Skip to content

Atticus Quote by Harper Lee

“Atticus had urged them to accept the state's generosity in allowing them to plead Guilty to second-degree murder and escape with their lives, but they were Haverfords, in Maycomb County a name synonymous with jackass. The Haverfords had dispatched Maycomb's leading blacksmith in a misunderstanding…” quote by Harper Lee
Download Open image
““Atticus had urged them to accept the state's generosity in allowing them to plead Guilty to second-degree murder and escape with their lives, but they were Haverfords, in Maycomb County a name synonymous with jackass. The Haverfords had dispatched Maycomb's leading blacksmith in a misunderstanding arising from the alleged wrongful detention of a mare, were imprudent enough to do it in the presence of three witnesses, and insisted that the son-of-a-bitch-had-it-coming-to-him was a good enough defence for anybody.””

Harper Lee

About This Quote

Source Novel: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, 1960

The passage sat the Haverfords' reckless pride and violent actions, showing how social status can blind people to reason and morality.

In simple terms: Pride leads to reckless decisions.

Key Takeaway

Beware letting pride override judgment.

Themes

pride violence social status justice

Mood

tense critical

Type

literary dialogue

When to use this quote

  • family feud
  • legal defense
  • community reputation
  • conflict resolution

Key Concepts

Moral decay hubris consequences

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does pride affect decision making?
  • What can break the cycle of reckless family behavior?
A Different Perspective

Pride can be mitigated by empathy and accountability.

4.0 out of 5 (9 ratings)

More by Harper Lee

Explore all 494 Harper Lee quotes

More Atticus quotes

Browse all 178 Atticus quotes