An Inspector Calls key quotations

‘We don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.’ - Inspector

‘But these girls aren’t cheap labour - they’re people.’ - Sheila

‘Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges.’ - Inspector

‘I can’t respect any responsibility.’ - Mr Birling

‘You’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble’ - Eric

‘Everything’s all right now, Sheila. (Holds up the ring.) What about this ring?’ - Gerald

‘There’ll be a public scandal - unless we’re lucky.’ - Mr Birling

‘I suppose we’re all nice people now.’ - Sheila

‘A man has to mind his own business and look after his own.’ - Mr Birling

‘So I'm really responsible?’ - Sheila

‘It was my own fault.’ - Sheila

‘She'll be alone with her responsibility, the rest of tonight, all tomorrow, all the next night.’ - Inspector

‘Girls of that class.’ - Mrs Birling

‘I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty.’ - Eric

‘I hate those hard-eyed, dough-faced women.’ - Gerald

‘unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable’ - Mr Birling

‘It’s my duty to keep labour costs down’ - Mr Birling

‘Unlike the other three, I did nothing I’m afraid of.’ - Mrs Birling

‘Go and look for the father of the child. It’s his responsibility.’ - Mrs Birling

‘Between us we drove that girl to suicide.’ - Sheila

‘It’s what happened to the girl and what we all did to her that matters.’ - Eric

‘I think Miss Birling ought to be excused any more of this questioning.’ - Gerald

‘We have to share something, if there’s nothing else, we’ll have to share our guilt.’ - Inspector

‘In fire and blood and anguish.’ - Inspector

‘Look mummy - Isn’t it a beauty.’ - Sheila

‘Is it the one you wanted me to have?’ - Sheila

‘As if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive - community and all that nonsense.’ - Mr Birling

‘Fiddlesticks! The Germans don’t want war. Nobody wants war.’ - Mr Birling