Ayn Rand's Last Public Lecture: The Sanction of the Victims

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Published 2014-07-24

(VIa Libertarianism.org) Ayn Rand defected from the U.S.S.R. and came to the the U.S., where her anti-collectivist writings formed the intellectual basis for the philosophy she called Objectivism. She is the celebrated author of many books and essays including We the Living (1936), The Fountainhead (1943), Atlas Shrugged (1957), and Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal (1966).

This video is of Rand's last public lecture at a 1981 National Committee for Monetary Reform conference in New Orleans. The text of this lecture, which is titled "The Sanction of the Victims," would later be published in a collection of her works called The Voice of Reason: Essays in Objectivist Thought (1990).

In the lecture, Rand admonishes American businessmen for apologizing for capitalism and for, in some cases, directly funding detractors of the free market. Notably, she says that "It is a moral crime to give money to support your own destroyers." She also answers audience questions after the lecture.

Download the .mp3 version of this lecture here: bit.ly/MwV4QT

All Comments (21)

@zeusssonfire 4 years ago

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.
@philipdraper7284 1 year ago

When you think of it, what an amazing woman. Comes from Russia and takes the US intellectual circuit by storm. A lot of bravery and honor there. One of the greatest defenders of liberty we have had.
@martineznuno9826 5 months ago

00:04 The most socially useful occupation is the application of scientific knowledge to improve human life. 03:27 Heroes are seen as the most hated in humanitarian society. 10:06 Altruism and collectivism rely on denouncing and inducing guilt in their victims 13:09 Businesses using misleading slogans to suggest populism and equality. 19:24 The power of philosophy and responsibility in supporting ideas 22:07 Struggle of young advocates of capitalism in universities 27:46 Inspiration for the country lies with businessmen and their philosophical self-defense and self-esteem. 30:47 The battle for capitalism will be won when we find a president capable of inspiring people towards a better world. 36:28 Ayn Rand expresses sympathy for Polish solidarity but believes they are doomed. Also, clarifies her stance on the Moral Majority and criticizes Reagan's economic plan. 39:16 Ayn Rand's ideas developed from observation, not events. 45:06 Individual free will and choice determine the fate of the world. 47:59 Ideas as the reform catalyst and moral justification for gold standard
@kofirandayn945 10 months ago

Wow! What a lecture. She really was a very brilliant woman with a brilliant mind. Her work will live forever and save humanity.
@megaotstoy 1 year ago

"I'm a male chauvinist proudly" (C) Bless your heart, my Lady! We desperately need you nowadays...
@tvfan14 5 months ago

3:22 Doesn't she know she being video taped right now? I bet she had no idea that people would watch this 43 years later, still all these years later.
@crazyhendrik 3 years ago

Chilling, i have goosebumps listening to her predict the future
@lid0xb6 1 year ago

Rand's words ring true today, Americans should heed her warning.
@ferghodgson 10 years ago

Wow! Thank you so much for uploading this video — a piece of history.
@juliahines8330 4 years ago

Man.... this could have taken place yesterday. Ayn's words are applicable today.... so crazy, lol, especially her critique and assessment of the journalists/media. AND I LOVE the comment "I am a proud male chauvinist!" 😄
@elgrigorio1 2 years ago

She actually wanted Farrah Fawcett to play Dagney Taggert. I read that she wrote a letter to Farrah,and a complimentary one too. Farrah Fawcett herself has read Atlas Shrugged and the Fountainhead.
@eastwoofer 3 years ago

She’s such a badass 😎
@AdaptableTeacher2020 3 years ago

I first heard of Ayn Rand when I noticed the bad guy in 'Dirty Dancing' had a copy of one of her books in his back pocket. Subtle!
@conner349 6 months ago

There are many strong women like this. But they have no need or even the time or bother to bother with publicising globally and taking aim at the importance and ignorance of humanity. But I agree. I hope one day this world grows some balls and understand that we are self destructive and cannot comprehend the meaning of life though we live it daily.
@mjwp8750 3 years ago

She is wonderful!
@soldtobediers 11 months ago

When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace." ~Jimi Hendrix
@SimpleManGuitars1973 2 years ago

That's hilarious that she stopped her speech to tell them not to take her pictures because he was "too old for that". LOL!
@philrogersmusician6078 1 year ago

So prophetic! Exactly what we have now, thanks to liberalism and wokeism!
@tonycrook2955 11 months ago

I'm glad we have these recordings. But I wish she were alive and well today. With George Carlin, speaking out. What 1 2 punch I think they would be against today's 'woke' agenda
@davidagainstgoliath2969 1 year ago

Her point at the end, on abortion is only logical if you do not consider the baby inside the womb to be a human life.