The Virtue of Selfishness is a collection of Objectivist essays by Ayn Rand and Nathaniel Branden published in 1964. The essays expound upon Objectivist views of freedom, morality and economics, defending ego-centrism and attacking altruism as harmful and unwelcome. Like many of Ayn Rand's works, the essays in this collection argue for laissez-faire economics and the minimization of government. The title of the book caused much controversy, though it is unclear whether Rand intended the title literally or rhetorically.