time wasted. She was a widow, a chameleon lady who worked in her flower beds in an old straw hat and men’s coveralls, but after her five o’clock bath she would appear on the porch and reign over the street in magisterial beauty. (ch. 5)

Miss Maudie makes the world more beautiful by gardening. She gets rid of weeds and tends to the needs of her garden; she also bakes cakes that she shares with her neighbors. She spends her time growing plants that create beautiful scented flowers and delicious vegetables. She then shares the products of her hands, the fruits of her labor, with the Finch children and other neighbors. She blesses everyone around her with her beautiful garden, her baked goods, and her conversations.

Atticus, also a widow, continues to live fully after his wife's death. He strives to help others, just as Miss Maudie does. For example, he helps Mr. Cunningham with his legal needs even though Mr. Cunningham cannot pay him with money. Atticus continues to help Mr. Cunningham, though he cannot pay him for his labor (ch. 2).

Atticus also agrees to defend Tom Robinson, though most of the white community believes Tom is guilty. This is largely because Tom is an African American being accused by a white family. Atticus explains to Scout that

This case, Tom Robinson’s case, is something that goes to the essence of a man’s conscience—Scout, I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man. (ch. 11)

Both Miss Maudie and Atticus are persons of great integrity. They both treat others fairly and respect the individual; in addition, they are consistently thoughtful of others.

• When the children become preoccupied with Boo Radley, Miss Maudie tells them that the Radley house is a sad house. Later, she tells them the history of Boo. Atticus, too, encourages the children to leave Boo alone and respect his privacy.
• Much like Atticus, whom Miss Maudie says is the "same in his house as he is on the public streets," Miss Maudie treats the children like adults and never talks down to them.
• Miss Maudie concurs with Atticus about not killing mockingbirds. She tells the children that mockingbirds do nothing but sing all day.
• Much like Atticus, Miss Maudie disapproves of hypocrisy. When the "footwashers" ride by at the head to the courthouse before the trial begins, Miss Maudie retaliates with their use of Scripture by quoting from the Bible herself. In his closing remarks to the Robinson trial, Atticus rebukes hypocrites in his closing remarks as an example of how educators misuse the precept of Jefferson's that all men are created equally.
• Both Miss Maudie and Atticus feel that African-Americans should be treated with respect,  as they would anyone else. At the Missionary Tea, Miss Maudie defends the maid Sadie with her cynical words to Mrs. Merriweather by asking if Mr. Merriweather chokes on his breakfast.  Further, she points out how Atticus has countered the hypocrisy of mistreatment of African-Americans, and is left to stand up for those

....handful of people who say a fair trial is for everybody, not just us; the handful of people with enough humility...." 

• Miss Maudie, like Atticus is sympathetic toward people. She defends Boo Radley, she consoles Scout and Jem's Aunt Alexandra at the tea after Mrs. Merriweather has criticized Atticus; she defends Boo's right to privacy. Atticus is polite to Mrs. Merriweather.