Атлант расправил плечи
By our love
"
"Yes—andpaidransomsforit!Ransomsinmatterandinspirit—inmoney,whichourenemiesreceived,butdidnotdeserve,andinhonor,whichwedeserved,butdidnotreceive.Thatwasourguilt—thatwewerewillingtopay.Wekeptmankindalive,yetweallowedmentodespiseusandtoworshipourdestroyers.Weallowedthemtoworshipincompetenceandbrutality,therecipientsandthedispensersoftheunearned.Byacceptingpunishment,notforanysins,butforourvirtues,webetrayedourcodeandmadetheirspossible.Dagny,theirsisthemoralityofkidnappers.Theyuseyourloveofvirtueasahostage.Theyknowthatyou’llbearanythinginordertoworkandproduce,becauseyouknowthatachievementisman’shighestmoralpurpose,thathecan’texistwithoutit,andyourloveofvirtueisyourloveoflife.Theycountonyoutoassumeanyburden.Theycountonyoutofeelthatnoeffortistoogreatintheserviceofyourlove.
Dagny,yourenemiesaredestroyingyoubymeansofyourownpower.Yourgenerosityandyourendurancearetheironlytools.Yourunrequitedrectitudeistheonlyholdtheyhaveuponyou.Theyknowit.
Youdon’t.Thedaywhenyou’lldiscoveritistheonlythingtheydread.
Youmustlearntounderstandthem.Youwon’tbefreeofthem,untilyoudo.
