Quotations

Citations from Death of a Salesman

Who says it, to whom, why it is important?

"They don't need me in New York. I'm the New England man. I'm vital in New England." Act 1, Part 1, pg. 1558

"I simply asked him if he was making any money. Is that a criticism?" Act 1, Part 1, pg. 1559

“It's a measly manner of existence… To suffer fifty weeks a year for the sake of a two-week vacation… And still - that's how you build a future. ." Act 1, Part 2, pg. 1562

"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." Act 1, Part 2, pg. 1562

"Coach will probably congratulate you on your initiative!" Act 1, Part 3, pg. 1566

"The man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates a personal interest, is the man who gets ahead. Be liked and you will never want." Act 1, Part 3, pg. 1568

"I'm very well liked in Hartford. You know, the trouble is, Linda, people don't seem to take to me." Act 1, Part 3, pg. 1569

“Willy, darling, you’re the handsomest man in the world –“ Act 1, Part 3, pg. 1570

"When I was seventeen I walked into the jungle, and when I was twenty-one I walked out. And by God I was rich." Act 1, Part 7, pg. 1575

"Never fight fair with a stranger, boy. You'll never get out of the jungle that way." Act 1, Part 7, pg. 1576

"…I still feel kind of temporary about myself." Act 1, Part 7, pg. 1577

"I don't say he's a great man. Willy Loman never made a lot of money. His name was never in the paper. He's not the finest character that ever lived. But he's a human being, and a terrible thing is happening to him. So attention must be paid. He's not to be allowed to fall into his grave like an old dog. Attention, attention must be finally paid to such a person." Act 1, Part 8, pg. 1579

"It’s not what you say, but how you say it – because personality always wins

the day." Act 1, Part 8, pg. 1583

"Like a young god…A star like that, magnificent, can never really fade

away!" Act 1, Part 8, pg. 1585

"You didn't crack up again, did you?" Act 2, Part 2, pg. 1590

“Do you know? when he died - and by the way he died the death of a

salesman…when he died, hundreds of salesmen and buyers were at his

funeral.” Act 2, Part 2, pg. 1591

"In those days there was personality in it . . . There was respect, and

comradeship, and gratitude in it. Today, it's all cut and dried, and there's no

chance for bringing friendship to bear -- or personality . . . They don't know

me any more." Act 2, Part 2, pg. 1591

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

fruit!" Act 2, Part 2, pg. 1592

"His life ended after that Ebbets Field game. From the age of seventeen

nothing good ever happened to him." Act 2, Part 4, pg. 1597

"I've often thought of how strange it was that I knew he'd given up his life."

Act 2, Part 4, pg. 1598

"Willy, when're you gonna realize that them things don't mean anything. You

named him Howard, but you can't sell that. 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." Act 2, Part 4, pg. 1599

"After all the highways, and the trains, and the appointments, and the years,

you end up worth more dead than alive." Act 2, Part 4, pg. 1600

"We've been talking in a dream for fifteen years." Act 2, Part 5, pg. 1603

"But you were practically- " Act 2, Part 5, pg. 1604

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

unappreciated prince. A pal, you understand? A good companion. Always for

his boys." Act 2, Part 5, pg. 1608

"Ben, that funeral will be massive! They'll come from Maine, Massachusetts,

Vermont, New Hampshire! All the old-timers with the strange license plates -

- that boy will be thunderstruck, Ben, because he never realized -- I am

known! Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey -- I am known, Ben, and he'll

see it with his eyes once and for all." Act 2, Part 7, pg. 1614

"Spite, spite, is the word of your undoing!" Act 2, Part 7, pg. 1616

"We never told the truth for ten minutes in this house." Act 2, Part 7, pg. 1616

“You’re practically full of it! We all are! And I’m through with it.” Act 2, Part 7, pg. 1616

“Pop! I’m a dime a dozen. And so are you!” Act 2, Part 7, pg. 1617

"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!" Act 2, Part 7, pg. 1617

“The jungle is dark but full of diamonds, Willy.” Act 2, Part 7, pg. 1618

“Why didn’t anyone come?” Act 2, Part 7, pg. 1619

"There's more of [Willy] in that front stoop than in all the sales he ever made." Act 2, Part 7, pg. 1620