80+ House of Cards Quotes: Most Popular Dialogues from the TV Series

Whether you’re a fan of Frank Underwood’s Machiavellian tactics or Claire’s cunning ambition, these dialogues will give you a glimpse into the minds of some of the most powerful players in the political arena. Get ready to be pulled into the cutthroat world of politics with these captivating House of Cards quotes. 

Best Quotes from House of Cards

Here are some of the most memorable quotes from House of Cards:

• The nature of promises is that they remain immune to changing circumstances.
• 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.
• Democracy is so overrated.
• Friends make the worst enemies.
• Such a waste of talent. He chose money over power. In this town, a mistake nearly everyone makes. Money is the MCmansion in Sarasota that starts falling apart after years. Power is the old stone building that stands for centuries. I cannot respect someone who doesn’t see the difference.
• If we never did the things we shouldn’t do, we’d never feel good about doing the things we should.
• What’s the face of a coward? The back of his head as he runs from the battle.
• You can’t turn a ‘NO’ to a ‘YES’ without a ‘MAYBE’ in between.
• Success is a mixture of preparation and luck.
• First, you must learn to pull an oar. Only then can you take the helm.
• I have zero tolerance for betrayal, which they will soon indelibly learn.
• That’s how you devour a whale… one bite at a time.
• If you don’t like how the table is set, turn over the table.
• We are nothing more or less than what we choose to reveal.
• Shake with your right hand, but hold a rock in your left.
• You are entitled to nothing.
• A lion does not ask permission before he eats a zebra. Lions cannot talk, and zebras will not listen.
• You build your future, it isn’t handed to you.
• You have to respect your own mortality.
• When the money’s coming your way, you don’t ask questions.

• Pay attention to the fine print. It’s far more important than the selling price.
• Imagination is its own form of courage.
• I love that woman. I love her more than sharks love blood.
• I feel exposed. Like the skin where my ring used to be. Even Achilles was only as strong as his heel.
• Even though I am an adult man, I enjoy video games.
• Of all the things that I hold in high regard, rules are not one of them.
• Do you think I am a hypocrite? Well, you should. I wouldn’t disagree with you.
• A person’s character isn’t determined by how he or she enjoys victory, but rather how he or she endures defeat.
• Sometimes the only way to gain your superior’s respect is to defy him.
• People underestimate the importance of detail to the overall impact.
• Conscience has an unmistakable stink to it, sort of like raw onions and morning breath. But a lie stinks, even more, when it’s coming from someone who isn’t used to lying. It’s more like rotten eggs and horseshit.
• Anyone can commit suicide, or spout their mouth in front of a camera. But you wanna know what takes real courage? Keeping your mouth shut, no matter what you might be feeling.
• I’ve never given someone a third chance.
• Presidents who obsess over history obsess about their place in it, instead of forging it.
• Not everyone can be on the right side of history.
• The gift of a good liar is making people think you lack a talent for lying.
• It only takes ten seconds to crush a man’s ambitions.
• I have often found that bleeding hearts have an ironic fear of their own blood.
• Politics is no longer theater, it’s show business. So let’s put on the best show in town.
• There can be no false steps now. The higher up the mountain the more treacherous the path.
• The only problem with common sense is that it’s so common.
• How quickly poor grades are forgotten in the shadow of power and wealth.
• The heart can choke the mind when all its blood flows back to itself.

House of Cards Frank Underwood Quotes

Here are some House of Cards quotes from Frank Underwood:

• The best thing about human beings is that they stack so neatly.
• I’ve always loathed the necessity of sleep. Like death, it puts even the most powerful men on their backs.
• From this moment on, you are a rock. You absorb nothing, you say nothing, and nothing breaks you.
• A great man once said, everything is about sex. Except sex. Sex is about power.
• The nature of promises is that they remain immune to changing circumstances.
• A smart man once said to me that speculation is a poor form of politics. Why don’t you stick to what you know?
• Harmony. It’s not about what’s lasting or permanent, it is about individual voices coming together for a moment. And that moment lasts the length of a breath.

House of Cards Quotes Claire Underwood

Check out these House of Cards quotes from Claire Underwood:

• I’m not worried about your brain. It’s your heart we’re talking about.
• The blood is on all of our hands, and doing nothing is the same as pulling a trigger.
• It’s important to be organized and ruthless. Three piles, I always say. The stuff you wanna keep, the stuff you might need later that you put in storage, and the stuff you have to destroy.
• You don’t ever let the opponent walk all over you. If you’re getting attacked, you fight back.
• I’ve always been your running mate. You just didn’t want to see it […] You can’t win without me.
• I can be a part of your campaign, or I can end it. I’ll do whatever it takes.

House of Cards Zoe Barnes Quotes

Here are a few Zoe Barnes quotes from House of Cards:

• We’re in a very gray area. Ethically, legally. Which I’m okay with.
• Time is precious. Powerful people don’t have the luxury of foreplay.
• These days, when you’re talking to one person, you’re talking to a thousand.
• The White House is where news goes to die. Everything’s canned. These perfectly prepared statements.

House of Cards Freddy Hayes Quotes

These are a few popular quotes by Freddy Hayes from House of Cards:

• It’s good to have dreams, just so long as they’re not fantasies.
• I ain’t one for lookin’ back. Eyes ahead.
• It’s good to have dreams, just so long as they’re not fantasies.

House of Cards Tom Hammerschmidt Quotes

Here are some popular Tom Hammerschmidt quotes from House of Cards:

• He was right about your soul. What’s in your bones. That you’re ruthless. You’re corrupt. You destroy whatever’s in your path.
• Grief demands an answer, but sometimes there isn’t one.
• Oh, I never believed you were a murderer, and I still don’t. But it’s becoming harder not to entertain the thought.

Motivational House of Cards Quotes

These are some motivational quotes from House of Cards:

• To improve is to change. To perfect is to change often.
• Peace should not have to be bought. Peace should be its own reward.
• A diversity of ideas makes us all wiser, and that holds true even for your president. True leadership is not running away from those who disagree with you, but embracing them.
• To mourn is not to fear. To grieve is not to admit defeat.
• History is earned. You win the day, and then you win the day after, and you do the same thing every day until you’re dead. And you’re remembered not for the winning, but because you never lost.

House of Cards Quotes Pain

Check out these memorable House of Cards quotes on pain:

• There is nothing more lonely or terrifying than feeling unheard.
• I wouldn’t be sitting here if I wanted a shoulder to cry on.
• I hear silence, I don’t like that sound.
• There is no solace above or below. Only us – small, solitary, striving, battling one another. I pray to myself, for myself.
• There are two kinds of pain. The sort of pain that makes you strong, or useless pain. The sort of pain that’s only suffering. I have no patience for useless things.

House of Cards Quotes on Power

Here are some famous House of Cards quotes on power:

• The road to power is paved with hypocrisy and casualties. Never regret.
• Proximity to power deludes some into thinking they wield it.
• There’s no better way to overpower a trickle of doubt than with a flood of naked truth.
• Power is a lot like real estate. It’s all about location, location, location. The closer you are to the source, the higher your property value.
• Power is my food. Combat is my sleep. Blood is my oxygen. Politics is my blood. Sleep is my enemy. My enemies are my food.
• Generosity is its own form of power.
• I’ve always said that power is more important than money. But when it comes to elections, money gives power.

About the TV Series – House of Cards

House of Cards is an American political drama television series created by Beau Willimon, David Fincher, Frank Pugliese, and Mellisa James Gibson. It premiered on Netflix on February 1, 2013, and ran for a total of six seasons, ending on November 2, 2018.

The show stars Kevin Spacey as Frank Underwood, a ruthless and cunning politician who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. The series is set in Washington D.C. and follows Underwood as he rises through the ranks of the political world, ultimately becoming President of the United States.

The show also stars Robin Wright as Claire Underwood, Frank’s equally ambitious and calculating wife. The series received widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for numerous awards, including multiple Primetime Emmy Awards.

About the Book – House of Cards

House of Cards is a political thriller novel written by Michael Dobbs. Originally published in 1989, the novel has since been adapted into a successful television series on Netflix. The story follows the rise of Frank Underwood, a ruthless and ambitious politician who will stop at nothing to gain power and control in Washington D.C. 

The novel begins with Frank Underwood as the Majority Whip of the United States House of Representatives. He is frustrated with the lack of progress in his political career and decides to take matters into his own hands.

He begins to manipulate and deceive those around him, including his colleagues and the President, in order to climb the ranks of power. As Frank’s ambition grows, he becomes increasingly ruthless and willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals. He is willing to lie, cheat, and even kill to get what he wants.

He also forms a complex and dangerous relationship with a young journalist named Zoe Barnes, who becomes an unwitting pawn in his schemes. Through Frank’s actions, the novel explores the cutthroat nature of politics and the lengths that people will go to in order to gain power.

It also delves into the corrupting influence of ambition and the dark side of human nature. House of Cards is a gripping and suspenseful novel that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. It is a must-read for fans of political thrillers and anyone interested in the inner workings of politics and power.

About the Showrunners – David Fincher, Beau Willimon, Frank Pugliese, and Mellisa James Gibson

David Fincher, Beau Willimon, Frank Pugliese, and Mellisa James Gibson are the showrunners of the hit Netflix series “House of Cards.” David Fincher is an acclaimed director, producer, and screenwriter who has directed films such as “Fight Club,” “Se7en,” and “Gone Girl.”

He also directed the first two episodes of “House of Cards” and served as an executive producer throughout the series.

Beau Willimon is the creator of “House of Cards” and served as the showrunner for the first four seasons. He also wrote the script for the first season, which was based on the novel of the same name by Michael Dobbs. Frank Pugliese and Mellisa James Gibson joined the show as co-showrunners for the final seasons.

They have been praised for their ability to create a complex and compelling political drama that explores the cutthroat nature of politics and the dark side of human nature. They have also been recognized for their ability to adapt the original novel into a highly successful television series.

Their collective vision and leadership have been instrumental in making “House of Cards” one of the most popular and critically acclaimed political dramas on television.

About the Author – Michael Dobbs

British Conservative politician and author Michael Dobbs, known for his House of Cards trilogy, is a literary luminary. He was educated at Hertford and Cheshunt Grammar schools and Christ Church, Oxford, and went on to work for the Conservative Party and Saatchi & Saatchi, as well as writing for The Mail on Sunday and hosting a BBC current affairs program.

In addition to his political thrillers, he has also written acclaimed novels such as Winston’s War and the Harry Jones series. House of Cards, a darling of the small screen, is a masterful portrayal of the political landscape. The series, a retelling of the British original, delights audiences with its rich tapestry of quotes that linger in the mind long after the final credits have rolled.

The characters’ cut-throat ambition and the machinations of the political arena are captured in words that are both evocative and profound. These quotes, remind us of the importance of staying true to oneself, the impact of our actions, and the dangers of blind ambition. Allow these words of wisdom to inspire you and serve as a guiding light as you chart your own course through life.