Атлант расправил плечи

           "I’lltellyou...I’lltellyousomething...unhappinessisthehallmarkofvirtue.Ifamanisunhappy,really,trulyunhappy,itmeansthatheisasuperiorsortofperson."

           Hesawthepuzzled,anxiouslookofherface."But,Mr.Taggart,yougoteverythingyouwanted.Nowyouhavethebestrailroadinthecountry,thenewspaperscallyouthegreatestbusinessexecutiveoftheage,theysaythestockofyourcompanymadeafortuneforyouovernight,yougoteverythingyoucouldaskfor—aren’tyougladofit?"

           Inthebriefspaceofhisanswer,shefeltfrightened,sensingasuddenfearwithinhim.Heanswered,"No."

           Shedidn’tknowwhyhervoicedroppedtoawhisper."You’dratherthebridgehadcollapsed?"

           "Ihaven’tsaidthat!"hesnappedsharply.Thenheshruggedandwavedhishandinagestureofcontempt."Youdon’tunderstand."

           "I’msorry...Oh,IknowthatIhavesuchanawfullottolearn!"

           "Iamtalkingaboutahungerforsomethingmuchbeyondthatbridge.

           Ahungerthatnothingmaterialwilleversatisfy."

           "What,Mr.Taggart?Whatisityouwant?"

           "Oh,thereyougo!Themomentyouask,‘Whatisit?’you’rebackinthecrude,materialworldwhereeverything’sgottobetaggedandmeasured.I’mspeakingofthingsthatcan’tbenamedinmaterialisticwords...thehigherrealmsofthespirit,whichmancanneverreach...