Dr. Derek Shepherd isn’t the only Grey’s Anatomy character known for dropping some amazing wisdom on the show. His onscreen wife, played by Ellen Pompeo, is always giving audiences the most intentional, well-thought-out lines to ponder after an episode is over. From thinking about grief, to speaking the truth about adulthood, Grey’s fans have come to love and worship nearly everything Meredith Grey says. Scroll down to see some of Dr. Grey’s most memorable quotes!

On love: “I think it is important to take the time to tell the people you love how much you love them while they can still hear you.”

On adulthood: “Remember when you were a kid and your biggest worry was, like, if you’d get a bike for your birthday or if you’d get to eat cookies for breakfast. Being an adult? Totally overrated. I mean seriously, don’t be fooled by all the hot shoes and the great sex and the no parents anywhere telling you what to do. Adulthood is responsibility.”

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On persistence: “Knowing is better than wondering, waking is better than sleeping, and even the biggest failure, even the worst, beats the hell out of never trying.”

To McDreamy: “So pick me. Choose me. Love me.”

On alcohol: “More tequila. More love. More anything. More is better.”

On time: “Time flies. Time waits for no man. Time heals all wounds. All any of us wants is more time. Time to stand up. Time to grow up. Time to let go. Time.”

On the future: “We spend our whole lives worrying about the future, planning for the future, trying to predict the future. As if figuring it out will somehow cushion the blow. But the future is always changing. The future is the home of our deepest fears and our wildest hopes. But one thing is certain: When it finally reveals itself, the future is never the way we imagined it.”

On dating: “I think you can’t wait for someone to fly underneath you and save your life. I think you have to save yourself.”

On progress: “We’ll try and we’ll fail again because that’s what progress looks like. Progress looks like a bunch of failures. And you’re going to have feelings about that because it’s sad, but you cannot fall apart. And then one day, we will succeed and save a person’s life and we will walk on the moon.”

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(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

On life: “Life is not a spectator sport. Win, lose or draw, the game is in progress, whether we want it to be, or not. So, go ahead, argue with the refs, change the rules… cheat a little, take a break… and tend to your wounds. But play. Play. Play hard. Play fast. Play loose and free. Play as if there’s no tomorrow.”

On following your heart: “When we follow our hearts, when we choose not to settle, it’s funny isn’t it? A weight lifts. The sun shines a little brighter and for a brief moment at least, we find a little peace.”

On getting what you want: “If there’s just one piece of advice I can give you, it’s this – when there’s something you really want, fight for it – don’t give up no matter how hopeless it seems. And when you’ve lost hope…ask yourself in 10 years from now…you’re gonna wish you gave it just one more shot. Because the best things in life, they don’t come free.”

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On life: “Just because we can live without something, it doesn’t mean we have to.”

On friendship: “We’re friends, real friends, and that means no matter how long it takes when you finally decide to look back… I’ll still be here.”

On fear: “Sometimes it’s good to be scared. It means you still have something to lose…”

On expectations: “You gotta wonder why we cling to our expectations. Because the expected is just what keeps us steady… standing… still. The expected is just the beginning. The unexpected… is what changes our lives.”

On change: “But here’s the truth — sometimes, the more things change, the more they stay the same. And sometimes, oh, sometimes, change is good. Sometimes, change is… everything.”

On failing: “We’ll try and we’ll fail again because that’s what progress looks like. Progress looks like a bunch of failures. And you’re going to have feelings about that because it’s sad, but you cannot fall apart. And then one day, we will succeed and save a person’s life and we will walk on the moon.”

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