"One of the reasons that we struggle spiritually, is because we live too exclusively with our equals; the weak herding the weak, the strong meeting with the strong; the rich surrounding themselves with the rich, and the taught fearing the more taught. We associate with those who think like we think, feel our feelings, live our life: we read the books which repeat our tastes, justify our opinions, confirm our admirations: we encourage each other in laughing at the excellence to which we are blind, and disbelieving the truth to which we have never opened our reason too, and shuffling away from the affections and obligations to which we have distaste." Martineau.