About once a year, the American Film Institute invites filmgoers to vote on the greatest heroes in cinema. Indiana Jones, James Bond, and Superman typically run high on the list because of the high-stakes, visually striking moments and the conflict of good versus evil, something that resonates powerfully on the big screen. Yet, one character consistently tops the list—a character who faces the kinds of challenges that aren’t larger-than-life but nonetheless challenges him to do the right thing despite the cost.

Atticus Finch—the central character in Harper Lee’s classic, To Kill a Mockingbird—is an attorney and role model of rectitude and compassion in the small fictional town of Maycomb, Georgia. One of the most powerful scenes between Finch and his young daughter Scout comes early when he teaches her about empathy and understanding others. After Scout has a rough day at school, she complains about her teacher. Atticus responds with this wisdom:

“If you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”

That wisdom becomes all the more profound when Atticus is asked to defend Tom Robinson, a Black man accused of raping a young woman in a town where racial tensions simmer beneath the surface. The moment establishes one of the film’s central themes: the importance of empathy and seeing the world through another’s eyes. It forms Scout’s moral development and influences how she perceives people like the autistic, Boo Radley, Tom Robinson, and even her own neighbors in Maycomb.

However, the lesson isn’t just a piece of advice; it’s a guiding principle for Atticus himself. His ability to see beyond fear, ignorance, and prejudice is what makes him such a compelling character. And in teaching Scout this lesson, he ensures that his integrity and wisdom will live on in those whom he influences.

His heroism is moral, intellectual, and deeply human, rather than physical. Some of the most powerful displays of character come through ethical values.

His moral courage defending Tom Robinson despite knowing it will make him a target of hostility. His courage is not just physical but deeply principled.

His sense of integrity causes him to do what’s right, even when it is unpopular or dangerous. He tells his children, “The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.”

He teaches compassion and empathy to his children—to walk in someone else’s shoes before judging them. His kindness extends even to those who oppose him.

He never reacts with anger but instead remains thoughtful and measured, showing strength through restraint.

He believes in the rule of law and in defending the innocent, regardless of race or social standing.

Ultimately, we admire Atticus Finch because he represents the best of what we aspire to be: a person who chooses integrity over convenience, justice over prejudice, and wisdom over fear.

His place at the top of the list suggests that audiences recognize that true heroism isn’t just about action, it’s about courage in the face of moral adversity.

At some point in our lives, each of us is likely to encounter a moment of character, a moment where we will have to choose between what is easy and what is right, between comfort and courage, between silence and speaking out.  How we respond will determine the purpose and course of our lives.