Atticus Finch Quotes

Atticus Finch is one of the most steadfastly honest and moral characters in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. His character remains, for the most part, unchanged throughout the novel. Atticus overcomes prejudice through courage, tolerance and standing up for what he believes in. Atticus serves as the moral conscience of Maycomb, a man of all people-white and black, rich and poor, who cannot tell a lie, treats all people equally and rarely has a bad word to say about anyone. Although Atticus’s daughter, Scout is the narrator and the story mostly revolve after Atticus’s children, Scout and Jem, Atticus emerges as the central and most powerful figure.
Tolerance is a message that is preached again and again through the way that Atticus tries
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This is something that is encapsulated in the following quote: “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (Chapter 3 Page 33). In Atticus's own neighbourhood, he has Mrs. Dubose to contend with as she hurls insults about him to his children: “Your Father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for!” (Chapter 11 Page 113). Understanding that she is addicted to morphine because she suffers from excruciating pain, Atticus remains sanguine whenever she confronts him, tipping his hat and conducting himself as a gentleman. Similarly, he instructs his children to be respectful of her as their elder. For example, when Jem disrespects Mrs. Dubose by ripping up her flowers (even though he was angry because she'd made a nasty remark about Atticus), Atticus makes Jem spend time reading to her (Chapter
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Atticus stands up for what he believes in and demonstrates how important it is to sacrifice everything in the search for the truth. When Aunt Alexandra, Atticus’s sister comes to visit during the family visit to Finch's Landing at Christmas, she disapproves of Atticus’s parenting style. Aunt Alexandra believes that Calpurnia, the Finch’s housekeeper is a bad influence on the children and wants Atticus to fire her. Atticus defends Calpurnia by saying “If anything, she's been harder on them in some ways than a mother would have been... she's never let them get away with anything, she's never indulged them the way most coloured nurses do” (Chapter 14 Page 151). Aunt Alexandra wanted the children to be more aware of their place in the social structure of Maycomb. She wants them to act more as if they are important because they come from a good family. “She asked me to tell you you must try to behave like the little lady and gentleman that you are. She wants to talk to you about the family and what it’s meant to Maycomb County through the years, so you’ll have some idea of who you are, so you might be moved to behave accordingly" (Chapter 13 Page 147). Atticus tries to deliver the message, but you can tell his heart isn't in it. He eventually just tells them to forget it- they should go back to acting how they usually do. "Don’t you worry about anything…it’s not time to worry…I don’t want you to