50 Downton Abbey Quotes to Live Your Life By

Carson on change:

“The nature of life is not permanence, but flux.”
— Carson, Downton Abbey, Season 5

The Dowager Countess on love:

“I’m not a romantic, but even I concede that the heart does not exist solely for the purpose to pump blood.”
— Violet, Dowager Countess, Downton Abbey, Season 2

Anna on opportunity:

“Good men… They’re not like buses. There won’t be another one round in 10 minutes.”
— Anna, Downton Abbey, Season 2

Isobel on resolving differences:

“Seems a pity not to take a chance to end a quarrel. Isn’t it better than to let it fester?”
— Isobel Crawley, Downton Abbey, Season 3

These inspiring quotes about forgiveness will make you want to put down your grudges.

Mrs. Patmore on making plans:

“Nothing in life is sure.”
— Mrs. Patmore, Downton Abbey, Season 1

Carson on the future:

“We must always travel in hope.”
— Carson, Downton Abbey, Season 5

Here are 25+ more hope quotes that will instantly lift you up.

Lady Grantham on resilience:

“You are being tested. And you know what they say my darling, being tested only makes you stronger.”
— Cora, Lady Grantham, Downton Abbey, Season 3

Mrs. Patmore on taking action:

“Sympathy butters no parsnips.”
— Mrs. Patmore, Downton Abbey, Season 5

Find out what Lesley Nicol (Mrs. Patmore) had to say about the Downton Abbey movie!

Lord Grantham on etiquette:

“There is nothing more ill-bred than trying to steal the affections of one’s dog.”
— Robert, Lord Grantham, Downton Abbey, Season 5

Here are 12 of our favourite quotes about pets.

The Dowager Countess on a woman’s prerogative:

“I’m a woman, Mary. I can be as contrary as I choose.”
— Violet, Dowager Countess, Downton Abbey, Season 2

Sybil on making a difference:

“It’s the gloomy things that need our help. If everything in the garden is sunny, why meddle?”
— Lady Sybil Crawley, Downton Abbey, Season 1

Here are 27 things only sisters understand.

Lord Grantham on marriage:

“There is no such thing as a marriage between two intelligent people that does not sometimes have to negotiate thin ice. I know. You must wait until things become clear. And they will. The damage cannot be irreparable when a man and a woman love each other as much as you do.”
— Robert, Lord Grantham, Downton Abbey, Season 4

Don’t miss these surprisingly honest quotes about marriage.

The Dowager Countess on critics:

“You know me…Never complain, never explain.”
— Violet, Dowager Countess, Downton Abbey, Season 5

Mrs. Hughes on potential:

“My advice, Daisy, is to go as far in life as God and luck allow.”
— Mrs. Hughes, Downton Abbey, Season 5

Check out these quotes from incredibly inspiring Oscar acceptance speeches!

Shrimpie on love:

“Love is like riding or speaking French: if you don’t learn it young, it’s hard to get the trick of it later.”
— Hugh ‘Shrimpie’ MacClare, Marquess of Flintshire, Downton Abbey, Season 3

The Dowager Countess on principles:

“Principles are like prayers; noble, of course, but awkward at a party.”
— Violet, Dowager Countess, Downton Abbey, Season 5

Here are 10 funny birthday quotes for everyone in your life!

Lady Grantham on survival:

“I think accepting change is quite as important as defending the past.”
— Cora, Lady Grantham, Downton Abbey, Season 3

Mrs. Patmore on health care:

“If you must pay money, better to a doctor than an undertaker.”
— Mrs. Patmore, Downton Abbey, Season 3

Here are 20+ more quotes to make you feel better about getting older.

The Dowager Countess on optimism:

“Hope is a tease, designed to prevent us accepting reality.”
— Violet, Dowager Countess, Downton Abbey, Season 5

Check out more profound quotes from TV’s The Good Life.

Dr. Clarkson on facing the music:

“Harsh reality is always better than false hope.”
— Dr. Clarkson, Downton Abbey, Season 5

Branson on love:

“Real love means giving someone the power to hurt you.”
— Branson, Downton Abbey, Season 6

Mrs. Patmore on the importance of moving on:

“You can’t spend too long on a one-sided love.”
— Mrs. Patmore, Downton Abbey, Season 3

The Dowager Countess on good intentions:

“Meaning well is not enough.”
— Violet, Dowager Countess, Downton Abbey, Season 1

Looking for more words of wisdom? Check out our roundup of great quotes from Doctor Who!

Mrs. Hughes on loss:

“We must all have our hearts broken once or twice before we’re done.”
— Mrs. Hughes, Downton Abbey, Season 4

Carson on finding purpose:

“The business of life is the acquisition of memories. In the end that’s all there is.”
— Carson, Downton Abbey, Season 6

These quotes from Marvel Comics’ Stan Lee are downright heroic.

Lord Grantham on possibility:

“Every mountain is unclimbable until someone climbs it; so every ship is unsinkable until it sinks.”
— Robert Crawley, Lord Grantham, Downton Abbey, Season 1

The Dowager Countess on sin:

“If we only had moral thoughts, what would the poor churchmen find to do?”
—Violet, Dowager Countess, Season 5

Don’t miss this roundup of hilarious Canadian quotes.

Mrs. Patmore on loss:

“Nothing makes you hungrier or more tired than grief.”
— Mrs. Patmore, Downton Abbey, Season 1

Drewe on employment:

“Work is like old age, m’lady—the worst thing in the world, except for the alternative.”
— Drewe, Downton Abbey, Season 4

Here are the five life lessons you’re never too old to learn.

The Dowager Countess on the dangers of introspection:

“No life appears rewarding if you think too much about it.”
— Violet, Dowager Countess, Downton Abbey, Season 4

The Dowager Countess on displays of emotion:

“A lack of compassion can be as vulgar as an excess of tears.”
—Violet, Dowager Countess, Downton Abbey, Season 5

These are the funniest quotes of all time!

Carson on being cautious:

“You’re nervous because you’re intelligent; only stupid people are foolhardy.”
— Carson, Downton Abbey, Season 4

Don’t miss this roundup of hilarious political insults!

Mrs. Patmore on young love:

“Nothing is as changeable as a young man’s heart. Take hope and warning from that.”
— Mrs. Patmore, Downton Abbey, Season 4

The Dowager Countess on independence:

“Beware of being ‘too good at it.’ That’s the danger of living alone, it can be very hard to give up.”
— Violet, Dowager Countess, Downton Abbey, Season 6

Daisy on mindfulness:

“I’ve decided to live in the present and not spend my life regretting the past or dreading the future.”
— Daisy, Downton Abbey, Season 5

Here are 15 of the most inspiring and uplifting Nelson Mandela quotes.

The Dowager Countess on potential:

“We only know what we are capable of when we test our limits.”
—Violet, Dowager Countess, Downton Abbey, Season 6

Don’t miss these inspiring Star Wars quotes every fan should know by heart.

The Dowager Countess on the importance of motives:

“My dear, love is a far more dangerous motive than dislike.”
— Violet, Dowager Countess, Downton Abbey, Season 5

Martha on freedom:

“Yes we do understand the importance of tradition and history. We just don’t give it power over us.”
— Martha Levinson, Downton Abbey, Season 3

Matthew on priorities:

“War has a way of distinguishing between the things that matter and the things that don’t.”
— Matthew Crawley, Downton Abbey, Season 2

Here are some of the Dalai Lama’s most inspiring quotes.

The Dowager Countess on overcoming obstacles:

“All life is a series of problems, that we must try and solve.”
—Violet, Dowager Countess, Downton Abbey, Season 1

These quotes about depression capture exactly what you’re feeling.

Anna on getting married:

“I’d rather have the right man, than the right wedding.”
— Anna, Downton Abbey, Season 2

Carson on growth:

“What would be the point of living if we didn’t let life change us?”
— Carson, Downton Abbey, Season 1

Can’t get enough of British period dramas? Check out the current lineup on BritBox Canada.

Bates on the dangers of living the past:

“I miss a lot of things; but you have to keep moving, don’t you?”
— Bates, Downton Abbey, Season 1

The Dowager Countess on tragedy:

“When tragedies strike, we try to find someone to blame. And in the absence of a suitable candidate, we usually blame ourselves. You are not to blame. No one is to blame.”
—Violet, Dowager Countess, Downton Abbey, Season 3

Don’t miss our roundup of the best quotes from The Crown.

Edith on finding meaning:

“I know, we all need a purpose.”
— Lady Edith, Downton Abbey, Season 4

Check out these inspiring quotes from books every woman should read at least once.

Mrs. Hughes on loss:

“A broken heart can be as painful as a broken limb.”
— Mrs. Hughes, Downton Abbey, Season 2

Here are more quotes for the hopeless romantic.

The Dowager Countess on being social:

“There’s nothing simpler than avoiding people you don’t like. Avoiding one’s friends, that’s the real test.”
— Violet, Dowager Countess, Downton Abbey, Season 5

Want to host a party worthy of the Crawleys? Don’t miss these entertaining tips from the cast and crew of Downton Abbey.

Carson on putting on a show:

“In my opinion, to misquote Doctor Johnson, if you’re tired of style, you are tired of life.”
— Carson, Downton Abbey, Season 3

Check out these style secrets we learned from Downton Abbey.

Isobel on grief:

“Aren’t we the lucky ones to have loved.”
— Isobel Crawley, Downton Abbey, Season 4

Find out the secrets of Highclere Castle—the real life Downton Abbey.

The Dowager Countess on honesty:

“There can be too much truth in any relationship.”
— Violet, Dowager Countess, Downton Abbey, Season 4

Next, check out eight life lessons we learned from Downton Abbey.