Don't waste a breath mourning Miss Barnes. Every kitten grows up to be a cat. They seem so harmless at first—small, quiet, lapping up their saucer of milk—but once their claws get long enough, they draw blood. Sometimes from the hand that feeds them. For those of us climbing to the top of the food chain, there can be no mercy. There is but one rule: Hunt or be hunted. Welcome back.
All S1
S1 E15Unfinished Business
One heartbeat away from the presidency and not a vote cast in my name. Democracy is so overrated.
So, how does it feel to be married to the Vice President?
Exactly the same. Just louder.
Grief demands an answer, but sometimes there isn't one.
[discussing her rape] When he was on top of me, I pressed my hand with everything I could, I pressed it into his face. I pressed it so hard, I broke his nose. That didn't stop him. He shoved the sheets in my mouth. I could barely breathe. Every time I think of her, pinned down like that, I strangle her, Francis, so she doesn't strangle me.
If we never did anything we shouldn't do, we'd never feel good about doing the things we should.
There can be no false steps now. The higher up the mountain, the more treacherous the path.
SCSenator Curtis Haas
You can pass the amendment. I'll just filibuster the main bill.
No, you won't.
SCSenator Curtis Haas
Watch me.
As much as I'd like to see you hold your piss for two days, we struck a deal with Hector.
As for me, I used to be on the edge of the frame. Now, I'm only three feet away.
When you've been in the wasteland as long as I have, you become immune to flattery.
[The Capitol is locked down during an anthrax scare]
I don't know about you, but if it really is anthrax and these are our final moments, I want to die with a buzz on.
There are realities, Donald.
Don't talk down to me about realities. My wife is dying! That's a reality! Other people will die, too, if your package succeeds! That's a reality!
I personally take no pride in the Confederacy. Avoid wars you can't win, and never raise your flag for an asinine cause like slavery.
LGLucas Goodwin
You think you're a badass because you're on some vigilante anarchy kick? At least I have the balls to put my name on the work I do.
GOGavin Orsay
You've never faced 100 years in prison, you self-righteous prick! Most of my friends are locked up and rotting away because they poked the bear one too many times. Why? They wanted to expose government surveillance, the PRISM program, embezzlement, abuse, fucking torture, lies! You're a journalist? Who gives a shit? We're fucking soldiers. It's personal for me now. I don't have a choice, but you still do.
LGLucas Goodwin
I don't have a choice.
[Frank refuses Feng's demands, suspecting that he is working with Tusk]
XFXander Feng
Why did you want this meeting? To attack me?
To send a message. The President of the United States and I are not his puppets. Now you tell him that.
XFXander Feng
Fine. The bridge deal is dead. There will be no saving it.
Stick a knife in its heart and put an apple in its mouth, I won't shed a tear.
XFXander Feng
Your President will ascribe the failure to you.
I'll take the risk.
XFXander Feng
Think strategically, Mr. Vice President. You're setting us on a very dangerous course.
Do you know how Grant defeated Lee? He had more men, that's all, and he was willing to let them die. It was butchery, not strategy, that won the war.
XFXander Feng
Mr. Tusk and I have great resources at our disposal.
Add up all your billions and you get the GDP of Slovakia. I have the federal government of the United States of America. Your money doesn't intimidate me. The most that you buy is influence, but I wield Constitutional authority.
XFXander Feng
The strongest army doesn't always win. Mao started out with only a few thousand men. They took over half a continent.
Mao is dead, and so is his China.
XFXander Feng
But I'm not.
Not yet.
XFXander Feng
Don't forget, your ancestor fought for the losing side. There is no sacred ground for the conquered.
These quotes come from Wikiquote's House of Cards pages and are available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.