Do not ever say that the desire to 'do good' by force is a good motive. Neither power-lust nor stupidity are good motives.

The first right on earth is the right of the ego. Man's first duty is to himself. His moral law is never to place his prime goal within the persons of others. His moral obligation is to do what he wishes, provided his wish does not depend primarily upon other men.

Do you know the hallmark of the second-rater? It's resentment of another man's achievement.

A desire presupposes the possibility of action to achieve it; action presupposes a goal which is worth achieving.

I need no warrant for being, and no word of sanction upon my being. I am the warrant and the sanction.

You're not sorry. You could've been here if you made the effort. But when did you ever make an effort for anybody but yourself? You're not interested in any of us or in anything we do. You think if you pay the bills, that's enough, don't you? Money! That's all you know. And all you give us is money. Have you even given us any time?

For centuries, the mystics of spirit had existed by running a protection racket - by making life on earth unbearable, then charging you for consolation and relief, by forbidding all the virtues that make existence possible, then riding on the shoulders of your guilt, by declaring production and joy to be sins, then collecting blackmail from the sinners.