Choice Quote by Ayn Rand
““Man has no automatic code of survival. His particular distinction from all other living species is the necessity to act in the face of alternatives by means of volitional choice. He has no automatic knowledge of what is good for him or evil, what values his life depends on, what course of action it requires. Are you prattling about an instinct of self-preservation? An instinct of self-preservation is precisely what man does not possess. An 'instinct' in as unerring and automatic form of knowledge. A desire is not an instinct. A desire to live does not give you the knowledge required for living. And even man's desire to live is not automatic: your secret evil today is that that is the desire you do not hold. Your fear of death is not a love of life and will not give you the knowledge needed to keep it. Man must obtain his knowledge and choose his actions by a process of thinking, which nature will not force him to perform. Man has the power to act as his own destroyer--and that is the way he has acted through most of history.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Philosophical Lecture, 1972
Humans lack innate survival instincts; they must consciously choose values and actions through reasoning, not rely on automatic impulses.
In simple terms: We must think to survive.
Key Takeaway
Use reason to choose values and actions.
Themes
choice
reason
responsibility
Mood
thoughtful
critical
motivational
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- making career decisions
- ethical dilemmas
- personal development
- overcoming fear
- building values
Key Concepts
volition
ethics
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- What choices require deliberate thought?
- How do you differentiate desire from instinct?
A Different Perspective
Relying solely on instinct can be dangerous.
