Атлант расправил плечи

           Youhavebeencalledselfishforthecourageofactingonyourownjudgmentandbearingsoleresponsibilityforyourownlife.Youhavebeencalledarrogantforyourindependentmind.Youhavebeencalledcruelforyourunyieldingintegrity.Youhavebeencalledanti-socialforthevisionthatmadeyouventureuponundiscoveredroads.Youhavebeencalledruthlessforthestrengthandself-disciplineofyourdrivetoyourpurpose.Youhavebeencalledgreedyforthemagnificenceofyourpowertocreatewealth.You,who’veexpendedaninconceivableflowofenergy,havebeencalledaparasite.You,who’vecreatedabundancewheretherehadbeennothingbutwastelandsandhelpless,starvingmenbeforeyou,havebeencalledarobber.You,who’vekeptthemallalive,havebeencalledanexploiter.You,thepurestandmostmoralmanamongthem,havebeensneeredatasa‘vulgarmaterialist.’Haveyoustoppedtoaskthem:bywhatright?—bywhatcode?—bywhatstandard?No,youhaveborneitallandkeptsilent.Youbowedtotheircodeandyouneverupheldyourown.Youknewwhatexactingmoralitywasneededtoproduceasinglemetalnail,butyouletthembrandyouasimmoral.

           Youknewthatmanneedsthestrictestcodeofvaluestodealwithnature,butyouthoughtthatyouneedednosuchcodetodealwithmen.Youleftthedeadliestweaponinthehandsofyourenemies,aweaponyouneversuspectedorunderstood.Theirmoralcodeistheirweapon.Askyourselfhowdeeplyandinhowmanyterriblewaysyouhaveacceptedit.