Sacrifice

To sacrifice is to relinquish or cede without any rational hope of receiving anything in return. Sacrificing is usually taken in a religious context, where an object is being sacrificed in the hope that some supernatural entity will give some benefit in return.

In the context of Objectivism, however, sacrifice refers to the abnegation of a virtue or other deep concept for some irrational purpose, such as winning the temporary favor of others. In general, sacrifice is viewed by seasoned Objectivists as an evil which is never necessary and should always be reviled.