Elizabeth: This was a really hard week. I'm sorry if I wasn't entirely myself.
Henry: Yeah, I was meaning to talk to you about that. When you're saving the world, could you be a little more cheerful, please?

Mrs. Stewart: You don't have to explain World War II to me. I understand that one.
Elizabeth: And you also understand that one of the greatest things to come out of all those sacrifices was the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It was created to prevent the circumstances that caused both world wars, an imbalance of military power among neighboring countries. People build a strong army, they want to use it. Maybe annex a weaker country, and then another. And suddenly, everyone has to jump into the fight. World war. And the last one produced the most dangerous weapon of all. So the superpowers met each other's capabilities . They signed a nonproliferation agreement to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. Because of NATO, we were able to say to our allies you don't need to build up your military or nuclear arsenal to feel safe from Russia or any other enemy. Because we have your back. Our army is your army. Your conflict is our conflict. If NATO fails, the European nations will be on their own. And then everyone jumps back into an arms race. And I truly believe that is the end of our western democracy as we know it.

So if the most important agreement since the Magna Carta falls apart on my watch, I'll probably never make it on a stamp, right?

Elizabeth

Daisy: Have you at least, you know, trolled him?
Nadine: Oh....that's...stalky.
Daisy: Yesterday's stalky is today's getting to know you. Take it from the girl who got knocked up by a guy with a false identity.

Daisy: I saw you, checking out his butt.
Nadine: To whose *butt* are we referring?
Daisy: Oh, Nadine, come on. I'm pregnant and alone. If you're having some awesome, torrid affair, you *have* to let me in.

Mike B: On to the kompromat. The Russians have more words for "blackmail" than the Eskimos have for "snow." That's what we're doing, right?
Elizabeth: We prefer "inducements."
Mike B: Aww.

  • Permalink: Aww.
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Blake [holding tennis shoes]: Ma'am, Russell Jackson wants to meet right away and he's requested that you wear flats.
Elizabeth [pause]: Why?
Blake: I didn't ask. I thought it might be classified. Or weird.
Elizabeth [mutters]: It's probably both.

What the hell, Russia? Can't take our eye off you for a second. Just like my son. One self-destructive boneheaded move after another.

Mike B [watching the news]

Elizabeth: We used to play board games by candlelight, remember that?
Allison: Because the place has no electricity.
Jason [alarmed]: What do you mean by that?
Henry: It's a box, with cold running water.

Oh my God. You have literally been shot by terrorists and your nervous about a job interview?

Elizabeth [to Henry]

Elizabeth [after their argument is resolved]: And I do want to see pay stubs.
Mike B: Of course you do. I would too. {pause] Another wonderful threshold of intimacy crossed.

Ugh, I loathe our lunchtime runs. Why can't we just have salads at Cafe du Parc like normal people?

Mike B [to Elizabeth]

Madam Secretary Season 3 Quotes

Elizabeth: Yes, Matt, my question was largely rhetorical. But I appreciate you being at the ready with your political ire.
Matt: Well, I'm always here for you, ma'am.

Daisy: You were a huge hit at the fair, ma'am. Your pig remark is trending.
Elizabeth: Wow, take that Lincoln and your Gettysburg Address. *I'm* going to be known for the pig remark.