Harper Lee Quotes

A collection of quotes by Harper Lee.

Harper Lee (N/A)

As you grow older, you'll see white men cheat black men ever

As you grow older, you'll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don't you forget it -- 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.

Some negroes lie, some are immoral, some negro men are not b

Some negroes lie, some are immoral, some negro men are not be trusted around women - black and white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men.

Truth Racism Race

She knew full well the enormity of her offense, but because

She knew full well the enormity of her offense, but because her desires were stronger than the code she was breaking, she persisted in breaking it.

Inspirational Spiritual

Atticus had said it was the polite thing to talk to people a

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.

It's not necessary to tell all you know... You're not gonna

It's not necessary to tell all you know... You're not gonna change any one of them by talkin' right. They've got to want to learn themselves, and when they don't want to learn there's nothing you can do but keep your mouth shut or talk their language.

Change Inspirational Choice Choices Message

Thought you could kill my Snow-on-the-Mountain, did you? Wel

Thought you could kill my Snow-on-the-Mountain, did you? Well, Jessie says that the top's growing back out. Next time you'll know how to do it right, won't you? You'll pull it up by the roots, won't you?

Courage Inspirational Childhood

The one place where a man ought to get a square deal is in a

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. As you grow older, you'll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don't you forget it - 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 Finch

I never expected any sort of success with 'Mockingbird'... I

I never expected any sort of success with 'Mockingbird'... I sort of hoped someone would like it enough to give me encouragement.

Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One d

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

The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a perso

The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.

I'm no idealist to believe firmly in the integrity of our co

I'm no idealist to believe firmly in the integrity of our courts and in the jury system -- that is no ideal to me, it is a living, working reality. Gentlemen, a court is no better than each man of you sitting before me on this jury. A court is only as sound as its jury, and a jury is only as sound as the men who make it up.

Folks don't like to have somebody around knowing more than t

Folks don't like to have somebody around knowing more than they do. It aggravates em. You're not gonna change any of them by talking right, they've got to want to learn themselves, and when they don't want to learn there's nothing you can do but keep your mouth shut or talk their language.

Real courage is when you know you're licked before you begin

Real courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.