Mockingbird Quotes

“Sometimes I read the same books over and over and over. What's great about books is that the stuff inside doesn't change. People say you can't judge a book by its cover but that's not true because it says right on the cover what's inside. And no matter how many times you read that book the words and pictures don't change. You can open and close books a million times and they stay the same. They look the same. They say the same words. The charts and pictures are the same colors.

Books are not like people. Books are safe.”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

“I don't think I'm going to like it at all. I think it's going to hurt. But after the hurt I think maybe something good and strong and beautiful will come out of it.”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

“I don't like the word soon because you don't know when it's going to sneak up on you and turn into NOW. Or maybe it'll be the kind of soon that never happens.”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

“Understanding people’s difficulties and—just as crucial—helping people understand their own difficulties and teaching them concrete ways to help themselves will help them better deal with their own lives and, in turn, ours.”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

“Ignore and ignorance share the same root.”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

“Empathy isn't as hard as it sounds because people have a lot of the same feelings. And it helps to understand other people because then you can actually care about them sometimes. And help them. And have a friend.”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

“I feel like Snow White because now I have a bunch of little dwarf friends who love me. I may not know how Scout's overalls feel but I think I know how Snow White's Shoes feel because now I know why Snow White was happy.”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

“A movie is better than real life because in the movies only the bad guys die. Or you can pick the good movies where the bad guys die and only those. If you get tricked and a good person dies in the movie then you can rewrite it in your head so the good person lives and the part about death is superfluous.”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

“I know, I say, after he says, This is hard, for the third time. This is what happens when you have a TRM, I tell him. You make a mess. It's okay. You just have to try harder next time.

I am trying hard, Dad says.

I know. You get a sticker.

Thank you.

Okay. You get another sticker for being polite.”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

“Even though I didn't think I'd like empathy it kind of creeps up on you and makes you feel all warm and glowy inside. I don't think I want to go back to life without empathy.”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

“I wish people would follow the Facial Expressions Chart like they’re supposed to.”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

“I think about what Devon would say. You have to Work At It Dad. You have to try even if it's hard and you think you can never do it and you just want to scream and hide and shake your hands over and over and over.”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

“The bird will be trying to fly but never getting anywhere. Just floating and falling. Floating and falling.”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

“Blurring is good for the things you don’t want to see but it doesn’t work so well for the stuff you actually have to Deal With.”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

“Understanding people’s difficulties and—just as crucial—helping people understand their own difficulties and teaching them concrete ways to help themselves will help them better deal with their own lives and, in turn, ours.”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

“Haven’t you ever seen someone standing alone?
I shrug. Just one.
Why don’t you talk to that child?
Because it’s me and Devon told me I shouldn’t talk to myself. Not in public anyway”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

“What’s great about books is that the stuff inside doesn’t change. People say you can’t judge a book by its cover but that’s not true because it says right on the cover what’s inside. And no matter how many times you read that book the words and pictures don’t change. You can open and close books a million times and they stay the same. They look the same. They say the same words. The charts and pictures are the same colors. Books are not like people. Books are safe.”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

“Livros não são como pessoas. Livros são seguros.”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

“I don’t think you’re disgusting just because you have hair sticking out of your ear. Dad”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

“I try not to listen to Dad because I’ve had all the empathy I can take right now. Empathy can make you feel really sad.”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

“You have to try even if it’s hard and you think you can never do it and you just want to scream and hide”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

“Loser.”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

“Economizar o dinheiro da sociedade é uma farsa se o preço dessa economia é em vidas humanas. As palavras ignorar e ignorância têm a mesma raiz.”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

“I put the sketchbook on my lap and open my new
box of colors. Now I’m ready to use them because I figured out how I’m going to draw the
whole complete picture. I smile and begin.”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

“I don’t think I’m going to like it at all. I think it’s going to hurt. But after the
hurt I think maybe something good and strong and beautiful will come out of it.”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

“You just have to keep trying. It’s
all about finesse.
Fin-NESS?
Yes.
I like that word. What does it mean?
Doing something tactfully and skillfully while dealing with a difficult situation.
I’m surprised that I’m only learning this word now. This word is all about me! It’s what I’m
trying to do every day to Deal With this difficult situation called life.”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

“Sometimes I read the same books over and over and over. What’s great about books is that the
stuff inside doesn’t change. People say you can’t judge a book by its cover but that’s not true
because it says right on the cover what’s inside. And no matter how many times you read that
book the words and pictures don’t change. You can open and close books a million times and
they stay the same. They look the same. They say the same words. The charts and pictures are
the same colors.
Books are not like people. Books are safe.”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

“He was going to teach me woodworking. And I realize that he taught me everything I know and now I may never Get anything ever again because he’s not here to teach me.”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

“Eyes are the windows to the soul, (Mr. Walter says,) If you look inside the eyes you can see so much about a person.”
― Kathryn erskine, Mockingbird

“She points to some girls who are standing in a circle talking and giggling LOUD. They are bent. What do you think they’re feeling? Like throwing up? She Looks At The Person. Well they’re bending over so much it looks like they’re going to throw up. Do you usually laugh a lot just before you throw up? No. I don’t. But who knows about them?”
― Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird