Quotes from Harper Lee

I scurried to my room and went to bed. Uncle Jack was a prince of a fellow not to let me down. But I never figured out how Atticus knew I was listening, and it was not until many years later that I realized he wanted me to hear every word he said.

One of the elderly members of the class answered her: "He's one of the Ewells, ma'am," and I wondered if this explanation would be as unsuccessful as my attempt.

Jean Louise, did you come down on the train Like That?

but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself.

She grinned. Don't you know how to catch a woman honey? She rubbed an imaginary crew cut, frowned, and said, Women like for their men to be masterful and at the same time remote, if you can pull that trick. Make them feel helpless, especially when you know they can pick up a load of light'ud knots with no trouble. Never doubt yourself in front of them, and by no means tell them you don't understand them.

He was a real mean one … below the belt … you ain't called on to teach folks like that … them ain't Maycomb's ways, Miss Caroline, not really … now don't you fret, ma'am.

Avery said it was written on the Rosetta Stone that when children disobeyed their parents, smoked cigarettes and made war on each other, the seasons would change: Jem and I were burdened with the guilt of contributing to the aberrations of nature, thereby causing unhappiness to our neighbours and discomfort to ourselves.

Seventeen bullet holes in him.

You said, in effect, 'I don't like the way these people do, so I have no time for them.' You'd better take time for 'em, honey, otherwise you'll never grow.

Neighbours bring food with death and flowers with sickness and little things in between. Boo was our neighbour. He gave us two soap dolls, a broken watch and chain, a pair of good luck pennies, and our lives.

Little Chuck Little, a hundred years old in his knowledge of cows and their habits, was halfway through an Uncle Natchell story when Miss Gates stopped him: 'Charles, that is not a current event. That is an advertisement.

Henry looked at her. You're an odd one, sweet. You can't dissemble. She looked at him. What are you talking about? Well, as a general rule, most women, before they've got 'em, present to their men smiling, agreeable faces. They hide their thoughts. You now, when you're feeling hateful, honey, you ARE hateful.

El amor es lo único de este mundo que es inequívoco. Hay distintas clases de amor, pero todas se sienten o no se sienten».

uno debe mentir en ciertas circunstancias, en particular cuando no puede modificar las circunstancias. —Hemos

Seven o'clock and all's well," said Atticus. "You've been swearing at your aunt." "I have not." "She told me you had." "I was crude, but I didn't cuss her.

That's the difference between America and Germany. We are a democracy and Germany is a dictatorship. Dictator-ship," she said. "Over here we don't believe in persecuting anybody. Persecution comes from people who are prejudiced. Pre-ju-dice

I never looked forward more to anything in my life. Hours of wintertime had found me in the tree-house looking over at the school yard, spying on multitudes of children through a two-power telescope Jem had given me, learning their games, following Jem's red jacket through wriggling circles of blind man's buff, secretly sharing their misfortunes and minor victories. I longed to join them.

suspendered old men who had spent their lives doing nothing and passed their twilight days doing the same on pine benches under the live oaks on the square. Attentive critics of courthouse business, Atticus said they knew as much law as the Chief Justice, from long years of observation.

The house got so lonesome 'long about two o'clock I had to turn on the radio.

No war was ever fought for so many different reasons meeting in one reason clear as crystal. They fought to preserve their identity. Their political identity, their personal identity.

New York has all the answers. People go to the YMHA, the English-Speaking Union, Carnegie Hall, the New School for Social Research, and find all the answers. The city lives by slogans, isms, and fast sure answers. New York is saying to me right now: you, Jean Louise Finch, are not reacting according to our doctrines regarding your kind, therefore you do not exist.

whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash.

Atticus told me to delete the adjectives and I'd have the facts.

There was no doubt about it: Alexandra Finch Hancock was imposing from any angle; her behind was no less uncompromising than her front.