An Inspector Calls – Quotes by Eric
Eric Birling is the son of Arthur and Sybil Birling, and represents the younger generation that is more open to questioning the moral values and social hierarchy of the upper class. He is a troubled young man who struggles with alcoholism and feels alienated from his family.
“Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices.”
“I wasn’t in love with her or anything – but I liked her – she was pretty and a good sport.”
“And I don’t see why she should have been sacked just because she’d a bit more spirit than the others.”
“That wasn’t disgusting, and you know it.”
“Don’t forget I’m ashamed of you as well – yes both of you.”
“And I say the girl’s dead and we all helped to kill her – and that’s what matters.”
“I don’t think you people ought to talk about her as if she were a piece of dirt.”
“The fact remains that I did what I did. And mother did what she did. And the rest of you did what you did to her. It’s still the same rotten story whether it’s been told to a police inspector or to somebody else.”
“I wasn’t in the mood for that sort of thing. But you were, so you smashed it up.”
“I’m not very clear about this business of yours, but I bet I know something about it that you don’t.”
“Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices.”
“Why shouldn’t they? It’s only natural, isn’t it?”
“Why shouldn’t they look after themselves? We all do.”
“I don’t see much nonsense about it when a girl goes and kills herself. You lot may be letting yourselves out nicely, but I can’t.”
“My God! I’m not likely to forget.”
“You don’t understand anything. You never did. You never even tried.”
“That doesn’t matter to me. The point is, you don’t seem to have learned anything.”
“And I say the girl’s dead and we all helped to kill her – and that’s what matters.”
“Then why the devil do you want to go upsetting the whole story?”
“We did her in all right.”
“I wasn’t in love with her or anything – but I liked her – she was pretty and a good sport.”
“You killed her – and the child she’d have had too – my child – your own grandchild – you killed them both – damn you, damn you.”
“And I don’t give a damn now whether they hang me or not.”
“And I don’t want to see you again. I hate you – and I hate your kind – and I don’t want to see you again.”
“That’s the hellish thing. You can’t even say I’m sorry, Gerald.”
“I wasn’t feeling very well at the time.”
“You’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble. That’s why.”
“I wasn’t in the mood for nonsense.”
“We’ve no excuse now for putting on airs.”
“We’re respectable citizens and not criminals.”
“I’ve been at the point of asking for help -“
“Then it doesn’t matter.”
“I didn’t even remember – that’s the hellish thing.”
“Well, I don’t blame you. But don’t forget I’m ashamed of you as well – yes both of you.”
“You don’t understand anything. You never did. You never even tried. And now you’ve made us confess to it.”
“And I tell you – here, you can drink it now if you like – that between us we drove that girl to commit suicide.”
“Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices.”
“It’s what happened to the girl and what we all did to her that matters.”
“You’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble.”
“I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty.”
“My God! I’m not likely to forget.”
“I wasn’t in love with her or anything – but I liked her – she was pretty and a good sport.”
“I wasn’t in the list last night, so I had to see it tonight to keep up.”
“I wasn’t feeling too good after that – didn’t even remember – that – afterwards. Just wanted to forget it. Get it out of my mind.”
“I don’t give a damn now whether they like it or not.”
“But don’t forget I’m ashamed of you as well – yes both of you.”