They're ugly, but those are the facts of life.
Harper LeeRead
Mr. Avery said it was written on the Rosetta Stone that when children disobeyed their parents, smoked cigarettes and made war on each other, the seasons would change: Jem and I were burdened with the guilt of contributing to the aberrations of nature, thereby causing unhappiness to our neighbors and discomfort to ourselves.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Disobedience and societal issues can lead to natural consequences, affecting everyone's well-being.
In this quote, Harper Lee reflects on the interconnectedness of human behavior and the natural world. It suggests that actions like disobedience and conflict have broader implications that reach beyond the individual, as they may disturb the harmony of nature and result in collective guilt and discomfort within a community.
Themes
DisobedienceNatureConsequencesHarmonyGuilt
In practice
Example use cases
Referencing the quote in a parenting workshop to discuss the impact of children's behavior on family dynamics.
More from Harper Lee
All quotes →It's better to be silent than to be a fool.
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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.
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He turned out the light and went into Jem's room. He would be there all night, and he would be there when Jem waked up in the morning.
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You can choose your friends but you sho' can't choose your family, an' they're still kin to you no matter whether you acknowledge 'em or not, and it makes you look right silly when you don't.
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