To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes
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Source: To Kill a Mockingbird
Author: Harper Lee
"The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience."
"Atticus, you must be wrong...."
"How's that?"
"Well, most folks seem to think they're right and you're wrong...."
"They're certainly entitled to think that, and they're entitled to full respect for their opinions," said Atticus, "but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience."
Context
Atticus Finch: full of pithy nuggets of wisdom.
What he's saying is that while democracy may determine how a group will act, it can't control what a person thinks. Sure, everyone in Maycomb thinks Tom Robinson is guilty, but Atticus doesn't. Simple as that.
Where you've heard it
If you read many self-help books, you've probably her an Atticusism or two in your day.
Pretentious Factor
If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.
If you can say it and follow through, you'll be as far away from pretension as Piglet.