"Courage is not the absence of fear. It is doing what you are afraid of. It is having the power to let go of the familiar and step forward into the new territory." ~John Maxwell. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout (Jean Louise Finch), Jem (Jeremy Atticus Finch), and Atticus Finch display acts of valor that contribute to, and in some cases encourage, their righteousness. Harper Lee demonstrates that acting courageously can lead to improved, sustained, or newly developed personal integrity. Jean Louise Finch responds to her acts of courage by finding her proper moral foundation. Young Finch found herself in the middle of a potentially violent conflict, between Atticus and a group of male residents of Maycomb. Scout approached the conflict scared, and decided to intervene anyway, mistaking her courage for madness. Jean Louise later comes to believe that acting courageously does not mean acting without fear, but rather facing it knowing the possible consequences. Jean resolved the conflict by renewing their sense of integrity. Reminding the resident (Mr. Cunningham) of his son, the kindness Atticus and his family showed him despite how he was usually recognized, and the devotion Atticus had in helping him, Scout helped Mr. Cunningham and his accomplices to see the irrationality in their behavior. Her own words helped her clarify her beliefs; of equality and fairness by reminding him (or rather them) of the morally sound way in which she and her family act. Jean Louise acted courageously and this helped build her integrity. Jem builds his morality on the foundation of courage. At the beginning of the book, Jeremy Atticus Finch sees courage as an act of gambling. For example; Scout, Jem and Dill see touching the side of a house... in the center of a... paper cist; Atticus Finch is strong in his beliefs, refusing to allow harm to come to those he believes are innocent despite his small crowd of supporters and huge crowd of opponents. Atticus continues to stand his ground and act courageously even when his own children are threatened (and hurt) by the plaintiff's father. The hope and gratitude expressed by those aided by Atticus' strong morale are enough to sustain his integrity. The courageous acts helped strengthen Atticus's personal integrity. Scout and Jem developed rich personal integrity by acting courageously and witnessing such acts. Atticus's integrity was cultivated through his continued acts of courage. Harper Lee uses these characters to show the idea that courage can help create, promote, and shape personal integrity. "I cannot and will not make cuts to my conscience to adapt to this year's fashion." ~Lillian Hellmann.