To say 'I love you' one must first be able to say the 'I.'
Ayn RandRead
The government was set to protect man from criminals-and the constitution was written to protect man from the government. The Bill of Rights was not directed at private citizens, but against the government-as an explicit declaration that individual rights supersede any public or social power.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of individual rights and the role of government in protecting those rights against potential tyranny.
Ayn Rand highlights the fundamental purpose of government, which is to safeguard individuals from criminal acts while simultaneously warning of the danger of governmental overreach. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights serve as safeguards to ensure that individual liberties remain paramount and are not compromised by the authority of the state.
Themes
GovernmentIndividual RightsConstitutionFreedomProtection
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about the role of government in civil liberties at a public forum.
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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