Атлант расправил плечи

           Itwasproperthattheyshouldnowcallit"MiracleMetal"—amiraclewastheonlynametheycouldgivetothosetenyearsandtothatfacultyfromwhichReardenMetalwasborn—amiraclewasallthattheMetalcouldbeintheireyes,theproductofanunknown,unknowablecause,anobjectinnature,nottobeexplained,buttobeseized,likeastoneoraweed,theirsfortheseizing—"arewetoletthemanyremaininwantwhilethefewwithholdfromusthebetterproductsandmethodsavailable?"

           IfIhadnotknownthatmylifedependsonmymindandmyeffort—hewassayingsoundlesslytothelineofmenstretchedthroughthecenturies—ifIhadnotmadeitmyhighestmoralpurposetoexercisethebestofmyeffortandthefullestcapacityofmymindinordertosupportandexpandmylife,youwouldhavefoundnothingtolootfromme,nothingtosupportyourownexistence.Itisnotmysinsthatyou’reusingtoinjureme,butmyvirtues—myvirtuesbyyourownacknowledgment,sinceyourownlifedependsonthem,sinceyouneedthem,sinceyoudonotseektodestroymyachievementbuttoseizeit.

           Herememberedthevoiceofthegigoloofsciencesayingtohim:"We’reafterpowerandwemeanit.Youfellowswerepikers,butweknowtherealtrick."Wewerenotafterpower—hesaidtothegigolo’sancestors-in-spirit—andwedidnotlivebymeansofthatwhichwecondemned.Weregardedproductiveabilityasvirtue—andweletthedegreeofhisvirtuebethemeasureofaman’sreward.