Murder, She Wrote is a TV series that has been concluded for ages. Yet many of the moments and quotes still linger with fans, even years later. Jessica Fletcher was an iconic character, to put it mildly. And that is likely one of the many reasons her words have lasted as well as they have in the minds of fans.
Murder, She Wrote did lend for several dramatic and quotable moments. Some of these moments are our favorites, naturally. It helps that the town Jessica Fletcher lived in seemed to be so riddled with murderers. So we've gone ahead and collected ten of our favorite quotes spoken by the one and only Jessica Fletcher.
Updated January 23rd, 2023 by Amanda Bruce: When it comes to fictional TV detectives, a lot of fans tend to remember those in police procedurals first, but old-school detective shows, like Columbo and Murder, She Wrote are still favorites for a lot of people. With the loss of Murder, She Wrote’s Angela Lansbury in 2022, fans might be eager to revisit some of her projects, and luckily for them, the “cozy murder mystery” series is available to stream through Peacock. There, fans will find her character’s best quotes sprinkled all throughout the show with her signature blend of wisdom and sass.
“Who Ever Heard Of Framing Someone With The Wrong Gun?”
Season 1, Episode 19 “Armed Response”
Jessica Fletcher is, as most TV detectives are, incredibly logical. She sees the clues laid out in front of her, and is usually able to see when the clues don’t line up with the circumstances. That’s exactly what happens when she believes a hospital employee is being framed in a Season 1 episode. When a detective decides to test the gun found in the employee’s locker, Jessica asks this astute question.
Jessica isn’t afraid to speak up, even to the actual law enforcement officials investigating a case, and that’s part of what endears her to audiences. She might be as sweet as can be, but she’s also not one to sugarcoat the obvious. She isn’t afraid of getting in trouble or speaking her mind, and that’s largely what makes the episode guest stars trust her.
“Yes, When I’m Not Too Busy Beating Laundry Against The Rocks In The River.”
Season 3, Episode 22 “Murder, She Spoke”
When introduced in the pilot episode of the series, Jessica is a retired English teacher whose idea for a mystery novel happens to sell to a publisher, thanks to her nephew. She isn’t a private detective or former police, but someone who is excellent at puzzles. That tends to make some people, especially men who work as detectives, doubt her skills.
Of course, it’s rare for those same men to doubt her skills as a writer as well. When her best-selling author status is touted as a hobby instead of a lucrative profession by one of those men, she has a sarcastic comeback for him. Jessica might not have initially thought of herself as a writer, but she earned the title, and she won’t stand for anyone belittling her. That sass would make her fit into modern television quite well.
“Now, I May Be Wrong, But Frankly, I Doubt It.”
Variations Of This Line Occur In Multiple Episodes
This is often the phrase many Murder, She Wrote fans associate with Jessica Fletcher. She, after all, is rarely wrong. She says as much on a regular basis in the show.
Jessica isn’t cocky, but she does know her own skills. She knows to ask questions when she doesn’t understand something, and she knows that other people might have expertise in an area she doesn’t. If she asserts that she’s right about something, she usually is. That’s why this line has become a fan favorite.
“You Can Never Nudge The Moral Compass Far From Its True North Without Losing Something Vital.”
Murder, She Wrote: A Story To Die For
Following the conclusion of the Murder, She Wrote television series, there were a few made-for-TV movies featuring the character and some of the regular players in the show. The movies allowed the audience to spend just a little bit more time with Angela Lansbury, and they acted as extended episodes for longtime fans.
This particular quote comes from one of those movies that involve a writer’s conference. It’s there that Jessica asserts that just because someone writes about reprehensible things doesn’t mean they believe they should happen - especially murder. Jessica has a strong moral compass, and she instills that same moral fiber in those around her, and even in the audience, by her example.
“There Are Three Things You Can Never Have Enough Of In Life, Lieutenant: Chocolate, Friends, And The Theater.”
Season 8, Episode 11 “Danse Diabolique”
Jessica Fletcher has always been a woman who knows what she likes, which makes her very relatable to her audience. And she's never been afraid to speak her mind. Both of these traits are evidenced here, in this one single profession of the three things she loves most in the world.
The line has become one of the most often quoted of Jessica's as her audience of mystery lovers can also appreciate her favorite snack and pastime.
“I Don't Want To Alarm You, But Something Very Sinister Is Going On Here.”
Season 2, Episode 6 “Reflections Of The Mind”
As everyone knows, the best way to avoid alarming somebody is to start off a sentence with “I don't want to alarm you.” But in all seriousness, fans adore how calm Jessica Fletcher was able to be while stating how everything is basically falling apart around her and her friends.
It's truly quite impressive. Everyone should hope to have her level of calm someday. She's always unflappable in the face of danger and chaos.
“[To Her New Computer] We Come To An Understanding, Or One Of Us Doesn't Leave Here Alive.”
Season 8, Episode 5 “Lines Of Excellence”
Ah yes, the dreaded misbehaving computer problem. While Jessica Fletcher may be a writer, that doesn't automatically mean she's up-to-date on the times or the technology. That being said, there is something very endearing about her bafflement when it comes to all things computer and advanced tech.
It's the sort of line that only Jessica Fletcher could pull off. Also, who hasn't felt the need to threaten their computer occasionally?
“Back Home, We Have A Saying. Flowers That Bloom Too Quickly Are Fair Game For A Late Frost.”
The Pilot “The Murder Of Sherlock Holmes”
Sometimes the most florid of quotes contain the most meaning. Here Jessica Fletcher is talking about a relationship, and fans might agree with her insight on the matter. Not every relationship will start out with a fiery passion – and that's okay. The audience might love her statement here, while also feeling like their hearts are breaking for the endearing widow. She would know better than anyone the cycle of love and loss.
The line comes at a bittersweet moment in the pilot as Jessica draws the eye of an admirer, and while they get along well, Jessica isn't ready to jump into a relationship after the loss of her husband.
"Back In Cabot Cove, The Only Thing With Claws Are The Lobsters, And We Eat Them.”
The Pilot “The Murder Of Sherlock Holmes”
The full extent of the quote entails, “These last few days I have been insulted, browbeaten and patronized and I say no thank you! Back in Cabot Cove, the only thing with claws are the lobsters, and we eat them.” It's a great snapshot of Jessica Fletcher in the very first episode of the series as she meets with her publisher for the first time in New York, full of that sass and indignation fans love! Nobody can pull off a statement such as this quite like Jessica Fletcher. And okay, nobody else can get themselves in these sorts of situations either, but that's a totally different story.
This quote by itself is enough to get a chuckle, but when picturing it said in the beloved character's voice, it takes it to a whole new level, does it not?
“We've Only Had One Killer In Our Family. 1777, I Believe, And The Redcoats Shot First.”
Season 1, Episode 4 “Birds Of A Feather”
Jessica Fletcher spends a lot of time in the series visiting a variety of friends and family all over the world, and they're often wrapped up in murder cases as a suspect. Jessica is a very good judge of character, and she's often right in her initial assessment that the person she knows so well isn't guilty of the crime in question. This particular line shows how much faith she has in her family members.
It also shows off the perfect balance she has between poise and sass. It also seems especially perfect given some of the more modern theories about how she's the cause of all the murders in her hometown. Fans have theorized that she's actually the killer all along and that Jessica tricks others into confessing, which could account for why all the murders seem to follow her.
“Just As I Suspected. When Under Stress, The English Always Head For The Teapot.”
Season 1, Episode 6: It’s A Dog’s Life
Okay, one really can't fault Jessica Fletcher on her logic here. But the succinct statement still rings a very strong bell, one that will surely make all her fans chuckle. This is the sort of commentary fans live for while watching her series.
Disney fans might remember that Angela Lansbury, the actress who starred as Jessica Fletcher, also voiced the animated character Mrs. Potts in Disney's Beauty And The Beast. An entire generation might actually know Lansbury best as the teapot rather than the detective, making this quote a cheeky one for fans looking back on the early 1990s.
“A Good Guest Is Like Halley's Comet, Seen And Enjoyed, Seldom And Briefly."
Season 1, Episode 9 “We’re Off To Kill The Wizard”
Because Jessica Fletcher spends so much time traveling and visiting relatives, she understands that it is easy to overstay her welcome. She tells her niece on one visit: “A good guest is like Halley's Comet, seen and enjoyed, seldom and briefly. Right after my lecture, I go straight back to Cabot Cove.”
There are plenty of sayings out there about good guests and their frequency (or brevity) of coming by. But Jessica Fletcher's take on the subject beats them all. This is a woman that knows what she likes, and what she'd rather be doing. She's also aware that she doesn't want house guests to show up or linger too often, and thus grants the same courtesy to everyone else. This seems rather fair, doesn't it?
“That's The Puzzle. Those Who Were Inside Didn't Have Motives And Those With Motives Couldn't Get Inside.”
Season 1, Episode 9 “We’re Off To Kill The Wizard”
Oh, what a conundrum. Jessica Fletcher had quite the talent for stumbling upon murders and mysteries. Some of them were relatively simple to solve, while others were complex enough to boil the brains of the police on the scene. Yet Jessica Fletcher was never stymied. She simply kept on working, until she found the perfect solution.
Occasionally her frustration would vent with a quote like the one above. As she stood in a locked room in which a dead body was found, Jessica knew that the person was murdered, even if she couldn't figure out just how it was done right away. Jessica thought aloud, which acted as a way for her to work out a puzzle, but also made her a voice for the audience as they worked out the problem as well.
"It's Hard to Know Yourself, Let Alone Another Person."
Season 1, Episode 13 “Broadway Malady”
“The truth is that you can be married to someone and think you know them intimately. And then... Well, it's hard to know yourself, let alone another person.”
This quote is possibly the heaviest quote here, and that doesn't reduce its importance any. Jessica Fletcher had a way of cutting to the quick with some of her statements. Just like this one. Here she talks about the tragedy of ending up with somebody you never really knew at all, despite your assumptions and best efforts. And in many ways, she's explaining and excusing how that sort of thing can happen. This quote showed her deep levels of compassion, despite (or perhaps, in spite of) everything she has seen during her years. And it's one of the many reasons fans adored her character so much.