Атлант расправил плечи

           FerrissatdownandmadeafewremarksaboutthecolorsoftheleavesinthemonthofOctober,ashehadobservedthembytheroadsideonhislongdrivefromWashington,undertakenspecificallyforthepurposeofmeetingMr.Reardeninperson.Reardensaidnothing.Dr.FerrislookedoutthewindowandcommentedontheinspiringsightoftheReardenmillswhich,hesaid,wereoneofthemostvaluableproductiveenterprisesinthecountry.

           "Thatisnotwhatyouthoughtofmyproductayearandahalfago,"saidRearden.

           Dr.Ferrisgaveabrieffrown,asifadotofthepatternhadslippedandalmostcosthimthegame,thenchuckled,asifhehadrecapturedit."Thatwasayearandahalfago,Mr.Rearden,"hesaideasily.

           "Timeschange,andpeoplechangewiththetimes—thewiseonesdo.

           Wisdomliesinknowingwhentorememberandwhentoforget.Consistencyisnotahabitofmindwhichitiswisetopracticeortoexpectofthehumanrace."

           Hethenproceededtodiscourseuponthefoolishnessofconsistencyinaworldwherenothingwasabsoluteexcepttheprincipleofcompromise.Hetalkedearnestly,butinacasualmanner,asiftheybothunderstoodthatthiswasnotthemainsubjectoftheirinterview;yet,oddly,hespokenotinthetoneofaforeword,butinthetoneofapostscript,asifthemainsubjecthadbeensettledlongago.