To Kill a Mockingbird quotes

View Quote Scout: How old was I when Mama died?
Jem: Two.
Scout: How old were you?
Jem: Six.
Scout: Old as I am now.
Jem: Uh, huh.
Scout: Was Mama pretty?
Jem: Uh, huh.
Scout: Was Mama nice?
Jem: Uh, huh.
Scout: Did you love her?
Jem: Yes.
Scout: Did I love her?
Jem: Yes.
Scout: Do you miss her?
Jem: Uh, huh.

View Quote Scout: Atticus, do you defend ****s?
Atticus: Don't say '****,' Scout.
Scout: I didn't say it...Cecil Jacobs did. That's why I had to fight him.
Atticus: Scout, I don't want you fightin'!
Scout: I had to, Atticus, he...
Atticus: I don't care what the reasons are. I forbid you to fight. There are some things that you're not old enough to understand just yet. There's been some high talk around town to the effect that I shouldn't do much about defending this man.
Scout: If you shouldn't be defending him, then why are you doing it?
Atticus: For a number of reasons. The main one is that if I didn't, I couldn't hold my head up in town. I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do somethin' again. You're gonna hear some ugly talk about this in school. But I want you to promise me one thing...that you won't get into fights over it, no matter what they say to you.

View Quote Gilmer: How come you're so all-fired anxious to do that woman's chores?
Tom: Looks like she didn't have nobody to help her. Like I said...
Gilmer: With Mr. Ewell and seven children on the place? You did all this choppin' and work out of sheer goodness, boy? Ha, ha. You're a mighty good fella, it seems. Did all that for not one penny.
Tom: Yes, sir. I felt right sorry for her. She seemed...
Gilmer: You felt sorry for her? A white woman? You felt sorry for her?

View Quote Scout: Hey Boo.
Atticus: Miss Jean Louise, Mr. Arthur Radley. I believe he already knows you.

View Quote Atticus: It'll have to come before the County Court. Of course, it's a clear-cut case of self-defense.
Sheriff Tate: Mr. Finch, do you think Jem killed Bob Ewell? Is that what you think? Your boy never stabbed him.

View Quote Scout: Mr. Tate was right.
Atticus: What do you mean?
Scout: Well, it would be sort of like shooting a mockingbird, wouldn't it?

View Quote I said, 'Hey,' Mr. Cunningham. How's your entailment getting along? [He turns and looks away] Don't you remember me, Mr. Cunningham? I'm Jean Louise Finch. You brought us some hickory nuts one early morning, remember? We had a talk. I went and got my daddy to come out and thank you. I go to school with your boy. I go to school with Walter. He's a nice boy. Tell him 'hey' for me, won't you? You know something, Mr. Cunningham, entailments are bad. Entailments...Atticus, I was just saying to Mr. Cunningham that entailments were bad but not to worry. Takes a long time sometimes...What's the matter? I sure meant no harm, Mr. Cunningham.

View Quote [to Boo, about Jem] You can pet him, Mr. Arthur. He's asleep. Couldn't if he was awake, though. He wouldn't let you. Go ahead.

View Quote He made me start off on the wrong foot. I was trying to explain to that darn lady teacher why he didn't have no money for his lunch, and she got sore at me.

View Quote [about Walter] He's gone and drown-ded his dinner in syrup and then he's pourin' it all over.

View Quote Hey Boo.