We saw Uncle Jack every Christmas, and every Christmas he yelled across the street for Miss Maudie to come marry him. Miss Mauide would yell back, “Call a little louder, Jack Finch, and they’ll hear you the post office, I haven’t heard you yet!” Jem and I thought this a strange way to ask for a lady’s hand in marriage, but then again Uncle Jack was rather strange.
Harper Lee
Unconventional Proposal, Holiday Traditions, Family Gatherings, Humorous Attempts, Miss Maudie, Uncle Jack
Harper Lee’s Quotes On Topics
South | Trampled Underfoot | Reached Senses | Siblinghood | Acceptance Practice | Traits | Fair Justice | Closed-mindedness | Atticus Journey | Moving | Care | Learning | Idealization | Life Abundance | Creative Habits | Values | Clown Paradox | Trust | Principles | Femininity Challenges | More
More Harper Lee Quotes
“They’re people, aren’t they? We were quite willing to import them when they made money for us.” Harper Lee
Human Equality, Social Critique, Economic Exploitation, Equality, Critique, People
Harper Lee Human Equality, Social Critique, Economic Exploitation, Equality, Critique, People“They drew up her bosom to giddy heights, pinched in her waist, flared out her rear, and managed to suggest that Alexandra’s had once been an hourglass figure.” Harper Lee
Fashion, Appearance, Body Image, Idealism, Manipulation, Pressure
Harper Lee Fashion, Appearance, Body Image, Idealism, Manipulation, Pressure“There was no finer young man, said the people of Maycomb, than Henry Clinton. Jean Louise agreed.” Harper Lee
Community Praise, Youth Excellence, Local Recognition, Youth, Community, Recognition
Harper Lee Community Praise, Youth Excellence, Local Recognition, Youth, Community, Recognition“Madam, my father has left me flopping like a flounder at low tide and you say what’s the matter.” Harper Lee
Vulnerability, Uncertainty, Justice, Struggle, Strength, Resilience
Harper Lee Vulnerability, Uncertainty, Justice, Struggle, Strength, Resilience“Are you proud of yourself tonight that you have insulted a total stranger whose circumstances you know nothing about?” Harper Lee
Judgment, Empathy, Ignorance, Confrontation, Self-awareness, Respect
Harper Lee Judgment, Empathy, Ignorance, Confrontation, Self-awareness, Respect“Lightning rods guarding some graves denoted dead who rested uneasily; stumps of burned-out candles stood at the heads of infant graves. It was a happy cemetery.” Harper Lee
Grave Markers, Uneasy Rest, Infant Graves, Cemetery Symbols, Stumps And Rods, Peaceful Resting
Harper Lee Grave Markers, Uneasy Rest, Infant Graves, Cemetery Symbols, Stumps And Rods, Peaceful Resting“When a man spends his relief checks on green whiskey his children have a way of crying from hunger pains.” Harper Lee
Poverty Effects, Parental Neglect, Hard Truths, Poverty, Neglect, Truths
Harper Lee Poverty Effects, Parental Neglect, Hard Truths, Poverty, Neglect, Truths“Recorded history’s version does not coincide with the truth, but these are the facts, because they were passed down by word of mouth through the years, and every Maycombian knows them.” Harper Lee
Oral History, Memory Vs Reality, Legacy, History, Memory
Harper Lee Oral History, Memory Vs Reality, Legacy, History, Memory“The dark tower. Childe Roland to the dark tower came.” Harper Lee
Epic Journey, Quest, Darkness, Struggle, Destiny, Legacy
Harper Lee Epic Journey, Quest, Darkness, Struggle, Destiny, Legacy“I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” Harper Lee
Morality, Nature, Caution, Innocence, Consequence, Respect
Harper Lee Morality, Nature, Caution, Innocence, Consequence, Respect“Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them.” Harper Lee
Understanding, Empathy, Personal Growth, Experience, Perspective, Identity
Harper Lee Understanding, Empathy, Personal Growth, Experience, Perspective, Identity“There’s no substitute for the love of language, for the beauty of an English sentence. There’s no substitute for struggling, if a struggle is needed, to make an English sentence as beautiful as it should be.” Harper Lee
Language, Beauty, Writing, Expression, Creativity, Perseverance
Harper Lee Language, Beauty, Writing, Expression, Creativity, Perseverance“Don’t you study about other folks’s business till you take care of your own.” Harper Lee
Personal Focus, Social Boundaries, Practical Wisdom, Focus, Wisdom, Boundaries
Harper Lee Personal Focus, Social Boundaries, Practical Wisdom, Focus, Wisdom, Boundaries“All we had was Simon Finch, a fur-trapping apothecary from Cornwall whose piety was exceeded only by his stinginess.” Harper Lee
Family Heritage, Southern Roots, Contrasting Traits, Heritage, Roots, Traits
Harper Lee Family Heritage, Southern Roots, Contrasting Traits, Heritage, Roots, Traits“The tradition of the South is not urban. I think we are a region of storytellers, naturally, just from our tribal instincts. We did not have the pleasures of the theater or the dance, motion pictures when they came along. We simply entertain each other by talking.” Harper Lee
Southern Traditions, Tribal Instincts, Oral Storytelling, Storytelling, Community, Culture
Harper Lee Southern Traditions, Tribal Instincts, Oral Storytelling, Storytelling, Community, Culture“Best way to clear the air is to have it all out in the open.” Harper Lee
Truth Transparency, Honest Communication, Conflict Resolution, Truth, Honesty, Conflict
Harper Lee Truth Transparency, Honest Communication, Conflict Resolution, Truth, Honesty, Conflict“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.” Harper Lee
Determination Spirit, Perseverance Lessons, Resilience Mindset, Determination, Perseverance, Resilience
Harper Lee Determination Spirit, Perseverance Lessons, Resilience Mindset, Determination, Perseverance, Resilience“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
Dignity, Resilience, Thinking, Peace, Resolve, Self-Discipline
Harper Lee Dignity, Resilience, Thinking, Peace, Resolve, Self-Discipline