Атлант расправил плечи

           Rearden,iswhyyoulivebyonecodeofprincipleswhenyoudealwithnatureandbyanotherwhenyoudealwithmen?"

           Rearden’seyeswerefixedonhimsointentlythatthequestioncameslowly,asiftheefforttopronounceitwereadistraction:"Whatdoyoumean?"

           "Whydon’tyouholdtothepurposeofyourlifeasclearlyandrigidlyasyouholdtothepurposeofyourmills?"

           "Whatdoyoumean?"

           "Youhavejudgedeverybrickwithinthisplacebyitsvaluetothegoalofmakingsteel.Haveyoubeenasstrictaboutthegoalwhichyourworkandyoursteelareserving?Whatdoyouwishtoachievebygivingyourlifetothemakingofsteel?Bywhatstandardofvaluedoyoujudgeyourdays?Forinstance,whydidyouspendtenyearsofexactingefforttoproduceReardenMetal?"

           Reardenlookedaway,theslight,slumpingmovementofhisshoulderslikeasighofreleaseanddisappointment."Ifyouhavetoaskthat,thenyouwouldn’tunderstand."

           "IfItoldyouthatIunderstandit,butyoudon’t—wouldyouthrowmeoutofhere?"

           "Ishouldhavethrownyououtofhereanyway—sogoahead,tellmewhatyoumean."

           "AreyouproudoftherailoftheJohnGaltLine?"

           "Yes."

           "Why?"

           "Becauseit’sthebestrailevermade."

           "Whydidyoumakeit?"

           "Inordertomakemoney.