Атлант расправил плечи

           Ibelievedthatloveissomestaticgiftwhich,oncegranted,neednolongerbedeserved—justastheybelievethatwealthisastaticpossessionwhichcanbeseizedandheldwithoutfurthereffort.Ibelievedthatloveisagratuity,notarewardtobeearned—justastheybelieveitistheirrighttodemandanunearnedwealth.

           Andjustastheybelievethattheirneedisaclaimonmyenergy,soIbelievedthatherunhappinesswasaclaimonmylife.Forthesakeofpity,notjustice,Ienduredtenyearsofself-torture.Iplacedpityabovemyownconscience,andthisisthecoreofmyguilt.MycrimewascommittedwhenIsaidtoher,"Byeverystandardofmine,tomaintainourmarriagewillbeaviciousfraud.Butmystandardsarenotyours.

           Idonotunderstandyours,Ineverhave,butIwillacceptthem."

           Heretheyare,lyingonmydesk,thosestandardsIacceptedwithoutunderstanding,hereisthemannerofherloveforme,thatlovewhichIneverbelieved,buttriedtospare.Hereisthefinalproductoftheunearned.Ithoughtthatitwaspropertocommitinjustice,solongasIwouldbetheonlyonetosuffer.Butnothingcanjustifyinjustice.

           Andthisisthepunishmentforacceptingasproperthathideousevilwhichisself-immolation.IthoughtthatIwouldbetheonlyvictim.

           Instead,I’vesacrificedthenoblestwomantothevilest.