Robert Crawley quotes from Downton Abbey

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.

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.

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.

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.

You are my darling daughter, and I love you, hard as it is for an Englishman to say the words...If I had made my own fortune and bought Downton for myself, it should be yours without question. But I did not. My fortune is the work of others, who labored to build a great dynasty. Do I have the right to destroy their work, or impoverish that dynasty? I am a custodian, my dear, not an owner. I must strive to be worthy of the task I have been set.

But it's Sybil's first season.

Robert, believe me. Sybil is not your problem now. We got to support Mary this year. It's time Mary was settled. High time.

Poor old Edith; we never seem to talk about her.

I'm afraid Edith will be the one to care for us in our old age.

What a ghastly prospect.

How dare you! How dare you obey in this way!

Robert can we do this in the morning? Sybil needs rest.

Are you so knowledgeable about the great world that my instructions are to be set as nothing!

Lady Sybil Crawley

Papa, I'm sorry I disobeyed you! But I'm interested! I'm political! I have opinions!

Of course I blame Branson!

Lady Mary Crawley

I don't think that's fair.

We had none it! None of it until he set foot in our house! I suppose I should thank God he hasn't burned the place down over our heads!

Lady Sybil Crawley

Branson didn't know anything about it until we arrived there!

He leaves tonight!

Lady Sybil Crawley

If you punish Branson, I'll never speak to you again- Never!

Lady Mary Crawley

I really don't think this is Branson's fault, truly, Papa.

Lady Sybil Crawley

Blame me.

I do blame you!

Silence! May I ask for silence?! It is my great regret to say...that we are at war with Germany!

Isobel Crawley

The thing is, I've had a letter from Matthew. Of course, he doesn't tell me what he's actually doing.

No, he wouldn't. But I'm glad he's alright. I miss him.

Isobel Crawley

Well that's the point. You must know he's been down here a few times since the war started.

We had heard.

Downton is hardly a metropolis.

Is he still determined to go back to Manchester when it's all over?

Isobel Crawley

He doesn't talk much about life after the war. None of them do. I suppose they don't want to tempt fate. Until now, that is. He writes that he is engaged to be married to a Miss Lavinia Swire.

Well I--I suppose we all knew it would happen someday.

The trouble is, Mary's back from London today as well. She gets in at five o'clock.

Isobel Crawley

Matthew's driving down in Lavinia's car. They won't meet on the train.

Oh, that's a relief. [Everyone looks confused] I hate Greek drama, you know where everything happens off stage.

I wanted you to know I sent a note down to Clarkson, which should do the trick.

What did you say?

Only that I gathered you'd asked a favour, and given that the estate shoulders the hospital costs, it did seem a little unfair if we weren't allowed a few perks.

Quite right. Thank you, darling.

I gather your footman Thomas has returned to the village.

Crikey. Where did you see him?

At the hospital. Seems he's working there.

I wonder how he wangled that.

Well now, still in one piece. Thank God.

Matthew Crawley

Touch wood.

I never stop touching it.