With the final season of Peaky Blinders well underway and the last ever episode fast approaching, fans will soon be looking back at all the amazing moments that the show has had over the years. These moments include epic action sequences, dramatic walks away from the camera, and brilliant quotes.
The quotes, in particular, are what make Peaky Blinders so iconic, and many of them are said with such emotion and meaning that they tell a separate story within the show’s main narrative. Season 1 of Peaky Blinders set the bar very high in terms of brilliant quotes, and the subsequent seasons definitely maintained the high standards, however, the best quotes from season 1 are among the best in the entire series.
Thomas Shelby
"Already Broken"
In the early episodes of Peaky Blinders, it is abundantly clear that Tommy Shelby (along with the rest of his comrades) have been changed by the events of the First World War, with Tommy, in particular, having suffered a great deal of trauma.
When asked by Grace which kind of song he would prefer her to sing, Tommy responds with "sad." Grace warns him that it will break his heart, to which Tommy replies, "already broken," giving audiences an early insight into his emotional backstory.
Inspector Campbell
"My Fury Is A Thing To Behold"
Inspector Campbell proves to be a worthy adversary for Tommy, lasting two seasons, which is longer than most of Tommy’s enemies. During one of their many dramatic meetings, Inspector Campbell makes his intentions with the Shelby family clear to Tommy and warns him of the consequences of non-cooperation.
Inspector Campbell’s fury certainly is a thing to behold, and it comes down hard on the Shelby family on multiple occasions. The dramatic and quite brilliant quote cements Inspector Campbell as one of the great antagonists of any television series and certainly one of the best in Peaky Blinders.
Thomas Shelby
"He Looked At Me The Wrong Way. It's Not A Good Idea To Look At Tommy Shelby The Wrong Way."
In the second episode of season 1, a rain-drenched Tommy Shelby comes into The Garrison after hours to find Grace cleaning up after her shift. The rest of the scene gives audiences a very unique look at a more vulnerable Tommy Shelby, who is left feeling distraught after having to kill his horse.
Grace asks why Tommy shot the horse, and his reply is very interesting in terms of his character development. Tommy employs subtle humor in his response to Grace, stating he killed the horse because it looked at him the wrong way. Tommy then continues in a more serious and sinister fashion, seeming like he means what he says.
Thomas Shelby
"Whiskey’s Good Proofing Water. Tells You Whose Real And Who Isn’t."
Whiskey is one of the pillars of Peaky Blinders, along with cigarettes and severe undercuts, so it is no surprise that Tommy Shelby holds the beverage in high regard. Having just met some IRA men, Tommy explains to Grace why he recommends Whiskey consumption during "business" meetings.
Tommy is certainly not a chemist or a doctor, but his theory about Whiskey as an effective "proofing water" certainly worked on this occasion, having seen the IRA men for what they truly are. Despite this, Peaky Blinders has proved that Whiskey and guns hardly ever form a positive combination, usually resulting in the use of the latter.
Polly Gray
"You Have To Be As Bad As Them Above In Order To Survive."
As one of the smartest and strongest women in Peaky Blinders, it is no surprise that Polly Gray, portrayed by the late, great Helen McCrory, says some incredibly wise and profound things throughout the show.
In this instance, while talking to Ada about what happened to her children, Polly gives an interesting insight into the mentality of the Peaky Blinders (and many other gangs at the time). She explains that to survive, a person must be as bad as the authorities and rulers, which provides audiences with an astute indictment of the English class system at this time (and foreshadows how much of an important theme this becomes in subsequent seasons of the show).
Thomas Shelby
"In The Bleak Midwinter."
As creative and brilliant a writer as Steven Knight is, there are few scenes that contain quotes from other literary geniuses. One of the best quotes from season 1 is taken from the first line of English poet Christina Rossetti’s poem, In the bleak midwinter.
Tommy quotes this line just before he shoots Danny Whizz-Bang in the back of the head, and it makes the scene so much more meaningful and dramatic. The quote is uttered many times throughout Peaky Blinders’ subsequent seasons, and it is later revealed that Tommy, and his comrades that fought in France, agreed to say it just before death.
Grace Burgess
"May You Be In Heaven A Full Half-Hour Before The Devil Knows Your Dead."
As Grace points out, the Irish are famed for their quick wit and way with words, especially when it comes to making toasts. The toast that Grace makes in season 1, episode 4, is particularly brilliant, aligning with the show’s themes of religion and the Devil, while also being directly applicable to Tommy Shelby.
The quote certainly appears to entertain Tommy (a rare occurrence), who is happy to raise a glass to it, providing an early moment of chemistry between him and Grace, his future wife. This is definitely one of Grace's best quotes in Peaky Blinders, although, there are plenty of contenders for the top spot.
Thomas Shelby
"Oh, I Don't Pay For Suits. My Suits Are On The House Or The House Burns Down."
At the beginning of series 1, episode 3, Tommy succinctly explains to Grace how things work in Small Heath with a brilliant quote. The quote not only provides an excellent summary of the power that the Peaky Blinders have in the area but also provides an example of the excellent scriptwriting that features consistently throughout the entire series.
In addition, the quote perfectly sums up Tommy Shelby’s personality, showing his wit, confidence, and ruthlessness. These traits remain more or less consistent throughout the show, and the quote sets this precedent very early on.
Arthur Shelby
"By Order Of The Peaky Blinders."
"By order of the Peaky Blinders" is by far the most iconic quote in the entire series, which is mainly thanks to its consistently brilliant delivery by Arthur Shelby (Paul Anderson). The quote is said countless times throughout Peaky Blinders’ six seasons and has almost become the gang’s catchphrase.
Although Tommy is the first character to use the quote on screen, Arthur makes it his own in subsequent episodes, starting with season 1, episode 3, where he and the gang reclaim Billy Kimber’s betting pitches from the Lee family.