quotes

• Mr. Birling quotes:

  • "You’re just the kind of son-in-law I always wanted"
  • "I’m talking as a hard-headed, practical man of business… there isn’t a chance of war"
  • "... unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable"
  • "...there’s a fair chance that I might find my way into the next Honour’s list"
  • "...we’ll try to keep out of trouble during the next few months"
  • "A man has to make his own way – has to look after himself… community and all that nonsense" (as Inspector arrives)
  • "I can’t accept any responsibility"
  • "It’s my duty to keep labour costs down"
  • "She’d had a lot to say – far too much – so she had to go"
  • "How do you get on with our Chief Constable, Colonel Roberts?"
  • "I’ve got to cover this up as soon as I can"
  • "Probably a Socialist or some sort of crank"
• Mrs. Birling quotes:

  • "When you’re married you’ll realize that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their business"
  • "You know of course that my husband was Lord Mayor only two years ago and that he’s still a magistrate"
  • "I’m very sorry. But I think she had only herself to blame"
  • "Unlike the other three, I did nothing I’m ashamed of"
  • "Go and look for the father of the child. It’s his responsibility"
  • "It wasn’t I who had her turned out of her employment – which probably began it all"
  • "She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd in a girl in her position"
  • "I accept no blame at all"; "I blame the young man who was the father of the child"
  • "You’re not the type – you don’t get drunk"
  • "I was the only one of you who didn’t give in to him"
• • "Well, he inspected us all right. And let’s not start dodging and pretending now. Between us we drove that girl to suicide"
• Sheila quotes:

  • "I’ve been so happy tonight. Oh I wish you hadn’t told me"
  • "I think it was a mean thing to do. Perhaps that spoilt everything for her"
  • "These girls aren’t cheap labour. They’re people"
  • "I’ll never, never do it again to anybody… I feel I can never go there again"
  • "Why – you fool – he knows. Of course he knows"
  • "He’s been steadily drinking too much for the past two years"
  • "I don’t dislike you as I did half an hour ago, Gerald. In fact, in some odd way, I rather respect you more than I’ve ever done before"
  • "You and I aren’t the same people who sat down to dinner here"
  • "Mother, I think it was cruel and vile"
  • "You’re beginning to pretend all over again that nothing much has happened"
  • "It doesn’t much matter now, of course – but was he really a police inspector?"
  • "I suppose we’re all nice people now"
• Eric quotes:

  • "He could have kept her on instead of throwing her out"
  • "That might have started it"
  • "I’ve had a few drinks, including rather a lot of champagne"
  • "I was in that state when a chap easily gets nasty"
  • "I didn’t even remember – that’s the hellish thing"
  • "She didn’t want me to marry her… In a way, she treated me as if I were a kid"
  • "I got it – from the office… I intended to pay it back"
  • "...you’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble"
  • "...my child – your own grandchild – you killed them both – damn you, damn you"
  • "It’s what happened to the girl and what we all did to her that matters"
  • "You lot may be letting yourself out nicely, but I can’t… we did her in all right"
• Gerald quotes:

  • "I know we’d have done the same thing"
  • "For God’s sake – don’t say anything to the inspector"
  • "I think Miss Birling ought to be excused any more of this questioning"
  • "Sorry – I – well, I’ve suddenly realized – taken it in properly – that she’s dead"
  • "We went to the County Hotel, which I knew would be quiet at that time of night"
  • "All that she wanted was to talk – a little friendliness"
  • "I didn’t install here there so that I could make love to her"
  • "I didn’t feel about her as she felt about me"
  • "Is there anything else you want to know – that you ought to know?"
  • "She told me she’d been happier than she’d ever been before"
  • "Everything’s all right now, Sheila. What about this ring?"
• • "But just remember this… fire and blood and anguish. Good night" (final speech)
• Inspector Goole quotes:

  • "Burnt her inside out… she was in great agony"
  • "What happened to her… a chain of events"
  • "It’s better to ask for the earth than to take it"
  • "There are a lot of young women living that sort of existence in every city and big town in this country"
  • "We have to share something. If there’s nothing else, we’ll have to share our guilt"
  • "She felt there’d never be anything as good again for her"
  • "Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges"
  • "She needed not only money but advice, sympathy, friendliness… you slammed the door in her face"
  • "There’ll be plenty of time, when I’ve gone, to adjust your family relationships"
  • "You’ll be able to divide the responsibility between you when I’ve gone"
  • "...each of you helped to kill her. Remember that. Never forget it"
  • "Croft… he at least had some affection for her and made her happy for a time"