The superior man is satisfied and composed; the mean man is always full of distress. Confucius
It is the way of the superior man to prefer the concealment of his virtue, while it daily becomes more illustrious, and it is the way of the mean man to seek notoriety, while he daily goes more and more to ruin. Confucius
The superior man has a dignified ease without pride. The mean man has pride without a dignified ease. Confucius
Thus it is that the superior man is quiet and calm, waiting for the appointments of Heaven, while the mean man walks in dangerous paths, looking for lucky occurrences. Confucius
Death takes the mean man with the proud; The fatal urn has room for all. John Conington
To serve a mean man may not be profitable. Kashmir Proverb