Атлант расправил плечи
“This is John Galt speaking”
Thereweredistrictsthatroseinblindrebellion,arrestedthelocalofficials,expelledtheagentsofWashington,killedthetaxcollectors—then,announcingtheirsecessionfromthecountry,wentontothefinalextremeoftheveryevilthathaddestroyedthem,asiffightingmurderwithsuicide:wentontoseizeallpropertywithintheirreach,todeclarecommunitybondageofalltoall,andtoperishwithinaweek,theirmeagerlootconsumed,inthebloodyhatredofallforall,inthechaosofnorulesavethatofthegun,toperishunderthelethargicthrustofafewwornsoldierssentoutfromWashingtontobringordertotheruins.
Thenewspapersdidnotmentionit.Theeditorialswentonspeakingofself-denialastheroadtofutureprogress,ofself-sacrificeasthemoralimperative,ofgreedastheenemy,ofloveasthesolution—theirthreadbarephrasesassickeninglysweetastheodorofetherinahospital.
Rumorswentspreadingthroughthecountryinwhispersofcynicalterror—yetpeoplereadthenewspapersandactedasiftheybelievedwhattheyread,eachcompetingwiththeothersonwhowouldkeepmostblindlysilent,eachpretendingthathedidnotknowwhatheknew,eachstrivingtobelievethattheunnamedwastheunreal.Itwasasifavolcanowerecrackingopen,yetthepeopleatthefootofthemountainignoredthesuddenfissures,theblackfumes,theboilingtrickles,andwentonbelievingthattheironlydangerwastoacknowledgetherealityofthesesigns.
"ListentoMr.
