To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes

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Source: To Kill a Mockingbird

Author: Harper Lee

"But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men."

Which, gentlemen, we know is in itself a lie as black as Tom Robinson's skin, a lie I do not have to point out to you. You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women—black or white. But this is a truth that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men. There is not a person in this courtroom who has never told a lie, who has never done an immoral thing, and there is no man living who has never looked upon a woman without desire.

Context


We're in the middle of Atticus's defense of Tom Robinson, and Atticus is waxing poetic to the judge.

Atticus is totally right: we should judge people as individuals. But check out the way he calls the lie of racist stereotypes "as black as Tom Robinson's skin." Hmmm. We know he's being figurative and trying to make a point, but he should be a little more careful about associating evilness with blackness.

Where you've heard it

No one can spin a phrase like Atticus, but you might hear something similar from anyone fighting for civil rights.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

Not even a little.