“Death of a Salesman” quotes
(1985)
Title Death of a Salesman
Year 1985
Director Volker Schlöndorff
Genre Drama
Year 1985
Director Volker Schlöndorff
Genre Drama
Plot – After a life of sacrifices as a traveling salesman, Willy Loman is fired and he's too old to look for a new job, so he decides to kill himself to grant his family the amount of his life insurance. The original text of the movie has been written by Arthur Miller. This TV version is based on the theatrical show staged by Dustin Hoffman.
All actors – Dustin Hoffman, Kate Reid, John Malkovich, Stephen Lang, Charles Durning, Louis Zorich, David S. Chandler, Jon Polito, Kathryn Rossetter, Tom Signorelli, Linda Kozlowski, Karen Needle
show all“Death of a Salesman” Quotes 30 quotes
“A small man can be just as exhausted as a great man.”
“You can't eat the orange and throw the peel away - a man is not a piece of fruit!”
“- Charley: 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.
- William 'Willy' Loman: Well, I've always tried to think otherwise, I guess. I always felt - that if a man was impressive, and well liked, that nothing...
- Charley: Why must everybody like you? Who liked...” (continue)(continue reading)I run out of that building and I see... the sky. I see all the things I love in this world. The work, the food, the time to sit and smoke. And I look at this pen and I ask myself, "What the hell am I grabbing this thing for? Why am I trying to become something I don't wanna become when all I want is out there waiting for me the minute I say I... (continue)(continue reading)
“Lick the world! You guys together could absolutely lick the civilized world!”
“- Harold 'Happy' Loman: Bob Harrison, he said you were tops, and then you go and do some damn fool thing like whistling whole songs in the elevator like a comedian.
- Biff Loman: Well, so what? I like to whistle sometimes.
- Harold 'Happy' Loman: You don't raise a guy to a responsible job who whistles in the elevator!”“- Woman from Boston: Why don't you have another drink, honey. Stop being so damn self-centered?
- William 'Willy' Loman: I'm so lonely.
- Woman from Boston: You know you ruined me, Willy? From now on, whenever you come to the office, I'm gonna see you go right through to the buyers. No waiting at my desk anymore, Willy. You ruined me!
- William...” (continue)(continue reading)“Willy was a salesman. And for a salesman, there is no rock bottom to the life. He don't put a bolt to a nut, and tell you the law or give you medicine. He's a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back - that's an earthquake. And then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and...” (continue)(continue reading)
“No man only needs a little salary.”
“- Harold 'Happy' Loman: My brother is - I think he pulled off a big deal today. I think we're going into business together.
- Stanley: Great! That's the best. Because a family business, you know what I mean?-that's the best.
- Harold 'Happy' Loman: That's what I think.
- Stanley: 'Cause what's the difference? Somebody steals? It's in the family....” (continue)(continue reading)“A man who can't handle tools is not a man.”
“- Biff Loman: I tell you Happy, I don't know what the future is. I don't know what I'm supposed to do.
- Harold 'Happy' Loman: What do you mean?
- Biff Loman: I spent six or seven years after High School trying to work myself up, being a shipping clerk, salesman, business of one kind or another. It's a measly manner of existence. To get on that...” (continue)(continue reading)“Today, it's all cut and dried, and there's no chance for bringing friendship to bear or personality. You see what I mean? They don't know me anymore.”
“- Linda Loman: I bought a new kind of American-type cheese. And - it's whipped.
- William 'Willy' Loman: Why do you get American when I want Swiss?
- Linda Loman: I thought you'd like a change.
- William 'Willy' Loman: I don't want a change! I want Swiss cheese! Why am I always being contradicted?
- Linda Loman: Well, I wanted it to be a surprise.”“Remember, start big and you'll end big.”
“There's more people! That's what's ruining this country! The population is getting out of control! The competition is maddening!”
“Help me, Willy, I can't cry. It seems to me that you're just on another trip and I keep expecting you. Why did you do it? I search and search - and I search, and I - can't understand it, Willy. I made the last payment on the house today. Today, dear. And there'll be nobody home. We're free and clear. We're free. We're free. We're free.”
“Walk in with a big laugh. Don't look worried. Start off with a couple of your good stories to lighten things up. It's not what you say, it's how you say it - because personality always wins the day.”
“It's not what you do, Ben, it's who you know and the smile on your face! It's contacts, Ben, contacts! The whole wealth of Alaska passes over the lunch table at the Commodore Hotel, and that's the wonder, the wonder of this country, that a man can end with diamonds here on the basis of being liked!”
“My salvation is that I never took any interest in anything.”
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