Having been raised in the chaotic Birmingham underworld, most of the gangsters in Peaky Blinders have similar habits and practices. Their associates and loved ones have also learned to live using a specific template to survive. Nonetheless, everyone has their own unique personality.
Though actions can normally be relied on to show who a person really is, nothing highlights the mannerisms and views of the characters on the BBC show more than their remarks. Since most of them are outgoing, they always have a lot to say, but there's always that single line that underscores their persona.
Updated on April 27th, 2022, by Rhys McGinley: The final season of Peaky Blinders marked the end of an incredible television show that was chock full of awesome storytelling and immense characters. There are so many iconic Peaky Blinders quotes that will stand the test of time when people remember the series, and so many have or will become synonymous with certain characters. Every main character has at least one quote, one line, that really sums up their temperament, their goals in the show, and their place in relation to the Birmingham gang. Some of the best Peaky Blinders quotes are those that make for a fitting summary of a character's story and personality.
Winston Churchill
"Do What You Have To, Mr. Shelby. And If You Need Anything, Call Me."
Churchill is bothered when the fascists begin infiltrating England. During a meeting with Tommy, he indirectly gives him permission to assassinate those pushing the agenda, specifically Mosley.
On the show, Churchill is shown to be a master of delegation. He understands that macro-managing is what it takes to be a great leader, which is why he ends up being the Prime Minister. Churchill is also an end-justifies-means type of leader, and that's why he is okay with working with those with questionable morals, including Campbell and Tommy.
Lizzie Stark
"Get Away From My House!"
When Aberama drags Johnny Dogs to Tommy's home, and hell breaks loose following the crucifixion of Bonnie, Lizzie emerges from the house with a gun, threatening to shoot them all if they do not leave 'her' house.
This sums up a lot of what annoys fans about Lizzie, such as her being entitled and even annoying, but also showcases how strong and ultimately fearless she becomes over the course of the show. She is unafraid to hold a gun to the head of the man whose house it actually is, all in the name of protecting her children and her new life.
Luca Changretta
"You People Have Traditions Of Honor, So Do We."
Luca Changretta was a whole new test for Tommy and the Blinders and was not out for power or control over Tommy, but rather vengeance for his family and this quote sums up a lot of what he and his family were about in season 4.
They were not mindless goons out to fight in the street with no care for who gets caught in the crossfire. There were rules in place to secure the legitimacy and honor of the rivalry. Of course, this does not mean Luca was not incredibly violent and vicious; he was, he was just more classy about it, more subtle even.
Oswald Mosley
"Perish Judah!"
A villain who is not subtle in his ideologies is Oswald Mosley, a wholly abhorrent, deplorable human who spewed ideas of fascism and racism out into the world, allying with the likes of Adolf Hitler himself.
This line which he preaches especially in season 5, sums up who he is, but his entire personality is encapsulated by any one of his many, many disgusting fascist remarks over the course of his two seasons in the show. He looks set to be the villain in the Peaky Blinders movie, and Tommy taking him down would be the ultimate moment of satisfaction for fans and characters alike.
Arthur Shelby
"This Place Is Under New Management By Order Of The Peaky Blinders."
Things get ugly for Darby Sabini during his war with Tommy. He suffers his biggest blow when Arthur leads men in raiding his most cherished business, the Eden Club, where they beat up everyone and declare that the Peaky Blinders are now running the business.
Arthur is one of the best characters in Peaky Blinders and is a master of mayhem, capable of unleashing violence on anyone. He feels more alive when he is inflicting pain and conquering foes. In addition to that, he has always been highly dedicated to any course his family has, relishing his role in the Blinders.
Inspector Campbell
"Find Some Stairs, Throw Him Down, And Call The Coroner."
When Inspector Campbell is informed that the communist Stanley Chapman has died while being tortured for information, he comes up with an instant suggestion on how to cover up the death. The poor man should get made to look like he fell down the stairs.
As one of the evilest characters in Peaky Blinders, remorse and guilt are alien traits to Campbell. So long as any bad outcome was the result of him trying to do his job, he is fine with it. To him, his unorthodox policing methods are totally justified. Besides that, he has never been one to care much about people he considers 'nobodies." To him, only the big fish like Tommy matter.
Polly Gray
"My Senior Position Within The Shelby Company Means I Don’t Have To Ask Permission From Anyone To Do Anything."
Polly is offended when Russian refugee Anton Kaledin tells her to seek permission from Tommy so that they can discuss business. She not only reminds him how much authority she has but also changes her mind about discussing business with him.
As the matriarch of the Shelby family, Polly is used to giving the orders, so, understandably, she'd be taken aback by the suggestion that she should seek permission. She has never felt intimidated by men either since her life revolves around putting the leash on a group of temperamental criminals.
Alfie Solomons
"He'll Wake Up. Granted, He Won't Have Any Teeth Left, But He Will Be A Wiser Man For It."
When some of Tommy's men come to work for Alfie, one of them makes a lame joke. An angry Alfie proceeds to rain blows on him before assuring the rest of the men that what he has done will make the employee wiser.
Alfie does his best to intimidate everyone around him. Knocking out someone's teeth for talking is his way of letting others know they are to sweat and stay silent whenever they are in his presence. He follows that up with this line which is one of his best Peaky Blinders quotes.
Billy Kimber
"People Don't Work With Me, They Work For Me."
After discovering that Tommy's men fixed races at his track, Birmingham Boys leader Billy Kimber shows up at the Garrison Pub, ready to shoot. Tommy calms him down and proposes a partnership, but Kimber isn't interested.
The most noticeable thing about Kimber is that he has delusions of grandeur. He thinks he is the most revered crime boss in England when he is not. He feels too powerful that he thinks it's okay to bully other gang leaders without any consequences. The mentality that others are beneath him eventually gets him killed.
Ada Shelby
"Oi! I'm A Shelby Too, You Know. Put My F**** Film Back On!"
Eager to find out who Ada is seeing, Tommy storms into a theater where she is watching a movie. Upon seeing Tommy, the owner of the theater stops the movie so that the Blinders' boss can talk to Ada. This makes her furious.
As the only female among the Shelby siblings, Ada has always felt discriminated against. As a result, she is mostly known for her lamentations. She feels that people don't respect her as much as they respect her brothers, and this irks her. While Tommy is known as the Shelby with the best Peaky Blinders quotes, others like Ada have their fair share of great lines, including this.
Grace Burgess
"I Hope This Doesn't Involve Razor Blades."
As a condition for doing business, one of Tommy Shelby's greatest enemies, Billy Kimber, demands that he be allowed to bed Grace. Tommy agrees but makes plans to save Grace before Kimber does anything with her. Grace also agrees to do whatever she is asked so long as there won't be any fighting.
Two things are clear about Grace during her time on the show. She likes putting herself in danger, but she also hates violence. Her love for thrills is the reason she agrees to spy on the Blinders for the Royal Irish Constabulary. It's also the reason she agrees to Tommy's request, despite being aware of Kimber's brutality. She's always had full trust in the Blinders' boss. A part of her knows that if the meeting with Kimber starts to go south, Tommy and his men will be cutting through throats with their razors.
John Shelby
"When I Was Michael’s Age, I’d Killed A Hundred Men And Seen A Thousand Die."
Right after she gets reunited with Michael, Polly tries to prevent him from hanging out with the Shelby siblings because she fears they will introduce him to crime. John notices this and advises her to let Michael be a gangster or else he'll start resenting her.
He prides himself on being a prolific killer and sees no reason why anyone would be ashamed of that kind of life. John values everything that the Blinders stand for hence the reason Polly's efforts to keep Michael away baffle him. John's death makes for one of the most heartbreaking and hardest to watch Peaky Blinders scenes.
Michael Gray
"I Chose My Mum."
The death of Michael Gray helped cap off an epic series finale for Peaky Blinders, and while this quote came way back in season 4, it helps sum up so much of Michael's motivation as the show's secondary antagonist in the final two seasons.
The whole of season 6, he is driven by his desire to kill Tommy due to blaming him for the death of Polly. This idea of Michael doing things for his mother and not caring about the Shelbys started when he never told Tommy about his meeting Luca and helped drive that initial wedge between him and the Blinders.
Tommy Shelby
"I Have No Limitations."
Perhaps the best Peaky Blinders quote from season 6 is this from Tommy, as he defies what multiple characters told him over the course of the show. It comes right after he shoots Michael in the face in a wonderful fashion.
It does not just sum up what Tommy proves to everyone by the end of season 6, but it is a fantastic summation of what he goes through over the course of the series. No matter how ambitious his schemes are, no matter how big the bad is that he takes on, he always finds a way to win, he has no ceiling, he has no limitations.