House of Cards is an American political thriller streaming television series created by Beau Willimon. It is based on the 1989 novel of the same name by Michael Dobbs and an adaptation of the 1990 BBC series of the same name by Andrew Davies, also from the novel. The first 13-episode season was released on February 1, 2013, on the streaming service Netflix. House of Cards is the first TV series to have been produced by a studio for Netflix.
House of Cards is set in Washington, D.C., and is the story of Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey), an amoral politician and Democrat from South Carolina’s 5th congressional district and his equally ambitious wife Claire Underwood (Robin Wright). Frank is passed over for appointment as Secretary of State but remains House Majority Whip, so he initiates an elaborate plan to attain power, aided by Claire.
The series deals with themes of ruthless pragmatism, manipulation, betrayal, and power. House of Cards received highly positive reviews and numerous award nominations, including 33 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actor for Spacey, and Outstanding Lead Actress for Wright. It is the first original online-only streaming television series to receive major Emmy nominations.
The show also earned eight Golden Globe Award nominations, with Wright winning for Best Actress – Television Series Drama in 2014 and Spacey winning for Best Actor – Television Series Drama in 2015. In 2017, following allegations of sexual misconduct against Spacey, Netflix terminated their relationship with the actor. The sixth and final season was produced and released in 2018 without his involvement.
Some of the best quotes from House of Cards are listed below.
- “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.” – Frank Underwood
- “A great man once said, everything is about sex. Except for sex. Sex is about power.” – Frank Underwood
- “A lion does not ask permission before he eats a zebra. Lions cannot talk, and zebras will not listen.” – Frank Underwood
- “A person’s character isn’t determined by how he or she enjoys victory, but rather how he or she endures defeat.” – Frank Underwood
- “A smart man once said to me that speculation is a poor form of politics. Why don’t you stick to what you know?” – Frank Underwood
- “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.” – Frank Underwood
- “Brave is never giving up. You fight, no matter what.” – Hannay Conway
- “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.” – Frank Underwood
- “Democracy is so overrated.” – Frank Underwood
- “Do you think I am a hypocrite? Well, you should. I wouldn’t disagree with you.” – Frank Underwood
- “Even though I am an adult man, I enjoy video games.” – Frank Underwood
- “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.” – Frank Underwood
- “First, you must learn to pull an oar. Only then can you take the helm.” – Frank Underwood
- “Friends make the worst enemies.” – Frank Underwood
- “From this moment on, you are a rock. You absorb nothing, you say nothing, and nothing breaks you.” – Frank Underwood
- “Generosity is its own form of power.” – Frank Underwood
- “Grief demands an answer, but sometimes there isn’t one.” – Tom Hammerschmidt
- “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.” – Frank Underwood
- “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.” – Tom Hammerschmidt
- “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.” – Frank Underwood
- “How quickly poor grades are forgotten in the shadow of power and wealth.” – Frank Underwood
- “I feel exposed. Like the skin where my ring used to be. Even Achilles was only as strong as his heel.” – Frank Underwood
- “I have often found that bleeding hearts have an ironic fear of their own blood.” – Frank Underwood
- “I have zero tolerance for betrayal, which they will soon indelibly learn.” – Frank Underwood
- “I hear silence, I don’t like that sound.” – Frank Underwood
- “I just love this painting, don’t you? We’re in the same boat now, Zoe. Take care not to tip it over; I can only save one of us.” – Frank Underwood
- “I love that woman. I love her more than sharks love blood.” – Frank Underwood
- “I wouldn’t be sitting here if I wanted a shoulder to cry on.” – Frank Underwood
- “I’m not worried about your brain. It’s your heart we’re talking about.” – Claire Underwood
- “I’ve always loathed the necessity of sleep. Like death, it puts even the most powerful men on their backs.” – Frank Underwood
- “I’ve always said that power is more important than money. But when it comes to elections, money gives power.” – Frank Underwood
- “I’ve never given someone a third chance.” – Frank Underwood
- “If we never did the things we shouldn’t do, we’d never feel good about doing the things we should.” – Frank Underwood
- “If you don’t like how the table is set, turn over the table.” – Frank Underwood
- “Imagination is its own form of courage.” – Frank Underwood
- “It only takes ten seconds to crush a man’s ambitions.” – Frank Underwood
- “It’s good to have dreams, just so long as they’re not fantasies.” – Freddy Hayes
- “Not everyone can be on the right side of history.” – Frank Underwood
- “Now, history judges every leader, every president, by how he or she treats his or her own people.” – Claire Underwood
- “Of all the things that I hold in high regard, rules are not one of them.” – Frank Underwood
- “Pay attention to the fine print. It’s far more important than the selling price.” – Frank Underwood
- “Peace should not have to be bought. Peace should be its own reward.” – Frank Underwood
- “People underestimate the importance of detail to the overall impact.” – Frank Underwood
- “Politics is no longer theater, it’s show business. So let’s put on the best show in town.” – Frank Underwood
- “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. Centuries from now, when people watch this footage, who will they see smiling just at the edge of the frame?” – Frank Underwood
- “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.” – Frank Underwood
- “Presidents who obsess over history obsess about their place in it, instead of forging it.” – Frank Underwood
- “Proximity to power deludes some into thinking they wield it.” – Frank Underwood
- “Shake with your right hand, but hold a rock in your left.” – Frank Underwood
- “Sometimes I think the presidency is the illusion of choice.” – Frank Underwood
- “Sometimes the only way to gain your superior’s respect is to defy him.” – Frank Underwood
- “Success is a mixture of preparation and luck.” – Frank Underwood
- “Such a shame how ruthless pragmatism gets weighed down by family values. Without that doctor and his pimply-faced brood, she could soar as high as this plane. Oh, I know – the marriage was my idea. Don’t remind me.” – Frank Underwood
- “Such a waste of talent. He chose money over power. In this town, a mistake nearly everyone makes. Money is the MC-mansion in Sarasota that starts falling apart after 10 years. Power is the old stone building that stands for centuries. I cannot respect someone who doesn’t see the difference.” – Frank Underwood
- “Take a step back. Look at the bigger picture.”– Frank Underwood
- “That’s how you devour a whale… one bite at a time.” – Frank Underwood
- “The best thing about human beings is that they stack so neatly.” – Frank Underwood
- “The blood is on all of our hands, and doing nothing is the same as pulling a trigger.” – Claire Underwood
- “The gift of a good liar is making people think you lack a talent for lying.” – Frank Underwood
- “The heart can choke the mind when all its blood flows back to itself.” – Frank Underwood
- “The nature of promises is that they remain immune to changing circumstances.” – Frank Underwood
- “The only problem with common sense is that it’s so common.” – Frank Underwood
- “The road to power is paved with hypocrisy and casualties. Never regret.” – Frank Underwood
- “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.” – Frank Underwood
- “There can be no false steps now. The higher up the mountain the more treacherous the path.” – Frank Underwood
- “There is no solace above or below. Only us – small, solitary, striving, battling one another. I pray to myself, for myself.” – Frank Underwood
- “There is nothing more lonely or terrifying than feeling unheard.” – Frank Underwood
- “There’s no better way to overpower a trickle of doubt than with a flood of naked truth.” – Frank Underwood
- “Time is precious. Powerful people don’t have the luxury of foreplay.” – Zoe Barnes
- “To improve is to change. To perfect is to change often.” – Frank Underwood
- “To mourn is not to fear. To grieve is not to admit defeat.” – Frank Underwood
- “We are nothing more or less than what we choose to reveal.” – Frank Underwood
- “What’s the face of a coward? The back of his head as he runs from the battle.” – Frank Underwood
- “When the money’s coming your way, you don’t ask questions.” – Frank Underwood
- “You are entitled to nothing.” – Frank Underwood
- “You build your future, it isn’t handed to you.” – Frank Underwood
- “You can’t turn a ‘NO’ to a ‘YES’ without a ‘MAYBE’ in between.” – Frank Underwood
- “You have to respect your own mortality.” – Frank Underwood
- “You know, it’s pure feeling for me. Light versus dark. And that line where they meet.” – Claire Underwood
