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 →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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