25 To Kill a Mockingbird Book Quotes From Harper Lee

A classic tale set in the 1930’s, these To Kill a Mockingbird quotes will have you feeling nostalgic!

For over 50 years, this classic novel has captured the hearts of almost anyone who reads it.

A story of a young girl and her father and demands for social justice and racial equality, To Kill a Mockingbird is still a favorite among many.

And even decades after its release, many can still relate to the book’s message in our current social and government climate.

Our latest collection of To Kill a Mockingbird quotes on the Everyday Power blog will inspire you to see the world in a different way.

To Kill a Mockingbird was a debut novel by Harper Lee, and a true classic of modern American literature.

Published in 1960, the book quickly became successful, winning the 1961 Pulitzer Prize.

It became a best-seller and was also made into a memorable movie in 1962.

The book is about a family – a widowed father and his two children – who are living in Alabama in the 1930s.

Atticus, the father, is a lawyer and is asked to defend a black man in a trial where he’s been accused of raping a white woman.

The story is primarily about this white family and how they navigate the moral questions raised by racial inequality.

It is Scout, the young daughter, who’s telling this story and it’s her brother Jem, who’s four years older, who insists that the story actually begins long before the events of the summer when the trial takes place.

One of the most widely read American novels of the 20th century, To Kill a Mockingbird has inspired many people of all ages.

The story teaches each one of us about the value of honesty, love, friendship, and trust.

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In that regard, here are some memorable quotes from the book.

Check out our most popular quote article, a list of short inspirational quotes for daily inspiration.

Our inspirational quote category page has even more inspirational and educational quotes.

To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes From Harper Lee

1. “People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes on what people see

2. “The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes on majority rule

3. “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.” – Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes on understanding people

4. “It’s not time to worry yet.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes about time

5. “Equal rights for all, special privileges for none.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes about equal rights

You will also enjoy our article on Boo Radley quotes.

6. “People don’t like to have somebody knowing more than they do. It aggravates them.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes on knowing more than other people

7. “I try to give’em a reason, you see. It helps folks if they can latch onto a reason.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

wise To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes

8. “You don’t have to learn much out of books, it’s like if you want to learn about cows, you go milk one.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

 To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes on learning

9. “If one went for a walk with no definite purpose in mind, it was correct to believe one’s mind incapable of definite purpose.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

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 To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes about purpose

10. “We generally get the juries we deserve.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

 To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes on getting what we deserve

Also check out these memorable Into the Wild quotes to inspire you.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” quotes to inspire and teach

11. “You see they could never, never understand that I live like I do because that’s the way I want to live.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

 To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes on living the way you want to

12. “Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

 To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes on reading

13. “People in their right minds never take pride in their talents.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

 To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes about talent

14. “Sometimes it’s better to bend the law a little in special cases.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

 To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes on bending the law

15. “I do my best to love everyday.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

 To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes about love

16. “It’s not necessary to tell all you know. It’s not ladylike- in the second place, folks don’t like to have somebody around knowin’ more than they do.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

 To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes on telling all you know

17. “If you can learn a simple trick, you’ll get along a lot better with all kind of folks.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

 To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes on getting along with people

18. “There are just some kind of men who’re so busy worrying about the next world they’ve never learned to live in this one.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

 To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes on living your best life

19. “Cry about the simple hell people give other people—without even thinking.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

 To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes to make your day

20. “The only way in which all men in America are equal, is in the courtroom.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

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 To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes about the courtroom

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To Kill a Mockingbird quotes to expand your mind

21. “If we followed our feelings all the time, we’d be like cats chasin’ their tails.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes about feelings

22. “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.”
― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes about the world

23. “When stalking one’s prey, it is best to take one’s time. Say nothing, and as sure as eggs he will become curious and emerge.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes about patience

24. “Most people are nice when you finally see them.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes about nice people

25. “Things are always better in the morning.” ― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes about the mornings

Which of these To Kill a Mockingbird quotes was your favorite?

“To Kill a Mockingbird” is standard reading for millions of young people.

It has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide and has had a big impact on how people view and treat each other.

Each word written in the novel has a truly deep meaning to it.

Hopefully, these quotes have inspired you to always believe in doing the right thing and being honest.

Which of these “To Kill a Mockingbird” quotes resonated with you best?

Do you have any other favorite quotes to add to the list?

Let us know in the comment section below.

We would love to hear all about it.

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2 Comments
  1. Beverly Denn

    August 25, 2019 at 9:59 PM

    Love all the quotes from To Kill a Mockingbird. It will forever by far the most important book I have ever read. SO many lessons. They picked all the best in the Acting world to play the roles in this movie. I remember as a child going to see this movie along with another movie ‘The Miracle Worker with Patty Duke playing Helen Keller. Two most meaningful and wonderful movies ever made.

  2. Sandra Saul

    December 6, 2018 at 1:18 PM

    Definitely number 3/ you never know a person until…
    The quote is about hearing and seeing and human empathy I think of this often and it is humbling!

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