7 valiant quotes from Ayn Rand's desk

The American novelist and Philosopher, the writer of two best-selling novels, The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand, the legend was born on today’s date.

She was a sharply critical philosopher. With her bold moves of standing against faith and whim and some brilliant works with fusing fiction and philosophy, made her the most controversial and most important philosopher of the 20th century. 

On the occasion of Fearless Rand’s birthday, we present her 7 valiant yet inspirational quotes from her very own desk:

• “I am often asked whether I am primarily a novelist or a philosopher. The answer is: both. In a certain sense, every novelist is a philosopher, because one cannot present a picture of human existence without a philosophical framework. . . . In order to define, explain and present my concept of man, I had to become a philosopher in the specific meaning of the term.”

• “I swear by my life, and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine."

• “If any civilization is to survive, it is the morality of altruism that men have to reject.”

• "The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me."

• “People create their own questions because they are afraid to look straight. All you have to do is look straight and see the road, and when you see it, don't sit looking at it - walk.”

• "When I disagree with a rational man, I let reality be our final arbiter; if I am right, he will learn; if I am wrong, I will; one of us will win, but both will profit."

• Ask yourself whether the dream of heaven and greatness should be waiting for us in our graves - or whether it should be ours here and now and on this earth.

Ayn Rand / Brainyquote / The Objective Standard / All Womens Talk