“A person who lives in a place where the norms of behavior are evil and the inhabitants do not follow the straight path should move to a place where the people are righteous and follow the ways of the good.If all the places with which he is familiar and of which he hears reports follow improper paths, as in our times, … he should remain alone in seclusion. …If they are wicked and sinful and do not allow him to reside there unless he mingle with them and follow their evil behavior, he should go out to caves, thickets, and deserts.”

—  Maimónides

Source: Hilkhot De'ot (Laws Concerning Character Traits), Chapter 6, Section 1

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rabbi, physician, philosopher 1138–1204

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