Searching for the wisdom and integrity embodied by Atticus Finch? Harper Lee’s iconic character in To Kill a Mockingbird remains a moral compass for many.
His words on courage, justice, empathy, and understanding continue to resonate deeply. Finding the exact quote to capture his essence, however, requires careful searching.
This collection gathers 30 essential quotes attributed to or directly about Atticus Finch, providing context through chapter and page number references from a standard edition.
*Please see the important note on page numbers and the specific edition used at the end.*
Atticus Finch Quotes With Page Numbers
Explore the defining words of Atticus Finch, revealing his principles on empathy, justice, courage, and parenting throughout the novel.
“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, (Character: Atticus Finch), Chapter 3, Page 33
“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, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch; Theme: Empathy, Perspective), Chapter 3, Page 33
“Sometimes it’s better to bend the law a little in special cases.”
~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch; Theme: Justice, Context), Chapter 3, Page 33
“…sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whiskey bottle in the hand of—oh, of your father.” … “What I meant was, if Atticus Finch drank until he was drunk he wouldn’t be as hard as some men are at their best.”
~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Miss Maudie about Atticus Finch to Scout; Theme: Character, Temperance, Judgment), Chapter 5, Page 51
Miss Maudie offers key insights into the community’s view of Atticus. Read more Miss Maudie Quotes here.
“Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets.”
~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Miss Maudie about Atticus Finch; Theme: Integrity, Consistency), Chapter 5, Page 51
“I didn’t know how you were going to do it, but from now on I’ll never worry about what’ll become of you, son, you’ll always have an idea.”
~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch to Jem; Theme: Parenting, Resourcefulness), Chapter 8, Page 76
Atticus often interacts with the curious Dill Harris. See key Dill Harris Quotes here.
“‘s what everybody at school says.” “From now on it’ll be everybody less one–” “Well if you don’t want me to grow up talkin’ that way, why do you send me to school?”
~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Dialogue: Scout Finch and Atticus Finch; Theme: Language, Influence), Chapter 9, Page 85
Scout Finch’s journey is central to the novel. Explore 37 insightful Scout Finch Quotes.
“Try fighting with your head for a change… it’s a good one, even if it does resist learning.”
~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch to Scout; Theme: Conflict Resolution, Wisdom), Chapter 9, Page 87
“Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.”
~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch; Theme: Courage, Perseverance, Justice), Chapter 9, Page 87
“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, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch; Theme: Parenting, Honesty), Chapter 9, Page 99
“I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the backyard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”
~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch; Theme: Morality, Innocence, Symbolism), Chapter 10, Page 103
This iconic quote is central to the novel’s message. Find more essential To Kill A Mockingbird quotes here.
“You’re lucky… You and Jem have the benefit of your father’s age. If your father was thirty you’d find life quite different.”…“You’d be surprised,” said Miss Maudie. “There’s life in him yet.”
~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Dialogue: Miss Maudie and Scout Finch about Atticus; Theme: Perspective, Age), Chapter 10, Page 104
“If your father’s anything, he’s civilized in his heart… I think maybe he put his gun down when he realized that God had given him an unfair advantage over most living things.”
~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Miss Maudie about Atticus Finch; Theme: Character, Skill, Humility), Chapter 10, Page 112
“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.”
~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch to Scout; Theme: Integrity, Non-violence), Chapter 11, Page 115
“They’re certainly entitled to think that… but 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, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch; Theme: Conscience, Integrity, Individuality), Chapter 11, Page 120
“I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man.”
~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch about Tom Robinson; Theme: Justice, Morality, Faith), Chapter 11, Page 120
“We can’t always have our ‘druthers.”
~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch; Theme: Acceptance, Realism), Chapter 11, Page 121
“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, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch; Theme: Perspective, Resilience), Chapter 11, Page 124
“Did she die free?” asked Jem. “As the mountain air,” said Atticus.
~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Dialogue: Jem Finch and Atticus Finch about Mrs. Dubose; Theme: Freedom, Courage), Chapter 11, Page 127
Jem’s growth is a key part of the narrative. See Jem Finch’s journey through his quotes.
“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.”
~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch; Theme: Courage, Perseverance), Chapter 11, Page 128
“in favor of southern womanhood as much as anybody, but not for preserving polite fiction at the expense of human life.”
~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch; Theme: Justice, Truth vs Fiction), Chapter 15, Page 167
“That proves something- that a gang of wild animals can be stopped, simply because they’re still human.”
~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch; Theme: Humanity, Reason), Chapter 16, Page 179
“To begin with, this case should never have come to trial…’The state has not produced one iota of medical evidence… It has relied instead upon the testimony of two witnesses whose evidence has… been flatly contradicted by the defendant… Tom Robinson now sits before you having taken the oath with the only good hand he possesses… his RIGHT… She is the victim of cruel poverty and ignorance. But my pity does not extend so far as to her putting a man’s life at stake… She was white, and she tempted a Negro… the evil assumption that all Negroes lie, all Negroes are basically immoral beings… And so, a quiet, humble, respectable Negro… has had to put his word against TWO white people’s!… The defendant is not guilty – but somebody in this courtroom is… In our courts, all men are created equal… In the name of GOD, do your duty.”
~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch‘s closing argument; Theme: Justice, Racism, Evidence, Morality), Chapter 20, Pages 230-231
Tom Robinson stands at the center of the novel’s injustice. Read Tom Robinson’s significant quotes.
“Thomas Jefferson once said that all men are created equal… We know all men are not created equal in the sense some people would have us believe… but there is one way in this country in which all men are created equal- there is one human institution that makes a pauper the equal of a Rockefeller… That institution, gentlemen, is a court.”
~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch; Theme: Equality, Justice, Law), Chapter 20, Page 233
“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, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch; Theme: Injustice, Racism, Innocence), Chapter 22, Page 243
“The man had to have some kind of comeback, his kind always does. So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take.”
~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch about Bob Ewell; Theme: Courage, Sacrifice, Understanding), Chapter 23, Page 249
“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.”
~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch; Theme: Justice, Prejudice), Chapter 23, Page 252
“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.”
~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch; Theme: Racism, Morality, Integrity), Chapter 23, Page 252
“Before Jem looks at anyone else he looks at me, and I’ve tried to live so I can look squarely back at him.”
~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch; Theme: Integrity, Parenting, Role Model), Chapter 30, Page 314
“Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them.”
~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch to Scout about Boo Radley; Theme: Empathy, Perspective, Goodness), Chapter 31, Page 323
Boo Radley’s presence looms large despite his reclusiveness. Consider Boo Radley’s key moments and quotes.
Atticus Finch’s Character Description
Atticus Finch, from Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird,” stands as a pillar of morality and fairness. He’s portrayed as a wise, compassionate, rational lawyer, a devoted father, and a model of integrity. Patient and articulate, his defining qualities are kindness, unwavering courage, and commitment to justice, believing everyone deserves respect.
He embodies wisdom amidst societal prejudice, teaching crucial life lessons. His most famous advice centers on empathy: “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.” This illustrates his core belief in understanding to bridge differences.
Atticus lives his principles consistently, as Miss Maudie notes: “Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets.” While respecting law, he understands fairness can require nuance: “Sometimes it’s better to bend the law a little in special cases.” He values honest communication, especially with children, believing evasion only confuses them.
He teaches courage not as aggression, but as principled endurance: “It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” His defense of Tom Robinson exemplifies this, challenging deep-seated racism despite personal cost. He instills non-violence, advising Scout: “Try fighting with your head for a change.” Through his actions and words, Atticus serves as a moral compass for his children and the reader.
Common Atticus Finch Quote Questions
What is Atticus’s famous quote?
“Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”
~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch), Chapter 10, Page 103
What quotes show Atticus is compassionate?
“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, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch), Chapter 3, Page 33
What is an inspiring quote by Atticus?
“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.”
~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch), Chapter 11, Page 128
Important Note on Page Numbers:
Page numbers cited (e.g., Page 33) reference the **Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2002 paperback edition** of *To Kill a Mockingbird* (ISBN-13: 978-0060935467). They may vary in other editions. Always verify against your specific copy.
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Mortis, Jeremy. “30 Essential Atticus Finch Quotes With Page Numbers.” Ageless Investing, 4 Jul. 2024, agelessinvesting.com/atticus-finch-quotes/.
Cite This Page (APA):
Mortis, J. (2024, July 4). *30 Essential Atticus Finch quotes with page numbers*. Ageless Investing. Retrieved [Date You Accessed], from https://agelessinvesting.com/atticus-finch-quotes/
Jeremy Mortis, founder of Ageless Investing, applies a rigorous analytical approach (the SPARK framework) to distill timeless wisdom and contextualized quotes from classic literature, saving you time while deepening understanding. Learn more about Jeremy’s unique background and methodology on his author bio page.