To say 'I love you' one must first be able to say the 'I.'
Ayn RandRead
My happiness is not the means to any end. It is the end. It is its own goal. It is its own purpose.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Happiness should be valued for itself, not as a means to achieve something else.
Ayn Rand emphasizes that happiness is not merely a stepping stone toward a greater achievement or end goal; instead, it is the ultimate objective of life itself. In her view, finding joy and contentment in the present moment is essential, and one should seek happiness as the primary focus rather than a means to obtain external rewards or successes.
Themes
HappinessGoalPurposeLife
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about personal fulfillment.
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.
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.
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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.
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
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We have an infinite number of reasons to be happy, and a serious responsibility not be serious.
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We are long before we are convinced that happiness is never to be found, and each believes it possessed by others, to keep alive the hope of obtaining it for himself.
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