"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
http://smartalectours.com/gpsadventures_blog/2008/10/the-american-creed-i-do-not-choose-to-be-a-common-man/
"At the end of the day, I’m sure of one thing: accumulating stuff and women and titles and money are wrong keys. Fitting in, following the crowd, and being common are not what we’re supposed to do. There’s more in store for us. My football coach at the University of Minnesota, Cal Stoll, often told us, "Success is uncommon, therefore not to be enjoyed by the common man. I’m looking for uncommon people." That should be true for the rest of us as well ... I hope we can figure out what it means to be a man. A true man, one who is uncommon."
-Tony Dungy from Uncommon
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