Atlas Shrugged

by Ayn Rand

Now I’ll guess what you’re thinking: go ahead, say that it’s evil, that I’m selfish, conceited, heartless, cruel. I am. I don’t want any part of that tripe about working for others. I’m not.” For the first time, he saw the look of a personal reaction in Francisco’s eyes, the look of something eager and young. “The only thing that’s wrong in what you said,” Francisco answered, “is that you permit anyone to call it evil.” In Rearden’s pause of incredulous silence, he pointed at the crowd in the drawing room. “Why are you willing to carry them?” “Because they’re a bunch of miserable children who struggle to remain alive, desperately and very badly, while I—I don’t even notice the burden.” “Why don’t you tell them that?” “What?” “That you’re working for your own sake, not theirs.” “They know it.” “Oh yes, they know it. Every single one of them here knows it. But they don’t think you do. And the aim of all their efforts is to keep you from knowing it.” “Why should I care what they think?” “Because it’s—a battle in which one must make one’s stand clear.” “A battle? What battle? I hold the whip hand. I don’t fight the disarmed.” “Are they? They have a weapon against you. It’s their only weapon, but it’s a terrible one. Ask yourself what it is, some time.” “Where do you see any evidence of it?” “In the unforgivable fact that you’re as unhappy as you are.”