"Atticus had said it was the polite thing to talk to people about what they were interested in, not about what you were interested in."

Harper Lee Literature See all quotes by Harper Lee →

React to this quote

More by Harper Lee

“...reasonable men, they went because we were there. There’s something in our world that makes men lose their heads—they couldn’t be fair if they tried.”

“She seemed glad to see me when I appeared in the kitchen, and by watching her I began to think there was some skill involved in being a girl.”

“People in their right minds never take pride in their talents.”

“Lawyers, I suppose, were children once.”

“Why reasonable people go stark raving mad when anything involving a Negro comes up, is something I don't pretend to understand.”

“When a child asks you something, answer him, for goodness' sake. But don't make a production of it. Children are children, but they can spot an evasion quicker than adults, an evasion simply muddles 'em.”

Resonant Thoughts

"Fellow workers and peasants, this is the socialist and democratic revolution of the working people, with the working people, and for the working people. And for this revolution of the working people, …"

— Fidel Castro

Politics1926–2016

#change

"Somehow, acting brings out parts of your personality that maybe you didn’t know were there, or the character brings out some little part of you that has been dormant for your whole life, you know? And…"

— Liv Tyler

Business1977

#life

"It was a very academic environment. That became frustrating because there was no pressure for results. I thought commercial applications would be more rewarding. But since then I’ve met too many peopl…"

— Charles H. Moore

Sports1840–1930

#life

"One thing most of us agree on is that the universe exists , so if some theoretical particle interaction would lead ultimately to the nonexistence of the universe, then you can save a lot of electricit…"

— Joe Haldeman

Literature1943

#life