Lady Violet Downton Abbey Quotes

We almost fell to our fainting couches when we heard that Maggie Smith might be leaving Downton Abbey. But luckily a rep for the studio says that our dearest Dowager Countess is not saying farewell to Downton. The strong female characters of the PBS show are multifaceted and flawed, and we see a little of ourselves in each of them. But the strongest and most outspoken of the bunch is clearly Lady Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham (played to perfection by Maggie Smith). And while she's a bit rough around the edges (and her advice is far from politically correct by today's standards), she says it how it is and doesn't let her sex or age prevent her from getting things done. So as we wait for the show to return in the Fall, check out the best quotes from Lady Violet to learn a lesson in brazenness from the matriarch of Downton Abbey.