To say 'I love you' one must first be able to say the 'I.'
Ayn RandRead
There can be no compromise between freedom and government controls; to accept 'just a few controls' is to surrender the principle of inalienable individual rights and to substitute for it the principle of the government’s unlimited, arbitrary power, thus delivering oneself into gradual enslavement. As an example of this process, observe the present domestic policy of the United States.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote stresses the importance of individual freedom and warns against accepting government controls, which can lead to the erosion of personal rights.
Ayn Rand's quote highlights the inherent conflict between individual freedom and government control. She argues that even minor compromises on freedom for the sake of government regulation can lead to a slippery slope towards loss of individual rights, eventually resulting in a state of enslavement. Rand uses the current domestic policies of the United States as a cautionary example of how citizens may unknowingly surrender their freedoms.
Themes
FreedomGovernmentIndividual RightsControlEnslavement
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about civil liberties, quoting Rand could emphasize the dangers of overreach in government policies.
More from Ayn Rand
All quotes →The difference between animals and humans is that animals change themselves for the environment, but humans change the environment for themselves.
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It is my eyes which see, and the sight of my eyes grants beauty to the earth. It is my ears which hear, and the hearing of my ears gives its song to the world. It is my mind which thinks, and the judgement of my mind is the only searchlight that can find the truth. It is my will which chooses, and the choice of my will is the only edict I must respect.
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What is the basic, the essential, the crucial principle that differentiates freedom from slavery? It is the principle of voluntary action versus physical coercion or compulsion.
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One method of destroying a concept is by diluting its meaning. Observe that by ascribing rights to the unborn, i.e., the nonliving, the anti-abortionists obliterate the rights of the living.
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I think that when in doubt about the truth of an issue, it's safer and in better taste to select the least numerous of the adversaries.
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