Can one person stand against injustice?
Harper Lee’s monumental novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, explores profound themes of prejudice, courage, and morality through the eyes of young Scout Finch in the American South. Atticus Finch’s principled defense of Tom Robinson remains a timeless testament to integrity.
This collection gathers 87 essential quotes from the novel, organized by chapter, capturing the wisdom and challenges faced by its memorable characters.
Important Note on Page Numbers: Page numbers cited below (*e.g., Page 5*) reference the widely used **Harper Perennial Modern Classics 2002 paperback edition** of To Kill a Mockingbird (ISBN-13: 978-0060935467). However, page numbers can still vary slightly between different printings or formats (hardcover, ebook). **Always verify against your specific copy** for academic citations or precise reference.
Chapter 1 Quotes
The novel opens by introducing the Finch family, the sleepy town of Maycomb, Alabama, and the mysterious neighbor, Boo Radley, setting the scene for the events to come.
“Atticus had urged them to accept the state’s generosity… but they were Haverfords, in Maycomb County a name synonymous with jackass… insisted that the son-of-a-bitch-had-it-coming-to-him was a good enough defence for anybody.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout as narrator), Chapter 1, Page 5*
Understand Scout’s unique perspective: See 37 Key Scout Finch Quotes.
“Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it… Ladies bathed before noon, after their three o’clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout as narrator), Chapter 1, Page 5*
“Thereafter the summer passed in routine contentment… Thus we came to know Dill as a pocket Merlin, whose head teemed with eccentric plans, strange longings, and quaint fancies.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout as narrator), Chapter 1, Page 8*
“Of all days Sunday was the day for formal afternoon visiting: ladies wore corsets, men wore coats, children wore shoes.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout as narrator), Chapter 1, Page 10*
“Nobody knew what form of intimidation Mr. Radley employed to keep Boo out of sight… Atticus said… there were other ways of making people into ghosts.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (about Boo Radley; Character: Scout as narrator), Chapter 1, Page 12*
“Jem gave a reasonable description of Boo: Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall… he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch… his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout as narrator), Chapter 1, Page 14*
The children’s fascination with Boo Radley sets up a key subplot, while Scout’s entry into school introduces the social complexities and prejudices of Maycomb.
Chapter 2 Quotes
Scout’s first day of school brings clashes with her teacher, Miss Caroline, highlighting the divide between formal education and Maycomb’s ingrained social norms and poverty.
“Miss Caroline seemed unaware that the ragged, denim-shirted and floursack-skirted first grade… were immune to imaginative literature.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout as narrator), Chapter 2, Page 18*
“…after making me read most of My First Reader… she discovered that I was literate and looked at me with more than faint distaste. Miss Caroline told me to tell my father not to teach me any more, it would interfere with my reading.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout as narrator), Chapter 2, Page 19*
“Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch as narrator), Chapter 2, Page 20*
“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, (Character: Jem Finch), Chapter 2, Page 20*
Explore Jem’s development throughout the novel: Key Jem Finch Quotes Explained.
“I thought she was going to spit in it, which was the only reason anybody in Maycomb held out his hand: it was a time-honored method of sealing oral contracts…”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch as narrator), Chapter 2, Page 24*
Scout’s encounters with the Cunninghams and Ewells at school introduce the rigid class structure and poverty affecting Maycomb, leading to Calpurnia and Atticus teaching her about empathy.
Chapter 3 Quotes
After Scout criticizes Walter Cunningham Jr.’s table manners, Calpurnia teaches her about respect, and Atticus offers his famous advice about perspective-taking.
“There’s some folks who don’t eat like us,” she whispered fiercely, “but you ain’t called on to contradict ’em at the table… That boy’s yo’ comp’ny and if he wants to eat up the table cloth you let him, you hear?”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Calpurnia), Chapter 3, Page 27*
Learn more about Calpurnia’s vital role: Essential Calpurnia Quotes.
“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*
Discover more of Atticus’s wisdom: 35 Defining Atticus Finch Quotes.
“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*
“Sometimes it’s better to bend the law a little in special cases.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch), Chapter 3, Page 33*
As summer arrives, bringing Dill back to Maycomb, the children’s focus shifts back to the mystery of Boo Radley and finding treasures left in the Radley oak tree.
Chapter 4 Quotes
Summer begins, Dill returns, and the children discover mysterious gifts (gum, pennies) hidden in the knothole of an oak tree on the Radley property, deepening their curiosity about Boo.
“Summer was on the way; Jem and I awaited it with impatience. Summer was our best season… summer was everything good to eat… but most of all, summer was Dill.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch as narrator), Chapter 4, Page 38*
“Finders were keepers unless title was proven.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch as narrator), Chapter 4, Page 39*
Scout feels excluded by Jem and Dill’s schemes, leading her to spend more time with Miss Maudie, who offers insights into the Radleys and Atticus’s character.
Chapter 5 Quotes
Feeling left out by Jem and Dill, Scout bonds with Miss Maudie Atkinson, learning more about Boo Radley’s past and gaining respect for her neighbor’s wisdom and non-judgmental attitude.
“He said I was the only girl he would ever love, then he neglected me. I beat him up, but it did no good.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch as narrator, about Dill), Chapter 5, Page 46*
“Time spent indoors was time wasted.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch as narrator), Chapter 5, Page 47*
“Miss Maudie settled her bridgework. “You know old Mr. Radley was a foot-washing Baptist—” “That’s what you are, ain’t it?” “My shell’s not that hard, child. I’m just a Baptist.””
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Dialogue: Scout Finch and Miss Maudie), Chapter 5, Page 49*
Gain insight into Miss Maudie’s character: Wise Miss Maudie Quotes.
“Sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whisky bottle in the hand of (another)… 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…”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Miss Maudie), Chapter 5, Page 50*
The children’s attempts to communicate with Boo Radley escalate, leading to a risky nighttime venture onto the Radley property.
Chapter 6 Quotes
On Dill’s last night in Maycomb, he, Jem, and Scout sneak onto the Radley property to peek through a window. They flee when a shadow appears, and Jem loses his pants escaping under the fence.
“Matches were dangerous, but cards were fatal.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch as narrator, reflecting on perceived dangers), Chapter 6, Page 62*
Jem retrieves his mended pants, and more mysterious gifts appear in the knothole, strengthening the children’s sense of connection to Boo, until Mr. Nathan Radley cements the hole shut.
Chapter 7 Quotes
Jem reveals his pants were crudely mended when he retrieved them. More gifts appear in the knothole (soap dolls, twine, medal), but soon after, Mr. Nathan Radley fills the hole with cement.
“Atticus told me to delete the adjectives and I’d have the facts.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch, recalling Atticus’s advice), Chapter 7, Page 67*
Maycomb experiences an unusual snowfall, leading to a fire at Miss Maudie’s house, during which Boo Radley secretly places a blanket around Scout.
Chapter 8 Quotes
Maycomb sees its first snow since 1885. Later that night, Miss Maudie’s house catches fire. While watching the blaze, someone unseen (Boo Radley) drapes a blanket over Scout’s shoulders.
“Mr. Avery said it was written on the Rosetta Stone that when children disobeyed their parents… the seasons would change: Jem and I were burdened with the guilt…”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch as narrator), Chapter 8, Page 72*
“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 about the snowman), Chapter 8, Page 76*
Atticus prepares to defend Tom Robinson, facing community backlash and instructing Scout to avoid fighting over the insults she hears.
Chapter 9 Quotes
Scout faces taunts at school because Atticus is defending Tom Robinson, a Black man. Atticus explains the importance of the case and urges Scout to maintain her integrity and avoid physical fights.
“‘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), Chapter 9, Page 85*
“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), 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), Chapter 9, Page 87*
“I interrupted to make Uncle Jack let me know when he would pull it out, but he held up a bloody splinter… and said he yanked it while I was laughing, that was what was known as relativity.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch as narrator), Chapter 9, Page 89*
“Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my attire… I suggested that one could be a ray of sunshine in pants as well, but Aunty said that one had to behave like a sunbeam…”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch as narrator), Chapter 9, Page 92*
“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, (Character: Scout Finch as narrator, about Uncle Jack), Chapter 9, Page 95*
“Well, in the first place, you stopped to gimme a chance to tell you my side of it- you just lit right into me… Atticus doesn’t ever listen to just Jem’s side of it, he hears mine too”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch to Uncle Jack), Chapter 9, Page 97*
“I shall never marry, Atticus.” “Why?” “I might have children.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Dialogue: Uncle Jack and Atticus Finch), Chapter 9, Page 99*
“When a child asks you something, answer him… But don’t make a production of it. Children… can spot an evasion faster than adults, and evasion simply muddles ’em.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch), Chapter 9, Page 99*
Jem and Scout feel Atticus is old and lacks impressive skills, until he expertly shoots a rabid dog, revealing a hidden talent and earning their admiration.
Chapter 10 Quotes
The children lament Atticus’s age and perceived lack of interesting talents. However, when a rabid dog threatens the neighborhood, Atticus expertly shoots it dead, revealing his past nickname “One-Shot Finch” and surprising his children.
“Atticus was feeble: he was nearly fifty.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch as narrator), Chapter 10, Page 102*
“Atticus said to Jem one day, “I’d rather you shot at tin cans… Shoot all the blue jays you want… but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” … “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing except make music… they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Dialogue: Atticus Finch and Miss Maudie explaining to children), Chapter 10, Page 103*
“Nothing is more deadly than a deserted, waiting street.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch as narrator), Chapter 10, Page 108*
“People in their right minds never take pride in their talents.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Miss Maudie), Chapter 10, Page 112*
Gain insight into Miss Maudie’s character: Wise Miss Maudie Quotes.
Jem’s destruction of Mrs. Dubose’s camellias leads to a punishment that teaches the children a profound lesson about courage and addiction.
Chapter 11 Quotes
Jem retaliates against the insulting Mrs. Dubose by destroying her camellia bushes. Atticus makes Jem read to the ailing, morphine-addicted woman daily. After her death, Atticus reveals she bravely fought her addiction, defining true courage.
“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), Chapter 11, Page 115*
“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, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch as narrator), Chapter 11, Page 115*
“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), Chapter 11, Page 120*
“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), Chapter 11, Page 120*
“We can’t always have our ‘druthers.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch), 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), 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), Chapter 11, Page 127*
“I wanted you to see what real courage is… 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, about Mrs. Dubose), Chapter 11, Page 128*
Jem and Scout experience Maycomb’s racial divide firsthand when Calpurnia takes them to her Black church, First Purchase African M.E. Church.
Chapter 12 Quotes
With Atticus away, Calpurnia takes Jem and Scout to her church. They witness the warmth and resilience of the Black community but also encounter Lula’s resentment at white visitors, highlighting the deep segregation of Maycomb.
“With him, life was routine; without him, life was unbearable.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch, about Jem), Chapter 12, Page 132*
“It’s not necessary to tell all you know. It’s not ladylike… folks don’t like to have someone around knowin’ more than they do… when they don’t want to learn there’s nothing you can do but keep your mouth shut or talk their language.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Calpurnia), Chapter 12, Page 143*
Aunt Alexandra arrives to instill proper Finch family values in the children, clashing with Scout’s independent spirit and foreshadowing growing family tensions.
Chapter 13 Quotes
Aunt Alexandra comes to stay, determined to provide a “feminine influence” and educate the children about their family’s social standing in Maycomb.
Dill runs away from home and hides under Scout’s bed, leading to a confrontation where the children defy Atticus to protect their friend.
Chapter 14 Quotes
Tensions rise between Jem and Scout as Jem matures. Dill unexpectedly reappears, having run away from his neglectful parents, and hides under Scout’s bed.
“Dill was off again. Beautiful things floated around in his dreamy head… he preferred the magic of his own inventions… he preferred his own twilight world, a world where babies slept, waiting to be gathered like morning lilies.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch as narrator, about Dill), Chapter 14, Page 163*
What drives Dill’s imagination? See Dill Harris Quotes and Insights.
Atticus faces down a potential lynch mob outside Tom Robinson’s jail cell, with Scout unintentionally diffusing the situation through innocent conversation.
Chapter 15 Quotes
Concerned for Tom Robinson’s safety, Atticus guards the jail. A mob arrives intending harm. Scout, Jem, and Dill intervene, and Scout’s innocent talk with Mr. Cunningham shames the mob into dispersing.
“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), Chapter 15, Page 167*
“In Maycomb, 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, (Character: Scout Finch as narrator), Chapter 15, Page 169*
“Mutual defiance made them alike.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch as narrator, about Atticus and Jem), Chapter 15, Page 173*
“Atticus had said it was the polite thing to talk to people about what they were interested in, not about what you were interested in.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch as narrator), Chapter 15, Page 174*
The trial of Tom Robinson begins, drawing the entire town to the courthouse, where Jem, Scout, and Dill find seats in the “colored balcony.”
Chapter 16 Quotes
The day of the trial arrives. The town converges on the courthouse. Jem, Scout, and Dill end up sitting with Reverend Sykes in the segregated balcony.
“Atticus said naming people after Confederate generals made slow steady drinkers.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch as narrator), Chapter 16, Page 178*
“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), Chapter 16, Page 179*
The trial proceeds with Heck Tate and Bob Ewell testifying, setting the stage for Mayella Ewell’s account.
Chapter 17 Quotes
Sheriff Heck Tate testifies about Mayella Ewell’s injuries. Bob Ewell takes the stand, offering crude testimony and revealing he is left-handed, a key detail Atticus highlights.
“People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Judge Taylor), Chapter 17, Page 198*
“Never, never, never, on cross-examination ask a witness a question you don’t already know the answer to, was a tenet I absorbed with my baby-food.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch as narrator), Chapter 17, Page 201*
Mayella Ewell gives her testimony, portraying herself as a victim, but her account contains inconsistencies under Atticus’s cross-examination.
Chapter 18 Quotes
Mayella Ewell testifies, describing her alleged assault by Tom Robinson. Atticus’s cross-examination reveals inconsistencies and highlights her loneliness and harsh life.
Tom Robinson takes the stand, offering a starkly different account of the events and revealing Mayella’s advances towards him.
Chapter 19 Quotes
Tom Robinson testifies, respectfully contradicting Mayella. He explains he helped her out of pity, a statement that offends the white jury due to Maycomb’s racial hierarchy.
“Atticus sometimes said that one way to tell whether a witness was lying or telling the truth was to listen rather than watch.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch as narrator), Chapter 19, Page 219*
“Were you so scared that she’d hurt you…?” “No suh, I’s scared I’d be in court…” “Scared of arrest…?” “No suh, scared I’d hafta face up to what I didn’t do.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Dialogue: Mr. Gilmer and Tom Robinson), Chapter 19, Page 225*
Explore Tom’s impossible position: Key Tom Robinson Quotes.
Dill becomes upset by the prosecutor’s treatment of Tom, leading to an encounter outside with Mr. Raymond. Atticus delivers his powerful closing argument.
Chapter 20 Quotes
Disturbed by Mr. Gilmer’s cross-examination, Dill leaves with Scout. They meet Mr. Dolphus Raymond, who reveals he pretends to be drunk as an excuse for living with Black people. Atticus gives his closing argument.
“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.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Mr. Dolphus Raymond), Chapter 20, Page 229*
“To begin with, this case should never have come to trial…’The state has not produced one iota of medical evidence… She is the victim of cruel poverty and ignorance… She must destroy the evidence of her offense… Tom Robinson, a human being… She kissed a black man… the evil assumption that all Negroes lie… a quiet, humble, respectable *****… has had the unmitigated TEMERITY to feel sorry for a white woman… The defendant is not guilty – but somebody in this courtroom is… gentlemen, in this country, our courts are the great levelers… In the name of GOD, do your duty.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch’s closing argument), Chapter 20, Pages 230-231*
“Thomas Jefferson once said that all men are created equal… There is a tendency… for certain people to use this phrase out of context… We know all men are not created equal in the sense some people would have us believe…”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch), Chapter 20, Page 233*
“But there is one way in this country in which all men are created equal… 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), Chapter 20, Page 233*
Despite Atticus’s powerful defense, the jury delivers a guilty verdict, a decision deeply felt by those in the balcony.
Chapter 21 Quotes
Calpurnia interrupts the trial. The children reveal their presence. After long deliberation, the jury returns a guilty verdict against Tom Robinson.
The Black community shows their respect for Atticus, and Jem struggles to understand the injustice, leading to discussions about prejudice.
Chapter 22 Quotes
Jem is devastated. The next morning, the Finch kitchen is filled with food from Maycomb’s Black community showing gratitude. Miss Maudie comforts the children, emphasizing Atticus’s moral courage.
“How could they do it, how could they?” “I don’t know, but they did it. They’ve done it before… and when they do it—seems that only children weep.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Dialogue: Jem Finch and Atticus Finch), Chapter 22, Page 243*
“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), Chapter 22, Page 243*
“Things are always better in the morning.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch as narrator), Chapter 22, Page 243*
“There are some men in this world who are born to do our unpleasant jobs for us. Your father’s one of them.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Miss Maudie), Chapter 22, Pages 245-246*
“I think I’ll be a clown when I get grown,’ said Dill… ‘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, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Dialogue: Dill Harris and Jem Finch), Chapter 22, Page 247*
Bob Ewell confronts and threatens Atticus. Atticus discusses the complexities of the jury system and Maycomb’s deep-seated racism with Jem.
Chapter 23 Quotes
Bob Ewell spits in Atticus’s face and threatens him; Atticus remains calm. He explains the appeal process and the nuances of the jury system and prejudice to Jem and Scout.
“The man had to have some kind of comeback… So if spitting in my face… saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, that’s something I’ll gladly take… I’d rather it be me than that houseful of children…”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch), Chapter 23, Page 249*
“The one place where a man ought to get a square deal is in a courtroom… but people have a way of carrying their resentments right into a jury box.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch), Chapter 23, Page 252*
“As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men… but… whenever a white man does that to a black man… that white man is trash.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch), Chapter 23, Page 252*
“I think there’s just one kind of folks. Folks.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch), Chapter 23, Page 259*
“If there’s just one kind of folks, why can’t they get along…? …I think I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley’s stayed shut up… It’s because he wants to stay inside.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Jem Finch), Chapter 23, Page 259*
Scout attends Aunt Alexandra’s missionary circle meeting, observing subtle hypocrisies before news arrives of Tom Robinson’s death.
Chapter 24 Quotes
Scout endures Aunt Alexandra’s missionary tea, witnessing gossip and hypocrisy. Atticus interrupts with news that Tom Robinson was shot dead trying to escape prison.
“I was more at home in my father’s world… Ladies seemed to live in faint horror of men… But I liked them… they weren’t— ‘Hypocrites, Mrs. Perkins, born hypocrites,” Mrs. Merriweather was saying.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Characters: Scout Finch as narrator and Mrs. Merriweather), Chapter 24, Page 267*
“We’re paying the highest tribute you can pay a man. We trust him to do right. It’s that simple.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Miss Maudie, about Atticus), Chapter 24, Page 269*
Maycomb reacts briefly to Tom’s death. Mr. Underwood writes a poignant editorial comparing Tom’s death to killing a songbird.
Chapter 25 Quotes
Scout recalls Atticus breaking the news of Tom’s death to Helen Robinson. Maycomb discusses it dismissively. Mr. Underwood writes a powerful editorial condemning Tom’s death as the senseless killing of a songbird.
“Then Mr. Underwood’s meaning became clear: Atticus had used every tool available… but in the secret courts of men’s hearts Atticus had no case.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch as narrator), Chapter 25, Page 276*
As life returns to normal, Scout reflects on hypocrisy regarding prejudice. Bob Ewell’s lingering threats foreshadow danger.
Chapter 26 Quotes
School starts again. Scout notes the hypocrisy of Miss Gates, who condemns Hitler while making racist remarks about Maycomb’s Black residents.
“Equal rights for all, special privileges for none.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch, reciting motto), Chapter 26, Page 281*
“Well, coming out of the courthouse… Miss Gates… I heard her say it’s time somebody taught ’em a lesson… Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an’ then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home-”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch), Chapter 26, Page 283*
Bob Ewell continues harassment against those associated with the trial, culminating in an attack on Jem and Scout.
Chapter 27 Quotes
Bob Ewell loses his WPA job, blaming Atticus. He attempts to break into Judge Taylor’s house and harasses Helen Robinson, showing his resentment hasn’t faded.
Jem and Scout are attacked by Bob Ewell walking home after the Halloween pageant. A mysterious rescuer intervenes.
Chapter 28 Quotes
Scout participates in the Halloween pageant as a ham. Walking home, she and Jem are attacked by Bob Ewell. Jem’s arm is broken; an unseen figure saves Scout.
Sheriff Tate discovers Bob Ewell dead under the tree. Scout realizes their rescuer was Boo Radley.
Chapter 29 Quotes
Sheriff Heck Tate investigates. Scout recounts the attack. Tate reveals Bob Ewell is dead, stabbed. Scout finally sees their rescuer: Arthur “Boo” Radley.
“If we followed our feelings all the time, we’d be like cats chasin’ their tails.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Heck Tate), Chapter 29, Page 307*
“There’s just some kind of men you have to shoot before you can say hidy to ’em. Even then, they ain’t worth the bullet it takes to shoot ’em.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Heck Tate, about Bob Ewell), Chapter 29, Page 308*
Atticus and Heck Tate debate reporting Ewell’s death, agreeing to say Ewell fell on his own knife to protect Boo Radley.
Chapter 30 Quotes
Atticus initially believes Jem killed Ewell. Sheriff Tate insists Ewell fell on his own knife, implicitly protecting Boo from unwanted publicity.
“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), Chapter 30, Page 314*
Scout walks Boo Radley home, seeing the neighborhood from his perspective, fully understanding Atticus’s lesson about empathy before Boo disappears inside forever.
Chapter 31 Quotes
Scout walks Boo home. Standing on his porch, she sees events from his perspective, internalizing Atticus’s lesson. Boo goes inside. Atticus reads Scout to sleep.
“Neighbors bring food with death… Boo was our neighbor. He gave us two soap dolls… and our lives… We never put back into the tree… we had given him nothing, and it made me sad.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch as narrator), Chapter 31, Page 320*
Reflect on Boo’s pivotal role: Key Boo Radley Quotes and Analysis.
“Nothin’s real scary except in books.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch), Chapter 31, Page 322*
“Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Atticus Finch), Chapter 31, Page 323*
“He turned out the light and went into Jem’s room. He would be there all night, and he would be there when Jem waked up in the morning.”
~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, (Character: Scout Finch as narrator), Chapter 31, Page 323*
Conclusion: Understanding Through Mockingbirds
Harper Lee’s enduring classic uses these 87 powerful quotes to weave a story of justice, prejudice, empathy, and courage. Through Scout’s eyes, we learn the cost of hatred and the quiet strength required to stand for what’s right, reminding us why it’s truly a sin to harm the innocent ‘mockingbirds’ among us.
What lesson from Atticus Finch resonates most with you?
How to Cite the Book & Article
*Important Note on Page Numbers: Page numbers cited in this list (*e.g., Page 5*) reference the **Harper Perennial Modern Classics 2002 paperback edition** of To Kill a Mockingbird (ISBN-13: 978-0060935467). Page numbers can vary slightly between different printings or formats (hardcover, ebook). **Always verify quotes and page numbers against your specific copy** for academic citations.
Cite the Novel (Harper Perennial 2002 Edition):**
MLA: Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2002.
APA: Lee, H. (2002). To Kill a Mockingbird. Harper Perennial Modern Classics.
Cite This Article (MLA):**
Mortis, Jeremy. “87 To Kill A Mockingbird Quotes With Page Numbers.” Ageless Investing, 21 Mar. 2022, https://agelessinvesting.com/to-kill-a-mockingbird-quotes/. Accessed [DATE].
Cite This Article (APA):**
Mortis, J. (2022, March 21). 87 To Kill A Mockingbird quotes with page numbers. Ageless Investing. Retrieved [DATE], from https://agelessinvesting.com/to-kill-a-mockingbird-quotes/
Related 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.