Individualism from the 18th century

Found this on the Liberty and Power blog

Be no man’s lackey. Do not let others tread with impunity on your rights. ... Do not be a parasite or a flatterer or (what really differs from these only in degree) a beggar. ... Bowing or scraping before a man seems in any case to be unworthy of a man. ... Kneeling down or prostrating oneself on the ground, even to show your veneration for heavenly objects, is contrary to the dignity of humanity .... One who makes himself a worm cannot complain afterward if people step on him. ...

Self-esteem is a duty of man to himself.

You can be forgiven if you thought that was an Ayn Rand quote. It actually happens to be an extract from Immanuel Kant's The Metaphysics of Morals.