To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes

You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it. – Atticus Finch

People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for. – Atticus Finch

Courage is not a man with a gun in his hand. It’s knowing you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. – Atticus Finch

I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the backyard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird. – Atticus Finch

Mockingbirds don’t do one thing except make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. – Miss Maudie

Sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whisky bottle in the hand of (another). – Miss Maudie

The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience. – Atticus Finch

Before I can live with other folks, I’ve got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience. – Atticus Finch

Atticus, he was real nice… Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them. – Miss Maudie

I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what. – Atticus Finch

To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes part 2

Best Quotes from to Kill a Mockingbird

People generally see what they look for and hear what they listen for. – Atticus Finch

You just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anyone says to you, don’t let ’em get your goat. – Scout Finch

It’s never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn’t hurt you. – Atticus Finch

You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it. – Atticus Finch

The one place where a man ought to get a square deal is in a courtroom, be he any color of the rainbow, but people have a way of carrying their resentments right into a jury box. – Atticus Finch

The day of the trial was hot. I had seen enough of the courtroom to know that its occupants were red-eyed and miserable. – Scout Finch

With him, life was routine; without him, life was unbearable. – Scout Finch

There’s a lot of ugly things in this world, son. I wish I could keep ’em all away from you. That’s never possible. – Atticus Finch

Atticus Finch Quotes

You just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t you let ’em get your goat. – Atticus Finch

I wanted you to see something about her – I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. – Atticus Finch

People in their right minds never take pride in their talents. – Miss Maudie

This time we aren’t fighting the Yankees, we’re fighting our friends. But remember this, no matter how bitter things get, they’re still our friends and this is still our home. – Atticus Finch

You just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t you let ’em get your goat. – Atticus Finch

It was a strange little town when I first knew it. In rainy weather, the streets turned to red slop; grass grew on the sidewalks, the courthouse sagged in the square. – Scout Finch

Atticus had said it was the polite thing to talk to people about what they were interested in, not about what you were interested in. – Scout Finch

I felt the starched walls of a pink cotton penitentiary closing in on me, and for the second time in my life I thought of running away. – Scout Finch

Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Le

If there’s just one kind of folks, why can’t they get along with each other? IF they’re all alike, why do they go out of their way to despise each other? – Scout Finch

This time we aren’t fighting the Yankees, we’re fighting our friends. But remember this, no matter how bitter things get, they’re still our friends and this is still our home. – Atticus Finch

I think there’s just one kind of folks. Folks. – Scout Finch

I think there’s just one kind of folks. Folks. – Scout Finch

Finally, I said we’d get grown but there wouldn’t be anything else left for us to learn, except possibly algebra. – Scout Finch

Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing. – Scout Finch

It’s never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows how poor that person is, it doesn’t hurt you. – Atticus Finch

It’s not time to worry yet. – Atticus Finch

I’m simply defending a Negro – his name’s Tom Robinson. – Atticus Finch

I don’t fancy myself much of a drinker, but Aunt Alexandra swears I do. She says she’ll keep me ’til I’m twelve, then I can go around in pants. – Scout Finch

Kill a Mockingbird Quotes

I think if they’re all alike, why do they go out of their way to despise each other? – Scout Finch

Things haven’t caught up with that one’s instinct yet. Let him get a little older and he won’t get sick and cry. Maybe things’ll strike him as being–not quite right, say, but he won’t cry, not when he gets a few years on him. – Miss Maudie

Always wanted a smaller house. Jem Finch put me under a charm with a terrified young lady two years his senior. – Miss Maudie

Sometimes it’s better to bend the law a little in special cases. – Atticus Finch

You can’t really get to know a person until you get in their skin. – Atticus Finch

People generally see what they look for and what they listen for. – Atticus Finch

Atticus had said it was the polite thing to talk to people about what they were interested in, not about what you were interested in. – Scout Finch

Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets. – Aunt Alexandra

Don’t fool yourselves – it’s all adding up and one of these days we’re going to pay the bill for it. – Atticus Finch

FAQ Best Quotes from to Kill a Mockingbird

In “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, how is the character of Boo Radley perceived by the children, Scout and Jem, and the Maycomb community at large?

In “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Boo Radley is initially perceived by Scout, Jem, and the Maycomb community as a mysterious and frightening figure. The children are intrigued yet scared by the myths surrounding him, seeing him as a reclusive phantom. The community largely views him as an outcast and a subject of gossip, contributing to the aura of mystery and fear that surrounds his character.

What lesson does Atticus try to impart to Scout and Jem when he says, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it”?

Atticus tries to teach Scout and Jem the importance of empathy and understanding. By saying “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it,” he encourages them to look beyond their own perspectives and judgments, to truly understand others by seeing life from their position, which in turn fosters tolerance and compassion.

How does the character of Boo Radley contribute to the theme of “evasion simply muddles” as Scout grows older and reflects on the events in Maycomb?

Boo Radley’s character contributes to the theme of “evasion simply muddles” as Scout reflects on the unfounded fears and misconceptions about him. As she grows older, Scout begins to understand that avoiding or evading the truth about Boo Radley only led to confusion and misunderstanding. It’s only by facing and understanding Boo’s reality that the children can dispel their fears and recognize his humanity.

In the context of the novel, how does Atticus’s statement, “Children are children, but they can spot an evasion quicker than adults, and evasion simply muddles ’em” reflect the innocence and perceptiveness of Scout and Jem?

Atticus’s statement reflects Scout and Jem’s innocence and perceptiveness by acknowledging that children, despite their youth, are very astute and sensitive to inconsistencies and falsehoods. They can recognize when adults are not being truthful or are avoiding the truth, which can lead to confusion and misunderstandings. This observation underscores the novel’s theme that children often see and understand more than adults give them credit for.

What does Harper Lee illustrate about societal norms and family ties through the line, “You can choose your friends but you sho’ can’t choose your family, and they’re still kin to you no matter whether you acknowledge ’em or not”?

Through this line, Harper Lee illustrates that family ties are an inescapable part of one’s identity in societal norms. Regardless of personal feelings or social standings, family connections remain, and they play a significant role in how individuals are perceived and how they navigate their community and personal morals. It underscores the theme of kinship and the sometimes-complex dynamics of familial obligations and relationships.

How does the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” use the character of Boo Radley to challenge the notion that “busy worrying about the next world they’ve never learned to live in this one”?

The character of Boo Radley in “To Kill a Mockingbird” challenges the notion that “busy worrying about the next world they’ve never learned to live in this one” by representing the consequences of isolation and societal judgment. Boo is a character who is misunderstood and kept at a distance by society, yet he exhibits kindness and protective instincts towards Scout and Jem. His character suggests that understanding and compassion are crucial in truly living and coexisting in this world, rather than being preoccupied with judgment or the unknown.

In what way does the relationship between Scout, Jem, and Boo Radley evolve throughout “To Kill a Mockingbird,” particularly in the light of Atticus’s teachings about understanding and respect?

The relationship between Scout, Jem, and Boo Radley evolves from one of fear and fascination to one of mutual respect and understanding. Atticus’s teachings about empathy and respect influence Scout and Jem to see Boo not as a scary figure, but as a kind, protective, and ultimately very human character. This evolution reflects the broader themes of the novel regarding prejudice, understanding, and the innocence of childhood.

How does Harper Lee use the motif of the mockingbird, in relation to characters like Boo Radley, to convey messages about innocence and the moral wrongs of harming those who do no harm?

Harper Lee uses the motif of the mockingbird, represented by characters like Boo Radley, to convey messages about innocence and the moral wrongs of harming those who do no harm. The mockingbird symbolizes purity, and harming it is seen as a sin because it only sings to bring joy. Similarly, Boo Radley is an innocent who has not harmed anyone and, in fact, protects Scout and Jem. The narrative urges understanding and compassion towards those who are vulnerable and misunderstood, just like the mockingbirds.

What does the statement “But remember this, no matter how bitter things get, they’re still our friends and this is still our home” reveal about the values and challenges faced by characters like Atticus in the racially tense setting of Maycomb?

This statement reveals that characters like Atticus value community, understanding, and maintaining moral integrity even in the face of adversity. In the racially tense setting of Maycomb, Atticus acknowledges the complexities of human nature and societal flaws, yet he emphasizes the importance of seeing the good in others and standing by one’s principles. It highlights the challenge of navigating moral dilemmas and the strength it takes to uphold justice and compassion amidst widespread prejudice.

How does the setting of Maycomb and its societal norms shape the experiences and growth of characters like Scout, Jem, and Boo Radley in “To Kill a Mockingbird”?

The setting of Maycomb and its societal norms profoundly shape the experiences and growth of characters like Scout, Jem, and Boo Radley. The small-town atmosphere, with its deep-rooted prejudices and rigid social hierarchies, presents challenges and learning opportunities for the characters. Scout and Jem’s experiences in Maycomb expose them to the realities of racism, classism, and injustice, prompting them to question and learn from the behaviors and attitudes around them. Similarly, Boo Radley’s character is shaped by the town’s ostracism and rumors, ultimately revealing the power of empathy and understanding in overcoming societal barriers.