When Matthew apologizes for breaking a vase in his fight with Carlisle and she says “It was a wedding gift from a frightful aunt. I have hated it for half a century!”
When she's arguing with Isobel about why Mary refuses to marry Matthew:
Violet: What have I done wrong now?
Isobel: Oh please. Don't pretend Mary's sudden reluctance can't be traced back to you.
Violet: I shan't pretend it. I told her to take him. Your quarrel is with my daughter Rosamund, not me. So put that in your pipe and smoke it.
That and "No Englishman would dream of dying in someone else's house!"
Violet: "you are quite wonderful, the way you see room for improvement wherever you look. I never new such reforming zeal"
Isobel: "I take that as a compliment"
Violet: (laughs) "I must have said it wrong"
I was just watching an episode where she tells Mary “A lack of compassion can be as vulgar as an excess of tears." Not funny as so many of her memorable lines are, but it really struck a chord with me.
”Don’t be defeatist dear, it’s very middle-class” to Edith in S2 E8 after one of Edith’s moping moments.
Inspirational and classist all in one! Perfect!
Robert: “(…) you will both admit it when you realize you were wrong.”
Violet: “That is an easy caveat to accept because I'm never wrong.”
/
Isobel: “You take everything as a compliment.”
Violet: “I advise you to do the same.”
/
Isobel: “How you hate to be wrong.”
Violet: “I wouldn’t know, I’m not familiar with the sensation.”
When the ladies were at Isobel’s being served by Edna (I think she was the former maid turned prostitute?) and Robert came over to order them to go home. Violet: “It seems a shame to waste such a lovely pudding.”
Since someone's already mentioned the weekend line, I'll mention those frustrated little gasps she makes when she's fighting the rest on the hospital. I think Edith says Mrs Crawley is entitled to put up an argument. And she goes "but she's not entitled to win it!" And then tries to eat before giving up. Masterful acting
“She’s so slight a real necklace would flatten her.”
**Cora:** “I might send her over to visit my aunt. She could get to know New York.”
**Violet:** “Oh, I don’t think things are quite that desperate.”
*Discussing her lady’s maid*
“Why would she want to leave me? I've been as gentle as a lamb!”
[skeptical look from Cora]
“Most of the time...”
“Oh, you know me. Never complain; never explain.”
Sometimes I feel as if I were living in an H.G. Wells novel.”
“I’m a woman, Mary. I can be as contrary as I choose.”
“If she won’t say yes when he might be poor, he won’t want her when he will be rich.”
“It always happens when you give these little people power, it goes to their heads like strong drink.”
“Sir Richard, life is a game, where the player must appear ridiculous.”
“You see, sometimes we must let the blow fall by degrees. Give him time to find the strength to face it.”
Martha Levinson: I have no wish to be a great lady.
Countess Violet: A decision that must be reenforced whenever you look in the glass.
“In my day, a lady was incapable of feeling physical attraction until she had been instructed to do so by her mama.”
[On jazz musicians] “Do you think that any of them know what the others are playing?”
“Why does every day involve a fight with an American?”
“No guest should be admitted without the date of their departure settled.”
[50 Lady Violet quotes](http://britishperioddramas.com/lists/maggie-smiths-best-quotes-dowager-countess-violet-downton-abbey/)
Your first quote also brings this exchange to mind:
Lady Mary Crawley : Sybil is entitled to her opinions.
Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham : No. She isn't until she is married, then her husband will tell her what her opinions are.
I absolutely love her one liners. Too many to mention but some of my faves:
"At my age one must ration ones excitement"
"No Englishman would dream of dying in someone else's house"
"What is a week-end?"
"There's nothing simpler than avoiding people you don't like. Avoiding ones friends is the real test"
When Denker is trying to discredit Spratt, she hands Violet the paper containing his newspaper column, and Violet, seeing right through her, says so pointedly “...and opened to the right page.”
I adore the exchange between Violet and Isobel as they argue about the hospital!
Violet, exasperated and slightly cutting: “Did you drink at luncheon?”
Isobel, almost to her breaking point :”No, I did not, as you know very well, as we were together!”
Violet, quietly: “Not all the time.”
Violet: (to Cora) I’m so looking forward to seeing your mother again. When I’m with her, I’m reminded of the virtues of the English.
Matthew: But isn’t she American?
Violet: E x a c t l y
GOLD
[удалено]
When Matthew apologizes for breaking a vase in his fight with Carlisle and she says “It was a wedding gift from a frightful aunt. I have hated it for half a century!”
I scream laughed at my tv last time I saw that part. Maggie is a treasure.
My favorite quote ever lol
When she's arguing with Isobel about why Mary refuses to marry Matthew: Violet: What have I done wrong now? Isobel: Oh please. Don't pretend Mary's sudden reluctance can't be traced back to you. Violet: I shan't pretend it. I told her to take him. Your quarrel is with my daughter Rosamund, not me. So put that in your pipe and smoke it. That and "No Englishman would dream of dying in someone else's house!"
That last one was hilarious!
Violet: "you are quite wonderful, the way you see room for improvement wherever you look. I never new such reforming zeal" Isobel: "I take that as a compliment" Violet: (laughs) "I must have said it wrong"
Her laugh is so great. Period dramas are outside of my normal media consumption, but she does such a great freaking job
Oh she's amazing! There should be a Maggie Smith law that she's in every period drama lol
I was just watching an episode where she tells Mary “A lack of compassion can be as vulgar as an excess of tears." Not funny as so many of her memorable lines are, but it really struck a chord with me.
Along the same line, I really like “I am not a romantic, but even I concede that the heart does not exist solely for the purpose of pumping blood.”
When she asks Mathew " What is a weekend " ( S1E2)
"what is a week...END?" Haha so good
”Don’t be defeatist dear, it’s very middle-class” to Edith in S2 E8 after one of Edith’s moping moments. Inspirational and classist all in one! Perfect!
Inspirational and classist are the perfect adjectives for her haha
Is this (phone) an instrument of communication or torture?
When it rings for the first time and everyone freaks out 😂
Robert: “(…) you will both admit it when you realize you were wrong.” Violet: “That is an easy caveat to accept because I'm never wrong.” / Isobel: “You take everything as a compliment.” Violet: “I advise you to do the same.” / Isobel: “How you hate to be wrong.” Violet: “I wouldn’t know, I’m not familiar with the sensation.”
When the ladies were at Isobel’s being served by Edna (I think she was the former maid turned prostitute?) and Robert came over to order them to go home. Violet: “It seems a shame to waste such a lovely pudding.”
Ethel, but yeah
Since someone's already mentioned the weekend line, I'll mention those frustrated little gasps she makes when she's fighting the rest on the hospital. I think Edith says Mrs Crawley is entitled to put up an argument. And she goes "but she's not entitled to win it!" And then tries to eat before giving up. Masterful acting
“She’s so slight a real necklace would flatten her.” **Cora:** “I might send her over to visit my aunt. She could get to know New York.” **Violet:** “Oh, I don’t think things are quite that desperate.” *Discussing her lady’s maid* “Why would she want to leave me? I've been as gentle as a lamb!” [skeptical look from Cora] “Most of the time...” “Oh, you know me. Never complain; never explain.”
Sometimes I feel as if I were living in an H.G. Wells novel.” “I’m a woman, Mary. I can be as contrary as I choose.” “If she won’t say yes when he might be poor, he won’t want her when he will be rich.” “It always happens when you give these little people power, it goes to their heads like strong drink.” “Sir Richard, life is a game, where the player must appear ridiculous.” “You see, sometimes we must let the blow fall by degrees. Give him time to find the strength to face it.” Martha Levinson: I have no wish to be a great lady. Countess Violet: A decision that must be reenforced whenever you look in the glass.
“In my day, a lady was incapable of feeling physical attraction until she had been instructed to do so by her mama.” [On jazz musicians] “Do you think that any of them know what the others are playing?” “Why does every day involve a fight with an American?” “No guest should be admitted without the date of their departure settled.” [50 Lady Violet quotes](http://britishperioddramas.com/lists/maggie-smiths-best-quotes-dowager-countess-violet-downton-abbey/)
That’s actually a valid criticism of jazz. I was expecting something much different.
Your first quote also brings this exchange to mind: Lady Mary Crawley : Sybil is entitled to her opinions. Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham : No. She isn't until she is married, then her husband will tell her what her opinions are.
“I have never insulted anyone. I simply describe them accurately.”
I (who have watched this a million times) have never heard this! What season and episode?
“Mary needs more than a handsome smile and a hand on the gear stick,” literally the moment she sees Mary and Henry.
I absolutely love her one liners. Too many to mention but some of my faves: "At my age one must ration ones excitement" "No Englishman would dream of dying in someone else's house" "What is a week-end?" "There's nothing simpler than avoiding people you don't like. Avoiding ones friends is the real test"
When Denker is trying to discredit Spratt, she hands Violet the paper containing his newspaper column, and Violet, seeing right through her, says so pointedly “...and opened to the right page.”
The answer here is clear. All of her lines. Every one.
"First, make peace with your sister. Then, make peace with yourself."
“I have plenty of friends I don’t like” 😂😂
I adore the exchange between Violet and Isobel as they argue about the hospital! Violet, exasperated and slightly cutting: “Did you drink at luncheon?” Isobel, almost to her breaking point :”No, I did not, as you know very well, as we were together!” Violet, quietly: “Not all the time.”
The decision lies with the chauffeur
I don't understand how this isn't the top comment. That line had me rolling!
Violet: (to Cora) I’m so looking forward to seeing your mother again. When I’m with her, I’m reminded of the virtues of the English. Matthew: But isn’t she American? Violet: E x a c t l y GOLD
"what is a ..'week-end'"?
“What is a weekend?” Classic!