Атлант расправил плечи

           Thereitwas:thepunishmentthatrequiredthevictim’sownvirtueasthefueltomakeitwork—hisinventionofReardenMetalbeingusedasthecauseofhisexpropriation—Dagny’shonorandthedepthoftheirfeelingforeachotherbeingusedasatoolofblackmail,ablackmailfromwhichthedepravedwouldbeimmune—and,inthePeople’sStatesofEurope,millionsofmenbeingheldinbondagebymeansoftheirdesiretolive,bymeansoftheirenergydrainedinforcedlabor,bymeansoftheirabilitytofeedtheirmasters,bymeansofthehostagesystem,oftheirlovefortheirchildrenorwivesorfriends—bymeansoflove,abilityandpleasureasthefodderforthreatsandthebaitforextortion,withlovetiedtofear,abilitytopunishment,ambitiontoconfiscation,withblackmailaslaw,withescapefrompain,notquestforpleasure,astheonlyincentivetoeffortandtheonlyrewardofachievement—menheldenslavedbymeansofwhateverlivingpowertheypossessedandofwhateverjoytheyfoundinlife.Suchwasthecodethattheworldhadacceptedandsuchwasthekeytothecode:thatithookedman’sloveofexistencetoacircuitoftorture,sothatonlythemanwhohadnothingtoofferwouldhavenothingtofear,sothatthevirtueswhichmadelifepossibleandthevalueswhichgaveitmeaningbecametheagentsofitsdestruction,sothatone’sbestbecamethetoolofone’sagony,andman’slifeonearthbecameimpractical.

           "Yourswasthecodeoflife,"saidthevoiceofamanwhomhecouldnotforget.