History Main / HumbleHero

* The eponymous character from ''WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}}'' keeps his humility both before and after he defeats monsters. He finds his fans often annoying and/or dangerous and only brags to his father.

* ''VideoGame/WhiteKnightChronicles'': You. No, seriously. The game features an incredibly robust character creator that you use to create the "Avatar" character. In terms of the game, the avatar serves as ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin for online multiplay but also tags along as a HeroicMime for the main story quest. the story plays out and the avatar generally keeps silent, but is clearly with the main party in the cutscenes, despite being one of the main players in a fight for the fate of the world.

* Despite saving the world twice from invading aliens, Kurt the janitor from ''MDK 2'' refuses the fame he has garnered and is perfectly content to continue his cleaning duties aboard the ''Jammy Dodger''.

* Anime/{{Pokemon}} trainer Ash Ketchum is a SpiritedCompetitor who is immensely proud of his team, but he never lords it over his friends and he always helps those in need [[ThinkNothingOfIt without demanding anything in return]]. He even forgets to mention he's [[spoiler:Alola's first Champion]] in ''Journeys'' until some fans bring it up in front of Goh!
* ''LightNovel/RebuildWorld'':

This is often a main characteristic of the MessianicArchetype and TheCape. See also HeroicSelfDeprecation, where the hero acts humble because he thinks he's a loser. Can turn into MartyrWithoutACause when taken to ridiculous extremes. Contrasts with ItsAllAboutMe, SmallNameBigEgo, the SmugSuper, and the GlorySeeker. If BeautyEqualsGoodness, then expect the WorldsMostBeautifulWoman to also be the height of humility. They may be paired with a more arrogant rival and form an InsecureProtagonistArrogantAntagonist duo.

This type of hero is often a result of UpbringingMakesTheHero especially if such a hero to have MuggleFosterParents and be HappilyAdopted. If a hero isn't this at first but becomes one later, it may be the result of a powerful instance of BreakTheHaughty. Going towards an even darker route, a villain who has undergone a HeelRealization and a HeelFaceTurn usually feels the need to [[MustMakeAmends make up for the wrong they've done]] thereby becoming TheAtoner, where they become a more humble person as a result of knowing [[PrideBeforeAFall the price of pride and arrogance]].

* ''Manga/FairyTail'': during the Oracion Seis arc we're introduced to "Iron Rock" Jura, one of the top ten wizards of the continent recognized for his incredible magical power. However, he's also shown to be pretty modest about his powers, as seen when he claims to be leagues behind Makarov, another of the ten. When he finally gets to fight though, he takes on Brain, the leader of Oracion Seis and apparent ArcVillain and quickly defeats him in a few spells, showing that he indeed was modest.

* ''Manga/KenganAshura'' has Takeshi Wakatsuki, who despite being one of the most successful fighters in the Kengan Association, is always willing to acknowledge his opponents' strength, and admits to being nervous about stepping into a match that he's almost guaranteed to win. This puts him at a sharp contrast with most of the other regular Kengan fighters, who are mostly ArrogantKungFuGuy who walk in their fight with the assurance of victory without even knowing their opponents' strength.

* Izuku Midoriya of ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'' is this. Unlike some of his other friends, he isn't out looking for fame or praise, just fighting in what he believes is right. He seeks to be someone like his idol All Might, never lords over anyone with his Quirk and aids anyone in need. Midoriya is probably the only other hero to match [[HeroKiller Stain's]] twisted view of heroes (in which anything less than perfect altruism is tantamount to villainy).

* Saitama of ''Webcomic/OnePunchMan'' is a bit zig-zaggy with humility. His goal is not fame and fortune, but he'd still ''like'' for people to appreciate him and his heroics. That and he was actually very upset when he realized that, after three years of independent hero work, he was recognized by absolutely no one because he wasn't registered with the Hero Association. But overall, he is a hero because he wants to be, and will gladly ruin his own reputation to prevent other heroes from being spat upon because one UngratefulBastard can't appreciate having his life saved. Genos considers this humility the greatest lesson Saitama didn't realize he was teaching.

** Akira starts as a StreetUrchin, and sees himself as owing everything to his VirtualSidekick Alpha who saves him repeatedly. He’s in part kept like this by Alpha being a ManipulativeBitch trying to make and keep him dependent on her. So when he gets bullied by older hunters for being an inexperienced ChildSoldier, he typically just agrees with what they say and forgets about it.
** The supporting characters who form on and off members of TheSquad with Akira, Reina and Togami, start off as BoisterousWeakling hunters but each undergo a BreakTheHaughty experience (or multiple in Reina’s case) seeing them develop into this instead. Reina gradually gives in to being willing to give up on {{Pride}} and get better equipment, even wearing outfits obviously made for servants without it bothering her. And Togami pays for TrainingFromHell from SinkOrSwimMentor Shirakabe to catch up to Akira.

* In ''Anime/TigerAndBunny'', Kotetsu T. Kaburagi/Wild Tiger is considered to be [[ButtMonkey mostly a joke]] of a superhero by his bosses and by people who watch [[ShowWithinAShow HeroTV]]. Nonetheless, not only does he refuse to quit, but he insists on putting his heart and soul in superheroics, to the point that he gets a bit irritated when others don't show the same devotion to their jobs. When Karina/Blue Rose is [[RedPillBluePill struggling over her own priorities]], she decides to ask him what makes him stick to it despite the frustrating, thankless nature of the job. His answer?

* ''ComicBook/CaptainAmerica'', and to be honest, that's the [[AnAesop Aesop]] to his character. Captain America embodies what he believes to be the idyllic and optimal standards of his countrymen. If he believed he were better than everyone else, his principles would be wrong by default. This trope is the reason why most attempts of replicating Cap end in failure. That and shady government programs from across the world keep bringing in serial killers and [[SociopathicSoldier sociopathic soldiers]] for their experiments with predictable results.

** Being a reporter in his SecretIdentity, there is no way that Superman is unaware of how the world views him. But he's denied being the world's greatest hero multiple times, usually remarking that TheRealHeroes are the people who work to change the world every day who have no special powers. Humility is one of the character's core traits. ComicBook/{{Batman}} notes in ''ComicBook/PublicEnemies'' that the temptation to use his powers in order to force his will on others isn't something Superman battles, because the thought never even occurs to him. And that, more than his powers, makes Superman such a great hero.

* Kyoshi from the ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' fic ''Fanfic/KyoshiRising''; she is uncomfortable with receiving special treatment from anyone, and insists that people call her "Kyoshi" instead of "Avatar".

* ''Fanfic/MariaCampbellOfTheAstralClocktower'': Maria constantly ignores her own heroism, invoking IWasJustPassingThrough ''at best''. Even at her own knighting, she turns down the knighthood three times, and afterwards says several times that she has no idea why she was knighted. Part of this is because she's a reincarnate from ''VideoGame/{{Bloodborne}}''; most of the problems she solves would be laughably easy for any hunter, so they're not worth getting worked up about. And yes, she did expend real effort in many of those instances, but really, that says more about her own weakness than the difficulty of the task. She resolves to become worthy of her knighthood, even when her friends point out that technically knighthoods like this are just a formality to make exceptional commoners noble.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Coco}}'': Héctor composed his own song "Remember Me" not to pursue fame personally but in dedication and love to his daughter, Coco.

* Aquilius in ''[[Literature/WordBearers Dark Creed]]''. He's a TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} SpaceMarine, who are usually well aware that they're worth ten Guardsmen in a straight fight and cop a massive attitude about that. Instead, Aquilius remains humble and respectful of the Guard even when he's lauded as the White Angel and exaggerated stories of his deeds are used to keep the morale of the entire planet's military up. (It must be noted that he had to be ordered to let the stories spread.)

** Sanya [[ThePaladin Knight of the Cross]], has saved countless lives in his fight against many dark foes. He genuinely arrives just in time. He is also agnostic, despite receiving his holy blade from ArchangelMichael himself and [[spoiler:like Harry, was possessed by a Fallen Angel but turned away from that path]]. He notes his belief in some higher power doesn't mean he cannot do this job of helping people. Whether there is a God, or God and the Fallen are just cosmic aliens, or he is just suffering from some delusion, his simple job of helping people is all that matters to him. He doesn't boast about his accomplishments or world-saving ventures. Perhaps best exemplified when he arrives at a burning apartment building with two people trapped on the second floor after the landlady, elderly and unable to help, screams, "Oh, God in Heaven, help us!" He saves them and the elderly landlady talks with him.

* ''Literature/FengshenYanyi'': while Jiang Ziya is indeed small potatoes compared to the other Immortals who actually trained for longer, he still severely downplays his abilities, claiming to his friend Song Yiren that he only did manual labor at the Jade Emptiness Palace. Still, he's able to istantly submit five dangerous demons alone and later defeat the Jade Pipa Spirit so bad she was forced to turn back to her previous inanimate form.
* ''Literature/HarryPotter'' is this. Ron and Hermione have to convince him to teach them Defence Against the Dark Arts, since despite his accomplishments he thinks he's just lucky rather than talented enough to teach others students what their ObstructiveBureaucrat professor refuses. Harry hates being famous for having survived the night of his parent's murder, hates being on the front page all the time, has to be brow-beaten into giving an interview despite the fact that giving it would help him, and doesn't want much to do with the Ministry of Magic and their propaganda plans, either.

* ''Series/WallenbergAHerosStory'': Wallenberg - a Swedish diplomat who falsified papers to allow refugees to escape the Holocaust - says he can only take credit for saving a "few" lives, when in reality it was close to 100,000.

* Rean Schwarzer from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel'' is this especially in ''Cold Steel III'' where he tells people that he's just some run of the mill guy and not [[spoiler:some national hero.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheMask'': The Mask despite his ego and his quirks is this as he lives in Stanley's apartment instead of living somewhere that will be more to his style so though he run for mayor and became assistant to the President of the United States, he still prefers doing mundane things such as dancing at the Coco Bongo, watching TV, playing with his dog and stopping the criminals and supervillains which shows that The Mask unlike most mask personas prefers not to use his power to go any higher than needed even got bored listening to a tribe that is worshipping him and doesn't think himself much of a god at all instead thinking himself as a genuinely insane madman who otherwise leads a normal life and does normal things in his life.

* Cincinnatus: In 458 BC, when the Romans needed someone to lead them during their war with the Aequians and the Sabines, they gave retired-Senator-[[CallToAgriculture turned-farmer]] Cincinnatus absolute dictatorial authority when it came to dealing with the situation. Sixteen days later, after ''winning the war'', he resigned as absolute ruler of Rome and went back to his farm. Twenty years later, in 439 BC, when the Romans were at war with the Plebians and again needed effective leadership, they ''again'' gave Cincinnatus absolute power, and again, as soon as the crisis was over, he gave it back and went back to farming.

* UsefulNotes/EinarGerhardsen, Norwegian prime minister for eighteen years. He was known for his modest living -- he lived in a flat in the eastern part of Oslo, not having a standard that surpassed any other citizen [[TheFifties at the time]]. When he visited a factory or industrial plant, he made a point in making small talk with the workers, stressing the point that he was one of them -- and in fact, he started out as one. This tradition was not held up by later Labor prime ministers in Norway, who, rather than speak ''with'' the workers, preferred to speak ''to'' them.
* Most if not all living recipients of the Medal of Honor, Victoria Cross or any other countries highest decorations for valor in combat insist they were [[ImNotAHeroIm just doing what they had to do]], and there's nothing special about them. Of particular note is Captain Charles Upham, the only combat soldier ever to earn the Victoria Cross twice. On being told of the award, his response: "It's meant for the men."

** In the ''Literature/XWingSeries'', Wedge is like this to a certain degree. He demurs when called [[AcePilot the greatest pilot alive]], calls himself "regular old Wedge Antilles", and doesn't mind being in the background. That said, he's [[InformedFlaw supposedly got a huge ego]] which only shows at all a few times, and even then they are minor displays.

* ''Literature/HarryPotter'' is this. Ron and Hermione have to convince him to teach them Defence Against the Dark Arts. Harry hates being famous for having survived the night of his parent's murder, hates being on the front page all the time, has to be brow-beaten into giving an interview despite the fact that giving it would help him, and doesn't want much to do with the Ministry of Magic and their propaganda plans, either.

* Izuku Midoriya of ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'' is this. Unlike some of his other friends, he isn't out looking for fame or praise, just fighting in what he believes is right. He seeks to be someone like his idol All Might, never lords over anyone with his Quirk and aids anyone in need. Midoriya is probably the only other hero to match [[HeroKiller Stain's]] twisted view of heroes.

One of the traits of an IdealHero. Tends to overlap with the AllLovingHero as humility is usually one of these characters’ defining character traits and the MagneticHero as it's their humility to endears them into the hearts of everyone around them. Also usually a character trait of TheParagon as this type of hero wishes to set the example that power rests in the hands of everyone. This is often common in [[NiceGuy Nice Guys]] as well (particularly those with simplistic lifestyles or have little need for luxuries).

This is often a main characteristic of the MessianicArchetype and TheCape. See also HeroicSelfDeprecation, where the hero acts humble because he thinks he's a loser. Can turn into MartyrWithoutACause when taken to ridiculous extremes. Contrasts with ItsAllAboutMe, the SmugSuper, and the GlorySeeker. If BeautyEqualsGoodness, then expect the WorldsMostBeautifulWoman to also be the height of humility. They may be paired with a more arrogant rival and form an InsecureProtagonistArrogantAntagonist duo.

* Most versions of Franchise/SpiderMan also fit this trope, following their initial CharacterDevelopment. Peter could very easily have been the showboating jackass that Jameson likes to pretend he is. But he'd rather spend his time saving lives and battling supervillains than making himself rich. Underscored in his case by his {{origin story}}, in which a moment of showboating jackassery led to [[DeathByOriginStory tragic consequences]].

* In the legends of Myth/KingArthur, Sir Gareth of Orkney comes in disguise as a kitchen boy who only asks food of King Arthur despite his noble appearance. He later gets knighted by Sir Lancelot by equaling him in combat and he later goes on the lady Lynette's quest to save her sister without revealing his noble blood for most of their journey and enduring her constant berating of his apparent kitchen boy status.

** [[ModestRoyalty Twilight Sparkle]] is the personal student of the supreme ruler of the nation, is perhaps the most powerful unicorn alive, and has personally been involved in saving the world on multiple separate occasions. Despite all this, she doesn't brag and actually gets a bit timid when her assistant Spike brags about her. She seems more interested in learning about magic and spending time with her TrueCompanions. She retains her humble nature even after she is turned into a princess with a rank that equals her teacher's; blushing and giving an embarrassed grin when acknowledged or praised is something characteristic of her.

** Twilight Sparkle's human counterpart in the [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls Equestria Girls]] series is also extremely humble despite her amazing intelligence. She doesn't brag about her being the number one student at a very elite academy but thanks to the jealousy and bullying from other students, her humility becomes self-loathing. It takes becoming friends with the other counterparts of the Mane Six and Sunset for Human Twilight to fully become a humble hero. Even becoming [[PhysicalGod an alicorn princess]] doesn't make her haughty; she rarely invokes her title.

* ''Literature/HarryPotter'' is mostly like this. Ron and Hermione have to convince him to teach them Defence Against the Dark Arts. Harry hates being famous for having survived the night of his parent's murder, hates being on the front page all the time, has to be brow-beaten into giving an interview despite the fact that giving it would help him, and doesn't want much to do with the Ministry of Magic and their propaganda plans, either.\\
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[[SadistTeacher Severus Snape]] refuses to believe that Harry is this and had him pegged as a GloryHound with a swelled head even before he ever met Harry. This is pretty much due to Harry's resemblance to his father James Potter, Severus' enemy from Hogwarts. The two ''despised'' one another, with Snape viewing James as an arrogant guy (to be fair, even James' friends said he had a bit of a big head before growing out of it. On the other hand, [[AwesomeEgo James]] was quite talented in his schoolwork without really trying, a successful Quidditch player, and on good terms with most of the school outside of Snape.) Snape's willful ignorance of Harry's humility is a major reason the two had such a terrible relationship throughout the entire series [[spoiler:even though Snape had made it his life's goal to protect Harry since he was also the son of the only woman Snape ever loved.]]

* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'':
** Being a reporter in his SecretIdentity, there is no way that Superman is unaware of how the world views him. But he's denied being the world's greatest hero multiple times, usually remarking that TheRealHeroes are the people who work to change the world every day who have no special powers. Humility is one of the character's core traits. Franchise/{{Batman}} notes in one issue of ''ComicBook/SupermanBatman'' that the temptation to use his powers in order to force his will on others isn't something Superman battles, because the thought never even occurs to him. And that, more than his powers, makes Superman such a great hero.

* Azusa in ''LightNovel/IveBeenKillingSlimesForThreeHundredYearsAndMaxedOutMyLevel'' scoffs at the idea of her being an [[TheArchmage almighty witch]]. She's just a simple herbalist who hunts [[CuteSlimeMook slimes]]. She does this deliberately, hoping to avoid the attention that being an almighty witch would attract. However, she also downplays all the legitimate hard work she put into curing Flatta's sick and quelling its plagues.

* While he would rather devote his free time to saving more lives, Samaritan of ''Comicbook/AstroCity'' attends tribute dinners and accepts awards only because he doesn't want to hurt the feelings of the people who give them to him.

* In the ''Literature/{{Worm}}'' x ''Videogame/{{Dishonored}}'' crossover fanfic ''FanFic/AChangeOfPace'', according to the [[AllPowerfulBystander Outsider]], Legend struggles with this, wondering if he's doing good because it needs to be done, or if there's an ulterior motive he doesn't want to admit.

* Greg from ''FanFic/FriendshipIsOptimalAlwaysSayNo'' is very modest about his heroic actions and quick to pass them off as nothing special.
* Kyoshi from the ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' fic ''FanFic/KyoshiRising''; she is uncomfortable with receiving special treatment from anyone, and insists that people call her "Kyoshi" instead of "Avatar".
* ''FanFic/RacerAndTheGeek'' gives us Sunny Breeze, a badass veteran and unsung hero with a tendency towards self-deprecation.
* The uncle of [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/81159/1/racer-and-the-geek/predawn Songs Uncle Sings]] is like this.
* Surprisingly, Stormfront from Blog/StoriesFromTheFront. Surprisingly, because as a [[EthicalSlut nymphomaniac]] Pegasus mare, she's exactly the sort of character whom one would ''expect'' to boast, but she doesn't -- about anything. Save by implication, and only to her own diary.

** Prince Seliph from ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemJugdral Fire Emblem Seisen No Keifu]]'' is this too. He's always kind and almost a little shy when not fighting and openly wonders if he's truly fit and strong enough to bring down TheEmpire. His cousin Leif from ''Thracia 776'' is pretty similar, too.

** Even more so, [[spoiler: Morva]] from ''The Sacred Stones''. He both [[spoiler: led the Five Heroes]] and [[spoiler: dealt the fatal strike to Fomortiis the Demn King]], but refused to take credit for his heroic actions and instead of [[spoiler: founding his own nation]] like his friends, he led a quiet life taking care of [[spoiler: both Caer Pelyn and the Darkling Woods alongside his adoptive daughter, Myrrh, who later joins Ephraim and Eirika's quests. (Sadly, [[AndthenJohnWasAZombie by that time, poor Morva... was killed and turned into a Draco Zombie]]. ]])

* Poppy from ''Videogame/LeagueOfLegends'' is referred to as TheChosenOne who will bring glory to Demacia, but she has [[IgnorantOfTheCall never considered herself a hero]], much less ''the'' Hero of Demacia. Ironically, she already wields the hammer that OnlyTheChosenMayWield -- but that's only because she's determined to ''find'' the actual Chosen to give it to them.

* ''Series/WallenbergAHerosStory'': Wallenberg calls 20,000 people alive because of the papers he gave them "few".

** [[UsefulNotes/ThePope Pope Francis]] has presented himself as a humble pastor rather than a grand figure and emphasized avoiding {{Pride}} in his teaching. One such gesture of humility has been choosing to reside in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse rather than in the papal apartments of the Apostolic Palace used by his predecessors. He is also known for favoring simpler vestments void of ornamentation, including refusing the traditional papal mozzetta cape upon his election, choosing silver instead of gold for his piscatory ring, and keeping the same pectoral cross he had as Cardinal. Not to mention many little things like calling a divorce, pregnant - and distressed - woman ''personally'' as [[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2611292/A-little-bread-wine-does-no-harm-Pope-Francis-tells-divorced-woman-OK-communion.html detailed here.]]

** Padme is like this in ''Film/ThePhantomMenace''. Boss Nass is reluctant to ally himself with the Naboo because they have more-or-less treated the Gungans as an inferior species for years. So she doesn't bother trying to make excuses for it; she simply kneels and pleads with him for his help. Fortunately, it works.

* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist:'' The ending of the climax in the manga and ''Brotherhood'' brings full circle to Edward Elric's character development. Before the beginning of the story, after he has seen the Truth, Ed was under the impression that he could do anything with alchemy, including finding the "correct way" to resurrect his mother. This mindset costs him an leg, and then he sacrifices his arm to bind his brother's soul to an armor to save the latter's life. When meeting with the Truth for the final time, Ed realizes that he that he was just human with no god-like powers, and despite the feats he had accomplished with his alchemy, he couldn't safe a girl-turned-chimera with it. [[spoiler:His brother sacrificed his soul to bring Ed his arm back. Ed gives up his ability to use alchemy in exchange for his brother's body and soul. Even without alchemy, Edward declares that he still has his friends and family. And they are the most important things in his life, not alchemy.]]

* Anime/{{Pokemon}} trainer Ash Ketchum is a SpiritedCompetitor who is immensely proud of his team, but he never lords it over his friends and he always helps those in need [[ThinkNothingOfIt without demanding anything in return]].