An Inspector Calls Key Quotes

Themes:

• Responsibility

• Age

• Gender

• Socialism vs Capitalism

• Class

Mr Birling

• ‘By the way some of these cranks talk and write now, you’d think everybody has to look after everybody else, as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive – community and all that nonsense.”

• ‘Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable’

• ‘There isn’t a chance of war’

• An man has to make his own way - has to look after himself- and his family too, of course

• “It’s my duty to keep labour costs down.”

• “ If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody… it would be very awkward wouldn’t it?”

• “If you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth.”

• “I’ve got to cover this up as soon as I can.”

• “Why you hysterical young fool – get back – or I’ll –

• “I care. I was almost certain for a Knighthood in the next honours list.”

• “There’s every excuse for what both your mother and I did.”

• “Now look at the pair of them - the famous younger generation who know it all. and they can't even take a joke."

• “There’ll be a public scandal… and who here will suffer for that more than I will?”

Mrs Birling

• “I don’t suppose for a moment that we can understand why the girl committed suicide.”

• “Naturally that was one of the things that prejudiced me against her case.”

• “If you think you can bring any pressure to bear upon me, Inspector, you’re quite mistaken. Unlike the other three, I did nothing I’m ashamed of or that won’t bear investigation.

• “In spite of what’s happened to the girl since, I consider I did my duty.”

• “It wasn’t I who had her turned out of her employment – which probably began it all.”

• “She was giving herself ridiculous airs. She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd in a girl in her position.”

• “You’re quite wrong to suppose I shall regret what I did.”

• “He should be made an example of. If the girl’s death is due to anybody, then it’s due to him.”

Sheila Birling

• “(who has put on ring admiringly) I think its perfect. Now I really feel engaged.”

• “I can’t help thinking about this girl –destroying herself so horribly – and I’ve been so happy tonight.”

• But these girls aren’t cheap labour – they’re people.”

• “I’ll never, never do it again to anybody.”

• “I know I’m to blame – and I’m desperately sorry”

• ”You mustn’t try to build up a kind of wall between us and that girl. If you do, then the inspector will just break it down

• “He’s giving us the rope – so that we’ll hang ourselves.

• “And probably between us we killed her.”

• “But that won’t bring Eva Smith back to life.”

Eric Birling

• “not quite at ease, half-shy, half assertive.”

• “He could have kept her on instead of throwing her out.”

• “She told me she didn’t want to go in but that – well, I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty – and I threatened to make a row.”

• “I didn’t even remember – that’s the hellish thing.”

• “Then - you killed her… and the child she’d have had too – my child – your own Grandchild – you killed them both – damn you, damn you.”

• “I did what I did. And mother did what she did. And the rest of you did what you did to her.”

• “The money’s not the important thing. It’s what happened to the girl and what we did to her that matters.”

Gerald Croft

• “very much the easy well-bred young man-about-town.”

• “‘I think my father would agree to that, too.” (talking about Mr birling’s ‘lower costs and higher prices’)

• “I want you to understand that I didn't install her there so that I could make love to her”

• “I don’t come into this suicide business.”

• “The Palace music hall… is a favourite haunt of women of the town.”

• “I hate those hard-eyed dough-faced women. But then I noticed a girl who looked quite different. She was very pretty – soft brown hair and big dark eyes”

• “She was young and pretty and warm hearted – and intensely grateful. I became at once the most important person in her life – you understand?”

• She didn't blame me at all. I wish to God she had now. Perhaps I'd feel better about it.

• '“What about this ring”

Inspector Goole

• “I don’t play golf.”

• “Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges.”

• “A girl died tonight. A pretty, lively sort of girl, who never did anybody any harm. But she died in misery and agony – hating life.”

• “Each of you helped to kill her, remember that. Never forget it.”

• “Used her at the end of a stupid drunken evening, as if she was an animal, a thing, not a person.” (directed at eric)

• “One Eva Smith has gone – but there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths left with us.”

• We don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.”

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