To celebrate Maggie Smith winning an Emmy for her roles as Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham. I decided to post some of my favorite lines from season one and two of Downton Abbey, my new favorite show.

She is such a smart ass, you know, for a Lady.  Read each of them out loud with your best English accent.  For my English friends, just read it in your regular voice.  Enjoy!

 

“Why does every day involve a fight with an American?” – in reference to sitting in a swivel chair invented by Thomas Jefferson.

“So that’s Mary’s replacement.  Well, I suppose looks aren’t everything.”

“I have plenty of friends I don’t like.”

“Last night! He looked so well.  Of course it would happen to a foreigner.  No Englishman would dream of dying in someone else’s house.”

“Is this an instrument of communication or torture?” -in reference to a telephone being installed at Downton. 

“Why do you always have to pretend to be nicer then the rest of us?” -her chastising her son for his optimistic outlook on most things.

“I couldn’t have electricity in the house, I wouldn’ t sleep a wink. All those vapors floating about.”

“No. She isn’t until she is married, then her husband will tell her what her opinions are.” -in reference to her granddaughter having an opinion. 

“Edith, you are a Lady, not Toad of Toad Hall.”

“I’m a woman Mary.  I can be as contrary as I choose.”

“I don’t dislike him, I just don’t like him.  Which is quite different.” -Logic of Lady Grantham

“No doubt you will regard this as rather unorthodox, my pushing into a man’s bedroom uninvited.”

“I was watching her the other night, when you spoke of your wedding.  She looked like Juliet on awakening in the tomb.”

“Don’t be defeatist, dear, it’s very middle class.”  – my favorite line in two seasons.

Do you watch Downton Abbey?  What is your favorite Lady Grantham line?