Dr. Meredith Grey is perhaps the most beloved character in the popular medical drama, Grey’s Anatomy. As the show’s protagonist, she’s involved in several of the show’s main storylines. If something traumatic is happening at Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital, Meredith is often there to help save the day.
Throughout the show’s 17 seasons, Meredith (played by Ellen Pompeo) has recited some powerful, emotional speeches. She usually begins an episode with a monologue about medicine, and she ends the episode with a reflective monologue about life. She never ceases to amaze fans with her wisdom. Anyone would be lucky to have a surgeon and friend like Dr. Meredith Grey.
“Even The Worst, Most Intractable Mistake Beats The Hell Out Of Never Trying.” (1.06)
During the show’s first season, Meredith and several of her friends were medical residents. They were just starting out, and they were undergoing a lot of stress and pressure. Sometimes, they made mistakes, but they always tried their best to save lives. It’s always good to at least try.
Meredith acknowledged this in a monologue: “We have to learn our lessons. We have to sweep today’s possibility under tomorrow’s rug until we can’t anymore. Until we finally understand for ourselves what Benjamin Franklin meant. That knowing is better than wondering. That waking is better than sleeping. And that even the biggest failure, even the worst, most intractable mistake beats the h*ll out of never trying.”
“Pain Comes In All Forms.” (2.05)
As a surgeon, Meredith knows a lot about pain. She witnesses suffering from her patients, and she also experiences her own emotional pain from her relationships, friendships, and family drama. So, if there was anyone who could grasp the meaning of trauma and the pain felt from it, it’s Meredith.
In one emotional speech, she said, “Pain comes in all forms. The small twinge, a bit of soreness, the random pain, the normal pains we live with every day. Then there is the kind of pain you can’t ignore. A level of pain so great that it blocks out everything else.”
“Letting Go Is The Easy Part, It’s The Moving On That’s Painful.” (8.20)
Meredith has had to move on several times in her life. From emotional heartbreaks and deaths, she has been through it all. She knows firsthand how difficult it is to move on, but it’s important.
At one point, she said, “Letting go is the easy part, it’s the moving on that’s painful. So, sometimes we fight it, trying to keep things the same. Things can’t stay the same though. At some point, you just have to let it go. Move on. Because no matter how painful it is, it’s the only way we grow.”
“Just Because We Can Live Without Something, It Doesn’t Mean We Have To.” (11.17)
The show’s 11th season was a difficult time for Meredith and Derek. Their marriage hit rock bottom, and Meredith realized that she could live without her husband. She said, “When we go without certain things long enough, it’s easy to forget just how much we need them. We forget what we had once. We forget what it’s like to live with a thing, not what we need, but that we want. That’s why it’s so important for us to remind ourselves, for us to remember, just because we can live without something, it doesn’t mean we have to.”
Meredith learns that it’s possible for her to live without Derek, but she doesn’t want to be without him. Unfortunately, she doesn’t have much time to spend with Derek because he died a few episodes later.
“They Say Death Is Hardest On The Living.” (9.01)
Meredith has experienced so much loss in Grey’s Anatomy. She lost her Lexie, her mother, her good friends, George and Mark, and, of course, her husband, Derek. She knows that death is hardest on the people who are left behind. The fans would be able to deeply resonate with this as many are familiar with the fact that they can only comfort themselves with the memories or s for the rest of their lives.
In an emotional monologue, Meredith said, “They say death is hardest on the living. It’s tough to actually say goodbye. Sometimes, it’s impossible. You never really stop feeling the loss. It’s what makes things so bittersweet. We leave little bits of ourselves behind, little reminders [...] Things to remember us by even when we’re gone.”
“Picture The Life You Dreamed Of Living.” (11.18)
Meredith Grey often delivers inspirational monologues, especially at the end of the episodes. She has experienced so much change in her life that she's become an expert on picking up the pieces and starting new dreams.
During one monologue, she said, “Picture the life you dreamed of living. The person you pictured being with. Picture the job you dreamed you’d have. Are you living the life you envisioned for yourself? Are you who you wanted to be when you grew up? Or are you still dreaming of something bigger?” It seemed to work for Meredith as she has thrived with her own successful career.
“Decide. Is This The Life You Want To Live?" (10.1)
Some people feel discouraged in their careers and personal lives. They might be struggling in their relationships, family life, professional careers, and more. The characters in Grey’s Anatomy know these struggles more than others. They have had their relationship problems and challenges at Grey-Sloan Memorial.
When life gets too difficult, Meredith offers some advice. She said, “Decide. Is this the life you want to live? Is this the person you want to love? Is this the best you can be? Can you be stronger? Kinder? More compassionate? Decide. Breathe in. Breathe out. And decide.”
“Did You Say It? ‘I Love You.’” (5.24)
Sometimes, people miss opportunities to tell someone how they really feel. When they’re finally ready to say it, it’s too late. Meredith has learned this lesson, and she doesn’t want anyone else to make the same mistake.
In a famous monologue, she said, “Did you say it? ‘I love you.’ ‘I don’t ever want to live without you.’ ‘You changed my life.’ Did you say it? Make a plan. Set a goal. Work toward it, but every now and then, look around. Drink it in ‘cause this is it. It might all be gone tomorrow.”
“You Don’t Get To Call Me A Wh**e.” (2.24)
When Meredith first meets Derek, she doesn’t know that was already. Meredith has already fallen in love with him, but he repeatedly chose his wife over her. Then, Derek has the nerve to judge and degrade Meredith after she tried to move on from their relationship.
Instead of breaking down after hearing his cruel words, Meredith told Derek exactly what she thought of him. In an emotional speech, she said, “When I met you, I thought I had found the person that I was going to spend the rest of my life with. [...But] you left me. You chose Addison. I’m all glued back together now. I make no apologies for how I chose to repair what you broke. You don’t get to call me a wh**e.”
“So, Pick Me. Choose Me. Love Me.” (2.05)
When Meredith wants Derek to choose her over his wife, she delivers a powerful, emotional speech that has stood out as one of the most memorable quotes from the entire show. It’s a bold declaration of love, and Meredith tried her best to convince Derek that she was “the one” for him.
She said, “Okay, here it is. Your choice, it’s simple, her or me. And I’m sure she’s really great. But Derek, I love you, in a really, really big, ‘pretend to like your taste in music, let you eat the last piece of cheesecake, hold a radio over my head outside your window,’ unfortunate way that makes me hate you…Love you. So, pick me. Choose me. Love me.”How could Derek say no to her after that speech?