I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon – if I can. I seek opportunity – not security. 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 my freedom for beneficence, nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any master, not 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 my family and friends, I have done. All this is what it means to be an entrepreneur.
Author unknown, via Dave Asprey.
I’ve known this poem for a while under the title “An American’s Creed” (or “My Creed”). As far as I can tell, it was written by Dean Alfange during the Cold War and was originally published in This Week Magazine and later reprinted in The Reader’s Digest, October 1952 and January 1954. The final line should read “All this is what it means to be an American”. Of course, this is a minor difference and its message stands anyway. I’ve first heard about the poem from libertarian philosopher Doug Rasmussen, who provides a nice interpretation here: http://www.fee.org/pdf/the-freeman/0306douglas.pdf.
Makes total sense that “this is what it means to be an American” got replaced with “entrepreneur.” 🙂
I LOVE THIS CREED. thanks for sharing it ben 😀
9 years ago when I put this on my web site, I dug around to find the author, to no avail. Good to see Google finally caught up! I found several versions – the “American” one, and many used “Republican” instead of “American.” The version I found was published in a magazine – I think “Entrepreneur” circa 1986 and unattributed. I also made another change. I added, “with my family and friends” instead of “with God’s help.” Either way, it’s a pretty cool little poem, even though it is more than a little ego-driven. 😉