Death of a Salesman Quotes

"Work a lifetime to pay off a house. You finally own it, and there's nobody to live in it."

Said by Willy to Linda; Important because it shows how Willy believes he has worked so hard for virtually nothing as his boys no longer are around to idolize him.

"Nobody dast blame this man... A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory."

Charley to Biff; Charley explains to Biff that it was not Willy's fault that his dreams were so big, because that is a characteristic of the life of a salesman. This is because there are very high expectations for Willy in his profession, and so he simply dreams about achieving these high expectations. Willy was not wrong to dream of the things he did, he was merely wrong in the ways he went about achieving them.

"Why, boys, when I was seventeen I walked into the jungle, and when I was twenty-one I walked out. And by God I was rich."

Said by Ben to Biff and Happy; important because Ben's success makes Willy think he can do the same and he does not have to work hard to become rich. This is where many of Willy's skewed ideas come from about how to be rich and he misinterprets some of Ben's words to make himself seem more correct.

"Never fight fair with a stranger, boy. You'll never get out of the jungle that way."

Said by Ben to Biff and Happy; important because this shows how Ben does not believe you can become rich and successful by being fair and straight. One must use strategy and skill in order to make it in the world. Perhaps Biff takes this to heart too much when he steals things as he believes he can be unfair in order to get ahead.

"The jungle is dark but full of diamonds, Willy."

Said by Ben to Willy; important because Willy idolizes Ben for walking into the jungle and coming out rich. The quote shows that it is not easy to find this richness, it is basically a shot in the dark. But if you don't enter the jungle you will never find the diamonds. Willy takes his pride over anything else and will not do anything but attempt to sell stockings for the rest of his life; he knows if he had gone to Alaska with Ben and made more risky choices he could be in a better place, yet he still will not change his ways now.

"We had a fist fight. It lasted at least half an hour. Just the two of us, punching each other down the cellar, and crying right through it."

Said by Bernard to Willy; important because Bernard is talking about the night Biff got home from visiting Willy in boston and burns his shoes. Bernard was angry at Biff for giving up so easily on his dreams and the boys get into a fight. The fact that they were crying through it shows the love Bernard and Biff had for each other. Biff is crying because seeing his father in an honest light has made him give up on his own life and Bernard is crying because he too realizes Biff is no longer destined for success.

"But sometimes, Willy, it's better for a man just to walk away."

Said by Bernard to Willy; important because Bernard is trying to tell Willy that what he is doing in not working out. Willy is failing at his job but won't give up. He won't take the job offer from Charley out of pride and he won't try anything knew. Bernard is telling Willy to give up and take a new look at things or he will never move forward in life.

"Just because he printed University of Virginia on his sneakers doesn't mean they got to graduate him, Willy."

Said by Bernard to Willy; important because this conversation shows how Willy believes just because Biff has scholarships in football he doesn't need to worry about his grades. Willy thinks as long as Biff is good at football he'll graduate just fine and make a good life for himself. But Bernard knows that he must work hard in school too or he won't graduate at all. This scene foreshadows Bernard's success and Biff's failure because he relied too much on things like football and put aside hard work.

"I've often thought of how strange it was that I knew he'd given up his life. What happened in Boston, Willy?"

Said by Bernard to Willy; important because this line shows that Biff gave up his life after visiting his father in Boston. Bernard knows something happened on that trip that caused Biff to "lay down" and stop working towards his goals. We later find out it was seeing Willy with another woman that caused Biff's actions and this line, spoken by Bernard, allows for Willy to see it was truly his action that lead to Biff's failure.

"I've always made a point of not wasting my life, and every time I come back here I know that all I've done is to waste my life."

Said by Biff to Happy; important because whenever Biff is home he realizes he has nothing to show for his life. He has no stable job or income. No one to bring home or go back to anywhere else. Sitting back in his childhood bedroom Biff feels like nothing has changed, a feeling that make him feel like a failure and a boy again.

"Because I know he's a fake and he doesn't like anybody around who knows."

Said by Biff to Linda; important because we know Biff knows that Willy cheated on her and Willy feels ashamed of it only when Biff is around. Biff knows his father is not the great man he talks himself up to be and for this reason Willy falls apart when Biff is around.

"You've just seen a prince walk by. A fine, troubled prince. A hard-working, unappreciated prince."

Said by Biff to Miss Forsythe and Letta; Important because Biff seems to being gaining respect for Willy. He calls him hard-working and realizes even if Willy made mistakes his intentions were always to better his sons. Biff stands up for his father in front of these strangers and talks highly of him. This happens after Biff realizes his father was fired and the hardships Willy must be going through.

"Why am I trying to become what I don't want to be? What am I doing in an office, making a contemptuous, begging fool of myself, when all I want is out there, waiting for me the minute I say I know who I am!"

Said by Biff to Willy; important because Biff is figuring out who he is and who he wants to be. Biff doesn't want to be a salesman, he wants to be outside working with his hands. This quote shows how he finally works up the courage to tell Willy this.

"We never told the truth for ten minutes in this house."

Said by Biff to Willy; important because Biff is finally confronting Willy on all of his lies. Biff is telling Willy that he knows he is not a great salesman but just a regular guy. Biff knows that Willy has been lying to him all these years and stretching all of his successes. Biff is finally admitting that all of them, Happy, himself, and Willy talk up their success in order to impress the others but in reality there is no purpose in doing so.

"I stopped in the middle of that building and I saw—the sky."

Said by Biff to Willy; important because this is the moment Biff begins to realize who he is. Biff is running down the stairwell with the stolen pen and he realizes he needs to stop pretending to be someone who he is not. Biff realizes he should not try to impress his father in sales if that is not his true calling. He finds the things he enjoys in life and none of them are being a salesman. Biff finally realizes he needs to find out who is truly is before settling down with a job he cannot enjoy.

"The only thing you got in this world is what you can sell. And the funny thing is that you're a salesman, and you don't know that."

Said by Charley to Willy; important because Charley is trying to explain to Willy how silly things like being liked and naming someone are not what makes you successful in life. Willy does not understand he will not become rich unless he can sell the merchandise. His job is to sell stockings, not to make people like him. Once Willy realizes what he must do maybe he could become better at it, but Willy never seems to be able to understand there is more to life than being liked.

"...Who liked J.P. Morgan? Was he impressive? In a Turkish bath he'd look like a butcher. But with his pockets on, he was very well liked."

Said by Charley to Willy; important because Charley is trying to tell Willy being well liked is not the most important thing in life and it does not make one successful. J.P Morgan may not be well liked in all fields but he was when he had money because people respect people who are successful. Willy needs to focus less on being liked and more on doing the work needed to make a decent living.

"You take it too hard. To hell with it. When a deposit bottle is broken, you don't get your nickel back."

Said by Charley to Willy; important because Charlie is telling Willy to let Biff go but Willy believes he has done wrong to his son as he has nothing to give him. Charley explains Willy should not take Biff's failure so seriously and there is nothing he can do now to make it better.

"Willy, nobody's worth nothin' dead."

Said by Charley to Willy; important because Willy seems to believe he would be valued more after he's died as all these people he knows will attend his funeral and remember him fondly. However Charley tries to convince Willy this is not true and it is not worth anything if Willy is dead, but Willy does not seem to get the message.

"Willy, the jails are full of fearless characters."

Said by Charlie to Willy; Important because Charlie understands Biff and Happy's braveness and strongness will not them get out of any situation, Willy believes the boys can do anything just because they are well liked, when in reality they play by the same rules as the rest of the world.

"Yeah, but I cover myself!"

Said by Happy to Biff; important because Biff does things that are against the rules, such as skipping work or stealing something. When Happy tells him not to do these things Biff argues that Happy does the same. But Happy covers himself and Biff does not realize that he needs to do so as Willy has built him up to believe he plays by different rules.

"It'd be the family again. There'd be the old honor, and comradeship..."

Said by Happy to Biff; important because Happy is proposing the Idea for the Loman Brother's Business. A business where the boy could play ball again and get paid for doing things they enjoy. He wants to make Willy happy by bringing the family back together and working together like they used to.

"This is no time for false pride, Willy. You go to your sons and you tell them that you're tired. You've got two great boys, haven't you?"

Said by Howard to Willy; important because this is when Howard is firing Willy. Howard knows Willy is tired and old and not working so well anymore. Since Willy has talked up his sons so much, Howard also believes Willy can be supported by them. Howard tells Willy to let go of his pride. Willy does not want help from anyone as he is too arrogant to realize he cannot make it alone and is clearly in the need of help.

"Either he's your father and you pay him that respect, or else you're not to come here."

Said by Linda to Biff (Happy is there); important because this shows how devoted Linda is to her husband. Biff tries to say how much he cares for his mother but Linda knows he is not also referring to his father. While Biff has reason to resent his father, Linda does not know of this. She is so devoted and loyal to Willy she says Biff is not welcome by her if he is not polite to his father. This bothers Biff because he cannot stand how Willy treats Linda.

"A man is not a bird, to come and go with the springtime."

Said by Linda to Biff; important because Linda is telling Biff she wants him to become serious with a job and a place to live and that he cannot just wander around anymore. She tells him this for his own good but also because she wants to make Willy happy and knows Biff's success will do so.

"A small man can be just as exhausted as a great man."

Said by Linda to Happy and Biff; important because Linda is explaining to the boys just because Willy is not so successful doesn't mean he has worked any less hard. She is telling the boys he works extremely hard and is just as tired as any man who is more successful. The boys think because Willy is not rich this means he has no right to be tired, but Linda tells them otherwise.

"His blue suit. He's so handsome in that suit. He could be a—anything in that suit."

Said by Linda to Willy; important because Linda is showing hope that Biff will be successful. She thinks that just because he looks nice, Biff will make the deal. She shares the same feelings with Willy in this case. She also believes he must just look and act nice and not have any credentials or statistics to prove his success.

"A family business... that's the best. 'Cause what's the difference? Somebody steals? It's in the family. Know what I mean?"

Said by Stanely to Happy; important because Stanley, the man who works at the restaurant, believes a family business is safer than a regular one. Because you can steal and the only people to talk it out with it your family. Biff is known for stealing so this may strike Happy as strange.

"I'll put you right through to the buyers."

Said by The Woman to Willy; Important because besides the affair going on, Willy and the Woman seem to have another deal. He gives her stockings and she puts him through to the buyers. This shines Willy in a slightly better light because maybe he is doing this so he can get more deals and make more money for his family. However the fact that he brings stockings to this woman and not his own wife shows how he may feel more strongly for the young woman.

"Oh, Ben, I always knew one way or another we were gonna make it, Biff and I!"

Said by Willy to Ben; Important because Willy seems to picture his own life as Biffs. He believes if Biff is finally successful he will be too. And now that he thinks Biff knows what he wants to do with his life and understands who is, Willy does too. Willy thinks things are settled and Biff crying to him seems to someone make Willy think Biff loves him again and maybe has forgiven him for his actions. Biff gives Willy what he needs to finally say goodbye.

"Please tell about Dad. I want my boys to hear. I want them to know the kind of stock they spring from."

Said by Willy to Ben; important because Willy gets some of his ideas about being well liked from ben and his father as he believes they were like this and that made them successful. He idolizes Ben and his father even though he has not spent a lot of time with either.

"But the funeral—Ben, that funeral will be massive! ...that boy will be thunderstruck, Ben, because he never realized—I am known!"

Said by Willy to Ben; important because Willy is talking about killing himself merely to spite Biff. To show Biff he is well liked and known and that many people will come to the funeral. Willy wants so badly to earn back Biff's respect he believes he needs to die to show him he was once loved and respected by many. However none of this is true and barely any people attend the funeral.

"How do we get back to all the great times? Used to be so full of light and comradeship."

Said by Willy to Ben; important because he wants to get back on good terms with Biff. However this just does not seem possible with Biff walking in on Willy and another woman. Willy wants Biff to love and respect him again and doesn't know how to make this happen. Willy lost Biff's respect and in turn Biff lost respect for himself, Willy wants this to change but doesn't know how.

"Can you imagine that magnificence with twenty thousand dollars in his pocket?"

Said by Willy to Ben; important because this is right before Willy kills himself and he truly loves Biff again at this moment. Willy thinks Biff is going to make a life for himself and that he is going to have money along with his well likeness and good looks. Willy thinks Biff will have all that Ben has and that because he has made this happen in a way he is no longer needed. Willy thinks he must go off with Ben now that Biff has a future ahead of him.

"Boston is the cradle of the Revolution."

Said by Willy to Biff and Happy; Willy is talking about bringing the boys to Boston in the summer. However this quote foreshadows Biff's visit to Boston where everything changes. The revolution actually consists of Biff losing respect for his father and giving up on himself.

"Someday I'll have my own business... Bigger than Uncle Charley! Because Charley is not liked."

Said by Willy to Biff and Happy; important because Wildly exaggerates so much he believes he will make it bigger than his neighbor and friend Charley merely because he is better liked. When in reality Charley is much more successful than Willy and even gives Willy money each week. (in the future) Charley may not be "well liked" in Willy's opinion but he is far more successful and richer than Willy and Willy says he is not liked to mask his jealous feelings towards his friends success.

"Bernard can get the best marks in school, y'understand, but when he gets out in the business world, y'understand, you are going to be five times ahead of him."

Said by Willy to Biff and Happy; important because it shows how Willy believes being liked and personable are the only important traits in life; statement is proven wrong as we learn Bernard makes a good life for himself while the boys cannot get along on looks and charisma alone.

"Be liked and you will never want. You take me, for instance. I never have to wait in line to see a buyer. 'Willy Loman is here!' That's all they have to know, and I go right through."

Said by Willy to Biff and Happy; important because it shows how important Willy believes being liked is. He does not seem to believe in hardwork or initiative, he thinks if people like him he will get whatever he wants. He passes this message on the boys and they too seem to believe this. However, Biff loses faith in this ideal when he finds out his father was with another woman. This is when Biff realizes maybe being well liked in the not the only key to success and he does not have what it takes to be truly successful.

"Be liked and you will never want."

Said by Willy to Biff and Happy; important because this shows how much Willy values being liked over being successful and hardworking. He tells his boys as long as they are liked they can have whatever they desire. However this is just not true and being liked is not nearly as important as Willy makes it out to be.

"...they know me up and down New England... And when I bring you fellas up, there'll be open sesame for all of us, 'cause one thing, boys I have friends. I can park my car in any street in New England, and the cops protect it like their own."

Said by Willy to Biff and Happy; important because this shows the side of Willy where he constantly overexaggerates in order to better the boy's image of their father. In reality Willy is hardly known at all and these things he say will happen won't. When the boys are young they idolize their father and believe he is this amazing successful man when in reality most of what willy says is false.

"And if anything falls off the desk while you're talking to him—like a package or something—don't pick it up."

Said by Willy to Biff; Important because the rest of this line says Oliver, the him mentioned, has men to do these things proving Willy thinks Biff is good enough to not only see Oliver but to now have to cater towards him. This is also important because Willy may know of Biff's history of stealing and doesn't want that matter brought back up.

"You want to watch your schooling first."

Said by Willy to Biff; Willy is telling Biff to become successful before worrying about girls because they will come with the success. Biff and Happy's outlook on woman may come from their father's teachings. They don't seem to be looking for a steady girl, but instead move from woman to woman carelessly. This may be because Willy puts tells the boys to not worry about a serious woman and just have fun.

"You mean to say Bernard wouldn't give you the answers?"

Said by Willy to Biff; important because Biff relied on Bernard to give him answers to homework through all the high school. And Willy thought this was all fine because Biff was so focussed on football. However this proves that even if Bernard could give Biff the homework answers, he could not take the tests for him and Biff still flunked math. This just shows that you have to do your own work in life, a lesson Biff was yet to learn.

"Don't make any promises. No promises of any kind."

Said by Willy to Biff; important because Willy is talking about girls. He tells Biff not to make any promises to Girls because they will believe anything he says and he's too young to talk seriously. This conversation may be part of Biff's problems later in life. He never has the commitment to settle down with one girl, possibly because he still has this no promises state of mind. As the boys idolized their father they believe anything he says, perhaps too much.

"Sure, he's gotta practice with a regulation ball, doesn't he? Coach'll probably congratulate you on your initiative!"

Said by Willy to Biff; important because Willy seems to be congratulating Biff for stealing this ball and thinks that he will get praised for it. Biff also believes it is not a big deal to steal the ball because the coach likes him so much so he is treated under different standards. This may be the reason for Biff's stealing problem and he learns later in life that he is not special and must abide by the same rules as anyone else.

"It's not what you say, it's how you say it—because personality always wins the day."

Said by Willy to Biff; important because this again shows the common theme of Willy believing being liked is the most important thing. If Willy was to think rationally he would realize Biff has a very small chance of getting anything out of Oliver but instead he believes if Biff is just personable he will get what he wants. This is the wrong message to teach his boys because they got too cocky and never realizes they needed to actually work to be successful.

"They'll be calling him another Red Grange. Twenty-five thousand a year."

Said by Willy to Charley; Charley is giving Biff a hard time about the championship game but Willy is telling Charley that Biff is going to make so much money from his success in this game alone. Willy has so much faith in Biff at a young age and thinks he can do anything.

"Funny, y'know? After all the highways, and the trains, and the appointments, and the years you end up worth more dead than alive."

Said by Willy to Charley; Important because Willy believes he will only be truly recognized and worth something after he dies. He thinks hundreds of people will come to the funeral and remember him so fondly and his name will go down in history. In reality none of this is true and this merely shows Willy does not believe his life is worth anything and is foreshadowing his suicide.

"A man who can't handle tools is not a man. You're disgusting."

Said by Willy to Charley; important because Willy is trying to prove himself to Charley. While Charley has the money and the good job Willy wants to feel better than him because he can put up a ceiling and work well with tools. He has this skewed image that a man can only be a man if he can work with his hands. And his says this to Charlie because he is jealous of Charley's success and is trying to sounds better than him in order to maintain his pride.

"...he died the death of a salesman, in his green velvet slippers in the smoker of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford, going into Boston—when he died, hundreds of salesmen and buyers were at the funeral."

Said by Willy to Howard; Important because this man Willy is talking about is who Willy aspires to be like. Willy believes that he is so well liked that when he dies hundreds of people will come to his funeral and finally everyone will understand what a great man he is. However, in reality Willy is more of a nobody and we find out at the end of the film barely anyone attends the funeral.

"You can't eat the orange and throw the peel away... a man is not a piece of fruit!"

Said by Willy to Howard; Willy is comparing himself to an orange and saying that for many years he has been the fruit, plentiful and good, and the moment he starts to not do as well, hence becoming the peel, Howard wants to throw him away. This is significant because Willy is doing whatever he can to try and keep his job by trying to prove since he was successful once he will be again.

"I put thirty-four years into this firm... and now I can't pay my insurance!"

Said by Willy to Howard; important because Willie was working at the firm for a long time under Howard's father who would always help him out. But when he died and Howard took over, things changed. Willy was no longer treated well just because of the time he'd gone to work. Willy is now realizing, or refusing to realize, that just because he's been at it for a while doesn't mean he's guaranteed a job. Willy needs to actually work hard and be successful in order to get money.

"I'll put my money on Biff."

Said by Willy to Linda; Even though Willy sees Biff is not successful he goes back and forth from being embarrassed and disgusted by Biff to proud and hopeful for him. At this point Willy believes Biff will do great things and has full faith in his son.

"I'm tired to death."

Said by Willy to Linda; Significant because this foreshadows the suicide at the end of the book. Willy is not just physically tired, but he is mentally tired. His mind cannot keep up with his body, and is sending strange thoughts. Willy is so tired he thinks he could die, when in his subconscious his is telling himself to die. This worries Linda as she knows he is trying to work so hard.

"God Almighty, he'll be great yet. A star like that, magnificent, can never really fade away!"

Said by Willy to Linda; This quote is talking about Biff just after he tells Willie he is going to see Bill Oliver and ask for money to start a sportgear business with Happy. Willy goes from hating Biff and thinking he is lazy to 100% believing he is going to make it. This shows how unrealistic Willy is because he knows Biff stole basketballs from Oliver long ago and it would be a miracle if Oliver even remembered Biff. But Willy does not think of these things and only sees Biff as perfect as he was back in his highschool days.

"I told you we should have bought a well-advertised machine."

Said by Willy to Linda; Willy is talking about the refrigerator and how it breaks so often. This is ironic because Willy is a salesman so he should know not to buy something if the advertizing is fake or not good. Clearly Willy cannot be so good at his own job if he cannot realize others doing the same thing.

"The street is lined with cars. There's not a breath of fresh air in the neighborhood. The grass don't grow any more, you can't raise a carrot in the backyard."

Said by Willy to Linda; important because Willy in reminiscing about the past and complaining about the future. Willy does quite a bit of this to Linda, and perhaps he is always thinking of the past because he wants to go back and forget his current life.

"You know, the trouble is, Linda, people don't seem to take to me."

Said by Willy to Linda; important because Willy is admitting he is not as well liked as he tells everyone. In fact most people don't notice Willy at all. Linda already knows her husband exaggerates his success but continues to build up his ego. This quote is significant in showing that deep down Willy understands he is not so perfect.

"I have such strange thoughts."

Said by Willy to Linda; important because Willy is explaining to Linda how he went off the road when his mind was wandering. This quote foreshadows all of the talks Willy has with his former self and younger versions of his family. Willy's mind is clearly messed up and he is admitting it here to Linda, but she does not fully grasp the severity of the issue. Willy's thoughts are so invasive they have caused him to veer off the road, he says unitentionally but it is later proven otherwise.

"All the cement, the lumber, the reconstruction I put in this house! There ain't a crack to be found in it any more."

Said by Willy to Linda; important because Willy is talking about all the work he has put into his house because it is almost paid off. This quote shows two things. First since Willy enjoys fixing the house so much and is so good at that job one may wonder why he went into selling. The second point is he feels this work was for nothing because he sons are not in a place to take the house and raise a family and he feels he is going to die soon and the house will just go to strangers.

"Once in my life I would like to own something outright before it's broken!"

Said by Willy to Linda; important because of Willy's lack of success in the business, their family is pretty poor and cannot afford to buy good brand name products, and the ones they do buy are built with planned obsolescence in mind. Since Willy is a salesman he should be able to know when products are good and bad and buy them accordingly. The fact he is buying products that break easily merely shows he is not good at his own profession.

"'Cause I get so lonely—especially when business is bad and there's nobody to talk to."

Said by Willy to The Woman; important because this shows Willy has gone to this woman out of a place of loneliness. However the line continues in talking about how Willy worries he can't make a living for the woman and the boys. He seems to care about this woman just as he cares about his own wife. This shows Willy's unfaithfulness as he disregards his love and respect for his wife simply when he is lonely on business trips.

"Gee, you are self-centered! Why so sad? You are the saddest, self-centeredest soul I ever did see-saw."

Said by the women to Willy; She perceives Willy as being selfish and self-centered because he seems to be distracted and not quite fully focused on her, especially because somebody is knocking on the door and it makes him nervous and tense. The woman wants all of Willy's attention and he is willing to ignore what else is going on to merely focus on himself.

"...a man can end with diamonds here on the basis of being liked."

said by Willy to Ben; important because Willy truly does believe if he is liked enough he can become rich from that alone. Ben tries to tell Willy he needs to get out there, enter the jungle, in order to become rich, but Willy will not let go of the idea that as long as he is well liked there will only be good things in his future.