Constant association with a sensually disposed person of little elevation of character has a depressing effect upon your own. On the other hand, daily intercourse with a person of higher principles, of more seriousness of thought, of holier aim in life, stimulates you. Such a one is like a good genius to you. Such environment holds you back from what would otherwise pull you down. This is especially evident when this person is indeed a man of sterling character or a woman of a dominant spirit.
Persons exercise an attraction upon one another which has a levelling effect.
The one is stronger than the other, and the stronger molds the weaker into uniformity to his own nature. Imitation lies at the bottom of human nature, and unobservedly and unintentionally the weaker inclines to be and to act like the stronger, even to the extent sometimes, of the inflection of voice and kind of conversation. And this personal influence of itself leads to the influence of the religious atmosphere, which is distinctly different from the moral. All religion is personal at the core. Moses has put the print of his personality upon all Israel.