All that is characteristic of the race or tribe or group or family--all this sinks into the child and youth by his simple presence there in it, with the capacity to learn by imitation.

He is suggestible, and here are the suggestions; he is made to inherit and he inherits.

So it makes no difference what his tribe or kindred be; let him be a learner by imitation, and he becomes in turn possessor and teacher.
The case becomes more interesting still when we give the matter another turn, and say that in this learning all the members of society agree; _all must be born to learn the same things_.

They enter, if so be that they do, into the same social inheritance.

This again seems like a very commonplace remark; but certain things flow from it.