Атлант расправил плечи

           Yetonlytotheextenttowhich—inchains,indungeons,inhiddencorners,inthecellsofphilosophers,intheshopsoftraders—somemencontinuedtothink,onlytothatextentwashumanityabletosurvive.Throughallthecenturiesoftheworshipofthemindless,whateverstagnationhumanitychosetoendure,whateverbrutalitytopractice—itwasonlybythegraceofthemenwhoperceivedthatwheatmusthavewaterinordertogrow,thatstoneslaidinacurvewillformanarch,thattwoandtwomakefour,thatloveisnotservedbytortureandlifeisnotfedbydestruction—onlybythegraceofthosemendidtherestofthemlearntoexperiencemomentswhentheycaughtthesparkofbeinghuman,andonlythesumofsuchmomentspermittedthemtocontinuetoexist.Itwasthemanofthemindwhotaughtthemtobaketheirbread,tohealtheirwounds,toforgetheirweaponsandtobuildthejailsintowhichtheythrewhim.Hewasthemanofextravagantenergy—andrecklessgenerosity—whoknewthatstagnationisnotman’sfate,thatimpotenceisnothisnature,thattheingenuityofhismindishisnoblestandmostjoyouspower—andinservicetothatloveofexistencehewasalonetofeel,hewentonworking,workingatanyprice,workingforhisdespoilers,forhisjailers,forhistorturers,payingwithhislifefortheprivilegeofsavingtheirs.