We can really react in a number of ways – the first, is be like a twig, allowing the current to take us in whichever fad common stupidity rolls – the second, is like the hermit, standing in opposition to the evil or foolish world – we see these two directions, up until the time of Abraham, that there were mainly people who followed their instincts, with a precious few righteous people; but Abraham started a third path, teaching through love, truth.