Атлант расправил плечи

           "WhatIdescribedlast,"saidFrancisco,"isanymanwhoproclaimshisrighttoasinglepennyofanotherman’seffort."

           Reardendidnotanswer;hewaslookingatthereflectionofaneonsignondarkwindowsinthedistance.

           "Youtakeprideinsettingnolimittoyourendurance,Mr.Rearden,becauseyouthinkthatyouaredoingright.Whatifyouaren’t?Whatifyou’replacingyourvirtueintheserviceofevilandlettingitbecomeatoolforthedestructionofeverythingyoulove,respectandadmire?

           Whydon’tyouupholdyourowncodeofvaluesamongmenasyoudoamongironsmelters?Youwhowon’tallowonepercentofimpurityintoanalloyofmetal—whathaveyouallowedintoyourmoralcode?"

           Reardensatverystill;thewordsinhismindwerelikethebeatofstepsdownthetrailhehadbeenseeking;thewordswere:thesanctionofthevictim.

           "You,whowouldnotsubmittothehardshipsofnature,butsetouttoconqueritandplaceditintheserviceofyourjoyandyourcomfort—towhathaveyousubmittedatthehandsofmen?You,whoknowfromyourworkthatonebearspunishmentonlyforbeingwrong—whathaveyoubeenwillingtobearandforwhatreason?Allyourlife,youhaveheardyourselfdenounced,notforyourfaults,butforyourgreatestvirtues.Youhavebeenhated,notforyourmistakes,butforyourachievements.Youhavebeenscornedforallthosequalitiesofcharacterwhichareyourhighestpride.