36 replies to this topic

[DollEyes]

There are so many great quotes on Downton Abbey that even the simplest ones can make a lasting impression, from Sir Richard Carlisle's clinical proposal to Lady Mary ("I think very highly of you") to Anna's profession of love for Bates ("I love you, Mr. Bates") from Matthew's sweet confession to Mary that "[he] could never despise [her]" to every word that comes out of a certain Dowager Countess' mouth.

Please discuss your favorite Downton Abbey quotes here as politely as possible.

[Amester0120]

Dowager Countess: What is a weekend?

[ScarletAngel]

How about

What is a "weekend"?

Arguably the quote that personifies Downton Abbey.

ETA
Obviously, Amester0120 and I were thinking of the same thing!

So I will add. "I promise to devote every waking minute to your happiness."

Edited by ScarletAngel, Jan 6, 2013 @ 1:46 PM.

[Iwonder]

M and M dancing while Lavinia was upstairs with the flu - 'where is your stick?" "You ARE my stick."

One of the most beautifully done scenes in the entire series. That, and their train station scene in Season 2, Episode 1. Wow.

[DollEyes]

My favorite quotes from this week's episode:

Martha to Lady Mary: "Tell me all your wedding plans and I'll tell you what I can do to improve them."

Mr. Carson to Thomas, about Bates: "In this house, Mr. Bates is a wronged man seeking justice. If you have a problem with that definition, you can go eat in the yard."

Of course, here's some gems from the Dowager Countess, aka "the D.C.," for short:

Martha, to the D.C.: "I'm afraid the war has made old women of us both."
D.C.: "I don't know about that. I tend to stay out of the sun."

The D.C. to Robert, "No guest should be admitted without a date of departure settled."
Robert: "You'll get no argument from me."

The D.C. to Alfred the Footman, about his height: "I thought you were walking on stilts."

The D.C., about servants: "An aristocrat without servants is about as useful to the county as a glass hammer."

Edited by DollEyes, Jan 7, 2013 @ 12:37 PM.

[mcjen]

S3, E1 - The DC: (on being told the handwriting on the letter that sent money to attend the wedding to Sybil and Tom did not look like hers) "No, Smithers did it. Like all ladies' maids, she lives for intrigue."

Edited by mcjen, Jan 9, 2013 @ 2:10 PM.

[Smackeymouth]

S3, E1- Matthew Crawley, leaning against the door with his goofy little wisftul grin:

"Can I kiss you? Because I need to. Very much."

I melted, y'all. MELTED.

[iamnot]

My favorite line from the DC in S3/E1:

Mary: Listen, everyone! Mr. Grey has given my brother-in-law something to make him appear drunk.

DC: Could it be drink?

Such a smartass!

[dorakpasa]

The DC to Mary - Nothing succeeds like excess.

The DC to Robert - Oh, I'm so sorry. I thought you were a waiter.

[Constantinople]

Regarding the flower show
Dowager Countess: You talk of Mr Moseley's pride. What about my gardener's pride? Is he to be sacrificed on the altar of Moseley's ambition?

The Dowager Countess comments on her late son-in-law
Lady Rosamund: Marmaduke wasn't a rough diamond, was he Mama?
Dowager Countess: No. He was just cut and polished comparatively recently.

[pairafids]

Dowager Countess: What is a weekend?

Loved that line! And a good part of why it's so great is the delivery by Maggie Smith: "What IS a weeKEND?" Really emphasizes Violet's complete befuddlement and unfamiliarity with the word/idea.

[Amester0120]

Dowager Countess: Vulgarity is no substitute for wit.

Mary: If you try to find one more excuse not to accept the money, I'll have to beat you about the head.

[Andorra97]

LG: You live in a very harsh world
Tom Branson: We all live in a harsh world. At least I know I do.

[lulee]

Mary, "'Alfred's nice but he does look like a puppy rescued from a puddle"

[BeetFarmGirl]

Maggie Smith did it again this week.

(on the new footman) He looks like a footman from a musical revue.

and also

on setting fire to the Dromgool castle being called a tragedy:
Well, yes and no. That house was hideous. Of course, that is no excuse.

[ravenqueen]

Dowager Countess: Vulgarity is no substitute for wit.

That may honestly be my favourite line from any TV show ever.

I also love the DC's line, “I have lots of friends I don’t like.”

And again, the lovely DC: "We can't have him assassinated ... I suppose ..."

I honestly don't know what would happen to this show if, God forbid, Maggie Smith left or her character was killed off. She's the best part - even the inferior episodes can be saved with a few Dowager Countess zingers.

[Sunshine55]

I'm finally getting around to seeing the whole series and, like everyone else, I love the Dowager Countess. Maggie Smith is all kinds of awesome.
A couple of my favorites:
I can't remember the exact quote, but they're discussing Sybil becoming a nurse, and the DC says something about "queens and princesses ladling soup down the throat of some unfortunate." It's all in her delivery.
Then there's "You're a lady, not Toad of Toad Hall."

[DollEyes]

Another gem from the D.C., from last week's episode, regarding Sybil's condition and the attempts to "protect" the D.C. from the more graphic details: "A woman my age can face reality better than most men."

Amen to that!

[kohola3]

Violet to Dr. Clarkson: Lie is such an unmusical word.

[mcjen]

S3, E5:

Mr. Carson: "What were you doing at Crawley House this morning?"
Mrs. Patmore: (indignantly) "Who says I was at Crawley House?"
Mr. Carson: "I saw you coming out."
Mrs. Patmore: "Oh. I see." (licks lips) "Well..."

Love me some Mrs. P.

[Sunshine55]

And don't forget "Do I look like a frolicker?" in response to Carson's question about Mrs. P "frolicking with prostitutes."

[Jessimuhka]

Mrs. Hughes: Don't forget Jesus ate with Mary Magdeline.
Mr. Moseby: We don't know he ate with her, just that he let her wash his feet.
Mrs. Hughes: Well I'll tell Ethel she has something to look forward to.

[macbeth]

Violet - "It seems a pity to miss such a good pudding."

[Boton]

And don't forget "Do I look like a frolicker?" in response to Carson's question about Mrs. P "frolicking with prostitutes."

This was one of my favorite lines, especially in contrast to Mrs. Byrd from last week. While Mrs. Byrd was (understandably) concerned that working with Ethel would paint her as a fellow prostitute, Mrs. Patmore found the idea of being lumped in with prostitutes laughable, and went right for "do I look like a frolicker?"

[snav0561]

My favorite of the night was Violet's stage whisper to Lady Mary "I suppose she has an appropriate costume for every activity."

[Andiamo]

One of my favorite lines came from the season 2 Christmas special (season finale in the States). Maggie Smith and Penelope Wilton are good friends and I'm wondering if the following conversation was actually ad libbed.

(opening Christmas presents)
Violet: Oh, this is ni... What is this?
Isobel: What does it look like?
Violet: Something for getting stains out of horses' hooves?
Isobel: It's a nutcracker. We thought you'd like it.
Violet: ...
Isobel: To crack your nuts.

[TVLady]

One of my favorite lines came from the season 2 Christmas special (season finale in the States). Maggie Smith and Penelope Wilton are good friends and I'm wondering if the following conversation was actually ad libbed.

(opening Christmas presents)
Violet: Oh, this is ni... What is this?
Isobel: What does it look like?
Violet: Something for getting stains out of horses' hooves?
Isobel: It's a nutcracker. We thought you'd like it.
Violet: ...
Isobel: To crack your nuts.

Andiamo, I agree. This is one of my very favorites, too. (The word is "stones," though, instead of "stains.") And I love the way Violet is holding the nutcracker and how it's flopping around in her hand as she tries to guess what the heck it is. And then the large grin on Isobel's face (that Penelope does so well) as she delivers that last line, "You know, to crack your nuts!" lol

[Andiamo]

(The word is "stones," though, instead of "stains.")

Thanks, TVLady. Even with close captioning I got it wrong. "Stones" makes a heck of a lot more sense. =)

Here's another quote. (Sort of. I lost my transcription, so this is just an approximation of the coversation.)

O'Brien (on hearing about the new heir): He'll be lucky if he gets a civil word out of me.
Anna: We're all lucky if we get a civil word out of you.

[The Solution]

Lady Mary to Matthew: You'll make me untidy.

[margol]

"What IS a weeKEND?" Really emphasizes Violet's complete befuddlement and unfamiliarity with the word/idea.

When I heard this it surprised me that back then there were people who did not know what a weekend was. I wonder when this term came about?