How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"There are those who know and those who don't know. And for every ten thousand who don't know there's only one who knows. That's the miracle of all time – the fact that these millions know so much but don't know this." (1.2.79)
There you have it, readers: Jake's life philosophy boiled down into the knows and know-nots. Of course, we can't help but point out the irony here; while Jake rails against elitism, his world-view sets up a new class of elites – the ones who know.
Quote #2
But all the time – no matter what she was doing – there was music. Sometimes she hummed to herself as she walked, and other times she listened quietly to the songs inside her. There were all kinds of music in her thoughts. (2.1.5)
Mick's entire world is music. It seeps into what she does, what she thinks, maybe even how she thinks. Her very consciousness is musical.
Quote #3
All of his life he knew that there was a reason for his working. He always knew that he was meant to teach his people. All day he would go with his bag from house to house and on all things he would talk to them. (1.5.55)
Copeland defines his entire life by his work and his purpose, and he considers that purpose his destiny. He fulfills that destiny by talking to his people as he makes his doctor rounds. But we can't help but wonder if anyone's even listening.
Quote #4
Wonderful music like this was the worst hurt there could be. The whole world was this symphony and there was not enough of her to listen. (2.1.131)
For Mick, music is way more than just notes. It's the whole world. But that world, this symphony causes her pain. Why do you think that is? How can something wonderful hurt? Have you ever felt like this?
Quote #5
Because in some men it is in them to give up everything personal at some time, before it ferments and poisons – throw it to some human being or some human idea. They have to. [...] And if he believed it hard enough maybe it was so. Every person and every thing he said he was – (1.2.146)
Biff is discussing how Jake shouted that he was all the races of the world at the New York Cafe. Despite the fact that Jake was in a drunken frenzy at the time, Biff thinks he may have been on to something. If a person believes strongly enough that they are something, who's to say that he isn't that thing?
Quote #6
But he could not rest. For there was another thing bigger than the tiredness – and this was the strong true purpose. (2.3.38)
That sounds nice and all, but we're wondering just what Copeland's purpose is. He certainly doesn't seem fulfilled by it by the end of the novel. Nope, he just seems bone tired.
Quote #7
"The injustice of need must bring us all together and not separate us. We must remember that we all make the things of this earth of value because of our labor." (1.6.66)
For nice, neat summary of Copeland's worldview, check out his Christmas sermon in Chapter 6. This quote is just one of many awesome nuggets of Copeland's philosophy that his speech contains.
Quote #8
"They were even rude, and you know how I have always said that to be rude and not attend to the feelings of others is wrong." (2.7.72)
Finally, a glimpse into Singer's worldview. These glimpses are few and far between. Apparently, Singer values politeness and consideration for others above all else. Basically, the guy's a big fan of the Golden Rule. There's a great note of irony here, too: all the other characters think that Singer is some sort of wise, deep-thinker, but really he just believes in simple, common sense politeness. Sounds good to Shmoop.
Quote #9
Why?
The question flowed through Biff always, unnoticed, like the blood in his veins. He thought of people and of objects and of ideas and the question was in him. Midnight, the dark morning, noon. (2.8.1-2)
Biff's "why" seems to be as much a part of him as his blood. His life is all about questioning. And for the nocturnal Biff, it makes sense that his "whys" start out at midnight.
Quote #10
What did he understand? Nothing. Where was he headed? Nowhere. What did he want? To know. What? A meaning. Why? A riddle.
Broken pictures lay like a scattered jigsaw puzzle in his head. (2.8.92-93)
Each deep question Biff asks is met with… well, nothing much. This is a bleak moment for Biff, but we can all, on occasion, to relate to his purposelessness.
Quote #11
That was the way he was. Everything was either very right or very wrong – with no middle way. (2.9.52)
Harry's black and white morality seems to disturb Mick at times, which says a lot about her character. Mick is obsessed with music, which is very complex and has lots of nuance. The idea of a neatly divided world just doesn't make sense to her.
Quote #12
The emptiness in him hurt. He wanted to look neither backward nor forward. [...] Nothing had happened except that he had made a friend and had lost him. (3.2.53)
We're just going to come right out and say it. Jake's life has totally fallen apart. In this moment, he realizes that you can think, plan, and believe all you want, but when you lose someone you care for, those beliefs don't matter as much.
Quote #13
The left eye delved narrowly into the past while the right gazed wide and affrighted into a future of blackness, error, and ruin. And he was suspended between radiance and darkness. Between bitter irony and faith. Sharply he turned away. (3.4.16)
Biff's ending epiphany is a departure from the style of the rest of the novel, but it's a great note on which to end the novel. These characters are all caught between beauty and despair. Some of them survive, some of them don't.