Doug Stamper quotes from House of Cards

Doug Stamper

[to Peter Russo] When it comes to your life, Peter, and what I know about it, you should assume that there's no such a thing as a secret.

Doug Stamper

But the most important count I do has nothing to do with work. It's the number of days since April 4, 1999. As of this morning, that's 5,185. The bigger that number gets, the more it frightens me, because I know all it takes is one drink to go back to zero. Most people see fear as a weakness. It can be. Sometimes for my job, I have to put fear in other people. I know that's not right. But if I'm honest, like the fourth step asks us to be, I have to be ruthless, because failure is not an option. The same goes for my sobriety. I have to be ruthless with myself. I have to use my fear. It makes me stronger. Like everyone in this room, I can't control who I am. But I can control the zero. Fuck the zero.

Doug Stamper

[to Seth] You think I've survived with the vice president so long by being blind? Upward mobility has a ceiling with the Underwoods. I'm the ceiling.

Doug Stamper

If it sounds like a fact, then it is a fact.

Doug Stamper

It's not a just world, Tom. But sometimes you have a chance to make the right person pay, even if it's for the wrong crime.

Doug Stamper

I'm the only one left who knows you, Claire.

Frank Underwood

We never played chess before, have we?

Doug Stamper

I don't know how.

Frank Underwood

You want me to teach you?

When you only talk business you stop appreciating beauty.

Doug Stamper

I don't have much time for beauty.

That's a shame.

Doug Stamper

When people like you smell flowers, some of us have to pull the weeds.

I don't respond to threats.

Doug Stamper

You're speaking to the president.

Yes, I recognize his voice.

Doug Stamper

We can't afford any more shake-ups in the campaign right now, especially with the president in the hospital.

Seth Grayson

Mmm-hmm.

Doug Stamper

We also can't afford any more of your mistakes.

Doug Stamper

[both grunting] Shut up. Shut up! When I first woke up, I couldn't speak. I had to blink my eyes if I wanted to respond. Do you understand? If I can't get your loyalty, I will have your obedience!

Doug Stamper

The organ network. It answers to you.

Yes and no. In a regulatory capacity...

Doug Stamper

You have the power to modify the recipient list.

That's up to the network. They have an expert committee that determines...

Doug Stamper

The president's life will not be decided by a committee.

Let me show you something. [shows him a spreadsheet] He was number three yesterday. Number one got a transplant. That puts the president at number two. His chances are very good. But this man, Anthony Moretti, he's just hours away from dying.

Doug Stamper

Then let him die.

I'm not doing this. It's not just the law, it's the ethics.

Doug Stamper

Then change your ethics, or you can resign and and your deputy can make this call. And if he won't, then he can resign too. I will strip away this entire department until I find who I need.

You want the truth?

Doug Stamper

Not interested. I had that coming in.

It's over. Underwood's gonna lose tomorrow. He's done. And when he's done, you're done. You'll have nothing left, and then you'll just disappear.

Doug Stamper

[getting up to leave] Thank you for your time, Governor.

Jane Davis

I shouldn't be drinking coffee. I still feel a little shaky.

Doug Stamper

You don't look it.

Jane Davis

Feel my pulse.

Doug Stamper

You seem very much in control to me.

Jane Davis

So do you. What does that say about the two of us?

Doug Stamper

I'm the reason your husband's dead. I forced the Secretary of Health and Human Services to put Francis Underwood in front of him on the donor list. I understand if you think I'm a monster, but I'd do it again. To save the president, I'd do anything.

You really think that I didn't know, Doug? The timing gave it away. Come on, come on in. [Stamper pulls away] What did you think was going on here? Huh? I'm not fucking you because I like you - I'm fucking you because I hate you.

Doug Stamper

You know what the president thinks? He thinks you're the leak.

Nathan Green

I wish.