Lessons from the Mockingbird

We are reading "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee in English right now, and I'm really enjoying it. I guess it's because I can really relate to Scout (aka Jean-Louise). And even though its an old book, I still love it - theres so many different lessons to get out of it, even today. Here's some of my favorite quotes:

"'I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway, and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.'"

~ Atticus to Scout, page 118.

"'...If you learn a simple trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from their point of view -'"
"'Sir?'"
"'- until you climb into their skin and walk around in it.'"

~ Atticus to Scout, page 35

"'Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.'"

~ Atticus to Jem and Scout, page 96

"'Your father's right', she said. 'Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.'"

~ Miss Maudie to Jem and Scout, page 96

"Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing."

~ Scout, page 24