Атлант расправил плечи
The Utopia of Greed
butwhathavetheymadeofit,thepreachersofwoman’sduty?...Thecastratedperformanceofasickeningdrudgerywasheldtobeawoman’spropervirtue—whilethatwhichgaveitmeaningandsanctionwasheldasashamefulsin...theworkofdealingwithgrease,steamandslimypeelingsinareekingkitchenwasheldtobeaspiritualmatter,anactofcompliancewithhermoralduty—whilethemeetingoftwobodiesinabedroomwasheldtobeaphysicalindulgence,anactofsurrendertoananimalinstinct,withnoglory,meaningorprideofspirittobeclaimedbytheanimalsinvolved.
Sheleapedabruptlytoherfeet.Shedidnotwanttothinkoftheouterworldorofitsmoralcode.Butsheknewthatthatwasnotthesubjectofherthoughts.Andshedidnotwanttothinkofthesubjecthermindwasintentonpursuing,thesubjecttowhichitkeptreturningagainstherwill,bysomewillofitsown...
Shepacedtheroom,hatingtheugly,jerky,uncontrolledloosenessofhermovements—tornbetweentheneedtolethermotionbreakthestillness,andtheknowledgethatthiswasnottheformofbreakshewanted.Shelightedcigarettes,foraninstant’sillusionofpurposefulaction—anddiscardedthemwithinanotherinstant,feelingthewearydistasteofasubstitutepurpose.Shelookedattheroomlikearestlessbeggar,pleadingwithphysicalobjectstogiveheramotive,wishingshecouldfindsomethingtoclean,tomend,topolish—whileknowingthatnotaskwasworththeeffort.
