To say 'I love you' one must first be able to say the 'I.'
Ayn RandRead
In a fully free society, taxation-or, to be exact, payment for governmental services-would be voluntary.
Interpretation
What this quote means
In a truly free society, individuals would choose to pay for government services rather than be compelled to pay taxes.
Ayn Rand emphasizes the concept of a fully free society where individuals have the autonomy to decide whether to contribute to governmental services financially. In her view, true freedom entails the absence of obligatory taxation, suggesting that citizens should willingly engage in voluntary payments for the services they choose to receive from the government, thus cultivating personal responsibility and liberty.
Themes
FreedomTaxationGovernmentVoluntarismLiberty
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate on fiscal policies, one might reference this quote to argue for reducing mandatory taxes.
More from Ayn Rand
All quotes βThe difference between animals and humans is that animals change themselves for the environment, but humans change the environment for themselves.
Ayn RandRead
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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Similar quotes
Before the tribunal of nature, a man has no more right to life than a rattlesnake; he has no more right to liberty than any wild beast; his right to the pursuit of happiness is nothing but a license to maintain the struggle for existence, if he can find within himself the powers with which to do it.
William Graham SumnerRead
He that Opposes his own Judgment against the Current of the Times, ought to be back'd with unanswerable Truths; and he that has that Truth on his Side, is a Fool, as well as a Coward, if he is afraid to own it, because of the Currency or Multitude of other Mens Opinions.
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Focus your attention on the Now and tell me what problem you have at this moment.
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Curtailment of free speech is rationalized on grounds that a more compelling American tradition forbids criticism of the government when the nation is at war... Nothing can be more destructive of our fundamental democratic traditions than the vicious effort to silence dissenters.
Martin Luther King, Jr.Read
The liberty of the individual is no gift of civilization. It was greatest before there was any civilization.
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Hell is having to execute a pointless act from which nothing ever comes except the need to do it again.
Timothy KellerRead