There are many people— indeed most people— who acquiesce in social norms, derive pleasure from artificially-constructed relationships, and accept, without question, cultural ideologies as the best conventional wisdom has to offer. These people, though they do not know it, think and act in inauthentic ways, primarily because that is how tradition has weaned them.
Categorically, these people are happy. They are happy living with their imbibed delusions, free of doubts. They shun new, radical ways of thinking because it makes them uncomfortable; they don't want the foundation of their thoughts shaken. They form groups in the name of religion, politics, or other social functions, which are often pitted against the minority who think in ways labeled "dangerous" or "extreme." It is only when the ignorance of the masses is exposed do they realize that they are, in fact, the dangerous ones.
Then there are those who ask questions, tirelessly searching for a new beginning or a way to reform preexisting values and practices. The current state of affairs of the world rarely conform to these peoples' lofty ideals and virtuous ambitions. They are persistently seeking new and innovative ways to think and act, and they are never satisfied with remaining stagnant in thought or action.
These people are the outcasts, the rebels. They are often irreligious and politically anti-establishment because they recognize the corruption inherent in these social spheres. They value reason above all else, but also recognize its limits. They have a hard time finding friends and forming social bonds because they often become lost in the daze of their own thoughts. Only they can comfort and understand themselves.
But alas, the outcasts aren't alone. They can relate to versions of themselves in literature, on social media, and in their dreams. They embrace the hope that others will lead by their example, that the world will become a better place by liberating the poor minds shackled to their delusions and harmful world views. It is the duty of the enlightened to expose the ignorance of others, even if only a few will listen.
History proves again and again that the masses are ignorant, ignoble and base. If not for the rebels, the thinkers, we would still be living in the Stone Age. It only takes one person to change the minds of millions, but only after the one has been shunned, and his intentions repudiated and mocked. Eventually the enlightened find their break, the attainment of their vision. But first, they must suffer.
