What does this quote mean from To Kill a Mockingbird?

Question

"when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyways and you see it through no matter what"

i need to write a few paragraphs analyzing the character of Atticus, focusing on how his definition of courage is displayed through his actions and behavior.

I am stuck. help please?

thank you

best answer will be given :)

Answer 1

I believe this quote is talking about how he knew he was going to loose the court case before he began because the man he was defending is black.

So I would interpretate thus that you need to do what is right, no matter if you know the outcome. He knew he was going to loose, but still stuck by his client and did the best he could no matter the end result.

This displays Finchs courage because he was fighting a dangerous (threats to his family) fight he knew he couldn't win because it was the right thing to do. Men without courage would have turned their back on the defendant, not even tried to win the case, and played into the societal views of the time by treating a black man as lesser than a white man.

Answer 2

It says that no matter how things are you should try anway.

Atticus is an upstanding character and he is relating this to his case.

He knows he will lose the case unfairly due to racism and other human flaws and that he will be put in danger for doing this, but he does it anyway because its right.