On educating girls:

Lady Sybil Crawley: ‘No one ever learned anything from a governess except for French, and how to curtsy.’

Dowager Countess: ‘What more do you need?

On medicine:

Doctor: ‘Mrs Crawley tells me she has recommended nitrate of silver and tincture of steel.’

Dowager Countess: ‘Why, is she making a suit of armour?’

On meddlesome relations:

Dowager Countess: ‘You are quite wonderful the way you see room for improvement wherever you look. I never knew such reforming zeal.’

Mrs Crawley: ‘I take that as a compliment.’

Dowager Countess: ‘I must have said it wrong.’

On finally seeing the back of bullying newspaper magnate Sir Richard Carlisle:

Sir Richard: ‘I am leaving in the morning, Lady Grantham. I doubt we will meet again.’

Dowager Countess: ‘Do you promise?’

Countess Dowager on remaining optimistic: 'Don't be defeatist, dear. It's very middle class.'

On friendship:

‘I have plenty of friends I don’t like.’

Mrs Crawley: ‘I think I was a little too harsh on you. I’m  not perfect.’

Dowager Countess: ‘I am. I’d be happy to show you the ropes.’