Words of Wisdom: Ayn Rand on Achievement
Ayn Rand was an author, philosopher, and screenwriter. Her philosophy was Objectivism-- she favored individualism, laissez-faire capitalism, and constitutional protection of the right to life, liberty, and property. She opposed all forms of collectivism and statism, including fascism, communism, and the welfare state.
Here are some of her thoughts on achievement:
- Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one's values
- A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others
- The ladder of success is best climbed by stepping on the rungs of opportunity
- Wealth is the product of man's capacity to think
- To achieve, you need thought. You have to know what you are doing and that's real power
- A desire presupposes the possibility of action to achieve it; action presupposes a goal which is worth achieving
- Throughout the centuries there were men who took first steps, down new roads, armed with nothing but their own vision
- Achievement of your happiness is the only moral purpose of your life, and that happiness, not pain or mindless self-indulgence, is the proof of your moral integrity, since it is the proof and the result of your loyalty to the achievement of your values
- Achieving life is not the equivalent of avoiding death
- The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me
- 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
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Categories: Self Improvement, Words of Wisdom, Self Sufficiency, Personal Philosophy
Tags: Self Improvement Ayn Rand Quotes Self Sufficiency Ideas Personal Philosophy
This is uncanny. I just launched a page to address the question: can money buy happiness? And, here you post a Rand quote that sums up my conclusion on the page - happiness is based on what you achieve.
Here is my analysis: http://www.frugal-living-freedom.com/can-money-buy-happiness.html
According to a dictionary definition, happiness is based on a feeling of security, prosperity, health, fulfillment of desires and a few other measures. If you boil it down, happiness is based largely on you making things happen. In other words achieving what you value, just like Rand said.
The more I learn about Rand, the more I like her. Thanks for sharing her perspectives. They are of great value and very timely.
Clair
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