“If you don’t decide, someone else will.” is very close to what I tell my students at the end of each of my intro courses. “If you don’t think for yourselves, there are plenty of people including politicians, parents, clergy and even teachers who will be happy to think for you.” Then I complement them on their hard work and congeniality, and suggest they celebrate by turning around on the count of three to shake the hand of the person behind them. I count three, they turn and learn. It nearly always works and I repeat the mantra. They seem to get the idea.
Many people ask me to put my 
in one place. Here they are!
“If you don’t decide, someone else will.” is very close to what I tell my students at the end of each of my intro courses. “If you don’t think for yourselves, there are plenty of people including politicians, parents, clergy and even teachers who will be happy to think for you.” Then I complement them on their hard work and congeniality, and suggest they celebrate by turning around on the count of three to shake the hand of the person behind them. I count three, they turn and learn. It nearly always works and I repeat the mantra. They seem to get the idea.
Best,
Doug