To say 'I love you' one must first be able to say the 'I.'
Ayn RandRead
The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that governments create crime through excessive regulation and laws.
Ayn Rand argues that when a government lacks sufficient criminals to justify its power, it seeks to expand its authority by labeling an increasing number of behaviors as criminal. This creates a society where the average person inevitably becomes a 'criminal' simply by living their life, highlighting the dangers of overregulation and the imposition of arbitrary laws that restrict personal freedoms.
Themes
GovernmentCrimeLawFreedomRegulationAuthority
In practice
Example use cases
During a political debate, one might use this quote to criticize overregulation by the government.
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.
Ayn RandRead
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.
Ayn RandRead
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.
Ayn RandRead
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.
Ayn RandRead
Similar quotes
I do not think of God theistically, that is, as a being, supernatural in power, who dwells beyond the limits of my world. I rather experience God as the source of life willing me to live fully, the source of love calling me to love wastefully and to borrow a phrase from the theologian, Paul Tillich, as the Ground of being, calling me to be all that I can be.
John Shelby SpongRead
In the long run, the people are our only appeal. The only ones who can free us are ourselves.
Assata ShakurRead
The apparent multiplication of gods is bewildering at the first glance, but you soon discover that they are the same GOD. There is always one uttermost God who defies personification. This makes Hinduism the most tolerant religion in the world, because its one transcendent God includes all possible gods. In fact Hinduism is so elastic and so subtle that the most profound Methodist, and crudest idolater, are equally at home with it.
George Bernard ShawRead
My theory is that many of the things that move us are things we long for but find hard to do.
Alain De BottonRead
Progress without the reasoned freedom to think and act is regression to slavery.
Richard John NeuhausRead
Droll thing life is -- that mysterious arrangement of merciless logic for a futile purpose. The most you can hope from it is some knowledge of yourself -- that comes too late -- a crop of inextinguishable regrets.
Joseph ConradRead