Sukah 20b Tevi the Slave: Stature vs Status - ראיתם טבי עבדי, שהוא תלמיד חכם

Irrespective of a person's social, economic or even Halachik status, it is his or her personal stature as a person of character that determines the honor they deserve. A Talmid Chacham needs to be distinguished by more than the way he thinks. He also needs to be distinguished in his character. Sources