Ayn RandAyn Rand, [Alisa Zinov'yevna Rosenbaum] (1905-1982) Russian-American novelist, philosopher, playwright, and screenwriter

Ayn Rand Quote

“Let me explain this.  There are, fundamentally, only two causes of the progress of the nineteenth century -- the same two causes which you will find at the root of any happy, benevolent, progressive era in human history.  One cause is psychological, the other existential -- or: one pertains to man's consciousness, the other to the physical conditions of his existence.  The first is reason, the second is freedom.  And when I say "freedom," I do not mean poetic sloppiness, such as "freedom from want" or "freedom from fear" or "freedom from the necessity of earning a living."  I mean "freedom from compulsion -- freedom from rule by physical force."  Which means: political freedom. ”

Ayn RandAyn Rand
~ Ayn Rand

Faith and Force: The Destroyers of the Modern World, (A lecture delivered at Yale University on February 17, 1960, at Brooklyn College on April 4, 1960, and at Columbia University on May 5, 1960. Published as a pamphlet by the Nathaniel Branden Institute in 1967, and now included as a chapter in the book, Philosophy: Who Needs It )

Ratings and Comments


Vedapushpa, Bangalore- India

This is very true - psychological freedom is to 'feel one's indenpendent being' and the physical freedom is 'to be independent of others - not phsically mortgaged to anyone for anything'....are indeed the sum and substance of 'fundmenatal hman right' - Ayn Rand's intellectual intent is perhaps most assertively stated here.

Mike, Norwalk

Though there are many categories of required freedoms, I would add to the list the freedom of spirit and or religion. The statement is accurate as far as it goes. Man by birth is a religious creature, evidenced by his morally motivated endeavors (socialistic to unselfishness, 'A'theism to 'Z'en, religion is real piety in practice, consisting in the performance of all known duties to ... our fellow men (Bouvier's Law Dictionary)) The attack on certain religions by Mr. Obamunist Goodwrench the assassin, along with support from many of his occupying statist theocracy patrons, demonstrates a general loss in the whole of freedom. The government indoctrination centers (government schools) over the last 50 years have slowly but increasingly been antagonistic to competing religions until where I just read that almost one third of Amerikan's have no extra religious affiliation. Crimes (numerically and otherwise) and the decline of economic prowess also shows a result of religious freedom's loss.

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