企业家宣言：
央视《公司的力量》这部纪录片认为这段话是托马斯·潘恩所写？这是个严重的错误。《常识》这本册子仅仅是一本现代政治思想普及读物，里面也根本找不到这段话。
中文译文
I do not choose to be a common person.
我不要选择做一个普通人。
It is my right to be uncommon—if I can.
如果我可以，我有权成为杰出的人。
I seek opportunity—not security.
我寻求机会，不寻求安稳。
I do not wish to be a kept citizen,
我不想成为一位有保障的国民，
humbled and dulled by having the state look after me.
孱弱而沉闷的安享着国家的照顾。
I want to take the calculated risk,
我要做有意义的冒险。
to dream and to build,
我要梦想，我要创造。
to fail and to succeed.
我要失败，我也要成功。
I refuse to barter incentive for a dole;
我渴望奖励，拒绝施舍。
I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence;
我宁要充满挑战的人生，也不要万无一失的活着；
the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of Utopia.
宁要心满意足的颤抖，也不要萎靡虚空的平静。
I will not trade my freedom for beneficence
我不会拿我的自由换取恩惠。
nor my dignity for a handout.
也不会拿我的崇高换取救济。
I will never cower before any master
我绝不在任何权威面前发抖，
nor bend to any threat.
也绝不为任何恐吓所屈服。
It is my heritage to stand erect, proud, and unafraid;
我的天性是挺胸直立，骄傲，而无所畏惧。
to think and act for myself;
我要自由的思考和行动。
to enjoy the benefit of my creations;
我要纵情于我创造的价值。
and to face the world boldly
终有一天，我会面带自豪，
and say:
向世界宣告：
"This, with God's help, I have done."
“在上帝的帮助下，我做到了！”
—Entrepreneur's Credo of the American
