I do not choose to be a common man,
It is my right to be uncommon … if I can,
I seek opportunity … not security.
Thomas Paine
I do not wish to be a kept citizen.
Humbled and dulled by having the
State look after me.
I want to take the calculated risk;
To dream and to build.
To fail and to succeed.
I refuse to barter incentive for a dole;
I prefer the challenges of life
To the guaranteed existence;
The thrill of fulfillment
To the stale calm of Utopia.
I will not trade freedom for beneficence
Nor my dignity for a handout
I will never cower before any master
Nor bend to any threat.
It is my heritage to stand erect.
Proud and unafraid;
To think and act for myself,
To enjoy the benefit of my creations
And to face the world boldly and say:
This, with God’s help, I have done
All this is what it means
To be an Entrepreneur.”
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If Thomas Paine could see where we are at today, I wonder what the sequel to Common Sense would be and what he would have to say?
“Really, Folks — I Wasn’t Kidding!”
I say a resounding YES to Paine’s statements here. His view of utopia and guarantees in life is a boring life. I agree: if I don’t have challenges where there is calculated risk, I get bored too.
What other historical authors besides Paine do you like to read, Ray?
Emerson, Twain, Dickens, Doyle, Thoreau. To name a few.
Good stuff!
Could Nike’s “Just Do It” slogan be considered a simplified modern day version of what Thomas Paine was saying?
Well, I think Nike’s slogan is just that… a slogan. It is in the same spirit, but it lacks the scope.
Every time I read this it makes me proud of what I was called to do, start a business and change the world.
That’s exactly what caused me to reproduce it here.
I love it – and, the key above all keys is that he gave credit to God!
Wow. Stunning. Thanks for sharing, Ray.
Thanks for sharing.. This is awesome.
Thanks for sharing. This is awesome
Awesome. I don’t think I have ever read that before. That Creed definitely needs to be hanging in my office.