On Friday, Sept. 27, the world said goodbye to one of its beloved Hollywood icons, Dame Maggie Smith.
“She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September,” the Harry Potter star’s sons revealed in a statement to BBC. “An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.” She was 89.
And as we mourn Smith’s life, we’re taking a moment to honor her iconic role as Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey. Below, you’ll see some of her character’s most iconic words, from zinging one-liners to sage words we should all take note of. There are a million reasons to love Downton Abbey, but Smith’s performance as the Dowager Countess is honestly the greatest thing since sliced bread. Smith brought dry, caustic wit and an air of wisdom to the character that no one else could have — which is why we will miss her the most.
Behold, the best of Dowager Countess Violet Grantham.
On Marriage
1. [when a couple is unhappily married] “Well, in those moments, a couple is ‘unable to see as much of each other as they would like.”
2. [on going behind a husband’s back] “That is a scruple no successful wife can afford.”
3. [on Sybil being entitled to her own opinions] “No! She isn’t until she is married. Then her husband will tell her what her opinions are.”
4. “I do think a woman’s place is eventually in the home, but I see no harm in her having some fun before she gets there.”
5. “In my day, a lady was incapable of feeling physical attraction until she had been instructed to do so by her mama.”
6. “Every woman goes down the aisle with half the story hidden.”
7. “I know several couples who are perfectly happy. Haven’t spoken in years.”
On Parenting
8.Isobel: “Were you a very involved mother?”
Violet: “Does it surprise you?”
Isobel: “I’d imagined them surrounded by nannies and governesses, being starched and ironed to spend an hour with you after tea.”
Violet: “Yes, but it was an hour *every day*.”
On Trying New Things
9. [on jazz] “Do you think that any of them know what the others are playing?”
10. [on cocktails] “They look far too exciting for so early in the evening.”
11. “I couldn’t have electricity in the house, I wouldn’t sleep a wink. All those vapors floating about.”
12. “First electricity, now telephones. Sometimes I feel as if I were living in an H.G. Wells novel.”
On Spratt (her diva-like butler)
13. [on servants being humans] “Yes, but preferably only on their days off.”
14. “Typical Spratt. He’s as touchy as a beauty losing her looks.”
15. “We all pander to Spratt in this house.”
16. “I hope your standards are not so high as to prevent you from remaining in my employment.”
17. “Spratt, I think Dr Clarkson would like some coffee… and don’t be such a snob. “
But, Spratt isn’t her only servant problem
18. “I was right about my maid. She’s leaving to get married. I mean, how could she be so selfish?”
On Being Right
19. Cora: “I think Granny’s right.”
Violet: “Can somebody write that down?”
20. Isobel: “How you hate to be wrong.”
Violet: “I wouldn’t know, I’m not familiar with the sensation.”
21. Robert: “First, Matthew must agree. Second, you will both admit it when you realise you were wrong.”
Violet: “Oh, well, that is an easy caveat to accept, because I’m *never* wrong.”
On Life
22. “Life is a game, where the player must appear ridiculous.”
23. “No life appears rewarding if you think about it too much.”
24. “Principles are like prayers; noble, of course, but awkward at a party.”
25. “Nothing succeeds like excess.”
26. “You know me: never complain, never explain.”
27. “The presence of strangers is our only guarantee of good behaviour.”
28. “An unlucky friend is tiresome enough, an unlucky acquaintance is intolerable.”
29. “Hope is a tease, designed to prevent us accepting reality.”
30. “Vulgarity is no substitute for wit”
31. “All life is a series of problems which we must try and solve, first one and then the next and then the next, until at last we die.”
Personal Favorites:
32. Isobel: “You take everything as a compliment.”
Violet: “I advise you to do the same, it saves many an awkward moment.”
33. Robert: “I thought you didn’t like him.”
Violet: “So what? I have plenty of friends I don’t like.”
34. Isobel: “I suspect she’s quite a tough nut.”
Violet: “And I’m quite a tough nutcracker.”
35. Cora: “I take that as a compliment.”
Violet: “I must have said it wrong.”
36. “I don’t dislike him. I just don’t like him, which is quite different.”
37. “I do hope I’m interrupting something…”
38. “You’re a woman with a brain and reasonable ability. Stop whining and find something to do.”
And best of all
39. “What is a weekend?”
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