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An attempt to achieve the good by force is like an attempt to provide a man with a picture gallery at the price of cutting out his eyes.
Ayn Rand
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Forcing someone to accept a supposed 'good' can result in harm and loss of true perception.

Ayn Rand's quote suggests that imposing what one believes to be good upon others, especially through force, can lead to significant detriment, stripping individuals of their ability to truly appreciate or perceive value. The metaphor of providing a picture gallery while damaging someone's eyes highlights the irony and detrimental nature of such coercion, illustrating that genuine appreciation of goodness cannot be compelled.

Themes

ForceGoodPerceptionFreedomCoercion

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in a discussion about individual rights and freedoms in political debates.

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