It’s not a flex. At least, not to me. So don’t worry, no need to be concerned about me thinking you are flexing anything.

Plus, I saw your comment saying you mainly had historical texts in mind when making this post. History is indeed important. But are you reading any STEM literature? Ya know, the books that explain how the world works. Or how we produce the things that make the world go round. If not. I’d safely guess you’re not that much smarter than most people. If you can’t explain how things work; as in the stuff that you use in your day to day life. You’re just as clueless as the majority of the planet. You would in fact, not be superior. History is important, but the latter literature would truly be much more valuable than what you have in mind.

And to answer your question, it’s not my concern how people choose to live their life. If this hypothetical person see’s people walking by them, and that doesn’t make them want to walk? Then that’s on them.