example to the rest; and replacing them with
fresh men ambitious to earn all they could, who
would have been imitated by the others_.

In these instances it is assumed that the
imitation is not voluntary, but that we
unconsciously imitate whatever actions happen
to catch our attention. For the negative
action, the ``slowing down'' process, we have
the greater affinity simply because labor or
exertion is naturally distasteful. One such
influence or example, therefore, may sway us
more than a dozen positive impulses towards
industry.

Imitation thus broadly considered is seen
to be of the utmost importance in every walk
of life. The greatest and most original genius
is in the main a creature of imitation. By
imitation he reaches the level of knowledge
and skill attained by others; and upon this
foundation builds his structure of original and
creative thought, experiment, and achieve-

ment. Furthermore he does not imitate at
random; but concentrates his activity on
those things and persons in the line of his pursuits.

Among my associates are both industrious
and shiftless individuals. I instinctively imitate