An Inspector Calls Quotes Flashcards
(11 cards)
Mr Birling “A man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own.”
Mr. Birling’s confident statement, “A man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own,” which he says early in the play, clearly shows his strong belief that people should only care about themselves and their families. He doesn’t believe people should be responsible for anyone else in society, only for “himself and his own” (meaning his family and property). He sounds very sure of himself when he says this, showing he is arrogant and thinks only looking after number one is the right way to live. This idea is the complete opposite of what the Inspector will say later about needing to care for everyone. Priestley, the writer, uses this quote to show how the older generation (like Birling) were too comfortable and selfish. The people watching the play after the war, who had seen how important it was for everyone to work together and help each other, would probably have thought Birling’s idea was old-fashioned and simply wrong. Priestley wanted to criticise this kind of thinking because it caused unfairness in society and meant some people didn’t care about the suffering of others.
Sheila “But these girls aren’t cheap labour - they’re people.”
Sheila’s passionate response, “But these girls aren’t cheap labour - they’re people,” which she says to her father after hearing he fired Eva Smith, marks her as the first character to challenge the cold, business-like view of the workers. She directly rejects her father’s way of seeing employees only as “cheap labour” – meaning just a cost or tool for making money – by simply stating the powerful truth: “they’re people.” This plain but strong phrase reminds everyone that these workers are human beings with feelings and rights, not just objects. The quote shows that Sheila has empathy and a growing social conscience, meaning she cares about others beyond her own family. This makes her different from her father and represents the younger generation who might be more open to new ideas about social responsibility. Priestley uses this line to make the audience see Sheila in a positive light and to highlight his message that we should see everyone as valuable human beings, not just as a way to make profit.
Mr Birling “If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody we’d had anything to do with, it would be very awkward, wouldn’t it?”
Mr. Birling says, “If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody we’d had anything to do with, it would be very awkward, wouldn’t it?” This quote shows again how he completely rejects the idea of caring for others beyond his own group. He uses exaggeration by saying “everything that happened to everybody” to make the idea of social responsibility sound impossible and overwhelming. More importantly, he dismisses this serious moral idea using the trivial word “awkward,” treating responsibility for others’ well-being as merely inconvenient rather than a moral duty. 1 The rhetorical question “wouldn’t it?” shows he expects the others to agree with his selfish view, highlighting his closed-mindedness and lack of empathy. 2 Priestley uses this quote to underline Birling’s self-centred character and to directly challenge this attitude throughout the play, proving through the Inspector’s investigation that our actions do have significant, often devastating, consequences for “everybody” we come into contact with, making his narrow view seem foolish and wrong to the audience
Mrs Birling “First, the girl herself. … Secondly, I blame the young man who was the father of the child… He should be made an example of.”
When questioned by the Inspector about her charity refusing help, Mrs. Birling coldly states, “First, the girl herself. … Secondly, I blame the young man who was the father of the child… He should be made an example of.” This shows her complete refusal to accept any blame and her harsh, judgmental attitude. By saying “First, the girl herself,” she cruelly blames the victim, Eva Smith, showing her lack of compassion and her class prejudice against a poor, pregnant woman. Her formal way of listing the blame (“First,” “Secondly”) makes her sound unsympathetic, like she’s just ticking boxes rather than showing genuine care, which is deeply ironic given her role in a charity. Her demand that the young man “should be made an example of” reveals her harsh desire for punishment, without any thought for the complex situation. Priestley uses this dramatic irony – the audience soon realizes she is unknowingly blaming her own son, Eric – to build huge tension and expose her deep hypocrisy and moral blindness. This quote makes the audience strongly dislike Mrs. Birling, seeing her as cold, prejudiced, and uncaring, representing the worst of the older generation’s denial of social responsibility.
Eric “I wasn’t in love with her or anything – but I liked her – she was pretty and a good sport.”
This quote highlights the theme of the objectification of women. Eric is describing the girl he had an affair with in a way that reduces her to her physical appearance and her ability to be entertaining. The way Eric says she was good sport suggests how proud he is to have used her for sex. The moment she fulfilled his purpose he moved on. They treat her like a game. This reflects how men had power over women in the times of this story especially rich men and the ones with power.
When confessing his relationship with Eva Smith, Eric states, “I wasn’t in love with her or anything – but I liked her – she was pretty and a good sport.” This hesitant and casual description reveals his immaturity and the superficial nature of his involvement with Eva. By saying “I wasn’t in love with her or anything,” he quickly dismisses any deep emotional connection, showing a lack of genuine affection. His focus on her being “pretty and a good sport” highlights how he saw her in simple, almost transactional terms – she was physically attractive and agreeable to spend time with. The term “good sport” is particularly telling; it suggests he saw her as someone easy-going for his pleasure or entertainment, rather than a person deserving of respect or deep feeling, which points towards exploitation. This quote underscores the vast difference in their positions and power, showing how a privileged young man could carelessly use a working-class woman. Priestley uses this to expose the irresponsible behaviour of some within the upper class and to highlight Eric’s initial failure to grasp the seriousness and unfairness of his actions.
Inspector “We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.”
Towards the end of the play, in his powerful final speech, the Inspector delivers Priestley’s central message: “We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.” The striking metaphor “members of one body” suggests that all of humanity is connected, like different parts of a single organism. Just as a hand needs a foot to function, everyone in society relies on each other, regardless of their class or status. This powerful image directly challenges Mr. Birling’s selfish idea of looking after only oneself, arguing instead that we share a collective existence. The plain and direct statement that follows, “We are responsible for each other,” is the clear moral of the play – we have a duty to care about the well-being of others and recognize the impact of our actions on their lives. This serves as the climax of the Inspector’s message, intended to resonate deeply with both the characters and the audience, urging them to accept social responsibility and work towards a fairer, more compassionate society, reflecting Priestley’s own socialist views.
Sheila “The point is, you don’t seem to have learnt anything.”
Near the end of the play, after the Inspector has gone, Sheila critically tells her parents, “The point is, you don’t seem to have learnt anything.” This quote powerfully shows her frustration with their lack of change and highlights the key generational divide in the play. While Sheila and Eric have been deeply affected by the Inspector’s visit and have started to accept their responsibility, their parents are focused only on whether the Inspector was real and how to avoid a public scandal. Sheila’s use of “The point is” stresses that their parents are completely missing what’s truly important – the moral lesson about their actions and their impact on others. Her direct accusation, “you don’t seem to have learnt anything,” highlights their failure to understand the Inspector’s message and their return to their old, selfish ways, focused on appearances rather than genuine guilt or social responsibility. This line confirms that Sheila has genuinely changed and encourages the audience to agree with her perspective, seeing her as a voice of reason and a symbol of hope for a future generation who might be willing to learn and change society for the better.
Inspector “One Eva Smith has gone… but there are millions… of Eva Smiths… all intertwined with our lives”
In his final, powerful warning, the Inspector expands the play’s focus beyond the Birling family and Eva Smith, stating, “One Eva Smith has gone… but there are millions… of Eva Smiths… all intertwined with our lives.” By saying this, he makes it clear that Eva is not just one person, but a symbol for the countless “millions” of working-class and vulnerable people who suffer due to the indifference and selfish actions of others, particularly those in power. The repetition of “Eva Smiths” emphasizes that her story is representative of many. The phrase “all intertwined with our lives” uses a powerful image of connection, reminding the Birlings (and the audience) that everyone in society is linked, and our actions, whether good or bad, affect others directly. The pauses created by the ellipses (…) add weight and solemnity to his words, giving the audience time to fully grasp the huge scale of the problem and the seriousness of their collective social responsibility. This quote lifts the play from being just about one family to a universal message about class inequality, shared responsibility, and the urgent need for compassion in society, making Priestley’s political and social message unavoidable for the audience.
Mrs Birling “When you’re married, you’ll realise that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend all their time and energy on their business.”
Mrs. Birling tells Sheila, “When you’re married, you’ll realise that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend all their time and energy on their business.” This quote reveals Mrs. Birling’s traditional and somewhat limited view of marriage and gender roles. By starting with “When you’re married, you’ll realise,” she speaks in a slightly patronizing way, implying that Sheila is naive now but will learn to accept the reality of men prioritizing their careers. She calls their business “important work,” showing that she accepts men focusing “all their time and energy” on it, even if it means neglecting their family or personal lives. This reflects the values of her generation and class, where a man’s success in business was often seen as the most important thing, and women were expected to accept being secondary to it. Priestley uses this to highlight the traditional expectations within these wealthy families and subtly suggests the potential for emotional neglect or distance in such marriages. It contrasts with the play’s overall message that responsibilities extend beyond just making money.
Mr Birling “Clothes mean something quite different to a woman.”
In Act One, while discussing Eva Smith, Mr. Birling casually remarks, “Clothes mean something quite different to a woman.” This seemingly minor comment reveals his stereotypical and dismissive attitude towards women. He implies that a woman’s relationship with clothing is fundamentally different and less significant than a man’s – suggesting it’s focused on superficiality or vanity rather than practicality or status, which might be how he sees men’s clothing. The phrase “mean something quite different” is vague but clearly dismissive. This shows Birling’s outdated views on gender, reducing women’s concerns to trivial matters. Crucially, this perspective blinds him to the real importance clothes might have held for a working-class woman like Eva Smith, who needed decent clothes for work, dignity, and making a good impression. Priestley uses this line to further highlight Birling’s narrow-mindedness and lack of empathy, reinforcing his negative portrayal as someone stuck in outdated, sexist ways of thinking that fail to understand the realities faced by others, particularly women of a lower class.
Inspector Goole “Because what happened to her then may have determined what happened to her afterwards, and what happened to her afterwards may have driven to her suicide”
Early in the play, Inspector Goole explains his purpose by saying, “Because what happened to her then may have determined what happened to her afterwards, and what happened to her afterwards may have driven to her suicide.” This quote introduces the crucial idea of a chain of events and highlights the theme of consequences. The repetitive structure, using “what happened to her then” and “what happened to her afterwards,” emphasizes how each incident in Eva Smith’s life followed from the one before, pushing her along a path towards her death. Words like “determined” and “driven” suggest that the characters’ actions were powerful forces that shaped Eva’s life and ultimately led her to despair. Although the Inspector uses the word “may,” the way he links the events makes it clear that these actions were significant steps that had a terrible, cumulative impact on her. Priestley uses this to make the Birlings (and the audience) understand that even seemingly small or separate actions can have huge, devastating effects when they combine, reinforcing the play’s message about shared responsibility for the well-being of others in society.
