An Inspector Calls:
Mr Birling Quotations
● Stage Directions: ‘rather portenous
man…rather provincial in speech’ (Priestley
describes Mr Birling)
● Mr Birling: ‘Unsinkable, absolutely
unsinkinable’(Act 1)
● Mr Birling: ‘for lower costs and higher prices’
(Act 1)
● Mr Birling: ‘A man has to look after himself,
and his family of course’ (Act 1)
● Mr Birling: ‘you’d think we are all mixed up
together like bees in a hive - community and
all that nonsense’(Act 1)
● Mr Birling: ‘it’s my duty to keep labour costs
down’(Act 1)
● Mr Birling: ‘Is there any reason why my wife
should answer questions from you,
Inspector?’(Act 2)
● Eric: ‘You’re not the kind of father a chap
could go to when he’s in trouble’(Act 3)
● Mr Birling: ‘There is every excuse for what
both your mother and I did’(Act 3)
, Mrs Birling Quotations
● Stage Directions: ‘rather cold woman…her
husband’s social superior’ (Priestley describes
Mrs Birling)
● Mrs Birling: ‘(reproachfully) Arthur, you are not
supposed to said such things’(Act 1)
● Mrs Birling: ‘What an expression, Sheila’ (Act
1)
● Mrs Birling: ‘No, why should I?’ (Act 2)
● Mrs Birling: ‘Girls of that class…’(Act 2)
● Mrs Birling: ‘He must be made an example
of’(Act 2)
● Mrs Birling: ‘I’m sorry she should have come
to such a horrible end. But I accept no blame
at all’(Act 3)
● Mrs Birling: ‘He is only a boy’(Act 3)
● Mrs Birling: ‘I’m absolutely ashamed of
you’(Act 3)
Mr Birling Quotations
● Stage Directions: ‘rather portenous
man…rather provincial in speech’ (Priestley
describes Mr Birling)
● Mr Birling: ‘Unsinkable, absolutely
unsinkinable’(Act 1)
● Mr Birling: ‘for lower costs and higher prices’
(Act 1)
● Mr Birling: ‘A man has to look after himself,
and his family of course’ (Act 1)
● Mr Birling: ‘you’d think we are all mixed up
together like bees in a hive - community and
all that nonsense’(Act 1)
● Mr Birling: ‘it’s my duty to keep labour costs
down’(Act 1)
● Mr Birling: ‘Is there any reason why my wife
should answer questions from you,
Inspector?’(Act 2)
● Eric: ‘You’re not the kind of father a chap
could go to when he’s in trouble’(Act 3)
● Mr Birling: ‘There is every excuse for what
both your mother and I did’(Act 3)
, Mrs Birling Quotations
● Stage Directions: ‘rather cold woman…her
husband’s social superior’ (Priestley describes
Mrs Birling)
● Mrs Birling: ‘(reproachfully) Arthur, you are not
supposed to said such things’(Act 1)
● Mrs Birling: ‘What an expression, Sheila’ (Act
1)
● Mrs Birling: ‘No, why should I?’ (Act 2)
● Mrs Birling: ‘Girls of that class…’(Act 2)
● Mrs Birling: ‘He must be made an example
of’(Act 2)
● Mrs Birling: ‘I’m sorry she should have come
to such a horrible end. But I accept no blame
at all’(Act 3)
● Mrs Birling: ‘He is only a boy’(Act 3)
● Mrs Birling: ‘I’m absolutely ashamed of
you’(Act 3)
