Атлант расправил плечи
The Sanction of the Victim
Ifwewhowerethemovers,theproviders,thebenefactorsofmankind,werewillingtoletthebrandofevilbestampeduponusandsilentlytobearpunishmentforourvirtues—whatsortof"good"didweexpecttotriumphintheworld?
Helookedatthepeoplearoundhim.Theyhadcheeredhimtoday;theyhadcheeredhimbythesideofthetrackoftheJohnGaltLine.
ButtomorrowtheywouldclamorforanewdirectivefromWesleyMouchandafreehousingprojectfromOrrenBoyle,whileBoyle’sgirderscollapsedupontheirheads.Theywoulddoit,becausetheywouldbetoldtoforget,asasin,thatwhichhadmadethemcheerHankRearden.
Whyweretheyreadytorenouncetheirhighestmomentsasasin?
Whyweretheywillingtobetraythebestwithinthem?Whatmadethembelievethatthisearthwasarealmofevilwheredespairwastheirnaturalfate?Hecouldnotnamethereason,butheknewthatithadtobenamed.Hefeltitasahugequestionmarkwithinthecourtroom,whichitwasnowhisdutytoanswer.
Thiswastherealsentenceimposeduponhim,hethought—todiscoverwhatidea,whatsimpleideaavailabletothesimplestman,hadmademankindacceptthedoctrinesthatledittoself-destruction.
"Hank,I’llneverthinkthatit’shopeless,noteveragain,"saidDagnythatevening,afterthetrial."I’llneverbetemptedtoquit.
