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98 Powerful Harper Lee Quotes That You Will Never Forget

Famous As: American Author Best Known for Her Novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’
Born On: April 28, 1926
Died On: February 19, 2016
Born In: Monroeville, Alabama, United States
Died At Age: 89

Harper Lee was an American novelist, famous for her work in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, which went on to become a classic of modern American Literature. Her work was basically based on fiction, drama, mystery and inspired from observations made from family and neighbors in her hometown. Her novels often highlighted the irrationalities of adult attitudes towards different castes, creed and races. She was awarded the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for her bestseller ‘Go Set a Watchman’. Her writing style focused on narrative brilliance, visual art, and seamless transition into another scene. Another aspect in which she tried to throw light on was the prevalent injustice due to racism in the era she lived in. Even though she brought up bold discussions on issues such as rape, racial slur and profanity, her novels became quite a sensation, with wide acceptance by critics, editorials and tabloids. We have excerpted Harper Lee’s books, writings and life. Browse through some of Harper Lee’s quotes on books, writing, point of view, advice, conscience, majority, childhood, success, courage, death etc.

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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.

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.

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

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

Harper Lee
People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for.

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

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

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

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

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

Harper Lee
I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks.

I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks.

Harper Lee
Atticus, he was real nice.

Atticus, he was real nice." "Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them.

Harper Lee
People in their right minds never take pride in their talents.

People in their right minds never take pride in their talents.

Harper Lee
It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived.

It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived.

Harper Lee
With him, life was routine; without him, life was unbearable.

With him, life was routine; without him, life was unbearable.

Harper Lee
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. Try fightin' with your head for a change.
-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. Try fightin' with your head for a change. -Atticus Finch

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

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

Harper Lee
When a child asks you something, answer him, for goodness sake. But don't make a production of it. Children are children, but they can spot an evasion faster than adults, and evasion simply muddles 'em.

When a child asks you something, answer him, for goodness sake. But don't make a production of it. Children are children, but they can spot an evasion faster than adults, and evasion simply muddles 'em.

Harper Lee
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.

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.

Harper Lee
Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.

Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.

Harper Lee
Pass the damn ham, please.

Pass the damn ham, please.

Harper Lee
I was born good but had grown progressively worse every year.
 Scout

I was born good but had grown progressively worse every year. Scout

Harper Lee
We're paying the highest tribute you can pay a man. We trust him to do right. It's that simple.

We're paying the highest tribute you can pay a man. We trust him to do right. It's that simple.

Harper Lee
You can choose your friends but you sho' can't choose your family, an' they're still kin to you no matter whether you acknowledge 'em or not, and it makes you look right silly when you don't.

You can choose your friends but you sho' can't choose your family, an' they're still kin to you no matter whether you acknowledge 'em or not, and it makes you look right silly when you don't.

Harper Lee
There are just some kind of men who-who're so busy worrying about the next world they've never learned to live in this one, and you can look down the street and see the results.

There are just some kind of men who-who're so busy worrying about the next world they've never learned to live in this one, and you can look down the street and see the results.

Harper Lee
It's not time to worry yet

It's not time to worry yet

Harper Lee
Things are always better in the morning.

Things are always better in the morning.

Harper Lee
Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father's passin'.

Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father's passin'.

Harper Lee
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.

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.

Harper Lee
They've done it before and they'll do it again and when they do it -- seems that only the children weep. Good night.

They've done it before and they'll do it again and when they do it -- seems that only the children weep. Good night.

Harper Lee
Any writer worth his salt writes to please himself...It's a self-exploratory operation that is endless. An exorcism of not necessarily his demon, but of his divine discontent.

Any writer worth his salt writes to please himself...It's a self-exploratory operation that is endless. An exorcism of not necessarily his demon, but of his divine discontent.

Harper Lee
Ladies in bunches always filled me with vague apprehension and a firm desire to be elsewhere.

Ladies in bunches always filled me with vague apprehension and a firm desire to be elsewhere.

Harper Lee
Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.

Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.

Harper Lee
Prejudice, a dirty word, and faith, a clean one, have something in common: they both begin where reason ends.

Prejudice, a dirty word, and faith, a clean one, have something in common: they both begin where reason ends.

Harper Lee
As a reader I loathe introductions...Introductions inhibit pleasure, they kill the joy of anticipation, they frustrate curiosity.

As a reader I loathe introductions...Introductions inhibit pleasure, they kill the joy of anticipation, they frustrate curiosity.

Harper Lee