His time might be coming to an end on Grey’s Anatomy, but we’ll always have 16 seasons worth of infamous Alex Karev quotes to look back on.
Alex Karev, played by Justin Chambers, has been a series regular on Grey’s Anatomy since the show started. He was part of the original cast along with Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey, Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang, Katherine Heigl as Izzie Stevens, T.R. Knight as George O’Malley, Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey, James Pickens, Jr. as Richard Webber, Isaiah Washington as Preston Burke, and Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd.
Over time, more and more of the original cast has left the show. Soon, Alex Karev’s character will be written off the series during season 16. To mentally prepare ourselves for the loss, we’re looking back at some of his lines through the years on Grey’s Anatomy.
Related: Grey’s Anatomy is doing a poor job of covering up Alex Karev’s absence
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 16 Alex Karev quotes:
Maggie: I can’t do this.
Alex: I’ll be with you.
Maggie: No, I can’t. They didn’t want me to operate, and I pushed them. I told them I was the best.
Alex: You are.
Maggie: I can’t do this.
Eddie: I’m not a doctor, but I think that’s a skull. That’s another one, and that’s a lot more. You want us to keep working?
Alex: You know, I’m going to need a moment.
Jo: Seriously? You can’t pretend to be scared?
Alex: Nothing is scarier than my own life.
Alex: Do you know this hospital is ranked number one?
Richard: What decade?
Alex: This one. Number one in mortality rates. Physician burnout. Patient dissatisfaction and malpractice rates.
Richard: I applied with a job last week with Pacific Northwest General. Did they call you? I put you down as one of my references.
Alex: I don’t know.
Richard: You don’t know?
Alex: I don’t answer the phone if I don’t recognize the number.
Richard: You don’t check your messages? I hate your generation. I hate any generation other than my own.
Alex: Same.
Jo: I hate that I did this to you.
Alex: Did what?
Jo: Became another name on your list of crazy women.
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 15 Alex Karev quotes:
Alex: You are a good luck charm. Aren’t you glad you came into work today?
Jo: Yeah, yeah, I really am.
Alex: When people reach out a hand, you don’t bite it. Trust me, I did it for years, and the only thing it accomplishes is that people stop reaching out.
Alex: I’m not really a thinker. I’m a fixer, I’m not an innovator.
Jo: You were left in a park, right? By your junkie dad when you were three?
Alex: In a bar parking lot when I was six. I wish I was three, then I wouldn’t be able to remember.
Alex: You did it. You stepped up. All right, well, don’t get too swelled up about it. But great work. Good job.
Jo: Hey, thanks for marrying me.
Alex: You’re welcome.
Alex: Listen, you know what? With everything and everyone you lost in your life, you earned the right to pick and choose whoever you want to let in.
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 14 Alex Karev quotes:
Arizona: You’re not gonna talk me out of moving, and it’s just gonna make us sad, and that’s not what today is about, so just shut up and eat your cereal.
Alex: Today is about that. You’re leaving today.
Arizona: Not till after you get married. And Alex Karev married? That’s, like, my work here is done.
Alex: Well, at least can I say “thank you”?
Arizona: Not unless you want to make me cry.
Alex: I hated Kepner at first. I hated her because I wished I was more like her.
Amelia: Owen, what you’re doing is beautiful. You’re fostering him. You’re… You’re being there for him when nobody else is.
Alex: Ha! My foster parents sucked. No, for real. They just stuck me in a room with some other kids and then collected a check. Except for one. There was one guy. He worked nights in a warehouse. Come home, dead tired at the crack of dawn, and go straight to bed. But then, an hour later, he’d wake up, just so he could eat cereal with me and tell me, you know, “Have a good day,” before I went to school. Then he’d go back to sleep. Wasn’t much, but, you know, he just gave a crap, you know? He gave a crap, and you, my friend, you are giving so many craps right now. This man’s got it made.
Alex: Sorry me and my family is so depressing.
Jo: Shut up.
Alex: She had one really good year when I was a kid. She worked at that library, and I would hang out with her there. We’d play hide-and-seek in the stacks. My whole life, all I ever wanted was a mom who wasn’t sick. I didn’t care about toys or sports or any of that crap. I just wanted a mom who was okay. And she is. She finally is. And she doesn’t want me there.
Jo: You may never hear what you want to hear from your mom. You may never get an acknowledgment. You may never get an apology. But you have a shot at having a mom. And that… Alex, that’s… That’s something that’s real.
Alex: I just… I-I didn’t think you’d be so excited to… to consider leaving Seattle.
Jo: Because I can! Because for the first time, I can do exactly what I want to do. I have freedom now, I have opportunities that I didn’t have before because I was afraid that Paul was gonna come find me. You know what, I can apply anywhere now. I don’t have to hide in Seattle. I thought that you, of all people, would get that.
Alex: Look, I’m happy Paul’s gone, and I’m happy you’re free. I just didn’t realize he was the only one keeping you here.
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 13 Alex Karev quotes:
Alex: I’m a friend of Brooke’s. Your wife Brooke Statler. The one who left you.
Paul: Yeah, how’s she doing. Where is she now?
Alex: You don’t need to know that. You don’t need to think about her ever again, and if you come near her, I will find you and I will kill you.
Paul: Who are you?
Alex: It doesn’t matter. I’m warning you. I know who you are and I’m watching you.
Meredith: When did you become a grumpy old man who doesn’t like people?
Alex: I love people. Just not Riggs.
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 12 Alex Karev quotes:
Alex: You know, I was Mer this morning, and I was thinking, we’ve been through hell. You know, all kinds of drama. Crazy family stuff, we both almost died losing people we loved.
Jo: No, you’re not losing me.
Alex: The point is we grew up. Mer and I are grown up. We got through it. And hell behind me, it’s in my rearview mirror and I’m not going back, I’m done. I’m not some idiot kid anymore, Jo. I’m a man. I’m done with games, and I’m done with crazy.
Alex: See? Happy endings — they happen.
Meredith: Oh, please. Everyone’s in love in a foxhole.
Alex: What?
Meredith: He saved her kid. That’s like post-traumatic stress romance.
Alex: Don’t make a big deal out of this. It’s a big enough deal as it is.
Maggie: I know it is.
Alex: You got to make her feel like she has an escape hatch or she’s gonna run for the hills.
Maggie: Yeah, she will, if you don’t shut your dumb mouth.
Alex: You’re…dumb.
Alex: If you’re going to ditch the guy, you better do it soon.
Maggie: God, would you shut it?
Alex: You shut it.
Meredith: Both of you shut it. Balfour. And I have three children at home, so don’t think for a second I don’t know you two are making faces right now. Settle in.
Alex: Once a month, a rescue group brings in a bunch of puppies for the kids. It’s good for morale and healing and crap.
Alex: I’m going to need you to show me how you did that.
Stephanie: Just a matter of leadership.
Alex: Yeah, but, no, really.
Richard: You can’t work on your family.
Alex: Everybody in this damn room is her family.
Alex: It means I’m going to be there for her when she needs me, because she’s the only one I can count on.
Alex: So, what is it? You think she just sees you as my girlfriend?
Jo: She doesn’t even see me as that. She would show up in our bedroom and kick me out whenever she wanted to.
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 11 Alex Karev quotes:
Meredith: I hurt her feelings, and she’s mad at me. I forgot I’m supposed to be her sister.
Alex: You’re a complete tool sometimes.
Meredith: I’ve heard.
Alex: It’s all supposed to be with you. I thought you got that. I didn’t think I needed to say it. So when I say I can’t say no to my friend, it doesn’t mean I’m saying no to you.
Alex: There ought to be some rule, you know? People who have been in a plane crash can’t work on one.
Alex: You want to be a mess, be a mess. I don’t care. I can take it.
Alex: You’re a really good mom. You’ve been riding me all day, making sure I don’t screw up. Crap, you’ve been doing it all these years. It sucks. It’s annoying, but it’s nice.
Alex: Look at me. You got me. I’m not going anywhere except home with you.
Alex: (To Meredith) It’s just us now.
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 10 Alex Karev quotes:
Alex: Dude, you’re being weird. Get out of my car before you escalate.
Alex: Did I get too close to Wilson? Did an alarm go off somewhere?
Alex: We’re the only family we need, right? We’ll be together forever, right? You and me. And if we have kids, we’ll be great. I’ll be a great dad and you’ll be great and it’ll just be us. We won’t need anybody else, okay?
Jo: Yes, absolutely!
Alex: Who do you think took care of her? Kept track of her? Got her committed so she wouldn’t hurt herself? Who do you think took care of your kids? Your best was worthless. I was the dad. I was the kid, but I was the dad. You were nothing. You were gone. You’re worthless.
Alex: How about we get take out chicken and eat in the car like we were raised to?
Jo: I think I love you.
Alex: Yeah, yeah… settle down.
Alex: You know you were an intern balling an attending once.
Meredith: You kiss my kids with that mouth?
Alex: Find something to play with. Get your yayas out and leave me alone.
Cristina: Like battery-operated?
Alex: No, human.
Cristina: Human sex toy?
Alex: You asked.
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 9 Alex Karev quotes:
Alex: I’m damaged goods or something.
Alex: She’s not my girlfriend.
Cristina: Whatever, you love her.
Alex: She’s my friend.
Cristina: You sound so stupid when you say that.
Alex: She’s moving in with him. What do you want me to do?
Cristina: Punch him and take back the girl.
Jo: Why do you keep calling me princess?
Alex: Have you seen yourself?
Alex: Some of us have to overcome more than others.
Alex: Meredith, I’m not going to potty train your kid.
Meredith: Sorry, you’re right. Forget it.
Alex: Already did.
Alex: We need you back.
Arizona: I’m trying.
Alex: You know, Callie’s trying, too.
Alex: I slept with you.
Callie: And now I no longer sleep with men!
Alex: I’m sorry this happened to you and I’m sorry it made you hate me.
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 8 Alex Karev quotes:
Alex: I’ll give you ten bucks to stab me in the face right now.
Cristina: Have you hit that?
Alex: Nah, she only goes for attendings. Next year.
Alex: George is dead and Izzie’s gone. We’re all different.
Cristina: Where’s Toledo?
Meredith: Canada
Alex: Ohio
Alex: It’s really not cool to mess with someone’s head like this.
Alex: You look like hell. You should go home.
Meredith: Me? You smell bad, you should leave.
Alex: You’re supposed to have my back, I made a mistake. You have to forgive me. You guys are all I have.
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 7 Alex Karev quotes:
Owen: How’d she take it, Karev?
Alex: Bitchy, cause she’s a bitch.
Lexie: Right out of your butt.
Alex: Shut up.
Lexie: He solicited a patient for money.
Cristina: What, are we hooking now?
Alex: No, my African kid thing.
Patient: Oh, don’t pretend to be smart, you crooked, little bastard.
Alex: And don’t pretend you’re poor, you evil, old bitch.
Alex: I’m sure she’s pretty much going to go crazy or get cancer, shot by a gunman, or get hit by a truck, so don’t get your hopes up for Karev’s big happily ever after.
Cristina: Yesterday we were at her stupid baby shower.
Meredith: I take it back. You can be Callie’s baby’s god-mother.
Alex: If there’s a baby to god-mother.
Alex: Can you even see me?
Meredith: Yeah, and you look like a real moron. I need a real eye doctor.
Alex: You need to get over this thing where you’re just thinking of her as your wife because your wife is the only person twisted enough to handle this crap.
Alex: I’m off the trial. It’s too depressing. I can’t handle this for the next two years.
Meredith: Remember when the chief said only two of us would make it?
Alex and Meredith: I thought it would be me and Cristina.
Alex: Pediatric surgery has nothing to do with liking kids. You go into peds because it’s elite. The best of the best.
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 6 Alex Karev quotes:
Alex: Look, I am sorry we’ve been tip-toeing around you all day trying not to make jokes, but you are the one who’s got to stop. Stop calling yourself the fat guy. You’ve got a wife that loves you — that stuck by you through all of this. You did something right to deserve that. Look, I know what it’s like to have life hand you so much crap that you just want to sit on the couch and die, but you got to look at what’s in front of you. You can’t just walk out on her now. She deserves better. Chances are you are gonna die on that table, then you get what you want. But, at least your wife will think you tried. She will tell your kid that you tried. Give them that at least.
Alex: Don’t analyze everything. Just do it.
Alex: You know you’re nothing like your mother, right?
Meredith: You’re nothing like your father.
Alex: You’re good — so you would be good — you’d be a good mom.
Meredith: They’re married.
Alex: You’re just saying that because you think you’re married.
Alex: I know that I’m good enough not to deserve this; not to have to feel like this. Not to love you so much that I almost hate you. I deserve someone who will stay. I’m happy you’re okay and I’m happy about your job. And I want you to go, and be happy, and not come back.
Alex: Love comes and goes. Surgery doesn’t.
Cristina: She attended state school!
Alex: So did I!
Cristina: She’s skinny and blonde.
Alex: So is Mer.
Cristina: She’s annoying.
Alex: So are you.
Meredith: You know what, I’m good. I’m off the hook. I did what I was supposed to do. I offered. Mother Theresa would be proud.
Alex: You gotta go back in there.
Meredith: And do what? Cry and call him daddy?
Alex: He’s the sick one, okay. He’s sick and you’re not. You’ve gotta go back in there. Just say what you’ve gotta say, and make him take it.
Meredith: Alex, I tried.
Alex: Try again.
Cristina: You can’t do that.
Alex: Why not?
Cristina: Because that’s not how it works. I mean, she’s just been through hell. She’s not okay yet. Just give her one, Alex.
Alex: Since when did you become a marriage counselor?
Cristina: I guess when you save someone’s life you kinda want it not to suck.
Alex: Dude, are you crying?
Arizona: I have authority issues. Walk away, Karev!
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 5 Alex Karev quotes:
Izzie: What happened to “this is your decision.”?
Alex: That was when I thought you were gonna make the right one! But, you chose wrong, so now you don’t get to make this decision on your own because you married me! It’s not just your life at stake anymore! It’s my life, too. My life with you! So you can tell Swinder whatever you want, but I’m telling Shepherd, and I’m telling you that you’re having the surgery!
Alex: What if it was Meredith? What would you do if you had to choose between spending a few more months with Meredith knowing she was gonna die. Watching her… watching her sick. Or spending the rest of your life with someone who looked like Meredith, but wasn’t her anymore? She is the one good thing that happened to me. The one good thing. So, I need to know what to do. I need you to tell me, what if it was Meredith.
Derek: I would ask her to have the surgery.
Izzie: Oh, we didn’t write anything.
Alex: No, wait. I have something I wanna say. Today’s the day my life begins. All my life I’ve been just me. Just a smart mouth kid. Today I become a man. Today I become a husband. Today I become accountable to someone other than myself. Today I become accountable to you. To our future. To all the possibilities that a marriage has to offer. Together, no matter what happens, I’ll be ready. For anything. For everything. To take on life, to take on love. To take on possibility and responsibility. Today, Izzie Stevens, our life together begins. And I, for one, can’t wait.
Alex: Doesn’t matter how tough we are, trauma always leaves a scar. It follows us home, it changes our lives, trauma messes everybody up, but maybe that’s the point. All the pain and the fear and the crap. Maybe going through all of that is what keeps us moving forward. It’s what pushes us. Maybe we have to get a little messed up, before we can step up.
Alex: Surgeons are all messed up. We’re butchers — messed up, knife-happy butchers. We cut people up, we move on. Patients die on our watch, we move on. We cause trauma, we suffer trauma. We don’t have time to worry about all the blood and death and crap it really makes us feel.
Alex: That’s crazy. They just told me I could be the future of this hospital. That I’m the resident to watch. And that’s… I mean… I’m not the kinda guy who… I don’t rise, okay. I sink to the bottom. And now I’m getting all this… all this respect. And you… you gotta, you gotta stop wasting all your time with this patient X crap.
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 4 Alex Karev quotes:
Alex: Man, high school really does suck.
Alex: I saw the whole thing, Yang. You can stop pretending.
Cristina: Oh I’m not pretending. I’m sad. I’m very sad. Me so sad!
Alex: Yes, you tried.
Cristina: Hey, forget it. Sad is mine. Go, find your own pretend-emotion.
Callie: The bottom of your bottom.
Molly: My ass? I broke my ass?
Alex: That’s one way to look at it.
Mark: Don’t look at it!
Alex: I’m going over Callie’s head to Bailey.
Cristina: Callie is over Bailey’s head…
Meredith: Spiritually, Bailey’s over everyone’s head.
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 3 Alex Karev quotes:
Alex: I just try to find the hottest chick in the room and sit by her.
Addison: Stop.
Alex: Do you want to ditch the reception and grab a drink?
Addison: Stop it. You don’t want me.
Alex: Maybe I do.
Meredith: So, are you going to give me an inspirational speech too?
Alex: No.
Alex: It’s my job.
Addison: No, it’s my job. I’m her doctor. You’re my intern.
Alex: Which is why I have to know her stats at all times. Because I’m not about to stand next to you in your OR and be anything less than over-prepared, okay? There’s no way I’m gonna go to work every day with a surgeon like you and not be at the top of my game. So, if you wanna yell at me…
Alex: I dunno… it’s just… Meredith always makes me think screwed up people have a chance.
Alex: I would notice.
Addison: What?
Alex: I would notice…if you were missing. I would notice.
Alex: Hey. I’m not going to be able to make it to your surgery. Here’s the thing. You were crushed underneath a cement pylon. Dozens of people on that ferry boat died, but you’re still alive. So, when I come back to check on you after the surgery, you better still be alive. All right? You hear me? All right.
Cristina: Hey! What was the site like? Was it gory? Was it a trauma bonanza? Obviously terrible.
Alex: I don’t talk to thieves.
Cristina: What?
Alex: You stole my Jane Doe right off from under me.
Cristina: I am not a thief. Man, you balked. You’re a balker.
Alex: I was thinking.
Meredith: And Alex. I don’t know what’s wrong with Alex.
Alex: I’m good. I’m all good.
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 2 Alex Karev quotes:
Meredith: Dude, you lost your mojo.
Alex: Excuse you?
Meredith: I was trying to talk boy.
Alex: O’Malley plugs a hole with his finger and everyone walks around like he’s some kind of hero. I have one off day.
Meredith: You chickened out.
Alex: I hesitated briefly.
Izzie: You do glow.
Alex: Like the moon.
Bailey: And you can spend the day in the pit, Karev.
Derek: The first person I killed? I was a second-year resident. James Hanson. Go home, Dr. Karev. There’s nothing you can do for him now.
Alex: No one should die alone.
Alex: Nice panties, Yang!
Cristina: In your dreams, Evil Spawn!
Alex: Let’s say you were drafted to a team that wasn’t your first pick. You know, you don’t like the players. You hate the way they play the game. You even think the quarterback is full of crap. The quarterback’s a pain in the ass you don’t owe a damn thing to. But, it’s your team. You don’t quit. You don’t talk to the press. You don’t bitch to the coach. You just… you go out there on Sunday and you make the blocks and you take the hits and you play to win. You show up and you suit up and you play, because it’s your freaking team.
Izzie: I cut the LVAT wire.
Meredith: Actually, I cut the LVAT wire.
George: No, I did. I’m the one who cut the wire.
Cristina: Fine, I cut the LVAT wire.
Alex: I didn’t do anything, I’m totally innocent.
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ season 1 Alex Karev quotes:
Alex: I have a cute butt, too. Want to see?
Meredith: Oh, get out. You’re doing it wrong.
Alex: Be my guest.
George: What? Alex. Alex! What!? Hey!
Alex: Everybody’s got a secret. Just be glad yours is out in the open.
Cristina: Oh yeah, Alex? What’s yours?
Alex: Show me yours and I’ll show you mine. I bet you’ve got some seriously kinky skeletons in your closet.
Cristina: What’s in my closet is none of your business.
George: Are you sure you know what you’re doing?
Alex: It’s a shot of penicillin, George. Be grateful that I am doing this. I’ve already seen more of you than I ever wanted to. I’ll fight the nightmares for a week.
Meredith: I tried to talk Dr. Shepherd out of that clot surgery. What is wrong with me?
Alex: Basically, you tried to kill a guy.
Cristina: Basically, you’re an ass.
Meredith: No. I can’t, I’m seeing someone.
Alex: Look, if you don’t want to go out with me just say so, you don’t need to lie.
Meredith: Oh, okay. I don’t want to go out with you… and I think I might be seeing someone.
Meredith: Are you really as shallow and callous as you seem?
Alex: Want to grab a drink and hear about my secret pain?
Meredith: Does that line ever work for you?
Alex: Sometimes.
Cristina: You know, it’s like there’s a wall. The attendings and the residents are over there being surgeons, and we’re over here being–
Meredith: Suturing, code-running, lab-delivering penis minders.
Alex: I hate being an intern.
Bailey: An intern was reassigned, so he’s mine now. Have him shadow you for the day. Show him how I do things.
Alex: Alex Karev, nice to meet you.
Cristina: Ah, the pig who called Meredith a nurse. I hate you on principle.
Alex: And you’re the pushy, overbearing kiss ass. I hate you too.
Cristina: Well, this should be fun then.