Death of a Salesman Quotes
"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." (22)
Biff to Happy Coming back home reminds Biff what track he is on: he is on the same path that Willy was on, and this is not a road to success, he realizes. Also, after the incident, he hadn't done much
"Because I know he's a fake and he doesn't like anybody around who knows!" (58)
Biff to Linda Biff is referencing the incident he had when he found out that Willy was having an affair. Biff thinks that after that, Willy has despised him because Willy thinks Biff hates him ('spite').
"You've just seen a prince walk by. A fine, troubled prince. A hard-working, unappreciated prince." (114)
Biff to Miss Forsythe Biff describes Willy after his realization. He knows that Willy has some sort of mental problems, and that he works hard, but was never actually appreciated. This shows that Biff finally accepts Willy's affair and can look past that.
"Never fight fair with a stranger, boy. You'll never get out of the jungle that way." (49)
Ben to Biff Ben preaches yet again philosophy that could misguide the boys and Willy: the philosophy of a dog-eat-dog world, where ruthless tactics are acceptable to gain your place.
"Why, boys, when I was seventeen I walked into the jungle, and I was twenty-one I walked out. And by God I was rich." (48)
Ben to Willy Ben's riches makes Willy thinks that his philosophy is equally rich and golden, but in fact it is not, and it misguides Willy.
"The jungle is dark but full of diamonds, Willy." (134)
Ben to Willy This encourages Willy to suicide for insurance money, as if he is going into the dark jungle, which is death, in order to recover diamonds, which is the life insurance money. He does this for the family, but mostly for Biff.
"But somethimes, Willy, it's better for a man just to walk away." (95)
Bernard to Willy ?Bernard is suggesting to Willy that he should give up his dreams of being a very successful salesman, and that it has become time for him to retire?
"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." (94)
Bernard to Willy Bernard explains to Willy how odd Biff acted after he came back from Boston, and is asking what happened there, which Willy won't tell (the incident).
"Just because he printed University of Virginia on his sneakers doesn't mean they got to graduate him, Willy." (32)
Bernard to Willy Bernard is telling Willy that his philosophy of just being well liked will lead to success is not necessarily right: there is still a need for hard work to be put it (Biff had to complete the course requirements in order to graduate and go to college; he couldn't just be good at football and be well liked)
"I've often thought of how strange it was that I knew he'd given up his life. What happened in Boston, Willy?" (94)
Bernard to Willy Bernard knows that Biff acted out of character after he came back from Boston, but Willy doesn't want to talk about it because to him, that was the worst event in his life- he always wanted Biff and Happy to like him, but after that, he believed that Biff hated him, and this event comes back to haunt him repeatedly.
"I'd stopped in the middle of that buidling and I saw-the sky." (132)
Biff to Willy Biff came back to grips with reality when he was stealing that pen, he had a sudden realization about what he was doing and that it was wrong, and he knew what he really should be doing- he also realized all the lies and false notions their family had made up over the years, about his and his father's success. He realized they had never actually been that successful; this is Biff's ultimate realization and turning point: he breaks away from Willy's and Ben's philosophies and possibly (likely) makes a turn for the better, one closer in touch with reality and with a better chance of success. (hard work, etc.).
"We never told the truth for ten minutes in this house." (131)
Biff to Willy Biff is opening up in his realization that they, as a family (both Willy and their sons), were never actually as successful as they made themselves out to be; they gave themselves a wrongful sense of self pride and even created false memories (i.e. Biff being good friends with Oliver, Willy making lots of sales and being successful).
"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!" (132)
Biff to Willy Biff realizes not just that him stealing the pen was wrong, but that everything he has been doing has been wrong, that the ways that Willy has preached and used in his life are wrong.
"Nobody dast blame this man...A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." (138)
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.
"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." (97)
Charley to Willy Charley is telling Willy that his so called 'contacts' are not going to actually be worth anything or pay off at all; he tries to convince him that his philosophy is not going to work out, and tries to pull Willy back to reality
"You take it too hard. To hell with it. When a deposit bottle is broken, you don't get your nickel back." (44)
Charley to Willy Charley is trying to explain to Willy that the great expectations and plans that he had for Biff ('making it big' in the city) are not necessarily going to work out, and that he should just let go.
"Willly, the jails are full of fearless characters." (51)
Charley to Willy Charley is trying to tell Willy reasonably why Biff should not be stealing, but Willy is being stubborn.
"...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." (97)
Charley to Willy Charley tells Willy that being well liked has nothing to do with success; it has to do with hard work and studiousness
"Willy, nobody's worth nothin' dead." (98)
Charley to Willy Willy is considering killing himself because he believes that would yield insurance money that would actually be more than he could make for the rest of his life if he stayed alive- Charley tries to stop Willy from considering suicide (whether or not he knows about the insurance money is unclear).
"Yeah, but I cover myself!" (60)
Happy to Biff Happy gets somebody else to work his shift when he wants to take off time from work- This contributes to Happy's belief that being well liked is the key to success, and that in covering himself, he will not be socially looked down upon as much?
"It'd be the family again. There'd be the old honor, and comradeship..." (64)
Happy to Biff and Willy Happy refers to the 'better times,' when they were in High School and were very well liked by many. He also perceives these older times as when they were very successful, when they really weren't; it was just a past they made themselves believe existed.
"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 greatboys, haven't you?" (83)
Howard to Willy ? Howard either is wrongly assuming that Willy's sons are successful or is using Willy's warped perception of his and his family's success against him by saying that he would be fine even without work, which Willy would not like to say no to because that would make himself seem more unsuccessful as a parent.
"Either he's your father and you pay him respect, or else you're not to come here." (55)
Linda to Biff Linda cares deeply for Willy, and the last thing she wants is Willy to be further hurt on top of his mental condition by his sons (Biff in this case) and their spite and rudeness/disrespect for their father.
"A man is not a bird, to come and go with the springtime." (54)
Linda to Biff Linda wants Biff to get serious, to get a job that pays and settle down, wherever it is; she also wants him to write letters to Linda and especially Willy, this is all because it would be both beneficial to Biff and Willy (she says that writing letters makes Willy happy)
"A small man can be just as exhauseted as a great man." (56)
Linda to Happy and Biff Linda explains to the boys how hard Willy has worked: he had been misguided, and also has a mental condition, but in terms of hard work, he is just as great as successful men. She wants the boys to respect him for that.
"His blue suit. He's so handsome in that suit. He could be a- anything in that suit." (72)
Linda to Willy Linda and Willy are fixating on Biff's outer appearance and the premise of being well liked as his key to success, which do not actually help Biff at all when he goes to see Oliver. It is the past experience and lack of hard work he put in that caused him to be unsuccessful with the deal he wanted to make with Oliver.
"A family business...that's the best. 'Cause what's the difference? Somebody steals? It's in the family. Know what I mean?" (100)
Stanley to Happy Happy thinks that he and his brother have been very successful, which is in fact a lie.
"Gee, you are self-centered! Why so sad? You are the saddest, self-centeredest soul I ever did see-saw." (116)
The Woman 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.
"I'll put you right through to the buyers." (39)
The Woman to Willy The Woman would help Willy make sales in exchange for stockings; Willy sees her as a reinforcing agent.
"...a man can end with diamonds here on the basis of being liked."(86)
Willy to Ben The philosophy of being well liked is very ingrained in Willy's mind, and he admires this idea mostly due to Ben, who is successful and preaches it so often
"Please tell about Dad. I want my boys to hear. I want them to know the kind of stock they spring from." (48)
Willy to Ben This is where Ben got his ideas that he told Willy about, who then preaches it to the boys: the idea of being well liked, having contacts, and being a successful salesman due to it: Willy is convinced this is true because Ben is rich, but in fact the things that Ben says, like 'with one gadget, he made more in a week than a man like you could make in a lifetime,' are obviously made up statistics.
"How do we get back to all the great times? Used to be so full of light and comradeship." (127)
Willy to Ben This quote shows how Willy feels so much happier when he thinks of the past. Just by dreaming and thinking about the past, he can escape reality and forget his troubles.
"Can you imagine that magnificence with twenty thousand dollars in his pocket?" (135)
Willy to Ben Willy is imagining the benefits of his death/suicide: that the family, especially Biff, would have lots more money that he wouldn't be able to provide for them if he was alive.
"But the funeral-Ben , that funeral will be massive!...that boy will be thunderstruck, Ben because he never realized-I am known!" (126)
Willy to Ben Willy wants Biff to believe in what Willy has told him about being well liked and having contacts, and dying the 'death of a salesman.' This is ironic because only his family and Charlie actually show up at the funeral. He also wants Biff to think better of him.
"Oh, Ben, I always knew one way or another we were gonna make it, Biff and I!" (135)
Willy to Ben Willy, after the incident where Biff found out about his affair, had always thought Biff hated him ('spite'), but he now found out that Biff still loved him, and additionally, he could now support Biff with insurance money (via suicide).
"Don't make any promises. No promises of any kind." (27)
Willy to Biff This shows Willy's philosophy of women as being gullible and subordinates of men, which he tells Biff about.
"And if anything falls off the desk while you're talking to him- like a package or something-don't pick it up." (67)
Willy to Biff This shows how Willy truly believes that Biff has a chance in getting a good deal with Oliver, and thinks that acting like a 'big shot' is more likely to lead him to success rather than just being modest and nice (relates yet again to his philosophy of being 'well liked' rather than working hard, etc.).
"You want to watch your schooling first." (28)
Willy to Biff Willy doesn't want Biff to get serious with girls too early because then he wouldn't be able to fulfill his promises, so he thinks that he should finish his education first, before becoming serious about women. That way he could actually keep any promises he might make.
"You mean to saw Bernard wouldn't give you the answers?" (118)
Willy to Biff Willy instantly tries to shift the blame to Bernard, rather than keeping it on Biff, who's fault it actually was
"Boston is the cradle of the revolution." (31)
Willy to Biff and Happy This quote alludes to Willy's encounter with Biff in Boston, where Biff's expectations of Willy were dropped, and everything after that between them changed; hence, revolution.
"Bernard can get the best marks in school, y'understand, but when he gets out in the business world, y'understnad, you are going to be five times ahead of him." (33)
Willy to Biff and Happy This shows Willy's values: he thinks that studying hard in school is not nearly as important as being well liked; he thinks that being liked is the key to success.
"Someday I'll have my own business...Bigger than Uncle Charley! Because Charley is not liked." (30)
Willy to Biff and Happy Willy continues to believe that being well liked and having contacts will pay off for him, and that he will be more successful than others who may work hard but are not well liked: he teaches this misguided philosophy to the boys
"It's not what you say, it's how you say it-because personality always wins the day." (65)
Willy to Biff and Happy Willy is preaching his overpowering belief that being well liked is the key to success
"...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." (31)
Willy to Biff and Happy Willy is preaching to the boys about the philosophy of being well liked and having contacts and how that is the key to success, which is all a dream and is false.
"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." (33)
Willy to Biff and Happy Yet again Willy is preaching to the boys about the philosophy of being well liked and having contacts and how that is the key to success, which is all a dream and is false.
"Be liked and you will never want." (33)
Willy to Biff and Happy Yet again Willy is preaching to the boys about the philosophy of being well liked and having contacts and how that is the key to success, which is all a dream and is false.
"A man who can't handle tools is not a man. You're disgusting." (44)
Willy to Charley This shows Willy's perception of being a 'man.' He still values the old style toughness and being well liked over working hard and studying to find success.
"Funny, y'know? After all the highways, and the trains, and the appointments, and the years you end up worth more dead than alive." (98)
Willy to Charley Willy believed that he would be like any dream salesman: not having to work too much in his old age, and still being comfortable because of the building of a reputation and contacts. He now knows his fate has turned out quite the opposite, and he also knows that he would be more profitable dead due to the life insurance money his family would receive: he is considering suicide.
"They'll be calling him another Red Grange. Twenty-five thousand a year." (89)
Willy to Charley Willy believes that Biff will have a very successful football career
"Sure, he's gotta practice with a regulation ball, doesn't he? Coach'll probably congratualte you on your initiative!" (30)
Willy to Happy and Biff This is when Willy reasons out the stealing Biff and Happy did- at first he was opposed to the notion of theft, but he reasoned it out in his own head to be OK.
"...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." (81)
Willy to Howard Willy believed that as a salesman, he would be well liked and remembered, but nobody actually did. This shows how he thinks of himself of being successful when he was never actually so, and he believes that success will come by having many 'contacts.' Also, he cherishes what others think about him a lot, rather than his own achievments
"You can't eat the orange and throw the peel away... a man is not a piece of fruit!" (82)
Willy to Howard Willy expects something from his long service to the company: that his years of building contacts would pay off in the end, but reality caught up to him because he had not actually been as successful as he made himself out to be, and his philosophies of being well liked and having contacts ended up being a flop.
"I put thirty-four years into this firm... and now I can't pay my insurance!" (82)
Willy to Howard Willy is astounded that after all his work and his building of contacts, nobody turned to help him, as he expected after being filled with all of Ben's stories of 'being well liked'
"Once in my life I would like to own something outright before it's broken!" (73)
Willy to Linda 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.
"You know, the trouble is, Linda, people don't seem to take to me." (36)
Willy to Linda It turns out that Willy isn't as popular and well liked as he makes himself out to be
"Work a lifetime to pay off a house. You finally own it, and there's nobody to live in it." (15)
Willy to Linda Shows how Willy's sons left him and Linda, and also the fact that it took him a lifetime to pay off his house also shows that his philosophy of 'being well liked' doesn't work very well.
"I told you we should have brought a well-advertised machine." (73)
Willy to Linda They bought a pretty bad quality machine, perhaps because they couldn't afford a better one, and it was built with planned obsolescence in mind
"All the cement, the lumber, the reconstruction I put in this house! There ain't a crack to be found in it any more." (74)
Willy to Linda This, first of all, shows that they couldn't afford a great house so they had to buy a fixer-upper. This also shows Willy's values as more old school 'working with the tools kind of macho man.'
"I'll put my money on Biff." (18)
Willy to Linda Willy believes in Biff and that he will become successful one day, despite the recent lack in success he has had: Willy also might have said this with the incident in mind, knowing that Biff could have been rattled by it, but that he will eventually put that behind him.
"I'm tired to death." (13)
Willy to Linda Willy has recently had many unsuccessful business trips, and he is getting old, his mental condition is getting worse, and he is getting very tired of it all
"I have such strange thoughts." (14)
Willy to Linda Willy is referring to his mental state, and the odd thoughts he has due to it, but also possibly his strange thoughts of suicide
"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 back yard." (17)
Willy to Linda Willy longs for the past, so in order to escape reality and his current situation, he both reminisces and dreams of the past, and also complains about the present.
"God Almighty, he'll be great yet. A star like that, magnificent, can never really fade away!" (68)
Willy to Linda Willy still believes in Biff and that he will do well and be successful because he was so well liked in high school, but he never really worked or studied hard in high school, so he was never really 'magnificent' in the first place.
"Cause I get so lonely-especially when business is bad and there's nobody to talk to." (38)
Willy to The Woman Willy expresses his need for company, which comes from being alone on long business trips that are many times unsuccessful. This combined with his mental condition is also why he talked to himself.
