Атлант расправил плечи

           "Mywholefuturedependeduponamiserablehalf-milliondollars,whichwasjustsmallchangetohim,butwhenIappliedforaloan,heturnedmedownflat—fornobetterreasonthanthatIhadnocollateraltooffer.

           HowcouldIhaveaccumulatedanycollateral,whennobodyhadevergivenmeachanceatanythingbig?Whydidhelendmoneytoothers,butnottome?Itwasplaindiscrimination.Hedidn’tevencareaboutmyfeelings—hesaidthatmypastrecordoffailuresdisqualifiedmeforownershipofavegetablepushcart,letaloneamotorfactory.Whatfailures?Icouldn’thelpitifalotofignorantgrocersrefusedtoco-operatewithmeaboutthepapercontainers.Bywhatrightdidhepassjudgmentonmyability?Whydidmyplansformyownfuturehavetodependuponthearbitraryopinionofaselfishmonopolist?Iwasn’tgoingtostandforthat.Iwasn’tgoingtotakeitlyingdown.Ibroughtsuitagainsthim."

           "Youdidwhat?"

           "Ohyes,"hesaidproudly,"Ibroughtsuit.I’msureitwouldseemstrangeinsomeofyourhideboundEasternstates,butthestateofIllinoishadaveryhumane,veryprogressivelawunderwhichIcouldsuehim.Imustsayitwasthefirstcaseofitskind,butIhadaverysmart,liberallawyerwhosawawayforustodoit.Itwasaneconomicemergencylawwhichsaidthatpeoplewereforbiddentodiscriminateforanyreasonwhateveragainstanypersoninanymatterinvolvinghislivelihood.