Character Quote by Arthur Miller
““...he'll come back. We all come back, Kate. These private little revolutions always die. The compromise is always made. In a peculiar way. Frank is right-- every man does have a star. The star of one's honesty. And you spend your life groping for it, but once it's out it never lights again. I don't think he went very far. He probably just wanted to be alone to watch his star go out.””
About This Quote
Source Play: Death of a Salesman, 1949
People chase an ideal of honesty, but once realized it may fade, leading to isolation.
In simple terms: Honesty can be fleeting and lonely.
Key Takeaway
Pursue integrity wisely.
Themes
honesty
illusion
loneliness
human condition
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- Personal reflection
- relationship counseling
- ethical decision making
Key Concepts
Existentialism
tragic flaw
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “star of honesty” mean to you?
- Can honesty be sustained?
A Different Perspective
Idealism can cause disillusionment.
![“(Looking at the letter in his hand) Then what is this if it isn’t telling me? Sure, [Larry] was my son. But I think to him [the pilots killed] were all my sons. And I guess they were, I guess they were” quote by Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3e8/arthur-miller-947_quote_looking-at-the-letter-in-his-hand-then-w_55336.jpg)
