Bridgerton has never been just a show about romance. Since it premiered in December 2020, the Netflix series has blended sharp social commentary, sweeping love stories, and some of the most memorable dialogue in period drama television, which is to be expected because it’s the brainchild of Shonda Rhimes. It’s since become my all-time favorite Netflix show, so of course I’m doing a rewatch before Part 1 of Season 4 drops on on January 29. This season focuses on the love story of Benedict, the second-eldest Bridgerton brother, and is said to be a Cinderella–inspired love story, as Benedict falls in love with a woman at a masked ball — one who is not a part of the titled class, and was forbidden to go to said ball by her stepmother.
Before you dive into the impossible romances of Season 4, I pulled together the most unforgettable quotes from every era of the Bridgerton universe that encapsulate all this show has to offer. Check out the moments from Seasons 1 through 3 and Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story that illustrate the multitudes the shows contain, from pure romance to personal quests for autonomy within a rigid social structure to much-needed comedic relief (hello, Eloise!).
Warning: Major spoilers for all seasons ahead.
The Best Bridgerton Season 1 Quotes
Season 1 introduces us to the ton through Daphne Bridgerton’s debut into society and her complicated arrangement with Simon Bassett, the Duke of Hastings. Between social strategy, scandal, and a fake-dating romance trope that quickly becomes all-consuming, these quotes define the emotional core of the show’s first chapter. (Daphne’s sister, Eloise, also brings a voice to a desire for independence in a society that doesn’t make that possible for women.) We are also introduced to the anonymous gossip and scandal writer, Lady Whistledown (who we later find out is Penelope Featherington). These quotes encapsulate all the drama, glitz, and scandal of the season as Daphne navigates being the season’s diamond and all that title brings.
“Flawless, my dear.” —Queen Charlotte, to Daphne Bridgerton
“Daphne! You must make haste!” —Eloise Bridgerton
“It is only the queen’s eye that matters today.” —Lady Whistledown
“The brighter a lady shines, the faster she may burn.” —Lady Whistledown
“Perhaps, Your Grace, it would be better if you refrained from thinking of me at all.” —Daphne, to Simon Bassett
“If this is to work, we are to appear madly in love.” —Simon, to Daphne
“If you desire the sun and the moon, all you have to do is go out and shoot at the sky. Some of us cannot.” —Eloise
“Why settle for a duke when one can have a prince?” —Lady Whistledown
“Just because something is not perfect does not make it any less worthy of love.” —Daphne
“We chose to love each other every single day. It is a choice, dearest. One that is never too late to make.” —Lady Violet Bridgerton
“I am yours, Daphne. I have always been yours.” —Simon
“I burn for you.” —Daphne, to Simon
“You wish to follow your heart, and I wish to nurture my mind.” —Eloise
“I cannot stop thinking of you. From the mornings you ease to the evenings you quiet, to the dreams you inhabit.” —Simon, to Daphne
“Romance was entirely out of the question for both of us. But in so removing it, we found something far greater. We found friendship.” —Simon to Queen Charlotte about him and Daphne
“You must promise me that when you step into the light, you will be worthy of the attention you command.” —Lady Danbury, to Simon
“I love all of you. Even the parts you believe are too dark and too shameful.” —Daphne, to Simon
“Why must our only options be to squawk and settle or to never leave the nest? What if I want to fly?” —Eloise
“You are wise to understand friendship to be the best possible foundation a marriage can have.” —Queen Charlotte
The Best Bridgerton Season 2 Quotes
Season 2, my absolute favorite (and, in my opinion, the best) season, shifts its focus to the eldest Bridgerton son, the Viscount Anthony Bridgerton. Kate Sharma arrives in London from India with her family, including her younger sister Edwina Sharma, who Anthony decides to court, deeming her the perfect Viscountess based on everything but love — he saves that particular emotion for her sister Kate. This season delivers slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance fueled by restraint and constant emotional tension. These quotes reflect a season spent suppressing true feelings and the consequences of denying what the heart wants most.
“It is not a man’s appearance or title that will woo you. It is his mind and spirit that will court yours.” —Kate Sharma
“You are the bane of my existence and the object of all my desires.” —Anthony Bridgerton to Kate
“Words of flattery are beautiful and sweet, but they are also hollow unless accompanied by action.” —Anthony
“A man who knows what he wants is most admirable.” —Edwina Sharma
“After passion cools and fate intervenes, who else is a woman left with but herself?” —Lady Danbury
“Do you think there is a corner of this earth far enough away to free me from this torment?” —Anthony
“I did not ask for this. To be plagued by these feelings.” —Kate
“We are not all guaranteed a fairy-tale ending.” —Marina Thompson
“I know what true love is not.” —Edwina
“I happen to believe a lady’s business is her own.” —Madame Delacroix
“Take your Trojan Horse elsewhere.” —Kate, to Anthony
“I assure you, this is a very real horse. I’d not recommend trying to climb inside.” —Anthony, to Kate
“I’m a gentleman, and you’re a lady … of that *inhales* of that scent. It has remained imprinted on my mind ever since that night of the conservatory ball on that terrace — lilies. —Anthony, to Kate
“Love is not something that is ever owed.” —Mary Sharma
“I know I am imperfect, but I will humble myself before you because I cannot imagine my life without you.” —Anthony Bridgerton, to Kate
“After all, everyone is finding some purpose to their lives … here I am, feeding the ducks.” — Colin Bridgerton
“Is the shock you seem to be displaying at present due to the fact that I appear well-read and articulate? Or do you suffer from some medical ailment about which I should be informed?” —Eloise
The Best Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Quotes
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is the story of Queen Charlotte and King George as they navigate their arranged marriage and eventual falling in love. This mini series is set 30 to 40 years before Bridgerton begins, and really deepens the world-building of Bridgerton and shows us the trials and tribulations of the King and Queen alluded to in the show. Although it’s only six episodes, these quotes speak to the depth and hardships of a relationship defined by secrets and struggles, and the pressure of leading a nation.
“I want to fight with you! Fight with me! Fight for me!” —Queen Charlotte
“Sorrows. Sorrows. Prayers.” —Queen Charlotte
“I am female. I do not remember names.” —Princess Augusta
“I do not care for his sanity. I care for his happiness. Let him be mad if that is what he needs.” —Queen Charlotte
“You did not go over the wall.” —King George III
“I will stand with you between the heavens and the earth. I will tell you who you are! Do you love me!?” —Queen Charlotte
“I will stay. I command it.” —Queen Charlotte
“Loneliness is a battle even queens must fight alone.” —Queen Charlotte
“The crown resides within me.” —King George III
“I live for the happiness or misery of a great nation.” —King George III
“From the moment I saw you trying to go over the wall, I have loved you desperately. I cannot breathe when you are not near, I love you, Charlotte. My heart calls your name … ” —King George III
The Best Bridgerton Season 3 Quotes
Season 3 centers on Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington, delivering a romance built on years of longing and deep friendship. Penelope must grapple with finally being with Colin, who she has had a crush on for years, with her double life and identity as Lady Whistledown. These quotes capture the tenderness and transformation at the heart of their story.
“A diamond is precious precisely because it is rare.” —Queen Charlotte
“I seek you out at every social assembly.” —Colin Bridgerton, to Penelope
“Your eyes are the most remarkable shade of blue.” —Penelope Featherington, to Colin
“I believe in the power of a gesture.” —John Stirling
“It is my business because I care about you.” —Colin, to Penelope
“I’d very much like to be more than friends.” —Penelope, to Colin
“Feelings like dreaming of you when I’m asleep, and in fact preferring sleep because that is where I might find you. A feeling that is like torture. But one which I cannot, will not, do not want to give up.” —Colin
“For God’s sake, Penelope Featherington, are you going to marry me or not?” —Colin
“Until he knows the real you, he cannot possibly love you.” —Eloise, to Penelope
“I don’t need you to save me. I just need you to stand by me. To hold me. To kiss me.” —Penelope, to Colin
“There is beauty in the slow approach.” —Violet Bridgerton
“These past few weeks have been full of confounding feelings.” —Colin
“If my only purpose in life is to love a woman as great as you, then I will be a very fulfilled man indeed.” —Colin, to Penelope
“How lucky I am to stand by your side and soak up even a little bit of your light.” —Colin, to Penelope
“I do love a game, especially when I am so often the victor.” —Queen Charlotte
“But I see now how much courage it takes to live a life out in the open. To honour one’s weaknesses publicly, for all to see. And to know, regardless of the outcome, one always has worth.” —Penelope/Lady Whistledown
