To say 'I love you' one must first be able to say the 'I.'
Ayn RandRead
Toohey: "Mr. Roark, we're alone here. Why don't you tell me what you think of me? In any words you wish. No one will hear us." Roark: "But I don't think of you.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the idea of indifference towards others' opinions and the focus on one's own values.
In this exchange between Toohey and Roark from Ayn Rand's work, Roark's statement reveals his indifference to Toohey's existence and opinions. It emphasizes a philosophical perspective that values individualism, suggesting that one should not be concerned with external validation or the judgments of others, but rather focus on one's own thoughts and principles.
Themes
IndifferenceIndividualismPhilosophyValueSelf
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on personal integrity, this quote can be used to illustrate the importance of self-reliance.
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.
Ayn RandRead
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.
Ayn RandRead
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
Similar quotes
Jesus was loyal to his apostles, with full knowledge of their cowardice. He was loyal to the poor, accepting the criticism of the Pharisees, so the destitute would never feel deserted. He was loyal to his father, accomplishing his will even unto death.
Mother AngelicaRead
The white man discovered the Cross by way of the Bible, but the black man discovered the Bible by way of the Cross.
James A. BaldwinRead
Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Lord ActonRead
That in the soul which is called the mind is, before it thinks, not actually any real thing.
AristotleRead
What was happening was only the working-out of a process that had started years ago. The first step had been a secret, involuntary thought, the second had been the opening of the diary. He had moved from thoughts to words, and now from words to actions. The last step was something that would happen in the Ministry of Love. He had accepted it. The end was contained in the beginning.
George OrwellRead
But this was what happened when you didn't want to visit and confront the past: the past starts visiting and confronting you.
Bret Easton EllisRead