Retreat into yourself, then, as much as you can. Spend your time with those who will improve you

Letters on Ethics To Lucilius by Lucius Annaeus Seneca; translated by Margaret Graver and A. A. Long Epistle 7, 6-9

The mind that is young and not yet able to hold on to what is right must be kept apart from the people. It is all too easy to follow the many. Even Socrates, Cato, or Laelius could have had their character shaken out of them by the multitude that was so different. All the more, then, we who are just now beginning to establish inner harmony cannot possibly withstand the attack of faults that bring so much company along. 

 

A single example of self-indulgence or greed does a great deal of harm. A dissipated housemate makes one become less strong and manly over time; a wealthy neighbor inflames one’s desires; a spiteful companion infects the most open and candid nature with his own canker. What do you suppose happens to the character that is under attack by the public at large? You must either imitate them or detest them.

Both are to be avoided: you should not imitate those who are bad because they are many, and neither should you become hateful to the many because they are unlike you. Retreat into yourself, then, as much as you can. Spend your time with those who will improve you; extend a welcome to those you can improve. The effect is reciprocal, for people learn while teaching.

There is no reason for you to be enticed into the midst of the people by a prideful wish to display your talent for public recitation or debate. I would want you to do that if you had any merchandise suitable for this populace; as it is, there is nobody capable of understanding you. Perhaps somebody or other will show up, and even that one will need to be instructed, to teach him how to understand you. 

 

“For whom, then, did I learn these things?” You need not fear that your time has been wasted so long as you have learned them for yourself.

In the fourth paragraph, Seneca is addressing the modern conundrum when engaging with the Woke, the adherents of the cult of Social Justice or Critical Race Theory.  The Classical Liberal has no "merchandise suitable for this populace" because we do not share their belief system, their religion.  Likewise, there is nobody among them capable of understanding the Classical Liberal worldview.  

Where they argue that we should discriminate against people based on race, we see racism.  Where we argue for freedom, they hear permission for bias and hate.