簡介
最初發表在This Week Magazine(《本周雜誌》)，後來又被發表在1952年10月和1954年1月的《讀者文摘》雜誌(The Reader's Digest)上。
《公司的力量》這部紀錄片認為這段話是托馬斯·潘恩所寫是個嚴重的錯誤。《常識》這本冊子僅僅是一本現代政治思想普及讀物，裡面也根本找不到這段話。
中文譯文
I do not choose to be a common person.
我不要選擇做一個普通人。
It is my right to be uncommon—if I can.
如果我可以，我有權成為傑出的人。
I seek opportunity—not security.
我尋求機會，不尋求安穩。
I do not wish to be a kept citizen,
我不想成為一位有保障的國民，
humbled and dulled by having the state look after me.
孱弱而沉悶的安享著國家的照顧。
I want to take the calculated risk,
我要做有意義的冒險。
to dream and to build,
我要夢想，我要創造。
to fail and to succeed.
我要失敗，我也要成功。
I refuse to barter incentive for a dole;
我渴望獎勵，拒絕施捨。
I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence;
我寧要充滿挑戰的人生，也不要萬無一失的活著；
the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of Utopia.
寧要心滿意足的顫抖，也不要萎靡虛空的平靜。
I will not trade my freedom for beneficence
我不會拿我的自由換取恩惠。
nor my dignity for a handout.
也不會拿我的崇高換取救濟。
I will never cower before any master
我絕不在任何權威面前發抖，
nor bend to any threat.
也絕不為任何恐嚇所屈服。
It is my heritage to stand erect, proud, and unafraid;
我的天性是挺胸直立，驕傲，而無所畏懼。
to think and act for myself;
我要自由的思考和行動。
to enjoy the benefit of my creations;
我要縱情於我創造的價值。
and to face the world boldly
終有一天，我會面帶自豪，
and say:
向世界宣告：
"This, with God's help, I have done."
“在上帝的幫助下，我做到了！”
—Entrepreneur's Credo of the American
—美國企業家宣言
英文原著
I do not choose to be a common person.
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
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."
—Entrepreneur's Credo of the American
