Once in a great while, a child is born who, for reasons unknown to anyone, take possession of its own mind and does its own thinking. When that happens, the world has found a potential free thinker; but the world never has many of this type at any given period. Most people do their thinking at second hand, so to speak, by merely reflecting the thoughts, ideas and beliefs of those around them, and this applies to both children and adults.
Napoleon Hill, How to Own Your Mind