google.com, pub-0418880821635173, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 World of Proverbs: Let the dead bury the dead. ~ English Proverb [17620]


Let the dead bury the dead.
~ English Proverb [17620]

In Harper Lee's great American classic, 'To Kill A Mockingbird', Sheriff Heck Tate says: “There’s a black boy dead for no reason, and the man responsible for it’s dead. Let the dead bury the dead this time, Mr. Finch. Let the dead bury the dead.”

This is spoken right after the scene where Scout utters the famous line, "Hey, Boo."

The meaning being that justice has been served by the death of a murderer, and the whole matter should be put to rest rather than being prolonged by another trial that has no guarantee of serving the greater good. In it's way, "let the dead bury the dead" gives closure to a injustice that would otherwise be exasperated by going to trial.

More English Proverbs

More American Proverbs

16, POTD, Proverb of the Day,