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 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.””
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.
Beware letting pride override judgment.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- family feud
- legal defense
- community reputation
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does pride affect decision making?
- What can break the cycle of reckless family behavior?
Pride can be mitigated by empathy and accountability.