Important Gatsby Quotes Flashcards
What is Nick told by his family?
“Whenever you feel like criticizing any one . . . just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.” Chapter 1
What did Daisy say about her daughter when she was born?
“I hope she’ll be a fool — that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool”
Nicks description of the valley of ashes
“This is a valley of ashes — a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air.” Chapter 2
What does Myrtle say about George?
“I married him because I thought he was a gentleman . . . I thought he knew something about breeding, but he wasn’t fit to lick my shoe.” Chapter 2
What does Myrtle say about George and his wedding suit?
“He borrowed somebody’s best suit to get married in, and never told me about it, and the man came after it one day when he was out . . . I gave it to him and then I lay down and cried . . . all afternoon.” Chapter 2
What does Nick say about people not being invited to Gatsby’s party’s?
“I believe that on the first night I went to Gatsby’s house I was one of the few guests who had actually been invited. People were not invited — they went there.” Chapter 3
What does Owl eyes say to Nick and Jordan in the library
“I’ve been drunk for about a week now, and I thought it might sober me up to sit in a library.” Chapter 3
How is Jordan shown to be careless?
“It takes two to make an accident.” Chapter 3
What does Gatsby tell Daisy about the green light?
“If it wasn’t for the mist we could see your home across the bay . . . You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock.” Chapter 5
Gatsby’s past
“His parents were shiftless and unsuccessful farm people — his imagination had never really accepted them as his parents at all.” Chapter 6
Tom and Daisy at the end of the Novel
“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy — they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money of their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.” Chapter 9
