In one way, inspiring models are as real as anything can be, in another way they're totally lame and never stand up to examination.
To illustrate that, here is a mouse, a perfectly ordinary mouse, that quite likely was killed as mere vermin after his or her victory, or was fed repeatedly to snakes till one got him.
But to the extent that the harsh and circumscribed life of a tiny creature marked for death can be heroic, this mouse was as heroic as possible. (link)
What are any of us but doomed, tiny creatures in an immense universe? Can we face our personal dragons better than this mouse faced its? Are we sure that we will do as well, within the limits of our circumstances, when we are put to the ultimate test?
I think it would be appropriate if this mouse was spared and set up for the rest of its natural life as a model of active courage for human beings to emulate.
There are heroes everywhere, if we are humble enough to see them, and if our eyes are kind enough to see merit where it truly exists.
These heroes can make the difference between the lowest selfish brute, un-animated by so much as a superstition, never mind an ideal, and the greatest and most daring feats of faith and civilization-building that mankind is capable of.
Even though vermin is still just vermin.