Grey’s Anatomy: The 10 Most Sensible Maggie Pierce Quotes, Ranked

Maggie Pierce, Meredith Grey’s long estranged half-sister, isn’t just a talented surgeon but a source for some frank and relatable quotes

Maggie Pierce arrives at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in season ten of the hit medical drama, Grey’s Anatomy. Dr. Cristina Yang is interviewing candidates to replace her as head of Cardiothoracic surgery and Maggie is one of those candidates. Maggie is much younger than the average surgeon, having completed medical school at age 19, she replaces longtime series mainstay Cristina.

Upon her arrival, she reveals that her birth mother was a surgeon at the hospital when it was called “Seattle Grace.” It doesn’t take long for her fellow doctors to figure out that Maggie is the lovechild of Ellis Grey and Richard Webber. Like her parents, Maggie is prone to giving some sound advice at the most unexpected times – 10 of which have been gathered here for Grey’s Anatomy fans’ reading pleasure.

“When I find a puzzle, it’s very hard for me to put it down.”

Maggie is incredibly intelligent, which is how she came to practice medicine at such a young age. In the opening of the episode titled, “Puzzle with a Missing Piece,” Maggie explains that she got into medicine because of her love of puzzles.

She says in the opening monologue that practicing medicine is like one big puzzle. Basically, you’re given all the facts and information, and it’s your job to piece all of that together to find the solution.

“I didn’t need you to be a good father. I just needed you to be honest with me.”

Maggie doesn’t know that Richard Webber is her father when she first arrives at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital as the new head of Cardiothoracic Surgery. She tells Richard that she knows she is Ellis Grey’s daughter, she’s figured that much out, but who her father is remains a mystery because Ellis died before Maggie could meet her and ask.

As soon as Maggie shares this information with Webber, he knows he’s her father, but he keeps that from Maggie for an inappropriate amount of time.

“Is everyone in this room somehow related?”

Maggie’s intelligence isn’t just for the operating room, she absorbs information quickly and her wit helps her interact in social situations. When she meets Dr. Amelia Shepherd, Amelia explains that she’s Derek’s sister, in addition to being a doctor at the same hospital.

Maggie asks a hypothetical question, realizing that so many of her co-workers seem to be either related or dating. Maggie’s comment makes Richard uneasy, who hears her ask the question, but laughs it off to avoid telling her the truth about their relationship.

“I’m acting like a grown ass woman and I’m asking him out…”

Maggie Pierce is one of the smartest doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, but that doesn’t make her immune to the romantic drama that seems to always take place between doctors, nurses, and surgeons at the hospital.

Maggie develops a crush on a fellow doctor, Nathan Riggs. The problem is, Meredith has a crush on Nathan too. Maggie doesn’t know how Meredith feels, so one day in the operating room, she confides in Meredith, telling her she’s going to take control of the situation and make a move on Nathan.

“You all come up here and you watch the surgeries, why?”

Maggie’s character is frequently used to call out things that have previously gone unnoticed in the seasons before her arrival. One of those things is the galleries over the operating rooms.

Throughout the entire series, the main doctors frequently gather in the galley with snacks and catch up on each other’s lives while watching a surgery in the room below them. No one every questions this practice, until Maggie, who points out, that it’s not a common thing for surgeons to do.

“You think I look too young. It’s pretty annoying, right?”

Part of Maggie’s charm is how self-aware she is. Maggie understands that she is different and she’s accomplished and she also understands how that could affect people around her and the people she meets. She picks up on this during her interview with Cristina.

Cristina is also a fellow over-achiever and even she’s annoyed by all Maggie has accomplished at such a young age. Maggie picks up on Cristina’s reaction to her impressive resume, and she calls it out, breaking any potential tension and making herself seem even more qualified.

“Loyalty is so rare in this world.”

Dr. April Kepner and Dr. Meredith Grey are going head to head for the Chief Attending position at the hospital, causing the other doctors to choose sides. Maggie is obviously Team Meredith because of their relationship and because they get along so well.

When April beat Meredith out for the position, Meredith and her support team are upset. Maggie doesn’t try to hide her feelings about the situation, making this snide comment in April’s direction while tending to a patient.

“I just had to bring the thunder.”

Being in a position of authority at such a young age would be difficult for anyone, and Maggie knows that. Maggie has spent most of her life fighting against stereotypes for attractive, young women trying to work in a a male-dominated profession.

Maggie knows the only way that anyone will ever take her seriously is if she stands her ground. She calls it “bringing the thunder.” Maggie advises her fellow doctor Jo to do the same thing if she wants to keep up with everyone else in their profession. It’s sound advice from one strong woman to another.

“…it’s a secret, and that’s what you do with secrets. You keep them secret.”

One of the love affairs Maggie has is with Dr. Andrew DeLuca. DeLuca is considered a heart throb by many of his co-workers and when he catches Maggie’s eye, the two begin seeing each other behind closed doors.

Maggie doesn’t want anyone to know about their relationship because she has worked so hard to maintain her professionalism and something like a love affair with an intern could ruin what she’s worked so hard for. She frequently finds herself reminding DeLuca to keep things under wraps.

“I found my sister, and I think I hate her.”

Maggie and Meredith did not get off to a good start. Meredith immediately resented Maggie for taking Cristina’s place at the hospital. Any new doctor trying to find their place in this group would struggle to find it with all of the close-knit relationships that have already formed

But add to that, the fact that Maggie is Meredith’s sister and Meredith doesn’t know that yet, it makes things even more tense. Maggie knows what she’s feeling and she isn’t afraid to voice those emotions – much to some others’ chagrin.