I got the idea [for Anthem's theme] in my school days, in Soviet Russia, when I heard all the vicious attacks on individualism, and asked myself what the world would be like if men lost the word 'I.'

Ideas cannot be fought except by means of better ideas. The battle consists, not of opposing, but of exposing; not of denouncing, but of disproving; not of evading, but of boldly proclaiming a full, consistent, and radical alternative.

God... a being whose only definition is that he is beyond man's power to conceive.

Individual rights are not subject to a public vote; a majority has no right to vote away the rights of a minority.

Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one's values.

If he can give his readers no reason why they should read his book, except that the events happened to him, it is not a valid book.

Anyone who fights for the future, lives in it today.