Атлант расправил плечи

           Askyourselfwhatitisthatacodeofmoralvaluesdoestoaman’slife,andwhyhecan’texistwithoutit,andwhathappenstohimifheacceptsthewrongstandard,bywhichtheevilisthegood.ShallItellyouwhyyou’redrawntome,eventhoughyouthinkyououghttodamnme?It’sbecauseI’mthefirstmanwhohasgivenyouwhatthewholeworldowesyouandwhatyoushouldhavedemandedofallmenbeforeyoudealtwiththem:amoralsanction."

           Reardenwhirledtohim,thenremainedstill,withastillnesslikeagasp.Franciscoleanedforward,asifhewerereachingthelandingofadangerousflight,andhiseyesweresteady,buttheirglanceseemedtotremblewithintensity.

           "You’reguiltyofagreatsin,Mr.Rearden,muchguiltierthantheytellyou,butnotinthewaytheypreach.Theworstguiltistoacceptanundeservedguilt—andthatiswhatyouhavebeendoingallyourlife.

           Youhavebeenpayingblackmail,notforyourvices,butforyourvirtues.Youhavebeenwillingtocarrytheloadofanunearnedpunishment—andtoletitgrowtheheavierthegreaterthevirtuesyoupracticed.Butyourvirtueswerethosewhichkeepmenalive.Yourownmoralcode—theoneyoulivedby,butneverstated,acknowledgedordefended—wasthecodethatpreservesman’sexistence.Ifyouwerepunishedforit,whatwasthenatureofthosewhopunishedyou?

           Yourswasthecodeoflife.