--- 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, was a tenet I absorbed with my baby-food.”\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d44/harper-lee-451_witness_never-never-never-on-cross-examination-a_670256.jpg" --- # 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, was a tenet I absorbed with my baby-food.” quote by Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d44/harper-lee-451_witness_never-never-never-on-cross-examination-a_670256.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d44/harper-lee-451_witness_never-never-never-on-cross-examination-a_670256.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d44/harper-lee-451_witness_never-never-never-on-cross-examination-a_670256.jpg) > ““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 baby-food.”” [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. Never ask a witness a question whose answer you don't already know, to avoid surprise on cross‑examination. **In simple terms:** Ask only questions you already know the answer to. Key Takeaway Prepare thoroughly before questioning. Themes legal strategy preparation cross‑examination knowledge Mood practical cautionary Type advice instructional When to use this quote - courtroom trial - legal preparation - evidence gathering Key Concepts questioning technique legal tactics information control Questions to Reflect On - How can you anticipate all possible answers? - What methods ensure thorough preparation? A Different Perspective Unexpected answers can undermine case. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 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/) [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.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/never-never-never-on-cross-examination-ask-a-witness-a-question-you-3/) [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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