Jem, naturally, was Boo: he went under the front steps and shrieked and howled from time to time.

When it was time to play Boo's big scene, Jem would sneak into the house, steal the scissors from the sewingmachine drawer when Calpurnia's back was turned, then sit in the swing and cut up newspapers. Dill would walk by, cough at Jem, and Jem would fake a plunge into Dill's thigh. From where I stood it looked real.

Ladies pick funny things to be proud of.

Before Jem looks at anyone else he looks at me, and I’ve tried to live so I can look squarely back at him.

If there's just one kind of folks, why can't they get along with each other? If they're all alike, why do they go out of their way to despise each other? Scout, I think I'm beginning to understand something. I think I'm beginning to understand why Boo Radley's stayed shut up in the house all this time. It's because he wants to stay inside.

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