Quotes about Values

But this was that view of human destiny which she had most passionately hated and rejected: the view that man was ever to be drawn by some vision of the unattainable shining ahead, doomed ever to aspire, but not to achieve. Her life and her values could not bring her to that, she thought; she had never found beauty in longing for the impossible and had never found the possible to be beyond her reach.

Dagny, we can never lose the things we live for. We may have to change their form at times, if we've made an error, but the purpose remains the same and the forms are ours to make.

Aren't they all acting on a selfish motive—to be noticed, liked, admired?" "—by others. At the price of their own self-respect. In the realm of greatest importance—the realm of values, of judgment, of spirit, of thought—they place others above self, in the exact manner which altruism demands. A truly selfish man cannot be affected by the approval of others. He doesn't need it.

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...Man must obtain his knowledge and choose his actions by a process of thinking, which nature will not force him to perform.

Live, love, laugh, leave a legacy.

There are three constants in life... Change, Choice and Principles.

I think the most significant work we'll do in our whole life, in our whole world is done within the four walls of our home.

No enterprise can become or rains truly great without a core set of principles to preserve to build upon

If you want the secondary greatness of recognized talent, focus first on primary greatness of character

Sometimes we're so concerned about giving our children what we never had growing up, that we neglect to give them what we DID have growing up.

Esteem intelligence, cherish knowledge, and value understanding, but trust wisdom.

True riches belong to those who shun false ones.