The Great Gatsby quotes

Daisy - Chapter 1, describes to Nick and Jordan her hopes for her infant daughter

I hope she'll be a fool—that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.

Nick - Chapter 6, describes Gatsby's behaviour after he confesses his desire to marry Daisy

He talked a lot about the past, and I gathered that he wanted to recover something, some idea of himself perhaps, that had gone into loving Daisy.

Nick - Chapter 9, describes how Tom and Daisy are so corrupted by their wealth and perception of things that they become careless

They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and . . . then retreated back into their money . . . and let other people clean up the mess they had made.

Nick - Chapter 9, describes how the others only wanted to know Gatsby so they could go to his lavish parties

The minister glanced several times at his watch, so I took him aside and asked him to wait for half an hour. But it wasn't any use. Nobody came.

Nick - Chapter 9, suggests that as we struggle to attain something in the future we are getting nowhere as the something is constantly dragging us behind.

We beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past

Mr Gatz - Chapter 9, illustrates to us that he was one of the very few people to truly love Gatsby

He had a big future before him, you know. He was only a young man, but he had a a lot of brain power here.

Mr Gatz - Chapter 9, As much as we love Gatsby, his American Dream does not embody these qualities

If he'd of lived, he'd of been a great man. A man like James J. Hill. He'd of helped build up the country.

Nick - Chapter 9, In Chapter 9 the reader sees that nobody, except for a select few, was close to Gatsby at all

Look here, old sport, you've got to get somebody for me. You've got to try hard. I can't go through this alone.

Nick - Chapter 6, This quote reveals how stuck Gatsby is in the past; he is unable to give up on his dream of recreating the past, which foreshadows his downfall later on in the novel.

Can't repeat the past?" he cried incredulously. "Why of course you can!"

Nick - Chapter 7, This quote highlights the fact that Daisy does not possess morals, nor does she possess any social decency; although she invites Gatsby so that she may supposedly break her marriage off with Tom, Nick comments on how bizarre and distasteful it is to invite Gatsby

And yet I couldn't believe that they would choose this occasion for a scene

Gatsby - Chapter 7, Gatsby is interested in Daisy's voice, a voice that resembles the sound of money.

Her voice is full of money," Gatsby said suddenly.

Nick - Chapter 8, Gatsby's reaction is also beautiful in that he not only appreciates Nick's compliment immensely, but by his facial expression and reaction, it is clear that Gatsby and Nick realized this the entire time they were together.

They're a rotten crowd," I shouted across the lawn. "You're worth the whole damn bunch put together