A collection of Harper Lee’s quotes and sayings on books, writing, point of view, advice, conscience, majority, childhood, success, courage, death etc.
98 Powerful Harper Lee Quotes That You Will Never Forget
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.
Every man’s island, Jean Louise, every man’s watchman, is his conscience. There is no such thing as a collective conscious.
Harper Lee
I don't want to hear any words like that while I'm here. Scout, you'll get in trouble if you go around saying things like that. You want to grow up to be a lady, don't you?'
I said not particularly.
Dill?"
Mm?"
Why do you reckon Boo Radleys never run off?"
Dill sighed a long sigh and turned away from me.
Maybe he doesn't have anywhere to run off to
A man can condemn his enemies, but it’s wiser to know them.
Harper Lee
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.
Remember this also: it’s always easy to look back and see what we were, yesterday, ten years ago. It is hard to see what we are. If you can master that trick, you’ll get along.
Cry about the simple hell people give other people- without even thinking. Cry about the hell white people give colored folks, without even stopping to think that they're people too.
Scout, I´m telling you for the last time, shut your trap or go home - I declare to the Lord you´re gettin´ more like a girl every day!”
With that, I had no option but to join them.
I don't know, but they did it. They've done it before and they did it tonight and they'll do it again and when they do it--seems that only children weep.
I need a watchman to tell me this is what a man says but this is what he means, to draw a line down the middle and say here is this justice and there is that justice and make me understand the difference.
Sometimes we have to kill a little so we can live.
Harper Lee
Clowns are sad, it's folks that laugh at them." "Well, I'm gonna be a new kind of clown. I'm gonna stand in the middle of the ring and laugh at the folks.
Harper Lee
Sometimes it’s better to bend the law a little in special cases.
Harper Lee
Finders were keepers unless title was proven.
Harper Lee
I came to the conclusion that people were just peculiar, I withdrew from them, and never thought about them until I was forced to.
Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough.
I was taught never to take advantage of anybody who was less fortunate than myself, whether he be less fortunate in brains, wealth, or social position; it meant anybody...
