Key Quotes

• What does Mr. Birling say about his ideal son-in-law?

  “You’re just the kind of son-in-law I always wanted”
• What does Mr. Birling claim about war?

  “There isn’t a chance of war”
• What does Mr. Birling say about the Titanic?

  “Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable”
• What does Mr. Birling hope to achieve in the Honour’s list?

  “I might find my way into the next Honour’s list”
• What does Mr. Birling suggest about staying out of trouble?

  “We’ll try to keep out of trouble”
• What is Mr. Birling's view on individualism versus community?

  “A man has to make his own way”
• What does Mr. Birling say about accepting responsibility?

  “I can’t accept any responsibility”
• Why does Mr. Birling keep labour costs down?

  “It’s my duty to keep labour costs down”
• What does Mrs. Birling say about men with important work?

  “Men with important work have to spend time on business”
• What position did Mrs. Birling's husband hold recently?

  “He was Lord Mayor only two years ago”
• What does Mrs. Birling think about the girl’s situation?

  “I think she had only herself to blame”
• What does Mrs. Birling say about her actions?

  “I did nothing I’m ashamed of”
• What does Mrs. Birling say about the father of the child?

  “Go and look for the father of the child”
• What does Mrs. Birling imply about the girl’s claims?

  “She was claiming absurd feelings for her position”
• What does Mrs. Birling say about accepting blame?

  “I accept no blame at all”
• Who does Mrs. Birling blame for the situation?

  “I blame the young man who was the father”
• What does Mrs. Birling say about Eric's character?

  “You’re not the type – you don’t get drunk”
• What does Mrs. Birling claim about her resistance?

  “I was the only one who didn’t give in”
• What does Sheila say to Eric?

  “Don’t be an ass, Eric”
• How does Sheila feel after the revelation?

  “I’ve been so happy tonight”
• What does Sheila think about her actions towards the girl?

  “It was a mean thing to do”
• What does Sheila say about the girls she refers to?

  “These girls aren’t cheap labour”
• What does Sheila vow regarding her future actions?

  “I’ll never do it again to anybody”
• What does Sheila say about her feelings towards Gerald?

  “I respect you more than I’ve ever done”
• How does Sheila perceive the change in herself and others?

  “We aren’t the same people who sat down to dinner”
• What does Sheila accuse her mother of doing?

  “Pretending nothing much has happened”
• What does Sheila question about the inspector?

  “Was he really a police inspector?”
• What does Sheila imply about their moral standing?

  “I suppose we’re all nice people now”
• What does Sheila conclude about their collective actions?

  “We drove that girl to suicide”
• What does Eric say about keeping the girl employed?

  “He could have kept her on”
• What does Eric suggest about the events leading to the girl's situation?

  “That might have started it”
• What does Eric admit about his drinking?

  “I’ve had a few drinks, including champagne”
• How does Eric describe his state during the incident?

  “I was in that state when a chap gets nasty”
• What does Eric reveal about his memory of the incident?

  “I didn’t even remember – that’s the hellish thing”
• What does Eric say about the girl’s feelings towards him?

  “She didn’t want me to marry her”
• How does Eric feel about his father’s support?

  “You’re not the kind of father I could go to”
• What does Eric accuse his father of regarding the girl?

  “You killed them both – damn you”
• What does Eric emphasize about their actions towards the girl?

  “What we all did to her matters”
• What does Gerald say about their actions?

  “I know we’d have done the same thing”
• What does Gerald warn about the inspector?

  “Don’t say anything to the inspector”