The Best Viola 'Vy' Smith Quotes

Vivian: You know, Vi, you really hurt my feelings yesterday.
Viola: What are you talking about?
Vivian: When you said l was spoiling Will and my kids. l'm just trying to give them the things that we didn't have.
Viola: First of all, l didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Seems to me, when we were growing up, l'd say a lot worse to you and you'd take it. l don't know, l think living in California has made you sensitive.
Vivian: l don't think l'm being sensitive, Vi. You basically called me a bad mother.
Viola: Baby, look, l don't think you're a bad mother. l never would've sent Will out here if l thought you were. l don't blame you for wanting to give those kids everything we didn't have, but you got to teach them how to work hard, too.

Janice: What happened to Hilary?
Viola: Hilary Violet Banks! GET YOUR BUTT IN HERE!
Nurse: My hand!
Carlton: I'm pretty sure Mom's been here.

Hilary: I can't go into a hospital looking like this. The place is full of doctors.
Viola: Hilary, please don't tell me you're that superficial.
Hilary: Well, it may be superficial to you, but I'm young. I can still get a husband.
Viola: Not without any teeth, you won't.

Viola: [to Carlton] Oh, my goodness, aren't you handsome and looking less and less like your daddy every day.
Carlton: Ouch. Run for cover, Dad.
William: Where is he gonna hide at?

Will: I'm going to the-to the library.
Vy: Aren't you a little overdressed?
Will: I was going to drop by and check on the, the thing.
Vy: You mean the wedding?

[Vivian once again rings the bell, annoying everyone]
Philip: Stop with the damn bell!

Viola: You ever been beat up by a woman?
Pete: Not without having paid for it.

Vy: [about Janice's fiance] Janice, you should've told me he was white!
Aunt: Oh, no. Clear the table. She's about to blow a gasket.

Vivian: You know, Vi, I wish you could've told me before you let the gardener take the day off.
Viola: Well, girl, it's the day before Thanksgiving.
Vivian: Well, it's a nice idea, but it's the same thing with telling Geoffrey not to clear the table. I just thought they would feel uncomfortable for taking orders from someone they don't know.
Viola: Uh-huh, and they rather take orders from a seventeen-year-old boy?
Vivian: What do you mean?
Viola: Well, honey, I don't mean to be critical, but I don't like what I saw today. Will's got a bunch of grown men running around doing all the work he should be doing. I haven't seen him lift a finger except to scratch his head.
Vivian: You're not being fair, Vi. Will works very hard at his homework.
Viola: Back home, Will did his homework, mowed the lawn, raked the leaves, and cleared the table. I don't think a little work around the house is gonna interfere with his education. From what I see, all he's learning is how to be a rich kid.
Vivian: Philip and I just want Will to have the same advantages that our kids have. I mean, isn't that why you sent him out here?
Viola: I sent him out here to stay out of trouble and get a good education, but, Vivian, I also taught that boy the value of hard work and I don't want him to lose that. All I know is the kids in this house are getting a free ride, a free ride in a fancy car, but I don't mean to be critical.