“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.” — Scout Finch
Published in 1960, To Kill a Mockingbird chronicles lawyer Atticus Finch’s defense of a wrongfully-convicted Black man in Depression Era Alabama. Adored for his courage and integrity, Atticus has since become one of the most iconic literary heroes of the 20th century.
In honor of today’s announcement that Harper Lee will publish a To Kill a Mockingbird sequel this summer, we rounded up eight inspiring quotes spoken by Atticus in the classic novel:
1. “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.”
2. “The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.”
3. “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.”
4. “Before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself.”
5. “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 fighting with your head for a change.”
6. “Best way to clear the air is to have it all out in the open.”
7. “This time we aren’t fighting the Yankees, we’re fighting our friends. But remember this, no matter how bitter things get, they’re still our friends and this is still our home.”
8. “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 you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.”