Атлант расправил плечи

           Thiswashisgloryandhisguilt—thatheletthemteachhimtofeelguiltyofhisglory,toacceptthepartofasacrificialanimaland,inpunishmentforthesinofintelligence,toperishonthealtarsofthebrutes.Thetragicjokeofhumanhistoryisthatonanyofthealtarsmenerected,itwasalwaysmanwhomtheyimmolatedandtheanimalwhomtheyenshrined.Itwasalwaystheanimal’sattributes,notman’s,thathumanityworshipped:theidolofinstinctandtheidolofforce—themysticsandthekings—themystics,wholongedforanirresponsibleconsciousnessandruledbymeansoftheclaimthattheirdarkemotionsweresuperiortoreason,thatknowledgecameinblind,causelessfits,blindlytobefollowed,notdoubted—andthekings,whoruledbymeansofclawsandmuscles,withconquestastheirmethodandlootingastheiraim,withacluboragunassolesanctionoftheirpower.Thedefendersofman’ssoulwereconcernedwithhisfeelings,andthedefendersofman’sbodywereconcernedwithhisstomach—butbothwereunitedagainsthismind.Yetnoone,notthelowestofhumans,iseverablefullytorenouncehisbrain.Noonehaseverbelievedintheirrational;whattheydobelieveinistheunjust.

           Wheneveramandenouncesthemind,itisbecausehisgoalisofanaturethemindwouldnotpermithimtoconfess.