The noble man is one who dominates himself.

The noble man is one who masters himself and loves to master himself; the base man is one who does not master himself and shrinks in horror from mastering himself.

The noble man always maintains himself at the centre; he never loses sight of the symbol, the spiritual gift of things, the sign of God, a gratitude that is both ascending and radiating.

The noble man is naturally detached from mean things, sometimes against his own interests; and he is naturally generous through greatness of soul.
[Esoterism as Principle and as Way, Frithjof Schuon].