To say 'I love you' one must first be able to say the 'I.'
Ayn RandRead
In a capitalist society, all human relationships are voluntary. Men are free to cooperate or not, to deal with one another or not, as their own individual judgments, convictions and interests dictate.
Interpretation
What this quote means
In a capitalist society, relationships are formed based on individual choice and interests.
This quote by Ayn Rand emphasizes that in a capitalist framework, human relationships are not forced but rather freely chosen by individuals. It suggests that people engage with one another out of mutual benefit and agreement, guided by their personal values and desires, which reflects a core principle of capitalism: the freedom of choice and the importance of individual agency in social interactions.
Themes
CapitalismFreedomVoluntaryRelationshipsIndividualism
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on the merits of capitalism at a seminar.
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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