Death of a Salesman Quotes

Find the perfect quote to float your boat. Shmoop breaks down key quotations from Death of a Salesman.

Visions of America Quotes

WILLY: Biff Loman is lost. In the greatest country in the world a young man with such—personal attractiveness, gets lost. And such a hard worker. There’s one thing about Biff— he&...

Dreams, Hopes, and Plans Quotes

LINDA: He’ll find his way. WILLY: Sure. Certain men just don’t get started till later in life. Like Thomas Edison, I think. Or B.F. Goodrich. One of them was deaf. [He starts for the b...

Lies and Deceit Quotes

WILLY: That’s just what I mean, 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 ah...

Success Quotes

BIFF: Why? You’re making money, aren’t you? HAPPY [moving about with energy, expressiveness]: All I can do now is wait for the merchandise manager to die. And suppose I get to be mercha...

Respect and Reputation Quotes

WILLY: Biff Loman is lost. In the greatest country in the world a young man with such—personal attractiveness, gets lost. And such a hard worker. There’s one thing about Biff—he’s not lazy....

Appearances Quotes

WILLY [with pity and resolve]: I’ll see him in the morning; I’ll have a nice talk with him. I’ll get him a job selling. He could be big in no time. My God! Remember how they used to follow hi...

Pride Quotes

LINDA: Willy, dear. Talk to them again. There’s no reason why you can’t work in New York. WILLY: They don’t need me in New York. I’m the New England man. I’m vital in...

Abandonment Quotes

WILLY [pulling Ben away from her impatiently]: Where is Dad? Didn’t you follow him? How did you get started? BEN: Well, I don’t know how much you remember. WILLY: Well, I was just a baby, of c...

Freedom and Confinement Quotes

LINDA: We should’ve bought the land next door. WILLY: The street is lined with cars. There’s not a breath of fresh air in the neighborhood. The grass don’t grow anymore, you can&...

Betrayal Quotes

WILLY: How can he find himself on a farm? Is that a life? A farmhand? In the beginning, when he was young, I thought, well, a young man, it’s good for him to tramp around, take a lot of diffe...