can make it work. We can accomplish that future I saw when we first got married. It was us, as partners, real partners. Let's run together again. Not just as husband and wife.

Frank Underwood

[stunned] You don't mean...

Claire Underwood

Yes.

Frank Underwood

I'm worried about you, Claire. You're not making any sense. You've let your ego get in the way...

Claire Underwood

I've always been your running mate. You just didn't want to see it.

Frank Underwood

As my vice president? Jesus, do you have any idea...

Claire Underwood

I've put a lot of thought into this.

Frank Underwood

You can't have thought it through! Because if you did, you have thought of a million...

Claire Underwood

She has no experience, she's never run for anything, no children, nepotism, arrogance. I've run through them all. You can't win without me.

Frank Underwood

I would rather have a spineless Donald Blythe as my vice president than a woman who has never held elected office.

Claire Underwood

You're losing to a woman who's never held elected office.

Frank Underwood

You don't deserve it. You have no idea what it means to have nothing. You don't value what we have achieved! I have had to fight for everything my entire life! [gets the picture of his father with a Klansman] Do you know why I kept this? Do you know why? Because it was the one time I was proud of my father. Because this man, in this moment, as despicable as it was, is fighting to survive! He is doing whatever it took! And so will I, with or without you. So no, I will not have this conversation. I refuse to indulge you any further. You have to let this go.

Claire Underwood

I can be a part of your campaign, or I can end it. I'll do whatever it take, too. Just like your father. But I will not let this go.

There has been an attempted assassination of the President. President Frank Underwood has been shot. It occurred about ten minutes ago during a campaign event at Hammond University in Washington, D.C. We do not yet know how severely the president has been wounded. He is en route to Jefferson Memorial Hospital. We don't know how serious his condition may be. Footage of the assassination attempt is still making its way to us, and we expect to have that shortly. Witnesses are reporting that there was a quick succession of gunshots, four or five, a lone gunman whose identity we are still trying to determine. We've been told the gunman was killed, as well as at least one Secret Service agent, but we don't have definitive confirmation of that yet. We don't yet know who the gunman may be or who the agent is.

Claire Underwood

What's happened?

The President's been shot.

I'm hearing now that the president received at least one gunshot to the abdomen, possibly more, that he clutched his stomach, that he fell instantly to the ground. And there were screams, people panicking, that it has been very chaotic at that scene. We have very little information at this time, other than shots were fired, the president wounded, but as I say, he is alive. We've gotten no official statement from the White House as of yet, either the president's precise condition or the whereabouts of Vice President Blythe. He is believed to be at the White House. We cannot confirm that, nor do we know if he will take over as Acting President, assuming the duties of the presidency under the terms of the 25th Amendment to the Constitution. That would seem likely, however, if the President's wounds are as serious as we believe them to be. This is a difficult moment for the country. It is not the first time that a president has been shot, in my lifetime, or in many of yours. But even for those of us who have experienced this before, it is no less of a shock. It is no less terrifying. It is the moment when our nation's resilience, when our collective strength, the moment when all of that is tested the most. And we can only imagine how difficult it must be for the First Lady.

Remy Danton

Sorry about Frank.

Claire Underwood

Oh, please, don't bother. I've had enough people say "I'm sorry", and I know you don't mean it.

Viktor Petrov

You should talk to your husband.

Claire Underwood

I'm not leaving here until we have an agreement.

Viktor Petrov

But you're an amateur, Claire. You fly in, you puff up your chest and you pretend to play president. But what would you be without your husband? Nothing. A pretty face. So, yes, play the president if you like. Go. Tell the Chinese they get nothing on the Pacific. You think you can do that, Mrs. Underwood?

Claire Underwood

Your people are hurting. Six months at most, they're gonna be marching on Red Square. I'm done letting you have your dignity. The truth is you're a beggar on your knees, and you will take whatever we shove down your throat. Viktor. Take the deal. Get your dignity back.