Атлант расправил плечи
The Sanction of the Victim
Iamearningmyownliving,aseveryhonestmanmust.IrefusetoacceptasguiltthefactofmyownexistenceandthefactthatImustworkinordertosupportit.IrefusetoacceptasguiltthefactthatIamabletodoitandtodoitwell.IrefusetoacceptasguiltthefactthatIamabletodoitbetterthanmostpeople—thefactthatmyworkisofgreatervaluethantheworkofmyneighborsandthatmoremenarewillingtopay.Irefusetoapologizeformyability—Irefusetoapologizeformysuccess—Irefusetoapologizeformymoney.Ifthisisevil,makethemostofit.Ifthisiswhatthepublicfindsharmfultoitsinterests,letthepublicdestroyme.Thisismycode—andIwillacceptnoother.
IcouldsaytoyouthatIhavedonemoregoodformyfellowmenthanyoucaneverhopetoaccomplish—butIwillnotsayit,becauseIdonotseekthegoodofothersasasanctionformyrighttoexist,nordoIrecognizethegoodofothersasajustificationfortheirseizureofmypropertyortheirdestructionofmylife.Iwillnotsaythatthegoodofotherswasthepurposeofmywork—myowngoodwasmypurpose,andIdespisethemanwhosurrendershis.Icouldsaytoyouthatyoudonotservethepublicgood—thatnobody’sgoodcanbeachievedatthepriceofhumansacrifices—thatwhenyouviolatetherightsofoneman,youhaveviolatedtherightsofall,andapublicofrightlesscreaturesisdoomedtodestruction.
