Character Quotes and Themes in An Inspector Calls

Mr. Birling Act 1

"A man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own."

Mr. Birling Act 2

"I can't accept any responsibility."

Mr. Birling Act 3

"There's every excuse for what both your mother and I did."

Mrs. Birling Act 1

"I'm very sorry. But I think she had only herself to blame."

Mrs. Birling Act 2

"I used my influence to have it refused."

Mrs. Birling Act 3

"I accept no blame for it at all."

Sheila Act 1

"I'm sorry, Daddy. Actually, I was listening."

Sheila Act 2

"You mustn't try to build up a kind of wall between us and that girl."

Sheila Act 3

"Now I really feel engaged."

Eric Act 1

"I'm not likely to forget."

Eric Act 2

"I was in a state where a chap easily turns nasty."

Eric Act 3

"The fact remains that I did what I did."

Gerald Act 1

"I didn't feel about her as she felt about me."

Gerald Act 2

"She was young and pretty and warm-hearted."

Gerald Act 3

"Everything's all right now, Sheila."

Inspector Goole Act 1

"We don't live alone. We are members of one body."

Inspector Goole Act 2

"Each of you helped to kill her."

Inspector Goole Act 3

"If men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish."

Theme: Responsibility Act 1

"A man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own."

Theme: Responsibility Act 2

"We don't live alone. We are members of one body."

Theme: Responsibility Act 3

"We are responsible for each other."

Theme: Morality Act 1

"I used my influence to have it refused."

Theme: Morality Act 2

"She needed not only money but advice, sympathy, friendliness."

Theme: Morality Act 3

"You're partly to blame. Just as your father is."

Theme: Community and the Individual Act 1

"Community and all that nonsense."

Theme: Community and the Individual Act 2

"There are millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us."

Theme: Community and the Individual Act 3

"We are members of one body."

Theme: Love Act 1

"I didn't love her as much as she loved me."

Theme: Love Act 2

"I became at once the most important person in her life."

Theme: Love Act 3

"Everything's all right now, Sheila."

Theme: Time Act 1

"The famous younger generation who know it all."

Theme: Time Act 2

"It's better to ask for the Earth than to take it."

Theme: Time Act 3

"If men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish."

Theme: Respectability / Hypocrisy Act 1

"Girls of that class—"

Theme: Respectability / Hypocrisy Act 2

"I don't come into this suicide business."

Theme: Respectability / Hypocrisy Act 3

"Unlike the other three, I did nothing I'm ashamed of."