I Do Not Choose To Be A Common Man

For those of you who don't know, I drove over to Sarah's yesterday. She wanted me to go to a Bridal Expo with her and since I haven't been here in awhile I decided to come over. Thankfully it is on Sunday so I won't be missing THE football games today.


As I was driving over I was listening to Dave Ramsey on the radio. For those of you who don't know him he is a financial advisor of sorts. His main message is that people should live debt free. I agree with him for the most part though once in awhile I find myself yelling at him through the radio. Anyway, he read an essay on his show yesterday and it made me think of peej. I will leave it up to you whether that is a complement or not!


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 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, enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the world boldly and say, “This I have done.”

Dean Alfange


*Originally published in This Week Magazine.
Later printed in The Reader’s Digest, October 1952 and January 1954.

The Honorable Dean Alfange was an American statesman born December 2, 1899, in Constantinople (now Istanbul). He was raised in upstate New York. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I and attended Hamilton College, graduating in the class of 1922.


Back to more pictures tomorrow. The subject? Mountain biking.