Атлант расправил плечи

           Heisthemanwhobecamethesymboloftheideathatneed,notachievement,isthesourceofrights,thatwedon’thavetoproduce,onlytowant,thattheearneddoesnotbelongtous,buttheunearneddoes.Hebecameajustificationforeverymediocritywho,unabletomakehisownliving,hasdemandedthepowertodisposeofthepropertyofhisbetters,byproclaiminghiswillingnesstodevotehislifetohisinferiorsatthepriceofrobbinghissuperiors.Itisthisfoulestofcreatures—thedoubleparasitewholivesonthesores,ofthepoorandthebloodoftherich—whommenhavecometoregardasamoralideal.Andthishasbroughtustoaworldwherethemoreamanproduces,thecloserhecomestothelossofallhisrights,until,ifhisabilityisgreatenough,hebecomesarightlesscreaturedeliveredaspreytoanyclaimant—whileinordertobeplacedaboverights,aboveprinciples,abovemorality,placedwhereanythingispermittedtohim,evenplunderandmurder,allamanhastodoistobeinneed.Doyouwonderwhytheworldiscollapsingaroundus?ThatiswhatIamfighting,Mr.Rearden.Untilmenlearnthatofallhumansymbols,RobinHoodisthemostimmoralandthemostcontemptible,therewillbenojusticeonearthandnowayformankindtosurvive."

           Reardenlistened,feelingnumb.Butunderthenumbness,likethefirstthrustofaseedbreakingthrough,hefeltanemotionhecouldnotidentifyexceptthatitseemedfamiliarandverydistant,likesomethingexperiencedandrenouncedlongago.