Although Katherine Heigl left Grey’s Anatomy after only a few seasons in 2010, and there has been no small amount of drama surrounding her time on the hospital drama, many fans still count her character Izzie Stevens among their favorites. Part of it is nostalgia for the original group of interns who lived in Meredith’s house.
But Izzie is also a funny, strong character who speaks her mind and lives by the courage of her convictions. She might make bad decisions and mistakes on a regular basis, but that’s just who she is, so that’s part of her charm. Let’s take a look at 10 of Izzie’s best quotes on Grey’s Anatomy.
10. “Gather around and check out the booty that put Izzie Stevens through Med. school!”
In the first season, everyone finds out that Izzie was a model, and it’s a moment full of embarrassment for her… until she says this amazing quote and proves to everyone that she’s strong, independent, and can handle anything.
You wanna call me Dr. Model? That’s fine. But just remember that while you’re all still sitting on 200 grand of student loans, I’m out of debt.
This is definitely one of Izzie’s best quotes from the TV drama since she tells it like she sees it. Many people can relate to being in debt or, at least, worrying about how to pay rent or make ends meet, so good for Izzie of taking control of her financial future.
9. “You try eating after performing 17 rectal exams.”
Well, she has a point… While many of us aren’t doctors and don’t work in a hospital environment so we’ve never had this particular experience, we can definitely relate to what Izzie is talking about here.
Grey’s Anatomy may be a fairly heavy show packed with drama and strife, but sometimes, the characters crack jokes or say lines that are funny. This is one of Izzie’s greatest quotes since it comes out of nowhere and packs a hilarious, perfect punch.
8. “Because, we’re married now. This is how it’s supposed to be. You and me, out in the world, making a life for ourselves.”
At the beginning of the sixth season, Izzie and Alex are living in a trailer, and they aren’t exactly having the greatest time out in nature.
When Alex actually suggests that he and Izzie go back to living with Meredith, Izzie says this quote, continuing, “Besides, don’t you just enjoy waking up to the fresh air and the sounds of birds chirping.” Alex asks, “You know what I enjoy? I enjoy plumbing! I enjoy plumbing so much!” This is a humorous exchange, but it also doesn’t bode well for their marriage.
7. “I know people die. People die in front of us every day. But Meredith will survive this. I believe - I - I believe in the good…”
This quote is from the season three episode “Drowning On Dry Land” which is famous since it’s when Meredith almost drowns. This is the heyday of Grey’s Anatomy when episodes were shocking and dramatic and fans couldn’t stop watching.
I believe that it’s been a hell of a year, and I believe that in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, we’ll all be okay… And I believe that if I eat a tub of butter and no one sees me, then calories don’t count. And I believe that surgeons who prefer staples over stitches are just lazy.
Izzie’s speech is perfection and manages to be both funny (when she talks about butter) and sad (when she talks about death, of course).
6. “I feel like I’m moving in slow motion. Like I’m moving in slow motion and everything around me is moving so fast and I just want to go back to when things were normal.”
In this quote from the third season episode “Time Has Come Today,” Izzie is having a really tough time and is talking about Denny’s death.
Izzie has a great way of really getting to the heart of a sad, difficult moment. Her description of grief as “moving in slow motion” is incredibly accurate. Sure, sometimes Izzie can sound overdramatic (and so can every character on the show), but in this case, what she’s saying makes perfect sense.
5. “Hey, you’re Addison Forbes Montgomery-Shepherd. That’s a lot of names, a lot of rich-sounding names. You’re rich, right? That’s rude. That’s a rude question. I’m sorry. It’s just I’m rich now too.”
After Denny passes away, Izzie discovers that she was in his will and she is getting some money… as in a lot of money ($8.7 million, actually). When she says this to Addison (Kate Walsh), it’s hilarious how she just rambles on.
It’s clear that Izzie isn’t used to having a lot of money and that she doesn’t really know to handle it.
4. “You never know the biggest day of your life is going to be the biggest…”
Every character on the show can be profound at times and hilarious at others. Izzie’s observation about the big and regular days is definitely in the profound category. This quote is from the fifth season episode “What a Difference a Day Makes” where Izzie and Alex tie the knot.
The days you think are going to be the big ones, they are never as big as you make them out to be in your head. It’s the regular days, the ones that start out normal. Those are the days that end up being the biggest.
It’s a devastating episode where Izzie’s cancer isn’t getting better, as she has a second tumor, and she keeps seeing Denny Duquette (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). The Izzie/Denny storyline manages to be both kind of ridiculous (more on that later) and also very sweet and romantic.
3. “What self-respecting surgeon wears salmon-colored scrubs?”
Most of the time, the characters on Grey’s Anatomy are wearing scrubs, and they’re a dull blue color. That’s why this is one of Izzie’s best quotes. Some people might agree with her and say that salmon is too close to pink and no surgeon should wear pink scrubs. Others would say that pink is a happy color and you can do whatever you want, and that the color of your scrubs has nothing to do with your surgery talents.
No matter where fans fall on that scrubs issue, one thing is for sure: Izzie can be pretty funny.
2. “You kissed me… Should we?… I mean, there’s a discussion that we could have… if you wanted to have one?”
When Izzie says this to Alex Karev (Justin Chambers), it’s funny and sweet. Everyone has been in this situation before, and it’s so awkward. No matter how many times we tell ourselves that we’ll own up to our emotions and be braver in our dating lives, it’s tough to talk to our crush.
Grey’s Anatomy handles relationships really well, which is a good thing since the characters seem to fall in love with a new person every week. (Okay, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration… but not by much.) Izzie and Alex have an interesting relationship, and they’re really cute together (until he meets his true love, Jo, and fans like them a lot more).
1. “He doesn’t make me feel like I’m a pretty girl. He makes me feel like… like me. I think he might know me.”
Everyone knows how wacky it is when Izzie falls in love with Denny and becomes, yes, intimate with his ghost. It’s one of the show’s most infamous scenes.
And so if I did cut the L-Vad wire, and I’m not saying I did, but if I did then no. I don’t feel guilty. And I know that I should and I would if it were anybody else. But I can’t feel anything but happy.
Even though this storyline is questionable in terms of believability and reality, Izzie manages to bring some heart and real emotion into the moment with this quote. When she explains how Denny makes her feel, it’s sweet and almost makes fans understand why she got so caught up with his ghost. (Almost.)
