Noble vs. Sublime — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 27, 2024
Noble refers to high moral qualities or a high social rank, especially in a hereditary ruling class, whereas sublime denotes an experience, beauty, or quality that transcends the ordinary, inspiring great admiration or awe.
Difference Between Noble and Sublime
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Key Differences
Noble often pertains to admirable traits such as honor, generosity, and courage, which are esteemed in many cultures. On the other hand, sublime is used to describe things or experiences that are overwhelming in their greatness or beauty, such as breathtaking landscapes or profound artworks.
The concept of noble can be associated with nobility, a class system based on heredity and societal role, embodying traits expected of high stature, such as leadership and responsibility. Conversely, sublime transcends social and physical boundaries, evoking a deep emotional or intellectual response that can be both uplifting and terrifying.
Noble actions or characters are praised for their ethical standards and influence in societal structures, often linked with historical figures of royal or aristocratic backgrounds. Sublime, however, is more about the effect something has on the observer, often eliciting feelings of awe due to its vastness, power, or beauty.
In literature and philosophy, noble is frequently explored in the context of character development and moral dilemmas, reflecting personal integrity and societal expectations. The sublime, meanwhile, is a key aesthetic concept in art and philosophy, concerned with the limits of human understanding and emotional capacity, often represented in scenarios that challenge our perception of the world.
While noble qualities may inspire respect and admiration, the experience of the sublime involves a complex mix of pleasure and fear, as it confronts individuals with the immensity and power beyond the human scale.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
High moral qualities or aristocratic rank
Transcending greatness or beauty
Associated With
Honor, generosity, courage
Awe, wonder, vastness
Typical Contexts
Social hierarchies, ethical discussions
Art, nature, philosophy
Emotional Response
Admiration, respect
Mixed awe and fear, overwhelming pleasure
Influence on Observer
Inspires ethical behavior or respect
Provokes profound contemplation or awe
Compare with Definitions
Noble
Possessing outstanding qualities; dignified.
He was considered noble for his generous contributions to the poor.
Sublime
Of such excellence or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe.
The sublime beauty of the sunset left them speechless.
Noble
Majestic; grand.
The noble architecture of the ancient castle impressed the tourists.
Sublime
A quality of great beauty or spiritual worth that transcends the ordinary.
The poet aimed to capture the sublime in his verses.
Noble
Of excellent or superior quality.
The chef prepared a dish that was noble in both presentation and taste.
Sublime
Elevating or uplifting, especially aesthetically or spiritually.
Listening to the sublime symphony, she felt an emotional uplift.
Noble
Belonging by rank, title, or birth to the aristocracy
The Duchess of Kent and several other noble ladies
The medieval palace was once owned by a noble Florentine family
Sublime
A moment or experience that is profoundly moving or striking.
The quiet solitude of the desert offered a sublime escape from the noise of the city.
Noble
Having or showing fine personal qualities or high moral principles
The promotion of human rights was a noble aspiration
Sublime
Characterized by nobility; majestic.
Noble
(especially in former times) a person of noble rank or birth
The greater a noble's military power, the more land he could control
The king imposed a tax on both nobles and peasants
Sublime
Of high spiritual, moral, or intellectual worth.
Noble
A former English gold coin first issued in 1351.
Sublime
Not to be excelled; supreme.
Noble
Possessing hereditary rank in a political system or social class derived from a feudalistic stage of a country's development.
Sublime
Inspiring awe; impressive.
Noble
Having or showing qualities of high moral character, such as courage, generosity, or honor
A noble spirit.
Sublime
(Archaic) Raised aloft; set high.
Noble
Proceeding from or indicative of such a character; showing magnanimity
"What poor an instrument / May do a noble deed!" (Shakespeare).
Sublime
(Archaic) Of lofty appearance or bearing; haughty
"not terrible, / That I should fear ... / But solemn and sublime" (John Milton).
Noble
Grand and stately in appearance; majestic
"a mighty Spanish chestnut, bare now of leaves, but in summer a noble tree" (Richard Jeffries).
Sublime
Something sublime.
Noble
(Chemistry) Inactive or inert.
Sublime
An ultimate example.
Noble
A member of the nobility.
Sublime
To render sublime.
Noble
A gold coin formerly used in England, worth half of a mark.
Sublime
(Chemistry) To cause to sublimate.
Noble
An aristocrat; one of aristocratic blood.
This country house was occupied by nobles in the 16th century.
Sublime
To sublimate.
Noble
(historical) A medieval gold coin of England in the 14th and 15th centuries, usually valued at 6s 8d.
Sublime
To sublimate.
Noble
Having honorable qualities; having moral eminence and freedom from anything petty, mean or dubious in conduct and character.
He made a noble effort.
He is a noble man who would never put his family in jeopardy.
Sublime
(transitive) To raise on high.
Noble
Grand; stately; magnificent; splendid.
A noble edifice
Sublime
(transitive) To exalt; to heighten; to improve; to purify.
Noble
Of exalted rank; of or relating to the nobility; distinguished from the masses by birth, station, or title; highborn.
Noble blood; a noble personage
Sublime
(transitive) To dignify; to ennoble.
Noble
Both isohedral and isogonal.
Sublime
Noble and majestic.
Noble
Possessing eminence, elevation, dignity, etc.; above whatever is low, mean, degrading, or dishonorable; magnanimous; as, a noble nature or action; a noble heart.
Statues, with winding ivy crowned, belongTo nobler poets for a nobler song.
Sublime
Impressive and awe-inspiring, yet simple.
Sublime scenery
A sublime deed
Noble
Grand; stately; magnificent; splendid; as, a noble edifice.
Sublime
(obsolete) Lifted up; high in place; exalted aloft; uplifted; lofty.
Noble
Of exalted rank; of or pertaining to the nobility; distinguished from the masses by birth, station, or title; highborn; as, noble blood; a noble personage.
Sublime
(obsolete) Elevated by joy; elated.
Noble
A person of rank above a commoner; a nobleman; a peer.
Sublime
Lofty of mien; haughty; proud.
Noble
An English money of account, and, formerly, a gold coin, of the value of 6 s. 8 d. sterling, or about $1.61 (in 1913).
Sublime
Something sublime.
Noble
A European fish; the lyrie.
Sublime
Lifted up; high in place; exalted aloft; uplifted; lofty.
Sublime on these a tower of steel is reared.
Noble
To make noble; to ennoble.
Thou nobledest so far forth our nature.
Sublime
Distinguished by lofty or noble traits; eminent; - said of persons.
Noble
A titled peer of the realm
Sublime
Awakening or expressing the emotion of awe, adoration, veneration, heroic resolve, etc.; dignified; grand; solemn; stately; - said of an impressive object in nature, of an action, of a discourse, of a work of art, of a spectacle, etc.; as, sublime scenery; a sublime deed.
Easy in words thy style, in sense sublime.
Know how sublime a thing it isTo suffer and be strong.
Noble
Having high moral qualities;
A noble spirit
A solid citizen
An upstanding man
A worthy successor
Sublime
Elevated by joy; elate.
Their hearts were jocund and sublime,Drunk with idolatry, drunk with wine.
Noble
Impressive in appearance;
A baronial mansion
An imposing residence
A noble tree
Severe-looking policemen sat astride noble horses
Stately columns
Sublime
Lofty of mien; haughty; proud.
His fair, large front and eye sublime declaredAbsolute rule.
Noble
Of or belonging to or constituting the hereditary aristocracy especially as derived from feudal times;
Of noble birth
Sublime
That which is sublime; - with the definite article
The sublime rises from the nobleness of thoughts, the magnificence of words, or the harmonious and lively turn of the phrase.
Noble
Having or showing or indicative of high or elevated character;
A noble spirit
Noble deeds
Sublime
That which is grand in nature or art, as distinguished from the merely beautiful.
Noble
Inert especially toward oxygen;
A noble gas such as helium or neon
Noble metals include gold and silver and platinum
Sublime
To raise on high.
A soul sublimed by an idea above the region of vanity and conceit.
Noble
Belonging to a hereditary class with high social or political status.
She was born into a noble family with a long history of leadership.
Sublime
To subject to the process of sublimation; to heat, volatilize, and condense in crystals or powder; to distill off, and condense in solid form; hence, also, to purify.
Noble
Exhibiting qualities of high moral character, such as bravery or generosity.
His noble act of saving the child from the river won him widespread admiration.
Sublime
To exalt; to heighten; to improve; to purify.
The sun . . . Which not alone the southern wit sublimes,But ripens spirits in cold, northern climes.
Sublime
To dignify; to ennoble.
An ordinary gift can not sublime a person to a supernatural employment.
Sublime
To pass off in vapor, with immediate condensation; specifically, to evaporate or volatilize from the solid state without apparent melting; - said of those substances, like arsenic, benzoic acid, etc., which do not exhibit a liquid form on heating, except under increased pressure.
Sublime
Vaporize and then condense right back again
Sublime
Change or cause to change directly from a solid into a vapor without first melting;
Sublime iodine
Some salts sublime when heated
Sublime
Inspiring awe;
Well-meaning ineptitude that rises to empyreal absurdity
Empyrean aplomb
The sublime beauty of the night
Sublime
Worthy of adoration or reverence
Sublime
Lifted up or set high;
Their hearts were jocund and sublime
Sublime
Producing an overwhelming sense of awe or other high emotion through being vast or grand.
The sublime scale of the mountain range was breathtaking.
Common Curiosities
How does the sublime differ from beauty?
The sublime transcends ordinary beauty by invoking overwhelming feelings of awe and grandeur, often mixed with a sense of fear.
What are the origins of the concept of the sublime in art?
The concept of the sublime in art originated from philosophical discussions on aesthetics, particularly by Edmund Burke and Immanuel Kant, who explored its emotional and psychological impacts.
How is nobility inherited?
Nobility is typically inherited within families who hold hereditary titles or social status passed down through generations.
Can a landscape be both noble and sublime?
Yes, a landscape can be described as both if it combines awe-inspiring beauty with majestic qualities that evoke deep respect.
What type of art typically embodies the sublime?
Art that embodies the sublime often includes vast landscapes, dramatic natural scenes, or artworks that challenge human perception and evoke deep contemplative states.
What makes a person or action noble?
High moral qualities such as integrity, bravery, and generosity define nobility in a person or action.
Do noble and sublime have synonyms?
Synonyms for "noble" might include honorable, virtuous, or dignified, while synonyms for "sublime" could include majestic, awe-inspiring, or transcendent.
Is the concept of the noble still relevant today?
Yes, the concept of the noble continues to be relevant in discussions about leadership, ethics, and societal roles.
Can objects or experiences be noble or sublime?
While "noble" is more commonly associated with qualities of individuals, objects or experiences may be described as sublime if they evoke a sense of overwhelming grandeur or beauty.
Which term is more subjective, noble or sublime?
Both terms involve subjective interpretation, but "sublime" may be more subjective as it often depends on personal perceptions of awe or grandeur.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
