Downton Abbey quotes

Lady Edith Crawley

I thought it was supposed to be unsinkable.

Every mountain is unclimbable until someone climbs it; so every ship is unsinkable until it sinks.

I'm very sorry about poor Patrick, of course. He was a nice boy.

We were all so fond of him...

But I never cared for James. He was too like his mother, and a nastier woman never drew breath.

Are we to be friends, then?

We are allies, my dear, which can be a good deal more effective.

Daisy

Seems like a lot of food, when you think they're all in mourning.

Nothing makes you hungrier or more tired than grief. When my sister died, God rest her soul, I ate my way through four plates of sandwiches at one sitting and slept round the clock.

Daisy

Did it make you feel better?

Not much, but it passed the time.

Don't you care about Downton?

What do you think? I've given my life to Downton. I was born here, and I hope to die here. I claim no career beyond the nurture of this house and the estate. It is my third parent, and my fourth child. Do I care about it? Yes, I do care!

You seem very informed on this family's private affairs. But you ought perhaps to know that I do not intend to fight the entail. Not any part of it.

You can't be serious.

It pains me to say it, but I am.

You'll give up your entire estate--your wife's money into the bargain--to a perfect stranger? You won't even put up a fight?

I hope he proves to be perfect, but I rather doubt it.

A very odd thing to joke about.

No odder than this conversation.

Matthew Crawley

Mother, Lord Grantham has made the unwelcome discovery that his heir is a middle class lawyer, and the son of a middle class doctor.

Isobel Crawley

Upper middle class!

It's a cottage hospital, of course, but quite well equipped.

Isobel Crawley

Who pays for it?

Oh, good, let's talk about money.

My father gave the building and an endowment to run it. In a way, he set up his own memorial.

Isobel Crawley

But how splendid!

And Mr. Lloyd George's new insurance measures will help.

Please don't speak that man's name; we are about to eat.

You do know I mean to involve you in the running of the estate?

Matthew Crawley

Oh, don't worry, there are plenty of hours in the day. And of course I'll have the weekend.

We'll discuss this later, we mustn't bore the ladies.

What is a weekend?

[About Matthew Crawley, Lord Grantham's new heir] I thought you didn't like him?

So what? I have plenty of friends I don't like.

You do not love the place yet.

Matthew Crawley

Well, obviously, it's...

No, you don't love it. You see a million bricks that may crumble, a thousand gutters and pipes that may block and leak, and stone that will crack in the frost.

Matthew Crawley

But you don't?

I see my life's work.

Daisy! What's happened to you? I said you could go for a drink of water, not a trip up the Nile!

Mr. Bates

I saw this advertisement for a limp corrector. What does it do exactly?

It corrects limps.

Mr. Bates

Does it work?

Well, as I make it and I advertise it, is it likely I'd say no?

Where's he staying?

Lady Mary Crawley

He says he's found a pub that caters for hunting.

We can improve on that, he must come here! He can send the horses up early if he wants.

Lady Mary Crawley

He'll know why you're asking him.

I can't think what you mean. His mother's a friend of mine; she'd be pleased at the idea.

Lady Mary Crawley

Not very pleased. She's dead.

All the more reason then.

It's not of my doing. It's all Mary's own work. But I think we should encourage it.

Branscombe's a dull dog, but I don't suppose that matters.

Did you know his wife had died?

He only ever talks about racing.

Is the family an old one?

Older than yours, I imagine.

Old enough.

And there's plenty of money.

Really?

Mama, you've already looked him up in the stud books and inquired about the fortune, don't pretend otherwise. Are you afraid someone will think you're American if you speak openly?

I doubt it'll come to that.