Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham: Oh my dears. Is it really true? I can't believe it. Last night he looked so well. Of course it *would* happen to a foreigner. It's typical.
Lady Mary Crawley: Don't be ridiculous.
Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham: I'm not being ridiculous. No Englishman would *dream* of dying in someone else's house - especially somebody they didn't even know.
Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham: [talking to Cora about Mary] ... we'd better get her settled before the bloom has gone quite off the rose.
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.
Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham: One way or another, everyone goes down the aisle with half the story hidden.
Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham: [to Mrs. Crawley when they realize Mary will not take Matthew despite the fact that he remains the heir to the title and estate] Your quarrel is with my daughter, Rosamund, and not with me. So put that in your pipe and smoke it.
Lady Sybil Crawley: No one ever learned anything from a governess except for French, and how to curtsy.
Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham: What more do you need?
Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham: If she won't say yes when he might be poor, he won't want her when he will be rich.
[William has only a few hours to live, after being gravely wounded in France. Lady Violet wants the local vicar to marry William and Daisy]
Reverend Travis: This boy is in extremis. How can we know that these are his true wishes? Maybe the kitchenmaid somehow hopes to catch at an advantage.
Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham: What advantage would that be?
Reverend Travis: Some widow's dole given by a grateful nation.
Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham: Mr Travis, may I remind you? William Mason has served our family well. At the last he saved the life, if not the health, of my son's heir. Now he wishes, before he dies, to marry his sweetheart.
Reverend Travis: Yes, but...
Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham: You cannot imagine that we would allow you to prevent this happening in case his widow claimed her dole?
Reverend Travis: No, but...
Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham: I have had an interest in this boy. I tried, and failed, to save him from conscription, but I will certainly attend his wedding. Is that an argument in its favour?
Reverend Travis: Of course, but...
Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham: Finally I would point out, your living is in Lord Grantham's gift. Your house is on Lord Grantham's land and the very flowers in your church are from Lord Grantham's garden. I hope it is not vulgar in me to suggest that you find some way to overcome your scruples.
“I will just say one thing. Marriage is a long business. There’s no getting out of it for our kind of people. You may live 40, 50 years with one of these two women. Just make sure you have selected the right one.”