Violet Crawley quotes from Downton Abbey

You'll find there's never a dull moment in this house.

[on the phone] Yes, yes. The minister. Well how many Marquesses of Flintshire are there? [to Edith] Is this an instrument of communication or torture? [on the phone again] Hello?! Shrimpie?! Yes, it's Aunt Violet. Yes, very well. And Susan? Oh, good. I won't beat around the bush, dear. Whom might we know on the board of Leeds General Infirmary?

No life appears rewarding if you think too much about it.

Switzerland has everything to offer. Except perhaps conversation. And one can learn to live without that.

Principles are like prayers: noble, of course, but awkward at a party.

Like all Englishmen of his type, he hid his qualities beneath a thick blanket of convention.

All this endless thinking. It's very overrated.... I blame the war. Before 1914, nobody thought about anything at all.

I will never again receive an immoral proposition from a man. Was I so wrong to savor it?

A peer in favour of reform is like a turkey in favor of Christmas.

Lary Grey has spoken to Mrs. Crawley in a manner that, in any other century, would have resulted in his being called out and shot.

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.

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!

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?