The world is not going into concentric blocs of power. It is actually going into a diffusion of power with more centres of decision-making than ever in human civilisation. That requires you to place yourself in far more hubs of power than ever before.
We stand in the shadow of Jefferson who believed that a society founded upon the rule of law and liberty was dependent upon public education and the diffusion of knowledge.
Knowledge is not simply another commodity. On the contrary. Knowledge is never used up. It increases by diffusion and grows by dispersion.
The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
The progress of freedom depends more upon the maintenance of peace the spread of commerce and the diffusion of education than upon the labors of cabinets and foreign offices.
On the diffusion of education among the people rest the preservation and perpetuation of our free institutions.
There's much to be said for feeling numb. Time passes more quickly. You eat less and because numbness encourages laziness you do fewer things good or bad and the world's probably a better place for it.