To Kill a Mockingbird 

is a novel by Harper Lee that was published in 1960. The story is

told by Scout Finch, a girl whose father, Atticus, is a lawyer in their town. One evening after
they had dinner Atticus wanted to read on the porch and Scout was feeling uneasy about some
things that happened that day. Atticus responded, “if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll
get along better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider
things from his point of view” (p. 32). This quote is important because it teaches empathy or a
way to understand another person’s experiences. This shows that Atticus is a good person and
he values others, also that he is teaching Scout to do the same.
This meaning of this quote can be used by anyone in real life. I try to use it when I
cannot relate to something, and I want to understand. For example, my friends grandmother
passed away. I have not lost anyone in my life so I didn’t understand how it felt. To help me I
thought about how it would make me feel if I lost my grandfather who I am very close to.
Thinking about never seeing him or hearing his voice again really hurt me and then I understood
how my friend must be feeling. Doing this allowed me to be there for my friend in a way that
was helpful to her.

I feel that this quote is still relevant today because any one can be empathetic. Empathy
allows us to connect with others, share their emotions and feel compassion. Atticus wanted to
show this to Scout so she can show empathy and will have a better understanding of others.