The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.

I would advise anyone who aspires to a writing career that before developing his talent he would be wise to develop a thick hide.

When a child asks you something, answer him, for goodness' sake.

See there?" Jem was scowling triumphantly. "Nothin' to it. I swear, Scout, sometimes you act so much like a girl its mortifyin

It's not necessary to tell all you know. It's not ladylike -- in the second place, folks don't like to have someone around knowin' more than they do. It aggravates them. Your not gonna change any of them by talkin' right, they've got to want to learn themselves, and when they don't want to learn there's nothing you can do but keep your mouth shut or talk their language.

It’s never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn’t hurt you.

Characters make their own plot. The dimensions of the characters determine the action of the novel.