Атлант расправил плечи
The Sanction of the Victim
"
"Whatpretenseareyoutalkingabout,Lillian?"
"Oh,Iknowthatyouthinkyou’refightingforsomesortofprinciple—butactuallyit’sonlyamatterofyourincredibleconceit.You’redoingitfornobetterreasonthanbecauseyouthinkyou’reright."
"Doyouthinkthey’reright?"
Sheshrugged,"That’stheconceitI’mtalkingabout—theideathatitmatterswho’srightorwrong.It’sthemostinsufferableformofvanity,thisinsistenceonalwaysdoingright.Howdoyouknowwhat’sright?
Howcananyoneeverknowit?It’snothingbutadelusiontoflatteryourownegoandtohurtotherpeoplebyflauntingyoursuperiorityoverthem."
Hewaslookingatherwithattentiveinterest."Whyshouldithurtotherpeople,ifit’snothingbutadelusion?"
"Isitnecessaryformetopointoutthatinyourcaseit’snothingbuthypocrisy?ThatiswhyIfindyourattitudepreposterous.Questionsofrighthavenobearingonhumanexistence.Andyou’recertainlynothingbuthuman—aren’tyou,Henry?You’renobetterthananyofthemenyou’regoingtofacetomorrow.Ithinkyoushouldrememberthatit’snotforyoutomakeastandonanysortofprinciple.
