--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never, never, never, on cross-examination…" description: "\"“Never, never, never, on cross-examination ask a witness a question you don't already know the answer to.”\" — Harper Lee" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/harper-lee-451_wisdom_never-never-never-on-cross-examination-a_2691589.png" --- # Never, never, never, on cross-examination ask a witness a… ![“Never, never, never, on cross-examination ask a witness a question you don't already know the answer to.” quote by Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/harper-lee-451_wisdom_never-never-never-on-cross-examination-a_2691589.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/harper-lee-451_wisdom_never-never-never-on-cross-examination-a_2691589.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/harper-lee-451_wisdom_never-never-never-on-cross-examination-a_2691589.png) > ““Never, never, never, on cross-examination ask a witness a question you don't already know the answer to.”” [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He advises never to ask a witness a question you cannot already answer, emphasizing thorough preparation for cross‑examination. **In simple terms:** Always know the answer before questioning a witness. Key Takeaway Prepare meticulously for questioning. Themes preparation legal strategy critical thinking Mood analytical cautious Type legal educational When to use this quote - court trials - mock examinations - law school studies Key Concepts evidence analysis question framing Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle surprise testimony? - What backup plans exist for unknowns? A Different Perspective Unexpected answers can still arise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ask Witness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-witness-2606333/) [Cross Examination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cross-examination-655351/) [Examination Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/examination-ask-2606335/) [Truth Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-seeking/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Witness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witness/) [Witness Question](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witness-question-2606334/) ## Related quotes > [“Never, never, never, on cross-examination ask a witness a question you don't already know the answer to, was a tenet I absorbed with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/never-never-never-on-cross-examination-ask-a-witness-a-question-you/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [Never, never, never on cross-examination ask a witness a question you don't already know the answer to, was a tenet I absorbed with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/never-never-never-on-cross-examination-ask-a-witness-a-question-you-2/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“Sometimes the DA asked a witness a question just to make the jury think about the topic. 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