The 20 Best to Kill a Mockingbird Quotes That Apply to Business
‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ is a book written by Harper Lee that was published in 1960. It was an instant success and was adapted into a film in 1962. Two of the main themes of this book are racial inequality and rape, thus the book caused some controversy. Despite these being serious subjects, the novel was renowned for its humor and warmth. According to Wikipedia, Lee said that the book was based on her observations of her family, neighbors, and an event that occurred in 1936 when she was ten in her hometown of Monroeville in Alabama. In both the novel and the film, there are many quotes that motivate and inspire people. Here are the 20 best To Kill a Mockingbird quotes that apply to business.
20. On Continuing to Learn
“No, everybody’s gotta learn, nobody’s born knowin’.”
Learning is an ongoing process throughout life. Regardless of whether you own your own business, or you are a business leader in someone else’s company, you should focus on your continued professional development. There are many ways in which you can learn, and the best methods will depend on both your personal learning style and the type of business you are in. Some ways of learning include taking a course, reading, observing others, and learning from your own experience.
19. On Making the Most of Your Skills
“People in their right minds never take pride in their talents.”
According to Good Reads, this is one of the best To Kill a Mockingbird quotes that apply to business. It is about recognizing your talents and making the most of them. One of the most valuable resources you have in your business is yourself. You should analyze your strengths and weaknesses, then make sure you use your skills, knowledge, and experience to the advantage of your business.
18. On Listening to the Views of Others
“They’re certainly entitled to think that, and they’re entitled to full respect for their opinions.”
Having strong views and opinions is possibly one of your strengths that can help you to get ahead in life. However, being blind to the views of others can hold you back, prevent you from developing a rounded view of situations, and from learning. Just because someone does not share the same view as you does not mean they do not have something valuable or useful to contribute. Listening to the views of others can even open your eyes to new possibilities.
17. On Learning the Facts
“Atticus told me to delete the adjectives and I’d have the facts.”
When making any business decision, it is essential that you have all the facts and information. If you have the facts, you can consider the pros and cons of all your options, predict the various outcomes, and make an informed decision based on all the information you have available.
16. On Building a Team
“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?”
Your team is a vital element of your success. Therefore, it is essential that they can all work well together. If there is friction within the team, then they cannot work efficiently together. Promoting good relationships within the team so that they are motivated to work together towards shared goals is vital.
15. On Meeting the Needs of Consumers
“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.”
This quote from To Kill a Mockingbird is listed by Bookroo. Although the quote refers to talking about things that interest others, you can also apply the same principles to meeting the needs of your target market. A business is only successful if it offers a product or service that consumers want or need. Therefore, you should research the demands of the market, and these may change over time.
14. On Choosing the Right Career Path
“I thought I wanted to be a lawyer but I ain’t so sure now!”
Choosing the right career path is crucial. You will spend a lot of your life at work, so it is vital that you do something that you enjoy. If you choose a career path that is making you unhappy, this will demotivate you. When you find yourself in this situation, it is often best to think about changing your career path so you spend your time doing something about which you are passionate.
13. On Striving for Success
“Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.”
Sometimes, you will only see the challenges and obstacles that lie ahead of you on your business journey. Although these are almost inevitable, you should face these challenges head-on. No matter what comes your way, you should focus on achieving your goals and becoming successful. It is only by continuing to work towards your success despite ant problems that you will eventually achieve that success.
12. On Self-Awareness
“Before I can live with other folks, I’ve got to live with myself.”
As you are a key element in your own success, it is essential that you have self-awareness. Understanding yourself involves analyzing your strengths and weaknesses. By identifying these, you can focus on improving your areas of weakness and use your strengths to benefit your business.
11. On Learning from Others
“People don’t like to have somebody knowing more than they do. It aggravates them.”
Listed on Goalcast, this is one of the best To Kill a Mockingbird quotes that apply to business. It is about how people do not like it when people have more knowledge than them. However, spending time with someone who has knowledge and experience in your field is potentially advantageous to you. It is an opportunity to learn from them so that you can expand your own knowledge and develop your skills.
10. On Facing Challenges
“There’s a lot of ugly things in this world, son. I wish I could keep ‘em away from you. That’s never possible.”
Anyone in business will face challenges along the way. Some of these are small and easily overcome, while others are bigger and can take a while to work through. It is important to remember that there are almost no challenges that are insurmountable. If you are having trouble finding a solution to a problem, then try to look at it from a different perspective or ask for someone else’s view on the situation.
9. On Appreciating What You Have Achieved
“Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.”
Often, people do not appreciate the value of what they have got until it is gone. Sometimes, this is because they are so busy moving forwards with their life and working towards their next goal that they forget to take the time to appreciate the progress and achievements they have already made. Every now and then, make sure you stop to appreciate everything you have in life.
8. On Choosing Your Own Path in Life
“You see they could never, never understand that I live like I do because that’s the way I want to live.”
How you live your life and what you do is your decision, nobody else’s. If you are unhappy with your life or career, then you have the option to do something about it. Take whatever steps you need to get the life and success you want.
7. On Keeping Calm
“It’s not time to worry yet.”
People often start worrying about a potential situation before the situation even exists. While it is good to anticipate problems and prepare for them, you will waste a lot of time and energy if you are constantly worrying about things that might never happen. Relax, stay calm, and only worry when a problem arises.
6. On Starting Each Day Afresh
“Things are always better in the morning.”
At the end of a long and difficult day at work, you may find that you have unresolved issues or feel that you have made little progress. The best way to deal with this situation is to go home and get some rest, then start afresh the next day. Each new day brings new challenges, but it is also the opportunity to start again or to make new achievements.
5. On Having a Positive Outlook
“Things are never as bad as they seem.”
This To Kill a Mockingbird quote is listed by Notable Life. At times, you may feel down, especially if you are having difficulty finding solutions to a problem. However, you should try to maintain a positive outlook, as this will keep you motivated.
4. On Opening Your Mind and Your Ears
“People generally see what they look for and hear what they listen for.”
A common mistake is to look at a situation and to only see what you want to see, or to only hear what you want from a conversation. To get all the facts and information needed to make an informed decision in a situation, you should look at a situation fully and listen carefully to the information people give you. Unless you are willing to do this, you will never have all the facts and information you need, and you may make ill-informed decisions with bad outcomes.
3. On Looking at Things from a Different Perspective
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”
When you cannot find a solution to a problem, it makes sense to look at things from a different perspective. Many people find this difficult to do as they are blinkered to other options. In this situation, it can help to recruit one of your team or a trusted friend or family member. They may look at things with a different perspective, and this can help you to find a solution to a problem.
2. On Ignoring the Critics
“You just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t let ‘em get your goat. Try fightin’ with your head for a change.”
When you become successful, you will find that you are faced with criticism from others. There is always someone out there who will not like the way you do things, while you may find that others are jealous of your success. It is crucial that you can ignore the critics and stand strong. If things are working well for you, then it does not matter what the critics say.
1. On Keeping Going No Matter What Happens
“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 see it through no matter what.”
According to the Belfast Telegraph, this is one of the best To Kill a Mockingbird quotes that apply to business. It is about keeping going no matter what. Starting a business takes courage, and you will need even more courage to turn your business into a success. Along the way, you will face many highs and lows. You must face every situation with a positive attitude, overcome any problems, and keep going no matter what happens. Make sure that you do not give up at the first hurdle, and don’t allow your failures to make you lose hope. Becoming successful takes a lot of grit and determination.
