The control of man by heredity and environment is not the end of all effort; on the contrary, it is the beginning of all effort.
We do not say that the control of the earth by gravity and centrifugal force is the end of its motion: we know that it is the cause of its motion.
But, we shall be told, "the earth cannot resist. It is compelled to act Man is free."
Man is not free. Man is compelled to act. Directly a child is born it begins to act From that instant until the end of its life, it continues to act It must act It cannot cease from action. The force of heredity compels it to act.
And the nature of its actions is decided:
1. By the nature of the individual: which is his heredity.
2. By his experiences and training: which are his environment
Therefore to cease from all action is impossible. Therefore it is nonsense to say that if we are creatures of heredity and environment we shall cease to act.
But, it may be said, a man can cease from action: he has power to kill himself.
Well: the earth has power to destroy itself if it is caused to destroy itself. And man cannot destroy himself unless he is caused to destroy himself.