Атлант расправил плечи
The Exploiters and the Exploited
Shewonderedwhathaddestroyedhim,whaterroronthewaycouldbringamantothis.
"Yougothroughlifelookingforbeauty,forgreatness,forsomesublimeachievement,"hesaid."Andwhatdoyoufind?Alotoftrickmachineryformakingupholsteredcarsorinner-springmattresses."
"What’swrongwithinner-springmattresses?"saidamanwholookedlikeatruckdriver."Don’tmindhim,lady.Helikestohearhimselftalk.Hedon’tmeannoharm."
"Man’sonlytalentisanignoblecunningforsatisfyingtheneedsofhisbody,"saidtheoldbum."Nointelligenceisrequiredforthat.
Don’tbelievethestoriesaboutman’smind,hisspirit,hisideals,hissenseofunlimitedambition."
"Idon’t,"saidayoungboywhosatattheendofthecounter.Heworeacoatrippedacrossoneshoulder;hissquare-shapedmouthseemedformedbythebitternessofalifetime.
"Spirit?"saidtheoldbum."There’snospiritinvolvedinmanufacturingorinsex.Yettheseareman’sonlyconcerns.Matter—that’sallmenknoworcareabout.Aswitnessourgreatindustries—theonlyaccomplishmentofourallegedcivilization—builtbyvulgarmaterialistswiththeaims,theinterestsandthemoralsenseofhogs.Itdoesn’ttakeanymoralitytoturnoutaten-tontruckonanassemblyline."
"Whatismorality?"sheasked.
