Атлант расправил плечи

           Inthesamemannerandforthesamereasonasabankermaynotacceptandpasscounterfeitmoney,grantingitthesanction,honorandprestigeofhisbank,justashemaynotgrantthecounterfeiter’sdemandfortoleranceofameredifferenceofopinion—soImaynotgrantthetitleofphilosophertoDr.SimonPritchettorcompetewithhimforthemindsofmen.Dr.Pritchetthasnothingtodeposittotheaccountofphilosophy,excepthisdeclaredintentiontodestroyit.Heseekstocashin—bymeansofdenyingit—onthepowerofreasonamongmen.Heseekstostampthemint-markofreasonupontheplansofhislootingmasters.Heseekstousetheprestigeofphilosophytopurchasetheenslavementofthought.ButthatprestigeisanaccountwhichcanexistonlysolongasIamtheretosignthechecks.

           Lethimdoitwithoutme.Lethim—andthosewhoentrusttohimtheirchildren’sminds—haveexactlythatwhichtheydemand:aworldofintellectualswithoutintellectandofthinkerswhoproclaimthattheycannotthink.Iamconcedingit.Iamcomplying.Andwhentheyseetheabsoluterealityoftheirnon-absoluteworld,IwillnotbethereanditwillnotbeIwhowillpaythepriceoftheircontradictions."

           "Dr.Akstonquitontheprincipleofsoundbanking,"saidMidasMulligan."Iquitontheprincipleoflove.Loveistheultimateformofrecognitiononegrantstosuperlativevalues.