Quote by Ayn Rand, Faith and Force: The D
The basic principle of altruism is that man has no right to exist for his own sake, that service to others is the only justification of his existence, and that self-sacrifice is his highest moral duty, virtue and value. Do not confuse altruism with kindness, good will or respect for the rights of others. These are not primaries, but consequences, which, in fact, altruism makes impossible. The irreducible primary of altruism, the basic absolute, is self-sacrifice - which means: self-immolation, self-abnegation, self-denial, self-destruction - which means: the self as a standard of evil, the selfless as a standard of the good.
Summary
This quote, attributed to Ayn Rand, condemns altruism as a destructive philosophy. It argues that humans should exist solely to serve others and that self-sacrifice is the highest moral duty. The quote distinguishes altruism from acts of kindness or respect for the rights of others, stating that altruism actually undermines these virtues. It portrays self-sacrifice as the core principle of altruism, equating it with self-immolation and self-destruction, while denouncing the idea that the self can be a standard of good.
Topics
Selflessness
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