I will probably say, as often happens to me, a series of platitudes.
However, I have always considered it important to choose to relate, whenever possible, to people who are better intellectually than me.
I believe that there is always the possibility to learn until the end.
The comparison with those who are more intelligent, more cultured, deeper spiritually, in the worst case does not make us better, but at least it can help us to try to improve ourselves.
With a choice, I would rather be the dumbest of a small group of intelligent people than the most intelligent of a bunch of stupid people.

I hope I managed to summarize these concepts in the snapshot I took today.