The-Conquest-of-Happiness-by-Bertrand-Russell

become a foolish idea, since there is no need to be
dependent upon immediate neighbours for society.
More and more it becomes possible to choose our
companions on account of congeniality rather than
on account of mere propinquity. Happiness is
promoted by associations of persons with similar
tastes and similar opinions. Social intercourse may
be expected to develop more and more along these
lines and it may be hoped that by these means the
loneliness that now afflicts so many
unconventional people will be gradually
diminished almost to vanishing point. This will
undoubtedly increase their happiness, but it will of
course diminish the sadistic pleasure which the
conventional at present derive from having the
unconventional at their mercy. I do not think,
however, that this is a pleasure which we need be
greatly concerned to preserve.
Fear of public opinion, like every other form of
fear, is oppressive and stunts growth. It is difficult
to achieve any kind of greatness while a fear of
this kind remains strong, and it is impossible to