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.
-- Ayn Rand
About the Quote
Life is meant to be lived on one's own terms, not for any other person.
If someone becomes (for example) a doctor but would rather be a police officer, chances are becoming a doctor is the wish of a parent. While it is important that we honor and respect our parents, our lives are to be lived on our terms, not theirs.
If our terms coincide with those of our parents, then becoming a doctor was a good choice. If our terms are at odds with their terms, then becoming a doctor was a bad idea, and unhappiness results over the long run.
Some Information about Ayn Rand
Alissa Zinovievna Rosenbaum (better known as Ayn Rand) was born in St. Petersburg, Russia on 1905-February-2. Ayn Rand died in New York, New York, US on 1982-March-6.
The Russian-born American writer is best known for her novels promoting individualism and free enterprise capitalism, and these novels were influential among political conservatives, libertarians, and the nation's youth during the middle of the 20th Century.
Among her notable written works are We, the Living (1936), Anthem (1938), The Fountainhead (1943) and Atlas Shrugged (1957). In 1966 she compiled into book form Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, based on a series of lectures and newsletter articles.
-- Source
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