Inspector Calls-Mr Birling Quotes

Question 1

I’m talking as a hard-headed practical man of business

Answer 1

Where in the play+some analysis

Question 2

You’ll hear some people say war is inevitable

Answer 2

Where in the play+some analysis

Question 3

Giving us the port, Edna?…it’s exactly the same port your father gets

Answer 3

says to GC

Question 4

Here, I’m not a purple-faced old man

Question 5

Your engagement to Sheila means a tremendous lot to me. She’ll make you happy, and I’m sure you’ll make her happy. You’re just the kind of son-in-law I always wanted

Question 6

We may look forward to the time when Crofts and Birlings are no longer competing but are working together- for lower costs and higher prices

Question 7

Sheila’s a lucky girl- and I think you’re a pretty fortunate young man too, Gerald

Question 8

Are you listening, Sheila? This concerns you too. And after all I don’t often make speeches at you

Question 9

The Germans don’t want war. Nobody wants war.

Question 10

Just let me finish, Eric. You’ve a lot to learn yet. And I’m talking as a hard-headed, practical businessman, and I say there isn’t a chance of war

Question 11

There’ll be peace and prosperity and rapid progress everywhere- except of course in Russia, which will always be behindhand naturally

Question 12

(talking about his possible knighthood) so long as we behave ourselves, don’t get into the police court or start a scandal- eh? (laughs complacently)

Question 13

Clothes mean something quite different to a woman… not only something to make ‘em look prettier- but a sort of token of their self-respect

Question 14

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

Question 15

(when the doorbell rings) Edna’ll answer it

Question 16

(when IG tells about ES’s suicide) (rather impatiently) yes, yes. Horrid business

Question 17

we’ve several hundred young women there… they keep changing

Question 18

obviously it has nothing whatever to do with the wretched girl’s suicide

Question 19

I cant accept any responsibility. 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?

Question 20

(when telling about how they asked for a raise) I refused, of course

Question 21

(describing ES) a lively good-looking girl… country-bred… a good worker too

Question 22

(when IG asks why MB refused the raise) well, Inspector, I don’t see that it’s any concern of yours how I choose to run my business

Question 23

(when EB starts sticking up for the workers) look- just you keep out of this. You hadn’t even started in the works when this happened

Question 24

(about his workers’ strike) pitiful affair

Question 25

if you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth

Question 26

(when EB defends ES) unless you brighten your ideas, you’ll never be in a position to let anybody stay, or to tell anybody to go. It's about time you learnt to face a few responsibilities. That’s something this public-school-and-varsity life you've had doesn’t seem to teach you

Question 27

(when SB asks what’s going on) nothing to do with you, Sheila. Run along

Question 28

look here, Inspector, I consider this uncalled-for and officious. I've half a mind to report you... it doesn’t seem to me very important... there isn’t the slightest reason why my daughter should be dragged into this unpleasant business

Question 29

we were having a nice little family celebration tonight. And a nasty mess you’ve made of it now, haven’t you?

Question 30

(when SB continues the ‘rope’ exchange) what's the matter with that child?

Question 31

(when the topic of ‘women of the town’ comes up) I see no point in mentioning the subject- especially- (indicating Sheila)

Question 32

(when IG accuses MB of turning ES out in the first place) (rather taken aback) I only did what any employer might have done... I protest against the way in which my daughter, a young unmarried girl, is being dragged into this-

Question 33

(after SB’s speech to GC after she gives him back the ring) now, Sheila, I'm not defending him. But you must understand that a lot of young men-

Question 34

I'm a public man-

Question 35

you weren’t asked to come here to talk to me about my responsibilities

Question 36

(explaining what happened to MRSB) (savagely) he’s admitted he was responsible for the girl’s condition

Question 37

(about EB stealing money) I've got to cover this up as soon as I can. You damned foo

Question 38

look, Inspector- I'd give thousands- yes, thousands-

Question 39

first to speak after IG leaves) (angrily to Eric) you’re the one I blame for this

Question 40

there’ll be a public scandal

Question 41

I care. I was almost certain for a knighthood in the next Honours List-

Question 42

when I think of what I was feeling when the five of us sat down to dinner at that table-

Question 43

he was prejudiced from the start. Probably a Socialist or some sort of crank

Question 44

(when MB phones the Chief Constable) I was going to do this anyhow. I've had my suspicions all along

Question 45

(to EB) if anyone’s up to their neck in this business, you are

Question 46

no police inquiry. No one girl that all this happened to. No scandal-

Question 47

look at the pair of them- the famous younger generation who know it all. And they can't even take a joke

Question 48

a girl has just died- on her way to the Infirmary- after swallowing some disinfectant. And a police inspector is on his way here- to ask some- questions

Answer 48

punctuationnnn!!