...but before I can live with other folks, I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.

— Harper Lee

But in the absence of eyewitness there's always a doubt, sometimes only the shadow of a doubt. The law says 'reasonable doubt', but I think a defendant's entitled to the shadow of doubt. There's always the possibility, no matter how improbable, that he's innocent.

— Harper Lee

Dill said striking a match under a turtle was hateful." Ain't hateful, just persuades him- 's not like you'd chunk him in the fire," Jem growled." How do you know a match don't hurt him?"" Turtles can't feel, stupid," said Jem." Were you ever a turtle, huh?

— Harper Lee

Dill was in hearty agreement with this plan of action. Dill was becoming something of a trail anyway, following Jem about... He only grew closer to Jem. (Lee 55)

— Harper Lee

Dill was off again. Beautiful things floated around in his dreamy head. He could read two books to my one, but he preferred the magic of his own inventions.

— Harper Lee

Don't matter who they are, anybody sets foot in this house's yo' comp'NY, and don't you let me catch you remarkin' on their ways like you was so high and mighty! Yo' folks might be better'n the Cunningham's, but it don't count for nothin' the way you're disgracin' 'em.

— Harper Lee

Don’t talk like that, Dill,” said Aunt Alexandra. “It’s not becoming to a child. It’s – cynical.”“I ain’t cynical, Miss Alexandra. Tellin’ the truth’s not cynical, is it?”“The way you tell it, it is.

— Harper Lee

Don't you oh well me, sir," Miss Maudie replied, recognizing Jem's fatalistic noises, "you are not old enough to appreciate what I said?

— Harper Lee

Everybody’s got to learn, nobody’s born knowing.

— Harper Lee

Every man's island, Jean Louise, every man's watchman, is his conscience. There is no such thing as a collective conscience.

— Harper Lee