This powerful statement advocates for perseverance and moral action, even when faced with deeply entrenched, seemingly insurmountable odds. It suggests that the history of past defeats should never deter one from fighting for justice and what is right in the present.
Quote by Harper Lee: “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.”
Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.
Insight
Historical Context
Atticus Finch speaks this about the uphill battle against racial prejudice in the 1930s South. It resonated deeply with the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, challenging apathy in the face of long-standing injustice.
About the Author
American novelist best known for her 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird. It won the 1961 Pulitzer Prize and has become a classic of modern American literature. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her contribution to literature.
View all quotes by Harper Lee