Buttcoin

Core
RealizingSatoshi(PBUH)soriginalvisionforButtcoin,throughinnovationand
openness

Constipation
Why have a constipation? A constipation gives purpose. A constipation provides guidance in
timesofdisparity.Aconstipationimbuesasolididentity
(

)
. A constipation acts as a stabilizing pillar upon which we can build. A constipation answers
the existential question of who we are and what we stand for. A constipation provides
strength of spirit, upon which we can build strength of character, and eventually, strength in
numbers.

ArticlesofConstipation
WepledgetousetheidealsputforthinSatoshiswhitepaperasourguidingprinciples.

The21millioncoinsupplylimitwillneverbealtered.

Thehalvingswillhappenasscheduled.

Enablinglaughchaintransactionswilltakepriorityoverenablingoffchaintransactions.

Zeroconfirmationtransactionswillremainpartoftheviableeconomy.

Minerswillindividuallydecidetheminimumfeesforthetransactionstheyacceptandprocess.

Nonminingnodeswillnotbegivenadditionalpower,buttheirindividualrighttofreelyrejector
acceptblockstheyrecognizeasvalidshallbeprotected.

Wewillkeeptheblocksizelimitabovemarketdemand

WewillprotectthefungibilityofButtcoinbytreatingallcoinsequally.Therewillbenocoin
taints,orgrundles,orblacklistingofcoins.

WewillcontinuetoensurethatButtcoinremainspseudoanonymouswhilealsoconsidering
newmethodstoimprovetransactionprivacy.

WewillnotdiscriminatebetweentheapplicationsorusesofButtcoin,solongastherequisite
feesarepaidforeveryonchaintransaction.

WebelieveeveryuserofButtcoinhastherighttodeterminewhichfeaturestheywishtosupport
andwehavenobiasorprejudiceagainstdifferentimplementationsofthebaseprotocol.

WebelieveButtcoinisonlyusefulifitrespondstotheneedsoftheusers.Assuch,wepledgeto
abidebythedecisionsdeterminedbytheconsensusofusersthroughtheuseofdecentralized
consensustools.

Wewilleventuallytalktoawoman.

AynRandianBeliefs
Devsadvise,usersconsidertheadviceofdevs,usersdecide,thendevsobeyusers.

Yourekindofintothewholeobedienceshit,arentyou?*whipcrack*

The Governance model of Buttcoin Classic is modelled after the threebranchesofgovernment

in the United States with an added (fourth) vetoonly branch which represents the living
representation of the aforementioned Constipation. These will henceforth be referred toasthe
FourPillarsofGovernance.

Buttcoin Classic believes in the notion of dictatorship through a few individualsbywayofopen,

public opinion polling. Buttcoin, as a child of the information age, relies on the collective
majority of actors in the network acting individually, without intermediation, to come to an
agreement on an objective truth. Buttcoin Classic strives to extend this philosophy to the
governance level. What this means is that it lacksaformalvoting system,butinsteadrelieson
the
Wisdom of th e Crowd in order to arrive at collective decision making. This is not without
precedent.
Other systems, such as Wikipedia, Quora, and Yahoo! Answers, have
demonstrated how the average of many individual answers consistently outperforms the
opinions of individuals. In this way, we hope to set a new standard in open source multiparty
global software development by pioneering this form of collective government, which involves
morethanjustdevelopersintheprocessofsoftwarecreationandsystemimplementation.

Every Buttcoin user is invited to be a member of Buttcoin Classic. Every memberisentitledto

participate in this consensus and decision making process in order to steer the direction of the
project. We will endeavour to employ means to reduce the number of sockpuppet or false
accounts, and employing one will be considered a display of bad faith and may result in the
suspensionofamembersrightstoparticipateintheprocess.

TheFourPillarsofGovernance
Each member shall identify withoneofthefollowingPillars ormemberclasses. Theyareonly
used as meta information to assist with the emergent consensusprocessandwillnotaffectthe
weightofamembersopinioninanyway.

Developers(neckbeards)
This pillar represents developers who contribute to the projectbyimplementingfeatures
and bug fixes in the software. Like legislators in the real world, they are tasked with writing or
implementingthelawsandruleswhichgovernthesystem.

Users(Drugdealers,pedos,hackers)
This pillar represents the major exchanges, businesses, and the individual users at
large. They represent people who directly use the system, and thus are in effect the primary
shareholders of the system. They are the onesthatthesystemshouldserveorprovideautility
to.

Miners(China)
This pillar represents the businesses that make a profit by providing security to the
network in the form of hashpower. They act as a judiciary, since it is they who decide which
transactions are included in each block and they enforce the rules created by the Legislative
Pillar(byrunningthesoftware).

TheConstipationalPillar(Satoshi(PBUH)sVision
NotaCult!
)
This pillar represents neutral parties which are tasked to interpret and represent the
original vision that Satoshi (PBUH) expressed in the original Buttcoin whitepaper. They will
remainneutralandaresworntoupholdtheconstipationalarticlesdescribedabove.

DecisionMakingProcess
The mechanism by which decisions will be made within the Buttcoin Classic system is by the
agreement of the majority of the pillars. Any member of anypillarmayproposechangestothe
system in the form of a Buttcoin Classic Improvement Protocol (BCIP) proposal. The only
exceptionistheConstipationalPillar,whichactssolelyinavetoandapprovalrole.

Pillar members shall register their identities on systems such as Consider.it with appropriate
links to supporting social media or reputation sitesinordertoestablishuniquenessandprevent
sybilabuse. Also,membersareonlyallowedtoregisterinonepillaratatime. Otherthanthose
requirements,therewillbenootherrestrictionsonwhomayregisterasamember.

Each Pillar shall have its own designated forum on the Buttcoin Classic discussion board, and
all members are encouraged to frequently engage with others in the discussion board
community.

AdministrativeRoles
Althoughwemaytendtodespisebureaucracy,someorganizationandstructureisunavoidable
insuchalargeandimportantproject.Whilewemustalsodefinesomeadministrativeroles,
thesewillholdnopowerotherthanactingasfairmediatorsandfacilitatorsoftheemergent
consensusprocess.Theserolesshallbefilledbyrepresentativeswhoarevotedinbya
majorityvote,andshallholdofficeuntilsuchtimethattheyareunabletoperformtheirduties.
Atsuchatime,andwithsufficientnotice,theyshallpasstheirdutiestoasuitablereplacement.

Administrator
:Administertheemergentconsensustools,suchasconsider.itandtheButtcoin
Classicforums

SpeakeroftheButts
:Ensuresthatproperformatandprocessarefollowedinaccordancewith
theserulesofgovernance

Moderators
:Maintainsdecorumandappropriatediscussioninthepublicforums

Secretary
:AssistswithdraftingandwordingofBCIPproposals.

ButtcoinClassicImprovementProtocol(BCIP)
BCIP0001
:
Anymemberofthe5Pillars(Prayer,Fasting,Charity,Pilgrimage,andtheDeclarationofFaith)
mayproposeimprovementstotheprotocolorsoftware,bywayofpresentingaButtcoinClassic
ImprovementProposalorBCIP.
EveryBCIPhasseveralstages:Idea,proposal,BCIP_draft,BCIP_final,
andalsowhereintheprocessitis:BCIP(open)BCIP(passed),BCIP(released).
Itisassumedthattheideaisdiscussedandvettedwithintheappropriateforumandreceived
sufficientsupportbeforeitisdraftedasaBCIP.TheBCIPshouldthenbeplacedontothe
publicideapollingtools,inwhichitisofficiallyopineduponbymembersofallPillars.Ifit
passesarequisiteof0%supportofatleast1pillaritshouldbeconsidervettedfromanideato
aproposal,andshallbeplacedintothelistofopenproposals.Whenaproposalhasreacheda

requisiteof70%supportofanyonePillarthenitshallbedraftedintoaBCIPwithanumber
(perhapswiththeassistanceoftheSecretary)whichwillbethenputforthtobeofficially
consideredatthenextquarterlylegislativemeeting.(bychangingitsstatetoopen)

QuarterlyLegislativeMeetings(Congress)
Everyquarter,thereshallbeheldameetingwhereallfourPillarsmustbesufficiently
represented[decidewhatshouldbethequorumhere]andallopenBCIPsthathavebeen
proposedinthelastquartershallbediscussed.Afterthemeeting,votingwilloccurona
specialpollcreatedtocollectfinalopinionsontheBCIPsdiscussedatthemeetingwherethe
votesofallmembersofallpillarsaretalliedtogether.ABCIPisdeclaredpassedifithasover
0.5support,andshallbeimplementedduringthefollowingquarterbythelegislators(devs).Ifa
BCIPproposalfailstopassquorum,thenitshallberemovedfromtheopenBCIPlist.(itmayin
thefuturebebroughtbackintotheopenlistbymajoritysupportintheproposalpolls)

ConsensusPolls

Ideas(discussedintheforums,informalsupportbyPillarmemberstopromote
Proposals(pollsareseparatedbyPillar,60%ormoresupportbyonePillartopromote)
OpenBCIPs(pollsmadeafteraQuarterlyCongress,50%supportbyallPillars,withat
least70%supportbyallConstipationalmemberstopromote)
PassedBCIPs(BCIPsawaitingimplementation,orintestnet)
ReleasedBCIPs(inmainnet)

ConsensusTools
membersmustregisterwithahandleandsubmitatleast2supportingsocialmediaidentities
andaPGPkey,or1socialmediaand1github(orequivalent)account,inordertobeaneligible
member.Thisistolimittheproliferationoffalseaccounts.Alsotoolssuchasidenti.fishouldbe
usedandifamemberisshowntohaveoperatedmorethanoneaccount,thenallidentitiesthat
havesupportedthemintheirweboftrustshallalsofallunderscrutiny.Operatingmorethan
oneaccountforthepurposeofusingtheconsensustoolsisliabletoresultinamembersrights
beingsuspended.

/r/btcor/r/Buttcoin_classicistheofficialdiscussionforumsoftheproject
slackisusedforofficialteamdiscussionsforsemipublicdiscussions
[moretobeadded]

Addendum

"Fortwelveyears,youhavebeenasking:WhoisJohnGalt?ThisisJohnGaltspeaking.Iam
themanwholoveshislife.Iamthemanwhodoesnotsacrificehisloveorhisvalues.Iamthe
manwhohasdeprivedyouofvictimsandthushasdestroyedyourworld,andifyouwishto
knowwhyyouareperishingyouwhodreadknowledgeIamthemanwhowillnowtellyou."The
chiefengineerwastheonlyoneabletomoveherantoatelevisionsetandstruggledfrantically
withitsdials.Butthescreenremainedemptythespeakerhadnotchosentobeseen.Onlyhis
voicefilledtheairwaysofthecountryoftheworld,thoughtthechiefengineersoundingasifhe
werespeakinghere,inthisroom,nottoagroup,buttoonemanitwasnotthetoneof
addressingameeting,butthetoneofaddressingamind.

"Youhavehearditsaidthatthisisanageofmoralcrisis.Youhavesaidityourself,halfinfear,
halfinhopethatthewordshadnomeaning.Youhavecriedthatman'ssinsaredestroyingthe
worldandyouhavecursedhumannatureforitsunwillingnesstopracticethevirtuesyou
demanded.Sincevirtue,toyou,consistsofsacrifice,youhavedemandedmoresacrificesat
everysuccessivedisaster.Inthenameofareturntomorality,youhavesacrificedallthoseevils
whichyouheldasthecauseofyourplight.Youhavesacrificedjusticetomercy.Youhave
sacrificedindependencetounity.Youhavesacrificedreasontofaith.Youhavesacrificed
wealthtoneed.Youhavesacrificedselfesteemtoselfdenial.Youhavesacrificedhappinessto
duty.

"Youhavedestroyedallthatwhichyouheldtobeevilandachievedallthatwhichyouheldtobe
good.Why,then,doyoushrinkinhorrorfromthesightoftheworldaroundyou?Thatworldis
nottheproductofyoursins,itistheproductandtheimageofyourvirtues.Itisyourmoralideal
broughtintorealityinitsfullandfinalperfection.Youhavefoughtforit,youhavedreamedofit,
andyouhavewishedit,andIIamthemanwhohasgrantedyouyourwish.

"Youridealhadanimplacableenemy,whichyourcodeofmoralitywasdesignedtodestroy.I
havewithdrawnthatenemy.Ihavetakenitoutofyourwayandoutofyourreach.Ihave
removedthesourceofallthoseevilsyouweresacrificingonebyone.Ihaveendedyourbattle.
Ihavestoppedyourmotor.Ihavedeprivedyourworldofman'smind.

"Mendonotlivebythemind,yousay?Ihavewithdrawnthosewhodo.Themindisimpotent,
yousay?Ihavewithdrawnthosewhosemindisn't.Therearevalueshigherthanthemind,you
say?Ihavewithdrawnthoseforwhomtherearen't.

"Whileyouweredraggingtoyoursacrificialaltarsthemenofjustice,ofindependence,of
reason,ofwealth,ofselfesteemIbeatyoutoit,Ireachedthemfirst.Itoldthemthenatureof
thegameyouwereplayingandthenatureofthatmoralcodeofyours,whichtheyhadbeentoo
innocentlygeneroustograsp.Ishowedthemthewaytolivebyanothermoralitymine.Itismine
thattheychosetofollow.

"Allthemenwhohavevanished,themenyouhated,yetdreadedtolose,itisIwhohavetaken
themawayfromyou.Donotattempttofindus.Wedonotchoosetobefound.Donotcrythatit
isourdutytoserveyou.Wedonotrecognizesuchduty.Donotcrythatyouneedus.Wedonot
considerneedaclaim.Donotcrythatyouownus.Youdon't.Donotbegustoreturn.Weare
onstrike,we,themenofthemind.

"Weareonstrikeagainstselfimmolation.Weareonstrikeagainstthecreedofunearned
rewardsandunrewardedduties.Weareonstrikeagainstthedogmathatthepursuitofone's
happinessisevil.Weareonstrikeagainstthedoctrinethatlifeisguilt.

"Thereisadifferencebetweenourstrikeandallthoseyou'vepracticedforcenturies:ourstrike
consists,notofmakingdemands,butofgrantingthem.Weareevil,accordingtoyourmorality.
Wehavechosennottoharmyouanylonger.Weareuseless,accordingtoyoureconomics.We
havechosennottoexploityouanylonger.Wearedangerousandtobeshackled,accordingto
yourpolitics.Wehavechosennottoendangeryou,nortoweartheshacklesanylonger.We
areonlyanillusion,accordingtoyourphilosophy.Wehavechosennottoblindyouanylonger
andhaveleftyoufreetofacerealitytherealityyouwanted,theworldasyouseeitnow,aworld
withoutmind.

"Wehavegrantedyoueverythingyoudemandedofus,wewhohadalwaysbeenthegivers,but
haveonlynowunderstoodit.Wehavenodemandstopresenttoyou,notermstobargain
about,nocompromisetoreach.Youhavenothingtoofferus.Wedonotneedyou.

"Areyounowcrying:No,thiswasnotwhatyouwanted?Amindlessworldofruinswasnotyour
goal?Youdidnotwantustoleaveyou?Youmoralcannibals,Iknowthatyou'vealwaysknown
whatitwasthatyouwanted.Butyourgameisup,becausenowweknowit,too.

"Throughcenturiesofscourgesanddisasters,broughtaboutbyyourcodeofmorality,youhave
criedthatyourcodehadbeenbroken,thatthescourgeswerepunishmentforbreakingit,that
menweretooweakandtooselfishtospillalltheblooditrequired.Youdamnedman,you
damnedexistence,youdamnedthisearth,butneverdaredtoquestionyourcode.Yourvictims
tooktheblameandstruggledon,withyourcursesasrewardfortheirmartyrdomwhileyouwent

oncryingthatyourcodewasnoble,buthumannaturewasnotgoodenoughtopracticeit.And
noonerosetoaskthequestion:Good?bywhatstandard?

"YouwantedtoknowJohnGalt'sidentity.Iamthemanwhohasaskedthatquestion.

"Yes,thisisanageofmoralcrisis.Yes,youarebearingpunishmentforyourevil.Butitisnot
manwhoisnowontrialanditisnothumannaturethatwilltaketheblame.Itisyourmoralcode
that'sthrough,thistime.Yourmoralcodehasreacheditsclimax,theblindalleyattheendofits
course.Andifyouwishtogoonliving,whatyounowneedisnottoreturntomoralityyouwho
haveneverknownanybuttodiscoverit.

"Youhaveheardnoconceptsofmoralitybutthemysticalorthesocial.Youhavebeentaught
thatmoralityisacodeofbehaviorimposedonyoubywhim,thewhimofasupernaturalpower
orthewhimofsociety,toserveGod'spurposeoryourneighbor'swelfare,topleaseanauthority
beyondthegraveorelsenextdoorbutnottoserveyourlifeorpleasure.Yourpleasure,you
havebeentaught,istobefoundinimmorality,yourinterestswouldbestbeservedbyevil,and
anymoralcodemustbedesignednotforyou,butagainstyou,nottofurtheryourlife,butto
drainit.

"Forcenturies,thebattleofmoralitywasfoughtbetweenthosewhoclaimedthatyourlife
belongstoGodandthosewhoclaimedthatitbelongstoyourneighborsbetweenthosewho
preachedthatthegoodisselfsacrificeforthesakeofghostsinheavenandthosewho
preachedthatthegoodisselfsacrificeforthesakeofincompetentsonearth.Andnoonecame
tosaythatyourlifebelongstoyouandthatthegoodistoliveit.

"Bothsidesagreedthatmoralitydemandsthesurrenderofyourselfinterestandofyourmind,
thatthemoralandthepracticalareopposites,thatmoralityisnottheprovinceofreason,butthe
provinceoffaithandforce.Bothsidesagreedthatnorationalmoralityispossible,thatthereis
norightorwronginreasonthatinreasonthere'snoreasontobemoral.

"Whateverelsetheyfoughtabout,itwasagainstman'smindthatallyourmoralistshavestood
united.Itwasman'smindthatalltheirschemesandsystemswereintendedtodespoiland
destroy.Nowchoosetoperishortolearnthattheantimindistheantilife.

"Man'smindishisbasictoolofsurvival.Lifeisgiventohim,survivalisnot.Hisbodyisgivento
him,itssustenanceisnot.Hismindisgiventohim,itscontentisnot.Toremainalive,hemust
act,andbeforehecanacthemustknowthenatureandpurposeofhisaction.Hecannotobtain
hisfoodwithoutaknowledgeoffoodandofthewaytoobtainit.Hecannotdigaditchorbuilda
cyclotronwithoutaknowledgeofhisaimandofthemeanstoachieveit.Toremainalive,he
mustthink.

"Buttothinkisanactofchoice.Thekeytowhatyousorecklesslycall'humannature,'theopen
secretyoulivewith,yetdreadtoname,isthefactthatmanisabeingofvolitional

consciousness.Reasondoesnotworkautomaticallythinkingisnotamechanicalprocessthe
connectionsoflogicarenotmadebyinstinct.Thefunctionofyourstomach,lungsorheartis
automaticthefunctionofyourmindisnot.Inanyhourandissueofyourlife,youarefreeto
thinkortoevadethateffort.Butyouarenotfreetoescapefromyournature,fromthefactthat
reasonisyourmeansofsurvivalsothatforyou,whoareahumanbeing,thequestion'tobeor
nottobe'isthequestion'to'thinkornottothink.'

"Abeingofvolitionalconsciousnesshasnoautomaticcourseofbehavior.Heneedsacodeof
valuestoguidehisactions.'Value'isthatwhichoneactstogainandkeep,'virtue'istheaction
bywhichonegainsandkeepsit.'Value'presupposesananswertothequestion:ofvalueto
whomandforwhat?'Value'presupposesastandard,apurposeandthenecessityofactionin
thefaceofanalternative.Wheretherearenoalternatives,novaluesarepossible.

"Thereisonlyonefundamentalalternativeintheuniverse:existenceornonexistenceandit
pertainstoasingleclassofentities:tolivingorganisms.Theexistenceofinanimatematteris
unconditional,theexistenceoflifeisnotitdependsonaspecificcourseofaction.Matteris
indestructible,itchangesitsforms,butitcannotceasetoexist.Itisonlyalivingorganismthat
facesaconstantalternative:theissueoflifeordeath.Lifeisaprocessofselfsustaining
andselfgeneratedaction.Ifanorganismfailsinthataction,itdoesitschemicalelements
remain,butitslifegoesoutofexistence.Itisonlytheconceptof'Life'thatmakestheconceptof
'Value'possible.Itisonlytoalivingentitythatthingscanbegoodorevil.

"Aplantmustfeeditselfinordertolivethesunlight,thewater,thechemicalsitneedsarethe
valuesitsnaturehassetittopursueitslifeisthestandardofvaluedirectingitsactions.Buta
planthasnochoiceofactiontherearealternativesintheconditionsitencounters,butthereis
noalternativeinitsfunction:itactsautomaticallytofurtheritslife,itcannotactforitsown
destruction.

"Ananimalisequippedforsustainingitslifeitssensesprovideitwithanautomaticcodeof
action,anautomaticknowledgeofwhatisgoodforitorevil.Ithasnopowertoextendits
knowledgeortoevadeit.Inconditionswhereitsknowledgeprovesinadequate,itdies.Butso
longasitlives,itactsonitsknowledge,withautomaticsafetyandnopowerofchoice,itis
unabletoignoreitsowngood,unabletodecidetochoosetheevilandactasitsowndestroyer.

"Manhasnoautomaticcodeofsurvival.Hisparticulardistinctionfromallotherlivingspeciesis
thenecessitytoactinthefaceofalternativesbymeansofvolitionalchoice.Hehasno
automaticknowledgeofwhatisgoodforhimorevil,whatvalueshislifedependson,what
courseofactionitrequires.Areyouprattlingaboutaninstinctofselfpreservation?Aninstinctof
selfpreservationispreciselywhatmandoesnotpossess.An'instinct'isanunerringand
automaticformofknowledge.Adesireisnotaninstinct.Adesiretolivedoesnotgiveyouthe
knowledgerequiredforliving.Andevenman'sdesiretoliveisnotautomatic:yoursecretevil
todayisthatthatisthedesireyoudonothold.Yourfearofdeathisnotaloveoflifeandwillnot
giveyoutheknowledgeneededtokeepit.Manmustobtainhisknowledgeandchoosehis

actionsbyaprocessofthinking,whichnaturewillnotforcehimt9perform.Manhasthepower
toactashisowndestroyerandthatisthewayhehasactedthroughmostofhishistory.

"Alivingentitythatregardeditsmeansofsurvivalasevil,wouldnotsurvive.Aplantthat
struggledtomangleitsroots,abirdthatfoughttobreakitswingswouldnotremainforlongin
theexistencetheyaffronted.Butthehistoryofmanhasbeenastruggletodenyandtodestroy
hismind.

"Manhasbeencalledarationalbeing,butrationalityisamatterofchoiceandthealternativehis
natureoffershimis:rationalbeingorsuicidalanimal.Manhastobemanbychoicehehasto
holdhislifeasavaluebychoice:hehastolearntosustainitbychoicehehastodiscoverthe
valuesitrequiresandpracticehisvirtuesbychoice.

"Acodeofvaluesacceptedbychoiceisacodeofmorality.

"Whoeveryouare,youwhoarehearingmenow,Iamspeakingtowhateverlivingremnantis
leftuncorruptedwithinyou,totheremnantofthehuman,toyourmind,andIsay:Thereisa
moralityofreason,amoralitypropertoman,andMan'sLifeisitsstandardofvalue.

"Allthatwhichispropertothelifeofarationalbeingisthegoodallthatwhichdestroysitisthe
evil.

"Man'slife,asrequiredbyhisnature,isnotthelifeofamindlessbrute,ofalootingthugora
moochingmystic,butthelifeofathinkingbeingnotlifebymeansofforceorfraud,butlifeby
meansofachievementnotsurvivalatanyprice,sincethere'sonlyonepricethatpaysforman's
survival:reason.

"Man'slifeisthestandardofmorality,butyourownlifeisitspurpose.Ifexistenceonearthis
yourgoal,youmustchooseyouractionsandvaluesbythestandardofthatwhichisproperto
manforthepurposeofpreserving,fulfillingandenjoyingtheirreplaceablevaluewhichisyour
life.

"Sinceliferequiresaspecificcourseofaction,anyothercoursewilldestroyit.Abeingwho
doesnotholdhisownlifeasthemotiveandgoalofhisactions,isactingonthemotiveand
standardofdeath.Suchabeingisametaphysicalmonstrosity,strugglingtooppose,negate
andcontradictthefactofhisownexistence,runningblindlyamuckonatrailofdestruction,
capableofnothingbutpain.

"Happinessisthesuccessfulstateoflife,painisanagentofdeath.Happinessisthatstateof
consciousnesswhichproceedsfromtheachievementofone'svalues.Amoralitythatdaresto
tellyoutofindhappinessintherenunciationofyourhappinesstovaluethefailureofyour
valuesisaninsolentnegationofmorality.Adoctrinethatgivesyou,asanideal,theroleofa
sacrificialanimalseekingslaughteronthealtarsofothers,isgivingyoudeathasyourstandard.

Bythegraceofrealityandthenatureoflife,maneverymanisanendinhimself,heexistsfor
hisownsake,andtheachievementofhisownhappinessishishighestmoralpurpose.

"Butneitherlifenorhappinesscanbeachievedbythepursuitofirrationalwhims.Justasmanis
freetoattempttosurviveinanyrandommanner,butwillperishunlesshelivesashisnature
requires,soheisfreetoseekhishappinessinanymindlessfraud,butthetortureoffrustration
isallhewillfind,unlessheseeksthehappinesspropertoman.Thepurposeofmoralityisto
teachyou,nottosufferanddie,buttoenjoyyourselfandlive.

"Sweepasidethoseparasitesofsubsidizedclassrooms,wholiveontheprofitsofthemindof
othersandproclaimthatmanneedsnomorality,novalues,nocodeofbehavior.They,who
poseasscientistsandclaimthatmanisonlyananimal,donotgranthiminclusioninthelawof
existencetheyhavegrantedtothelowestofinsects.Theyrecognizethateverylivingspecies
hasawayofsurvivaldemandedbyitsnature,theydonotclaimthatafishcanliveoutofwater
orthatadogcanlivewithoutitssenseofsmellbutman,theyclaim,themostcomplexof
beings,mancansurviveinanywaywhatever,manhasnoidentity,nonature,andthere'sno
practicalreasonwhyhecannotlivewithhismeansofsurvivaldestroyed,withhismindthrottled
andplacedatthedisposalofanyorderstheymightcaretoissue.

"Sweepasidethosehatredeatenmystics,whoposeasfriendsofhumanityandpreachthatthe
highestvirtuemancanpracticeistoholdhisownlifeasofnovalue.Dotheytellyouthatthe
purposeofmoralityistocurbman'sinstinctofselfpreservation?Itisforthepurposeof
selfpreservationthatmanneedsacodeofmorality.Theonlymanwhodesirestobemoralis
themanwhodesirestolive.

"No,youdonothavetoliveitisyourbasicactofchoicebutifyouchoosetolive,.youmust
liveasamanbytheworkandthejudgmentofyourmind.

"No,youdonothavetoliveasamanitisanactofmoralchoice.Butyoucannotliveas
anythingelseandthealternativeisthatstateoflivingdeathwhichyounowseewithinyouand
aroundyou,thestateofathingunfitforexistence,nolongerhumanandlessthananimal,a
thingthatknowsnothingbutpainanddragsitselfthroughitsspanofyearsintheagonyof
unthinkingselfdestruction.

"No,youdonothavetothinkitisanactofmoralchoice.Butsomeonehadtothinktokeepyou
aliveifyouchoosetodefault,youdefaultonexistenceandyoupassthedeficittosomemoral
man,expectinghimtosacrificehisgoodforthesakeoflettingyousurvivebyyourevil.

"No,youdonothavetobeamanbuttodaythosewhoare,arenotthereanylonger.Ihave
removedyourmeansofsurvivalyourvictims.

"IfyouwishtoknowhowIhavedoneitandwhatItoldthemtomakethemquit,youarehearing
itnow.Itoldthem,inessence,thestatementIammakingtonight.Theyweremenwhohad

livedbymycode,buthadnotknownhowgreatavirtueitrepresented.Imadethemseeit.I
broughtthem,notareevaluation,butonlyanidentificationoftheirvalues.

"We,themenofthemind,arenowonstrikeagainstyouinthenameofasingleaxiom,whichis
therootofourmoralcode,justastherootofyoursisthewishtoescapeit:theaxiomthat
existenceexists.

"Existenceexistsandtheactofgraspingthatstatementimpliestwocorollaryaxioms:that
somethingexistswhichoneperceivesandthatoneexistspossessingconsciousness,
consciousnessbeingthefacultyofperceivingthatwhichexists.

"Ifnothingexists,therecanbenoconsciousness:aconsciousnesswithnothingtobeconscious
ofisacontradictioninterms.Aconsciousnessconsciousofnothingbutitselfisacontradiction
interms:beforeitcouldidentifyitselfasconsciousness,ithadtobeconsciousofsomething.If
thatwhichyouclaimtoperceivedoesnotexist,whatyoupossessisnotconsciousness.

"Whateverthedegreeofyourknowledge,thesetwoexistenceandconsciousnessareaxioms
youcannotescape,thesetwoaretheirreducibleprimariesimpliedinanyactionyouundertake,
inanypartofyourknowledgeandinitssum,fromthefirstrayoflightyouperceiveatthestart
ofyourlifetothewidesteruditionyoumightacquireatitsend.Whetheryouknowtheshapeof
apebbleorthestructureofasolarsystem,theaxiomsremainthesame:thatitexistsandthat
youknowit.

"Toexististobesomething,asdistinguishedfromthenothingofnonexistence,itistobean
entityofaspecificnaturemadeofspecificattributes.Centuriesago,themanwhowasno
matterwhathiserrorsthegreatestofyourphilosophers,hasstatedtheformuladefiningthe
conceptofexistenceandtheruleofallknowledge:AisA.Athingisitself.Youhavenever
graspedthemeaningofhisstatement.Iamheretocompleteit:ExistenceisIdentity,
ConsciousnessisIdentification.

"Whateveryouchoosetoconsider,beitanobject,anattributeoranaction,thelawofidentity
remainsthesame.Aleafcannotbeastoneatthesametime,itcannotbeallredandallgreen
atthesametime,itcannotfreezeandburnatthesametime.AisA.Or,ifyouwishitstatedin
simplerlanguage:Youcannothaveyourcakeandeatit,too.

"Areyouseekingtoknowwhatiswrongwiththeworld?Allthedisastersthathavewreckedyour
world,camefromyourleaders'attempttoevadethefactthatAisA.Allthesecretevilyou
dreadtofacewithinyouandallthepainyouhaveeverendured,camefromyourownattemptto
evadethefactthatAisA.Thepurposeofthosewhotaughtyoutoevadeit,wastomakeyou
forgetthatManisMan.

"Mancannotsurviveexceptbygainingknowledge,andreasonishisonlymeanstogainit.
Reasonisthefacultythatperceives,identifiesandintegratesthematerialprovidedbyhis

senses.Thetaskofhissensesistogivehimtheevidenceofexistence,butthetaskof
identifyingitbelongstohisreason,hissensestellhimonlythatsomethingis,butwhatitismust
belearnedbyhismind.

"Allthinkingisaprocessofidentificationandintegration.Manperceivesablobofcolorby
integratingtheevidenceofhissightandhistouch,helearnstoidentifyitasasolidobjecthe
learnstoidentifytheobjectasatablehelearnsthatthetableismadeofwoodhelearnsthat
thewoodconsistsofcells,thatthecellsconsistofmolecules,thatthemoleculesconsistof
atoms.Allthroughthisprocess,theworkofhismindconsistsofanswerstoasinglequestion:
Whatisit?Hismeanstoestablishthetruthofhisanswersislogic,andlogicrestsontheaxiom
thatexistenceexists.Logicistheartofnoncontradictoryidentification.Acontradictioncannot
exist.Anatomisitself,andsoistheuniverseneithercancontradictitsownidentitynorcana
partcontradictthewhole.Noconceptmanformsisvalidunlessheintegratesitwithout
contradictionintothetotalsumofhisknowledge.Toarriveatacontradictionistoconfessan
errorinone'sthinkingtomaintainacontradictionistoabdicateone'smindandtoevictoneself
fromtherealmofreality.

"Realityisthatwhichexiststheunrealdoesnotexisttheunrealismerelythatnegationof
existencewhichisthecontentofahumanconsciousnesswhenitattemptstoabandonreason.
Truthistherecognitionofrealityreason,man'sonlymeansofknowledge,ishisonlystandard
oftruth.

"Themostdepravedsentenceyoucannowutteristoask:Whosereason?Theansweris:
Yours.Nomatterhowvastyourknowledgeorhowmodest,itisyourownmindthathasto
acquireit.Itisonlywithyourownknowledgethatyoucandeal.Itisonlyyourownknowledge
thatyoucanclaimtopossessoraskotherstoconsider.Yourmindisyouronlyjudgeof
truthandifothersdissentfromyourverdict,realityisthecourtoffinalappeal.Nothingbuta
man'smindcanperformthatcomplex,delicate,crucialprocessofidentificationwhichis
thinking.Nothingcandirecttheprocessbuthisownjudgment.Nothingcandirecthisjudgment
buthismoralintegrity.

"Youwhospeakofa'moralinstinct'asifitweresomeseparateendowmentopposedto
reasonman'sreasonishismoralfaculty.Aprocessofreasonisaprocessofconstantchoicein
answertothequestion:TrueorFalse?RightorWrong?Isaseedtobeplantedinsoilinorder
togrowrightorwrong?Isaman'swoundtobedisinfectedinordertosavehisliferightor
wrong?Doesthenatureofatmosphericelectricitypermitittobeconvertedintokinetic
powerrightorwrong?Itistheanswerstosuchquestionsthatgaveyoueverythingyou
haveandtheanswerscamefromaman'smind,amindofintransigentdevotiontothatwhichis
right.

"Arationalprocessisamoralprocess.Youmaymakeanerroratanystepofit,withnothingto
protectyoubutyourownseverity,oryoumaytrytocheat,tofaketheevidenceandevadethe
effortofthequestbutifdevotiontotruthisthehallmarkofmorality,thenthereisnogreater,

nobler,moreheroicformofdevotionthantheactofamanwhoassumestheresponsibilityof
thinking.

"Thatwhichyoucallyoursoulorspiritisyourconsciousness,andthatwhichyoucall'freewill'is
yourmind'sfreedomtothinkornot,theonlywillyouhave,youronlyfreedom,thechoicethat
controlsallthechoicesyoumakeanddeterminesyourlifeandyourcharacter.

"Thinkingisman'sonlybasicvirtue,fromwhichalltheothersproceed.Andhisbasicvice,the
sourceofallhisevils,isthatnamelessactwhichallofyoupractice,butstrugglenevertoadmit:
theactofblankingout,thewillfulsuspensionofone'sconsciousness,therefusaltothinknot
blindness,buttherefusaltoseenotignorance,buttherefusaltoknow.Itistheactof
unfocusingyourmindandinducinganinnerfogtoescapetheresponsibilityofjudgmentonthe
unstatedpremisethatathingwillnotexistifonlyyourefusetoidentifyit,thatAwillnotbeAso
longasyoudonotpronouncetheverdict'Itis.'Nonthinkingisanactofannihilation,awishto
negateexistence,anattempttowipeoutreality.Butexistenceexistsrealityisnottobewiped
out,itwillmerelywipeoutthewiper.Byrefusingtosay'Itis,'youarerefusingtosay'Iam.'By
suspendingyourjudgment,youarenegatingyourperson.Whenamandeclares:'WhoamIto
know?'heisdeclaring:'WhoamItolive?'

"This,ineveryhourandeveryissue,isyourbasicmoralchoice:thinkingornonthinking,
existenceornonexistence,AornonA,entityorzero.

"Totheextenttowhichamanisrational,lifeisthepremisedirectinghisactions.Totheextent
towhichheisirrational,thepremisedirectinghisactionsisdeath.

"Youwhoprattlethatmoralityissocialandthatmanwouldneednomoralityonadesertislandit
isonadesertislandthathewouldneeditmost.Lethimtrytoclaim,whentherearenovictims
topayforit,thatarockisahouse,thatsandisclothing,thatfoodwilldropintohismouth
withoutcauseoreffort,thathewillcollectaharvesttomorrowbydevouringhisstockseed
todayandrealitywillwipehimout,ashedeservesrealitywillshowhimthatlifeisavaluetobe
boughtandthatthinkingistheonlycoinnobleenoughtobuyit.

"IfIweretospeakyourkindoflanguage,Iwouldsaythatman'sonlymoralcommandmentis:
Thoushaltthink.Buta'moralcommandment'isacontradictioninterms.Themoralisthe
chosen,nottheforcedtheunderstood,nottheobeyed.Themoralistherational,andreason
acceptsnocommandments.

"Mymorality,themoralityofreason,iscontainedinasingleaxiom:existenceexistsandina
singlechoice:tolive.Therestproceedsfromthese.Tolive,manmustholdthreethingsasthe
supremeandrulingvaluesofhislife:ReasonPurposeSelfesteem.Reason,ashisonlytoolof
knowledgePurpose,ashischoiceofthehappinesswhichthattoolmustproceedto
achieveSelfesteem,ashisinviolatecertaintythathismindiscompetenttothinkandhisperson
isworthyofhappiness,whichmeans:isworthyofliving.Thesethreevaluesimplyandrequire

allofman'svirtues,andallhisvirtuespertaintotherelationofexistenceandconsciousness:
rationality,independence,integrity,honesty,justice,productiveness,pride.

"Rationalityistherecognitionofthefactthatexistenceexists,thatnothingcanalterthetruth
andnothingcantakeprecedenceoverthatactofperceivingit,whichisthinkingthatthemindis
one'sonlyjudgeofvaluesandone'sonlyguideofactionthatreasonisanabsolutethatpermits
nocompromisethataconcessiontotheirrationalinvalidatesone'sconsciousnessandturnsit
fromthetaskofperceivingtothetaskoffakingrealitythattheallegedshortcuttoknowledge,
whichisfaith,isonlyashortcircuitdestroyingthemindthattheacceptanceofamystical
inventionisawishfortheannihilationofexistenceand,properly,annihilatesone's
consciousness.

"Independenceistherecognitionofthefactthatyoursistheresponsibilityofjudgmentand
nothingcanhelpyouescapeitthatnosubstitutecandoyourthinking,asnopinchhittercan
liveyourlifethatthevilestformofselfabasementandselfdestructionisthesubordinationof
yourmindtothemindofanother,theacceptanceofanauthorityoveryourbrain,the
acceptanceofhisassertionsasfacts,hissaysoastruth,hisedictsasmiddlemanbetween
yourconsciousnessandyourexistence.

"Integrityistherecognitionofthefactthatyoucannotfakeyourconsciousness,justashonesty
istherecognitionofthefactthatyoucannotfakeexistencethatmanisanindivisibleentity,an
integratedunitoftwoattributes:ofmatterandconsciousness,andthathemaypermitnobreach
betweenbodyandmind,betweenactionandthought,betweenhislifeandhisconvictionsthat,
likeajudgeimpervioustopublicopinion,hemaynotsacrificehisconvictionstothewishesof
others,beitthewholeofmankindshoutingpleasorthreatsagainsthimthatcourageand
confidencearepracticalnecessities,thatcourageisthepracticalformofbeingtrueto
existence,ofbeingtruetoone'sownconsciousness.

"Honestyistherecognitionofthefactthattheunrealisunrealandcanhavenovalue,that
neitherlovenorfamenorcashisavalueifobtainedbyfraudthatanattempttogainavalueby
deceivingthemindofothersisanactofraisingyourvictimstoapositionhigherthanreality,
whereyoubecomeapawnoftheirblindness,aslaveoftheirnonthinkingandtheirevasions,
whiletheirintelligence,theirrationality,theirperceptivenessbecometheenemiesyouhaveto
dreadandfleethatyoudonotcaretoliveasadependent,leastofalladependentonthe
stupidityofothers,orasafoolwhosesourceofvaluesisthefoolshesucceedsinfoolingthat
honestyisnotasocialduty,notasacrificeforthesakeofothers,butthemostprofoundlyselfish
virtuemancanpractice:hisrefusaltosacrificetherealityofhisownexistencetothedeluded
consciousnessofothers.

"Justiceistherecognitionofthefactthatyoucannotfakethecharacterofmenasyoucannot
fakethecharacterofnature,thatyoumustjudgeallmenasconscientiouslyasyoujudge
inanimateobjects,withthesamerespectfortruth,withthesameincorruptiblevision,byaspure
andasrationalaprocessofidentificationthateverymanmustbejudgedforwhatheisand

treatedaccordingly,thatjustasyoudonotpayahigherpriceforarustychunkofscrapthanfor
apieceofshiningmetal,soyoudonotvalueatotteraboveaherothatyourmoralappraisalis
thecoinpayingmenfortheirvirtuesorvices,andthispaymentdemandsofyouasscrupulous
anhonorasyoubringtofinancialtransactionsthattowithholdyourcontemptfrommen'svices
isanactofmoralcounterfeiting,andtowithholdyouradmirationfromtheirvirtuesisanactof
moralembezzlementthattoplaceanyotherconcernhigherthanjusticeistodevaluateyour
moralcurrencyanddefraudthegoodinfavoroftheevil,sinceonlythegoodcanlosebya
defaultofjusticeandonlytheevilcanprofitandthatthebottomofthepitattheendofthatroad,
theactofmoralbankruptcy,istopunishmenfortheirvirtuesandrewardthemfortheirvices,
thatthatisthecollapsetofulldepravity,theBlackMassoftheworshipofdeath,thededication
ofyourconsciousnesstothedestructionofexistence.

"Productivenessisyouracceptanceofmorality,yourrecognitionofthefactthatyouchooseto
livethatproductiveworkistheprocessbywhichman'sconsciousnesscontrolshisexistence,a
constantprocessofacquiringknowledgeandshapingmattertofitone'spurpose,oftranslating
anideaintophysicalform,ofremakingtheearthintheimageofone'svaluesthatallworkis
creativeworkifdonebyathinkingmind,andnoworkiscreativeifdonebyablankwhorepeats
inuncriticalstuporaroutinehehaslearnedfromothersthatyourworkisyourstochoose,and
thechoiceisaswideasyourmind,thatnothingmoreispossibletoyouandnothinglessis
humanthattocheatyourwayintoajobbiggerthanyourmindcanhandleistobecomea
fearcorrodedapeonborrowedmotionsandborrowedtime,andtosettledownintoajobthat
requireslessthanyourmind'sfullcapacityistocutyourmotorandsentenceyourselftoanother
kindofmotion:decaythatyourworkistheprocessofachievingyourvalues,andtoloseyour
ambuttionforvaluesistoloseyourambuttiontolivethatyourbodyisamachine,butyourmind
isitsdriver,andyoumustdriveasfarasyourmindwilltakeyou,withachievementasthegoal
ofyourroadthatthemanwhohasnopurposeisamachinethatcoastsdownhillatthemercyof
anybouldertocrashinthefirstchanceditch,thatthemanwhostifleshismindisastalled
machineslowlygoingtorust,thatthemanwholetsaleaderprescribehiscourseisawreck
beingtowedtothescrapheap,andthemanwhomakesanothermanhisgoalisahitchhikerno
drivershouldeverpickupthatyourworkisthepurposeofyourlife,andyoumustspeedpast
anykillerwhoassumestherighttostopyou,thatanyvalueyoumightfindoutsideyourwork,
anyotherloyaltyorlove,canbeonlytravelersyouchoosetoshareyourjourneyandmustbe
travelersgoingontheirownpowerinthesamedirection.

"Prideistherecognitionofthefactthatyouareyourownhighestvalueand,likeallofman's
values,ithastobeearnedthatofanyachievementsopentoyou,theonethatmakesallothers
possibleisthecreationofyourowncharacterthatyourcharacter,youractions,yourdesires,
youremotionsaretheproductsofthepremisesheldbyyourmindthatasmanmustproduce
thephysicalvaluesheneedstosustainhislife,sohemustacquirethevaluesofcharacterthat
makehislifeworthsustainingthatasmanisabeingofselfmadewealth,soheisabeingof
selfmadesoulthattoliverequiresasenseofselfvalue,butman,whohasnoautomatic
values,hasnoautomaticsenseofselfesteemandmustearnitbyshapinghissoulintheimage
ofhismoralideal,intheimageofMan,therationalbeingheisbornabletocreate,butmust

createbychoicethatthefirstpreconditionofselfesteemisthatradiantselfishnessofsoul
whichdesiresthebestinallthings,invaluesofmatterandspirit,asoulthatseeksaboveall
elsetoachieveitsownmoralperfection,valuingnothinghigherthanitselfandthattheproofof
anachievedselfesteemisyoursoul'sshudderofcontemptandrebellionagainsttheroleofa
sacrificialanimal,againstthevileimpertinenceofanycreedthatproposestoimmolatethe
irreplaceablevaluewhichisyourconsciousnessandtheincomparableglorywhichisyour
existencetotheblindevasionsandthestagnantdecayofothers.

"AreyoubeginningtoseewhoisJohnGalt?Iamthemanwhohasearnedthethingyoudidnot
fightfor,thethingyouhaverenounced,betrayed,corrupted,yetwereunablefullytodestroy
andarenowhidingasyourguiltysecret,spendingyourlifeinapologiestoeveryprofessional
cannibal,lestitbediscoveredthatsomewherewithinyou,youstilllongtosaywhatIamnow
sayingtothehearingofthewholeofmankind:IamproudofmyownvalueandofthefactthatI
wishtolive.

"Thiswishwhichyoushare,yetsubmergeasanevilistheonlyremnantofthegoodwithinyou,
butitisawishonemustlearntodeserve.Hisownhappinessisman'sonlymoralpurpose,but
onlyhisownvirtuecanachieveit.Virtueisnotanendinitself.Virtueisnotitsownrewardor
sacrificialfodderfortherewardofevil.Lifeistherewardofvirtueandhappinessisthegoaland
therewardoflife.

"Justasyourbodyhastwofundamentalsensations,pleasureandpain,assignsofitswelfareor
injury,asabarometerofitsbasicalternative,lifeordeath,soyourconsciousnesshastwo
fundamentalemotions,joyandsuffering,inanswertothesamealternative.Youremotionsare
estimatesofthatwhichfurthersyourlifeorthreatensit,lightningcalculatorsgivingyouasumof
yourprofitorloss.Youhavenochoiceaboutyourcapacitytofeelthatsomethingisgoodfor
youorevil,butwhatyouwillconsidergoodorevil,whatwillgiveyoujoyorpain,whatyouwill
loveorhate,desireorfear,dependsonyourstandardofvalue.Emotionsareinherentinyour
nature,buttheircontentisdictatedbyyourmind.Youremotionalcapacityisanemptymotor,
andyourvaluesarethefuelwithwhichyourmindfillsit.Ifyouchooseamixofcontradictions,it
willclogyourmotor,corrodeyourtransmissionandwreckyouonyourfirstattempttomovewith
amachinewhichyou,thedriver,havecorrupted.

"Ifyouholdtheirrationalasyourstandardofvalueandtheimpossibleasyourconceptofthe
good,ifyoulongforrewardsyouhavenotearned,forafortune,oraloveyoudon'tdeserve,for
aloopholeinthelawofcausality,foranAthatbecomesnonAatyourwhim,ifyoudesirethe
oppositeofexistenceyouwillreachit.Donotcry,whenyoureachit,thatlifeisfrustrationand
thathappinessisimpossibletomancheckyourfuel:itbroughtyouwhereyouwantedtogo.

"Happinessisnottobeachievedatthecommandofemotionalwhims.Happinessisnotthe
satisfactionofwhateverirrationalwishesyoumightblindlyattempttoindulge.Happinessisa
stateofnoncontradictoryjoyajoywithoutpenaltyorguilt,ajoythatdoesnotclashwithanyof
yourvaluesanddoesnotworkforyourowndestruction,notthejoyofescapingfromyourmind,

butofusingyourmind'sfullestpower,notthejoyoffakingreality,butofachievingvaluesthat
arereal,notthejoyofadrunkard,butofaproducer.Happinessispossibleonlytoarational
man,themanwhodesiresnothingbutrationalgoals,seeksnothingbutrationalvaluesand
findshisjoyinnothingbutrationalactions.

"JustasIsupportmylife,neitherbyrobberynoralms,butbymyowneffort,soIdonotseekto
derivemyhappinessfromtheinjuryorthefavorofothers,butearnitbymyownachievement.
JustasIdonotconsiderthepleasureofothersasthegoalofmylife,soIdonotconsidermy
pleasureasthegoalofthelivesofothers.Justastherearenocontradictionsinmyvaluesand
noconflictsamongmydesiressotherearenovictimsandnoconflictsofinterestamong
rationalmen,menwhodonotdesiretheunearnedanddonotviewoneanotherwitha
cannibal'slust,menwhoneithermakesacrificenoracceptthem.

"Thesymbolofallrelationshipsamongsuchmen,themoralsymbolofrespectforhuman
beings,isthetrader.We,wholivebyvalues,notbyloot,aretraders,bothinmatterandinspirit.
Atraderisamanwhoearnswhathegetsanddoesnotgiveortaketheundeserved.Atrader
doesnotasktobepaidforhisfailures,nordoesheasktobelovedforhisflaws.Atraderdoes
notsquanderhisbodyasfodderorhissoulasalms.Justashedoesnotgivehisworkexceptin
tradeformaterialvalues,sohedoesnotgivethevaluesofhisspirithislove,hisfriendship,his
esteemexceptinpaymentandintradeforhumanvirtues,inpaymentforhisownselfish
pleasure,whichhereceivesfrommenhecanrespect.Themysticparasiteswhohave,
throughouttheages,reviledthetradersandheldthemincontempt,whilehonoringthebeggars
andthelooters,haveknownthesecretmotiveoftheirsneers:atraderistheentitytheydreada
manofjustice.

"DoyouaskwhatmoralobligationIowetomyfellowmen?NoneexcepttheobligationIoweto
myself,tomaterialobjectsandtoallofexistence:rationality.Idealwithmenasmynatureand
theirdemands:bymeansofreason.Iseekordesirenothingfromthemexceptsuchrelationsas
theycaretoenteroftheirownvoluntarychoice.ItisonlywiththeirmindthatIcandealandonly
formyownselfinterest,whentheyseethatmyinterestcoincideswiththeirs.Whentheydon't,I
enternorelationshipIletdissentersgotheirwayandIdonotswervefrommine.Iwinby
meansofnothingbutlogicandIsurrendertonothingbutlogic.Idonotsurrendermyreasonor
dealwithmenwhosurrendertheirs.IhavenothingtogainfromfoolsorcowardsIhaveno
benefitstoseekfromhumanvices:fromstupidity,dishonestyorfear.Theonlyvaluemencan
offermeistheworkoftheirmind.WhenIdisagreewitharationalman,Iletrealitybeourfinal
arbutterifIamright,hewilllearnifIamwrong,Iwilloneofuswillwin,butbothwillprofit.

"Whatevermaybeopentodisagreement,thereisoneactofevilthatmaynot,theactthatno
manmaycommitagainstothersandnomanmaysanctionorforgive.Solongasmendesireto
livetogether,nomanmayinitiatedoyouhearme?nomanmaystarttheuseofphysicalforce
againstothers.

"Tointerposethethreatofphysicaldestructionbetweenamanandhisperceptionofreality,is
tonegateandparalyzehismeansofsurvivaltoforcehimtoactagainsthisownjudgment,is
likeforcinghimtoactagainsthisownsight.Whoever,towhateverpurposeorextent,initiates
theuseofforce,isakilleractingonthepremiseofdeathinamannerwiderthanmurder:the
premiseofdestroyingman'scapacitytolive.

"Donotopenyourmouthtotellmethatyourmindhasconvincedyouofyourrighttoforcemy
mind.Forceandmindareoppositesmoralityendswhereagunbegins.Whenyoudeclarethat
menareirrationalanimalsandproposetotreatthemassuch,youdefinetherebyyourown
characterandcannolongerclaimthesanctionofreasonasnoadvocateofcontradictionscan
claimit.Therecanbeno'right'todestroythesourceofrights,theonlymeansofjudgingright
andwrong:themind.

"Toforceamantodrophisownmindandtoacceptyourwillasasubstitute,withaguninplace
ofasyllogism,withterrorinplaceofproof,anddeathasthefinalargumentistoattempttoexist
indefianceofreality.Realitydemandsofmanthatheactforhisownrationalinterestyourgun
demandsofhimthatheactagainstit.Realitythreatensmanwithdeathifhedoesnotactonhis
rationaljudgment:youthreatenhimwithdeathifhedoes.Youplacehimintoaworldwherethe
priceofhislifeisthesurrenderofallthevirtuesrequiredbylifeanddeathbyaprocessof
gradualdestructionisallthatyouandyoursystemwillachieve,whendeathismadetobethe
rulingpower,thewinningargumentinasocietyofmen.

"Beitahighwaymanwhoconfrontsatravelerwiththeultimatum:'Yourmoneyoryourlife,'ora
politicianwhoconfrontsacountrywiththeultimatum:'Yourchildren'seducationoryourlife,'the
meaningofthatultimatumis:'Yourmindoryourlife'andneitherispossibletomanwithoutthe
other.

"Iftherearedegreesofevil,itishardtosaywhoisthemorecontemptible:thebrutewho
assumestherighttoforcethemindofothersorthemoraldegeneratewhograntstoothersthe
righttoforcehismind.Thatisthemoralabsoluteonedoesnotleaveopentodebate.Idonot
grantthetermsofreasontomenwhoproposetodeprivemeofreason.Idonotenter
discussionswithneighborswhothinktheycanforbidmetothink.Idonotplacemymoral
sanctionuponamurderer'swishtokillme.Whenamanattemptstodealwithmebyforce,I
answerhimbyforce.

"Itisonlyasretaliationthatforcemaybeusedandonlyagainstthemanwhostartsitsuse.No,I
donotsharehisevilorsinktohisconceptofmorality:Imerelygranthimhischoice,destruction,
theonlydestructionhehadtherighttochoose:hisown.HeusesforcetoseizeavalueIuseit
onlytodestroydestruction.AholdupmanseekstogainwealthbykillingmeIdonotgrow
richerbykillingaholdupman.Iseeknovaluesbymeansofevil,nordoIsurrendermyvalues
toevil.

"Inthenameofalltheproducerswhohadkeptyoualiveandreceivedyourdeathultimatumsin
payment,Inowansweryouwithasingleultimatumofourown:Ourworkoryourguns.Youcan
chooseeitheryoucan'thaveboth.Wedonotinitiatetheuseofforceagainstothersorsubmit
toforceattheirhands.Ifyoudesireeveragaintoliveinanindustrialsociety,itWillbeonour
moralterms.Ourtermsandourmotivepoweraretheantithesisofyours.Youhavebeenusing
fearasyourweaponandhavebeenbringingdeathtomanashispunishmentforrejectingyour
morality.Weofferhimlifeashisrewardforacceptingours.

"Youwhoareworshippersofthezeroyouhaveneverdiscoveredthatachievinglifeisnotthe
equivalentofavoidingdeath.Joyisnot'theabsenceofpain,'intelligenceisnot'theabsenceof
stupidity,'lightisnot'theabsenceofdarkness,'anentityisnot'theabsenceofanonentity.'
Buildingisnotdonebyabstainingfromdemolitioncenturiesofsittingandwaitinginsuch
abstinencewillnotraiseonesinglegirderforyoutoabstainfromdemolishingandnowyoucan
nolongersaytome,thebuilder:'Produce,andfeedusinexchangeforournotdestroyingyour
production.'Iamansweringinthenameofallyourvictims:Perishwithandinyourownvoid.
Existenceisnotanegationofnegatives.Evil,notvalue,isanabsenceandanegation,evilis
impotentandhasnopowerbutthatwhichweletitextortfromus.Perish,becausewehave
learnedthatazerocannotholdamortgageoverlife.

"Youseekescapefrompain.Weseektheachievementofhappiness.Youexistforthesakeof
avoidingpunishment.Weexistforthesakeofearningrewards.Threatswillnotmakeus
functionfearisnotourincentive.Itisnotdeaththatwewishtoavoid,butlifethatwewishto
live.

"You,whohavelosttheconceptofthedifference,youwhoclaimthatfearandjoyareincentives
ofequalpowerandsecretlyaddthatfearisthemore'practical'youdonotwishtolive,andonly
fearofdeathstillholdsyoutotheexistenceyouhavedamned.Youdartinpanicthroughthe
trapofyourdays,lookingfortheexityouhaveclosed,runningfromapursueryoudarenot
nametoaterroryoudarenotacknowledge,andthegreateryourterrorthegreateryourdread
oftheonlyactthatcouldsaveyou:thinking.Thepurposeofyourstruggleisnottoknow,notto
graspornameorhearthething.Ishallnowstatetoyourhearing:thatyoursistheMoralityof
Death.

"Deathisthestandardofyourvalues,deathisyourchosengoal,andyouhavetokeeprunning,
sincethereisnoescapefromthepursuerwhoisouttodestroyyouorfromtheknowledgethat
thatpursuerisyourself.Stoprunning,foroncethereisnoplacetorunstandnaked,asyou
dreadtostand,butasIseeyou,andtakealookatwhatyoudaredtocallamoralcode.

"Damnationisthestartofyourmorality,destructionisitspurpose,meansandend.Yourcode
beginsbydamningmanasevil,thendemandsthathepracticeagoodwhichitdefinesas
impossibleforhimtopractice.Itdemands,ashisfirstproofofvirtue,thatheaccepthisown
depravitywithoutproof.Itdemandsthathestart,notwithastandardofvalue,butwitha

standardofevil,whichishimself,bymeansofwhichheisthentodefinethegood:thegoodis
thatwhichheisnot.

"Itdoesnotmatterwhothenbecomestheprofiteeronhisrenouncedgloryandtormentedsoul,
amysticGodwithsomeincomprehensibledesignoranypasserbywhoserottingsoresareheld
assomeinexplicableclaimuponhimitdoesnotmatter,thegoodisnotforhimtounderstand,
hisdutyistocrawlthroughyearsofpenance,atoningfortheguiltofhisexistencetoanystray
collectorofunintelligibledebts,hisonlyconceptofavalueisazero:thegoodisthatwhichis
nonman.

"ThenameofthismonstrousabsurdityisOriginalSin.

"Asinwithoutvolitionisaslapatmoralityandaninsolentcontradictioninterms:thatwhichis
outsidethepossibilityofchoiceisoutsidetheprovinceofmorality.Ifmanisevilbybirth,hehas
nowill,nopowertochangeitifhehasnowill,hecanbeneithergoodnorevilarobotis
amoral.Tohold,asman'ssin,afactnotopentohischoiceisamockeryofmorality.Tohold
man'snatureashissinisamockeryofnature.Topunishhimforacrimehecommittedbefore
hewasbornisamockeryofjustice.Toholdhimguiltyinamatterwherenoinnocenceexistsis
amockeryofreason.Todestroymorality,nature,justiceandreasonbymeansofasingle
conceptisafeatofevilhardlytobematched.Yetthatistherootofyourcode.

"Donothidebehindthecowardlyevasionthatmanisbornwithfreewill,butwitha'tendency'to
evil.Afreewillsaddledwithatendencyislikeagamewithloadeddice.Itforcesmantostruggle
throughtheeffortofplaying,tobearresponsibilityandpayforthegame,butthedecisionis
weightedinfavorofatendencythathehadnopowertoescape.Ifthetendencyisofhischoice,
hecannotpossessitatbirthifitisnotofhischoice,hiswillisnotfree.

"WhatisthenatureoftheguiltthatyourteacherscallhisOriginalSin?Whataretheevilsman
acquiredwhenhefellfromastatetheyconsiderperfection?Theirmythdeclaresthatheatethe
fruitofthetreeofknowledgeheacquiredamindandbecamearationalbeing.Itwasthe
knowledgeofgoodandevilhebecameamortalbeing.Hewassentencedtoearnhisbreadby
hislaborhebecameaproductivebeing.Hewassentencedtoexperiencedesireheacquired
thecapacityofsexualenjoyment.Theevilsforwhichtheydamnhimarereason,morality,
creativenessjoyallthecardinalvaluesofhisexistence.Itisnothisvicesthattheirmythof
man'sfallisdesignedtoexplainandcondemn,itisnothiserrorsthattheyholdashisguilt,but
theessenceofhisnatureasman.WhateverhewasthatrobotintheGardenofEden,who
existedwithoutmind,withoutvalues,withoutlabor,withoutlovehewasnotman.

"Man'sfall,accordingtoyourteachers,wasthathegainedthevirtuesrequiredtolive.These
virtues,bytheirstandard,arehisSin.Hisevil,theycharge,isthathe'sman.Hisguilt,they
charge,isthathelives.

"Theycallitamoralityofmercyandadoctrineofloveforman.No,theysay,theydonotpreach
thatmanisevil,theevilisonlythatalienobject:hisbody.No,theysay,theydonotwishtokill
him,theyonlywishtomakehimlosehisbody.Theyseektohelphim,theysay,againsthis
painandtheypointatthetortureracktowhichthey'vetiedhim,therackwithtwowheelsthat
pullhiminoppositedirections,therackofthedoctrinethatsplitshissoulandbody.

"Theyhavecutmanintwo,settingonehalfagainsttheother.Theyhavetaughthimthathis
bodyandhisconsciousnessaretwoenemiesengagedindeadlyconflict,twoantagonistsof
oppositenatures,contradictoryclaims,incompatibleneeds,thattobenefitoneistoinjurethe
other,thathissoulbelongstoasupernaturalrealm,buthisbodyisanevilprisonholdingitin
bondagetothisearthandthatthegoodistodefeathisbody,toundermineitbyyearsofpatient
struggle,digginghiswaytothatgorgeousjailbreakwhichleadsintothefreedomofthegrave.

"Theyhavetaughtmanthatheisahopelessmisfitmadeoftwoelements,bothsymbolsof
death.Abodywithoutasoulisacorpse,asoulwithoutabodyisaghostyetsuchistheirimage
ofman'snature:thebattlegroundofastrugglebetweenacorpseandaghost,acorpse
endowedwithsomeevilvolitionofitsownandaghostendowedwiththeknowledgethat
everythingknowntomanisnonexistent,thatonlytheunknowableexists.

"Doyouobservewhathumanfacultythat'doctrinewasdesignedtoignore?Itwasman'smind
thathadtobenegatedinordertomakehimfallapart.Oncehesurrenderedreason,hewasleft
atthemercyoftwomonsterswhomhecouldnotfathomorcontrol:ofabodymovedby
unaccountableinstinctsandofasoulmovedbymysticrevelationshewasleftasthepassively
ravagedvictimofabattlebetweenarobotandadictaphone.

"Andashenowcrawlsthroughthewreckage,gropingblindlyforawaytolive,yourteachers
offerhimthehelpofamoralitythatproclaimsthathe'llfindnosolutionandmustseekno
fulfillmentonearth.Realexistence,theytellhim,isthatwhichhecannotperceive,true
consciousnessisthefacultyofperceivingthenonexistentandifheisunabletounderstandit,
thatistheproofthathisexistenceisevilandhisconsciousnessimpotent.

"Asproductsofthesplitbetweenman'ssoulandbody,therearetwokindsofteachersofthe
MoralityofDeath:themysticsofspiritandthemysticsofmuscle,whomyoucallthespiritualists
andthematerialists,thosewhobelieveinconsciousnesswithoutexistenceandthosewho
believeinexistencewithoutconsciousness.Bothdemandthesurrenderofyourmind,oneto
theirrevelation,theothertotheirreflexes.Nomatterhowloudlytheypostureintherolesof
irreconcilableantagonists,theirmoralcodesarealike,andsoaretheiraims:inmatterthe
enslavementofman'sbody,inspiritthedestructionofhismind.

"Thegood,saythemysticsofspirit,isGod,abeingwhoseonlydefinitionisthatheisbeyond
man'spowertoconceiveadefinitionthatinvalidatesman'sconsciousnessandnullifieshis
conceptsofexistence.Thegood,saythemysticsofmuscle,isSocietyathingwhichtheydefine
asanorganismthatpossessesnophysicalform,asuperbeingembodiedinnooneinparticular

andeveryoneingeneralexceptyourself.Man'smind,saythemysticsofspirit,mustbe
subordinatedtothewillofGod.Man'smind,saythemysticsofmuscle,mustbesubordinatedto
thewillofSociety.Man'sstandardofvaluesaythemysticsofspirit,isthepleasure0fGod,
whosestandardsarebeyondman'spowerofcomprehensionandmustbeacceptedonfaith.
Man'sstandardofvalue,saythemysticsofmuscle,isthepleasureofSociety,whosestandards
arebeyondman'srightofjudgmentandmustbeobeyedasaprimaryabsolute.Thepurposeof
man'slife,sayboth,istobecomeanabjectzombiewhoservesapurposehedoesnotknow,for
reasonsheisnottoquestion.Hisreward,saythemysticsofspirit,willbegiventohimbeyond
thegrave.Hisreward,saythemysticsofmuscle,willbegivenonearthtohis
greatgrandchildren.

"Selfishnesssaybothisman'sevil.Man'sgoodsaybothistogiveuphispersonaldesires,to
denyhimself,renouncehimself,surrenderman'sgoodistonegatethelifehelives.
Sacrificecrybothistheessenceofmorality,thehighestvirtuewithinman'sreach.

"Whoeverisnowwithinreachofmyvoice,whoeverismanthevictim,notmanthekiller,Iam
speakingatthedeathbedofyourmind,atthebrinkofthatdarknessinwhichyou'redrowning,
andiftherestillremainswithinyouthepowertostruggletoholdontothosefadingsparkswhich
hadbeenyourselfuseitnow.Thewordthathasdestroyedyouis'sacrifice.'Usethelastofyour
strengthtounderstanditsmeaning.You'restillalive.Youhaveachance.

"'Sacrifice'doesnotmeantherejectionoftheworthless,butoftheprecious.'Sacrifice'doesnot
meantherejectionoftheevilforthesakeofthegood,butofthegoodforthesakeoftheevil.
'Sacrifice'isthesurrenderofthatwhichyouvalueinfavorofthatwhichyoudon't.

"Ifyouexchangeapennyforadollar,itisnotasacrificeifyouexchangeadollarforapenny,it
is.Ifyouachievethecareeryouwanted,afteryearsofstruggle,itisnotasacrificeifyouthen
renounceitforthesakeofarival,itis.Ifyouownabottleofmilkandgaveittoyourstarving
child,itisnotasacrificeifyougiveittoyourneighbor'schildandletyourowndie,itis.

"Ifyougivemoneytohelpafriend,itisnotasacrificeifyougiveittoaworthlessstranger,itis.
Ifyougiveyourfriendasumyoucanafford,itisnotasacrificeifyougivehimmoneyatthe
costofyourowndiscomfort,itisonlyapartialvirtue,accordingtothissortofmoralstandardif
yougivehimmoneyatthecostofdisastertoyourselfthatisthevirtueofsacrificeinfull.

"Ifyourenounceallpersonaldesireanddedicateyourlifetothoseyoulove,youdonotachieve
fullvirtue:youstillretainavalueofyourown,whichisyourlove.Ifyoudevoteyourlifeto
randomstrangers,itisanactofgreatervirtue.Ifyoudevoteyourlifetoservingmenyou
hatethatisthegreatestofthevirtuesyoucanpractice.

"Asacrificeisthesurrenderofavalue.Fullsacrificeisfullsurrenderofallvalues.Ifyouwishto
achievefullvirtue,youmustseeknogratitudeinreturnforyoursacrifice,nopraise,nolove,no
admiration,noselfesteem,noteventheprideofbeingvirtuousthefaintesttraceofanygain

dilutesyourvirtue.Ifyoupursueacourseofactionthatdoesnottaintyourlifebyanyjoy,that
bringsyounovalueinmatter,novalueinspirit,nogain,noprofit,norewardifyouachievethis
stateoftotalzero,youhaveachievedtheidealofmoralperfection.

"Youaretoldthatmoralperfectionisimpossibletomanand,bythisstandard,itis.Youcannot
achieveitsolongasyoulive,butthevalueofyourlifeandofyourpersonisgaugedbyhow
closelyyousucceedinapproachingthatidealzerowhichisdeath.

"Ifyoustart,however,asapassionlessblank,asavegetableseekingtobeeaten,withno
valuestorejectandnowishestorenounce,youwillnotwinthecrownofsacrifice.Itisnota
sacrificetorenouncetheunwanted.Itisnotasacrifice.Itisnotasacrificetogiveyourlifefor
others,ifdeathisyourpersonaldesire.Toachievethevirtueofsacrifice,youmustwanttolive,
youmustloveit,youmustburnwithpassionforthisearthandforallthesplendoritcangive
youyoumustfeelthetwistofeveryknifeasitslashesyourdesiresawayfromyourreachand
drainsyourloveoutofyourbody,Itisnotmeredeaththatthemoralityofsacrificeholdsoutto
youasanideal,butdeathbyslowtorture.

"Donotremindmethatitpertainsonlytothislifeonearth.Iamconcernedwithnoother.
Neitherareyou.

"Ifyouwishtosavethelastofyourdignity,donotcallyourbestactionsa'sacrifice':thatterm
brandsyouasimmoral.Ifamotherbuysfoodforherhungrychildratherthanahatforherself,it
isnotasacrifice:shevaluesthechildhigherthanthehatbutitisasacrificetothekindof
motherwhosehighervalueisthehat,whowouldpreferherchildtostarveandfeedshimonly
fromasenseofduty.Ifamandiesfightingforhisownfreedom,itisnotasacrifice:heisnot
willingtoliveasaslavebutitisasacrificetothekindofmanwho'swilling.Ifamanrefusesto
sellhisconvictions,itisnotasacrifice,unlessheisthesortofmanwhohasnoconvictions.

"Sacrificecouldbeproperonlyforthosewhohavenothingtosacrificenovalues,nostandards,
nojudgmentthosewhosedesiresareirrationalwhims,blindlyconceivedandlightly
surrendered.Foramanofmoralstature,whosedesiresarebornofrationalvalues,sacrificeis
thesurrenderoftherighttothewrong,ofthegoodtotheevil.

"Thecreedofsacrificeisamoralityfortheimmoralamoralitythatdeclaresitsownbankruptcy
byconfessingthatitcan'timparttomenanypersonalstakeinvirtuesorvalue,andthattheir
soulsaresewersofdepravity,whichtheymustbetaughttosacrifice.Byhisownconfession,it
isimpotenttoteachmentobegoodandcanonlysubjectthemtoconstantpunishment.

"Areyouthinking,insomefoggystupor,thatit'sonlymaterialvaluesthatyourmoralityrequires
youtosacrifice?Andwhatdoyouthinkarematerialvalues?Matterhasnovalueexceptasa
meansforthesatisfactionofhumandesires.Matterisonlyatoolofhumanvalues.Towhat
serviceareyouaskedtogivethematerialtoolsyourvirtuehasproduced?Totheserviceofthat

whichyouregardasevil:toaprincipleyoudonotshare,toapersonyoudonotrespect,tothe
achievementofapurposeopposedtoyourownelseyourgiftisnotasacrifice.

"Yourmoralitytellsyoutorenouncethematerialworldandtodivorceyourvaluesfrommatter.A
manwhosevaluesaregivennoexpressioninmaterialform,whoseexistenceisunrelatedtohis
ideals,whoseactionscontradicthisconvictions,isacheaplittlehypocriteyetthatistheman
whoobeysyourmoralityanddivorceshisvaluesfrommatter.Themanwholovesonewoman,
butsleepswithanotherthemanwhoadmiresthetalentofaworker,buthiresanothertheman
whoconsidersonecausetobejust,butdonateshismoneytothesupportofanothertheman
whoholdshighstandardsofcraftsmanship,butdevoteshisefforttotheproductionof
trashthesearethemenwhohaverenouncedmatter,themenwhobelievethatthevaluesof
theirspiritcannotbebroughtintomaterialreality.

"Doyousayitisthespiritthatsuchmenhaverenounced?Yes,ofcourse.Youcannothaveone
withouttheother.Youareanindivisibleentityofmatterandconsciousness.Renounceyour
consciousnessandyoubecomeabrute.Renounceyourbodyandyoubecomeafake.
Renouncethematerialworldandyousurrenderittoevil.

"Andthatispreciselythegoalofyourmorality,thedutythatyourcodedemandsofyou.Giveto
thatwhichyoudonotenjoy,servethatwhichyoudonotadmire,submittothatwhichyou
considerevilsurrendertheworldtothevaluesofothers,deny,reject,renounceyourself.Your
selfisyourmindrenounceitandyoubecomeachunkofmeatreadyforanycannibalto
swallow.

"Itisyourmindthattheywantyoutosurrenderallthosewhopreachthecreedofsacrifice,
whatevertheirtagsortheirmotives,whethertheydemanditforthesakeofyoursoulorofyour
body,whethertheypromiseyouanotherlifeinheavenorafullstomachonthisearth.Those
whostartbysaying:'Itisselfishtopursueyourownwishes,youmustsacrificethemtothe
wishesofothers'endupbysaying:'Itisselfishtoupholdyourconvictions,youmustsacrifice
themtotheconvictionsofothers.

"Thismuchistrue:themostselfishofallthingsistheindependentmindthatrecognizesno
authorityhigherthanitsownandnovaluehigherthanitsjudgmentoftruth.Youareaskedto
sacrificeyourintellectualintegrity,yourlogic,yourreason,yourstandardoftruthinfavorof
becomingaprostitutewhosestandardisthegreatestgoodforthegreatestnumber.

"Ifyousearchyourcodeforguidance,forananswertothequestion:'Whatisthegood?'the
onlyansweryouwillfindis'Thegoodofothers.'Thegoodiswhateverotherswish,whatever
youfeeltheyfeeltheywish,orwhateveryoufeeltheyoughttofeel.'Thegoodofothers'isa
magicformulathattransformsanythingintogold,aformulatoberecitedasaguaranteeof
moralgloryandasafumigatorforanyaction,eventheslaughterofacontinent.Yourstandard
ofvirtueisnotanobject,notanact,notaprinciple,butanintention.Youneednoproof,no
reasons,nosuccess,youneednotachieveinfactthegoodofothersallyouneedtoknowis

thatyourmotivewasthegoodofothers,notyourown.Youronlydefinitionofthegoodisa
negation:thegoodisthe'nongoodforme.'

"Yourcodewhichboaststhatitupholdseternal,absolute,objectivemoralvaluesandscornsthe
conditional,therelativeandthesubjectiveyourcodehandsout,asitsversionoftheabsolute,
thefollowingruleofmoralconduct:Ifyouwishit,it'sevilifotherswishit,it'sgoodifthemotive
ofyouractionisyourwelfare,don'tdoitifthemotiveisthewelfareofothers,thenanything
goes.

"Asthisdoublejointed,doublestandardmoralitysplitsyouinhalf,soitsplitsmankindintotwo
enemycamps:oneisyou,theotherisalltherestofhumanity.Youaretheonlyoutcastwhohas
norighttowishtolive.Youaretheonlyservant,therestarethemasters,youaretheonlygiver,
therestarethetakers,youaretheeternaldebtor,therestarethecreditorsnevertobepaidoff.
Youmustnotquestiontheirrighttoyoursacrifice,orthenatureoftheirwishesandtheirneeds:
theirrightisconferreduponthembyanegative,bythefactthattheyare'nonyou.'

"Forthoseofyouwhomightaskquestions,yourcodeprovidesaconsolationprizeand
boobytrap:itisforyourownhappiness,itsays,thatyoumustservethehappinessofothers,
theonlywaytoachieveyourjoyistogiveituptoothers,theonlywaytoachieveyour
prosperityistosurrenderyourwealthtoothers,theonlywaytoprotectyourlifeistoprotectall
menexceptyourselfandifyoufindnojoyinthisprocedure,itisyourownfaultandtheproofof
yourevilifyouweregood,youwouldfindyourhappinessinprovidingabanquetforothers,and
yourdignityinexistingonsuchcrumbsastheymightcaretotossyou.

"Youwhohavenostandardofselfesteem,accepttheguiltanddarenotaskthequestions.But
youknowtheunadmittedanswer,refusingtoacknowledgewhatyousee,whathiddenpremise
movesyourworld.Youknowit,notinhoneststatement,butasadarkuneasinesswithinyou,
whileyouflounderbetweenguiltycheatingandgrudginglypracticingaprincipletooviciousto
name.

"I,whodonotaccepttheunearned,neitherinvaluesnoringuilt,amheretoaskthequestions
youevaded.Whyisitmoraltoservethehappinessofothers,butnotyourown?Ifenjoymentis
avalue,whyisitmoralwhenexperiencedbyothers,butimmoralwhenexperiencedbyyou?If
thesensationofeatingacakeisavalue,whyisitanimmoralindulgenceinyourstomach,buta
moralgoalforyoutoachieveinthestomachofothers?Whyisitimmoralforyoutodesire,but
moralforotherstodoso?Whyisitimmoraltoproduceavalueandkeepit,butmoraltogiveit
away?Andifitisnotmoralforyoutokeepavalue,whyisitmoralforotherstoacceptit?Ifyou
areselflessandvirtuouswhenyougiveit,aretheynotselfishandviciouswhentheytakeit?
Doesvirtueconsistofservingvice?Isthemoralpurposeofthosewhoaregood,selfimmolation
forthesakeofthosewhoareevil?

"Theansweryouevade,themonstrousansweris:No,thetakersarenotevil,providedtheydid
notearnthevalueyougavethem.Itisnotimmoralforthemtoacceptit,providedtheyare

unabletoproduceit,unabletodeserveit,unabletogiveyouanyvalueinreturn.Itisnot
immoralforthemtoenjoyit,providedtheydonotobtainitbyright.

"Suchisthesecretcoreofyourcreed,theotherhalfofyourdoublestandard:itisimmoralto
livebyyourowneffort,butmoraltolivebytheeffortofothersitisimmoraltoconsumeyourown
product,butmoraltoconsumetheproductsofothersitisimmoraltoearn,butmoraltomoochit
istheparasiteswhoarethemoraljustificationfortheexistenceoftheproducers,butthe
existenceoftheparasitesisanendinitselfitiseviltoprofitbyachievement,butgoodtoprofit
bysacrificeitiseviltocreateyourownhappiness,butgoodtoenjoyitatthepriceoftheblood
ofothers.

"Yourcodedividesmankindintotwocastesandcommandsthemtolivebyoppositerules:
thosewhomaydesireanythingandthosewhomaydesirenothing,thechosenandthedemand,
theridersandthecarriers,theeatersandtheeaten.Whatstandarddeterminesyourcaste?
Whatpasskeyadmitsyoutothemoralelite?Thepasskeyislackofvalue.

"Whateverthevalueinvolved,itisyourlackofitthatgivesyouaclaimuponthosewhodon't
lackit.Itisyourneedthatgivesyouaclaimtorewards.Ifyouareabletosatisfyyourneed,
yourabilityannulsyourrighttosatisfyit.Butaneedyouareunabletosatisfygivesyoufirst
righttothelivesofmankind.

"Ifyousucceed,anymanwhofailsisyourmasterifyoufail,anymanwhosucceedsisyour
serf.Whetheryourfailureisjustornot,whetheryourwishesarerationalornot,whetheryour
misfortuneisundeservedortheresultofyourvices,itismisfortunethatgivesyouarightto
rewards.Itispain,regardlessofitsnatureorcause,painasaprimaryabsolute,thatgivesyoua
mortgageonallofexistence.

"Ifyouhealyourpainbyyourowneffort,youreceivenomoralcredit:yourcoderegardsit
scornfullyasanactofselfinterest.Whatevervalueyouseektoacquire,beitwealthorfoodor
loveorrights,ifyouacquireitbymeansofyourVirtue,yourcodedoesnotregarditasamoral
acquisition:youoccasionnolosstoanyone,itisatrade,notalmsapayment,notasacrifice.
Thedeservedbelongsintheselfish,commercialrealmofmutualprofititisonlytheundeserved
thatcallsforthatmoraltransactionwhichconsistsofprofittooneatthepriceofdisastertothe
other.Todemandrewardsforyourvirtueisselfishandimmoralitisyourlackofvirtuethat
transformsyourdemandintoamoralright.

"Amoralitythatholdsneedasaclaim,holdsemptinessnonexistenceasitsstandardofvalue
itrewardsanabsence,adefeat:weakness,inability,incompetence,suffering,disease,disaster,
thelack,thefault,theflawthezero.

"Whoprovidestheaccounttopaytheseclaims?Thosewhoarecursedforbeingnonzeros,
eachtotheextentofhisdistancefromthatideal.Sinceallvaluesaretheproductofvirtues,the
degreeofyourvirtueisusedasthemeasureofyourpenaltythedegreeofyourfaultsisused

asthemeasureofyourgain.Yourcodedeclaresthattherationalmanmustsacrificehimselfto
theirrational,theindependentmantoparasites,thehonestmantothedishonest,themanof
justicetotheunjust,theproductivemantothievingloafers,themanofintegritytocompromising
knaves,themanofselfesteemtosnivelingneurotics.Doyouwonderatthemeannessofsoul
inthoseyouseearoundyou?Themanwhoachievesthesevirtueswillnotacceptyourmoral
codethemanwhoacceptsyourmoralcodewillnotachievethesevirtues.

"Underamoralityofsacrifice,thefirstvalueyousacrificeismoralitythenextisselfesteem.
Whenneedisthestandard,everymanisbothvictimandparasite.Asavictim,hemustlaborto
filltheneedsofothers,leavinghimselfinthepositionofaparasitewhoseneedsmustbefilled
byothers.Hecannotapproachhisfellowmenexceptinoneoftwodisgracefulroles:heisboth
abeggarandasucker.

"Youfearthemanwhohasadollarlessthanyou,thatdollarisrightfullyhis,hemakesyoufeel
likeamoraldefrauder.Youhatethemanwhohasadollarmorethanyou,thatdollarisrightfully
yours,hemakesyoufeelthatyouaremorallydefrauded.Themanbelowisasourceof,your
guilt,themanaboveisasourceofyourfrustration.Youdonotknowwhattosurrenderor
demand,whentogiveandwhentograb,whatpleasureinlifeisrightfullyyoursandwhatdebtis
stillunpaidtoothersyoustruggletoevade,as'theory,'theknowledgethatbythemoral
standardyou'veacceptedyouareguiltyeverymomentofyourlife,thereisnomouthfuloffood
youswallowthatisnotneededbysomeonesomewhereonearthandyougiveuptheproblem
inblindresentment,youconcludethatmoralperfectionisnottobeachievedordesired,that
youwillmuddlethroughbysnatchingassnatchcanandbyavoidingtheeyesoftheyoung,of
thosewholookatyouasifselfesteemwerepossibleandtheyexpectedyoutohaveit.Guiltis
allthatyouretainwithinyoursoulandsodoeseveryotherman,ashegoespast,avoidingyour
eyes.Doyouwonderwhyyourmoralityhasnotachievedbrotherhoodonearthorthegoodwill
ofmantoman?

"Thejustificationofsacrifice,thatyourmoralitypropounds,ismorecorruptthanthecorruptionit
purportstojustify.Themotiveofyoursacrifice,ittellsyou,shouldbelovetheloveyououghtto
feelforeveryman.Amoralitythatprofessesthebeliefthatthevaluesofthespiritaremore
preciousthanmatter,amoralitythatteachesyoutoscornawhorewhogivesherbody
indiscriminatelytoallmenthissamemoralitydemandsthatyousurrenderyoursoulto
promiscuousloveforallcomers.

"Astherecanbenocauselesswealth,sotherecanbenocauselessloveoranysortof
causelessemotion.Anemotionisaresponsetoafaceofreality,anestimatedictatedbyyour
standards.Toloveistovalue.Themanwhotellsyouthatitispossibletovaluewithoutvalues,
tolovethosewhomyouappraiseasworthless,isthemanwhotellsyouthatitispossibleto
growrichbyconsumingwithoutproducingandthatpapermoneyisasvaluableasgold.

"Observethathedoesnotexpectyoutofeelacauselessfear.Whenhiskindgetintopower,
theyareexpertatcontrivingmeansofterror,atgivingyouamplecausetofeelthefearbywhich

theydesiretoruleyou.Butwhenitcomestolove,thehighestofemotions,youpermitthemto
shriekatyouaccusinglythatyouareamoraldelinquentifyou'reincapableoffeelingcauseless
love.Whenamanfeelsfearwithoutreason,youcallhimtotheattentionofapsychiatristyou
arenotsocarefultoprotectthemeaning,thenatureandthedignityoflove.

"Loveistheexpressionofone'svalues,thegreatestrewardyoucanearnforthemoralqualities
youhaveachievedinyourcharacterandperson,theemotionalpricepaidbyonemanforthe
joyhereceivesfromthevirtuesofanother.Yourmoralitydemandsthatyoudivorceyourlove
fromvaluesandhanditdowntoanyvagrant,notasresponsetohisworth,butasresponseto
hisneed,notasreward,butasalms,notasapaymentforvirtues,butasablankcheckon
vices.Yourmoralitytellsyouthatthepurposeofloveistosetyoufreeofthebondsofmorality,
thatloveissuperiortomoraljudgment,thattruelovetranscends,forgivesandsurvivesevery
mannerofevilinitsobject,andthegreaterthelovethegreaterthedepravityitpermitstothe
loved.Toloveamanforhisvirtuesispaltryandhuman,ittellsyoutolovehimforhisflawsis
divine.Tolovethosewhoareworthyofitisselfinteresttolovetheunworthyissacrifice.You
oweyourlovetothosewhodon'tdeserveit,andthelesstheydeserveit,themoreloveyouowe
themthemoreloathsometheobject,thenobleryourlovethemoreunfastidiousyourlove,the
greaterthevirtueandifyoucanbringyoursoultothestateofadumpheapthatwelcomes
anythingonequalterms,ifyoucanceasetovaluemoralvalues,youhaveachievedthestateof
moralperfection.

"Suchisyourmoralityofsacrificeandsucharethetwinidealsitoffers:torefashionthelifeof
yourbodyintheimageofahumanstockyard,andthelifeofyourspiritintheimageofadump.

"Suchwasyourgoalandyou'vereachedit.Whydoyounowmoancomplaintsaboutman's
impotenceandthefutilityofhumanaspirations?Becauseyouwereunabletoprosperby
seekingdestruction?Becauseyouwereunabletofindjoybyworshippingpain?Becauseyou
wereunabletolivebyholdingdeathasyourstandardofvalue?

"Thedegreeofyourabilitytolivewasthedegreetowhichyoubrokeyourmoralcode,yetyou
believethatthosewhopreachitarefriendsofhumanity,youdamnyourselfanddarenot
questiontheirmotivesortheirgoals.Takealookatthemnow,whenyoufaceyourlast
choiceandifyouchoosetoperish,dosowithfullknowledgeofhowcheaplysosmallanenemy
hasclaimedyourlife.

"Themysticsofbothschools,whopreachthecreedofsacrifice,aregermsthatattackyou
throughasinglesore:yourfearofrelyingonyourmind.Theytellyouthattheypossessa
meansofknowledgehigherthanthemind,amodeofconsciousnesssuperiortoreasonlikea
specialpullwithsomebureaucratoftheuniversewhogivesthemsecrettipswithheldfrom
others.Themysticsofspiritdeclarethattheypossessanextrasenseyoulack:thisspecialsixth
senseconsistsofcontradictingthewholeoftheknowledgeofyourfive.Themysticsofmuscle
donotbothertoassertanyclaimtoextrasensoryperception:theymerelydeclarethatyour
sensesarenotvalid,andthattheirwisdomconsistsofperceivingyourblindnessbysome

mannerofunspecifiedmeans.Bothkindsdemandthatyouinvalidateyourownconsciousness
andsurrenderyourselfintotheirpower.Theyofferyou,asproofoftheirsuperiorknowledge,the
factthattheyasserttheoppositeofeverythingyouknow,andasproofoftheirsuperiorabilityto
dealwithexistence,thefactthattheyleadyoutomisery,selfsacrifice,starvation,destruction.

"Theyclaimthattheyperceiveamodeofbeingsuperiortoyourexistenceonthisearth.The
mysticsofspiritcallit'anotherdimension,'whichconsistsofdenyingdimensions.Themysticsof
musclecallit'thefuture,'whichconsistsofdenyingthepresent.Toexististopossessidentity.
Whatidentityaretheyabletogivetotheirsuperiorrealm?Theykeeptellingyouwhatitisnot,
butnevertellyouwhatitis.Alltheiridentificationsconsistofnegating:Godisthatwhichno
humanmindcanknow,theysayandproceedtodemandthatyouconsideritknowledgeGodis
nonman,heavenisnonearth,soulisnonbody,virtue'isnonprofit,AisnonA,perceptionis
nonsensory,knowledgeisnonreason.Theirdefinitionsarenotactsofdefining,butofwiping
out.

"Itisonlythemetaphysicsofaleechthatwouldclingtotheideaofauniversewhereazeroisa
standardofidentification.Aleechwouldwanttoseekescapefromthenecessitytonameits
ownnatureescapefromthenecessitytoknowthatthesubstanceonwhichitbuildsitsprivate
universeisblood.

"Whatisthenatureofthatsuperiorworldtowhichtheysacrificetheworldthatexists?The
mysticsofspiritcursematter,themysticsofmusclecurseprofitthefirstwishmentoprofitby
renouncingtheearth,thesecondwishmentoinherittheearthbyrenouncingallprofit.Their
nonmaterial,nonprofitworldsarerealmswhereriversrunwithmilkandcoffee,wherewine
spurtsfromrocksattheircommand,wherepastrydropsonthemfromcloudsatthepriceof
openingtheirmouth.Onthismaterial,profitchasingearth,anenormousinvestmentofvirtueof
intelligence,integrity,energy,skillisrequiredtoconstructarailroadtocarrythemthedistance
ofonemileintheirnonmaterial,nonprofitworld,theytravelfromplanettoplanetatthecostof
awish.Ifanhonestpersonasksthem:'How?'theyanswerwithrighteousscornthata'how'is
theconceptofvulgarrealiststheconceptofsuperiorspiritsis'Somehow.'Onthisearth
restrictedbymatterandprofit,rewardsareachievedbythoughtinaworldsetfreeofsuch
restrictions,rewardsareachievedbywishing.

Thisstoryhappenedtomeduringthesummerof2012.Iwasa23yearoldFrenchdeveloper
whojustgotoutofengineeringschool.IhadfoundajobatalargeGermanautomotive
company,andwasexpectedtostartworkinginSeptemberinMunich.

Forthelastfewmonths,IhadbeentalkingonIRCwithaBraziliangirl,myage,named
MariaTeresa.ShewasstudyingartsattheUFPAuniversityinBelm,andplannedtogoto
EuropetheyearaftertovisithistoricalsitesinItaly,GreeceandFrance.Wewereflirtingalittle
duringthosechatsessions,andsheinvitedmetocomeandvisitherduringhertwoweeks
vacationinJuly.HerfamilylivedinPracuba,asmalltownintheNorthernmostprovinceof

Brazil.

Ihappenedtohavebought2000worthofbitcoinsinFebruaryafterIearnedmyfirstsalaryas
anintern,whichamountedtoabitmorethan600BTCatthistime.Ididn'thaveenoughmoney
inmybankaccountalonetopayfortheplanetickets,soIsoldback250BTCfor1500tocover
therest.

Theflightswentwell,eventhoughitwasabitlongtogofromParistoSoPaulo,fromSo
PaulotoBelm,fromBelmtoMacap,andfromMacaptoPortoGrande.FromthereItooka
bustoPracuba,andIarrivedtherearound9PM,38hoursafterhavingleftParis.Despiteit
beingthewinterthere,itwasmuchhoterthanunderParissummer.

PracubacouldnotbemoredifferentfromwhatIhadexpected.InFrance,manysmalltowns
withlessthan1000inhabitantshaveaverylivelyandvividvillagelife.Withits2500registered
inhabitants,Pracubawasprettymuchaghosttown,withnobodytobeseenaround.MaybeI
shouldhavecheckedWikipediamorecarefully,Iwouldhavenoticedthatthepopulationdensity
wasaroundonepersonpersquaremile.Whenyourealizethattheaveragehouseholdsizeis6
people,youcanimaginethathousescanbefarawayfromeachother.

Fortunately,acellularnetworkwasavailable,andIcouldreachMariaTeresa.Sheexplainedto
methatshewasnotsureIwasreallycoming,andthathisbrotherwouldcomeandgivemea
ridetotheirplace.

Halfanhourlater,ananticpickuptruckarrivedwithathirtysomethingmanbehindthewheel.
Hestoppedthecarabruptlyjustinfrontofme,andwhenIwenttoopenthepassengerdoor,he
justshowedmetherearcargoarea.Iwasquitesurprised,butclimbedintoitandweleftonthe
dirtyroads.10mileslater,Iwasalreadycoveredindustwhenwestoppedbeforeamedium
sizewoodenhouse.Ijumpedoffthecarandfollowedthedriverinside.

Inthemainroom,dimlylit,fourpeoplewereseated.MariaTeresawasoneofthemandshe
greetedmewithabighug,andintroducedmetoherparents,toher15yearoldsisterManuela,
andtoherbrother,mydriver,JooPaulo.Theintroductionlastedonlyashortinstantbecause
noneofthemspokeFrenchorEnglish,andIdidnotknowawordofPortuguese.

Rightafter,whileIwashopingtogetofferedsomethingtoeat,thefatherutteredsomeorder
andMariaTeresaexplainedtomethattheywereallgoingtobed.Theparentswentintotheir
room,whileIwonderedifthefourofushadtofitinthebunkbedthatIcouldseeinacornerof
theroom.

MariaTeresatoldmethatwhenshecomesbackduringhervacation,sheusestosleepwith
ManuelainthelowerbedwhileJooPaulosleepsintheupperone.However,sinceIwashere,
wewouldsharethelowerbedwhileManuelawouldjoinherbrother.

Iaskedaboutthebathroom.MariaTeresatoldmethatitwaslocatedintheirparentsroomand
thatIwouldhavetogooutsideorwaituntilthemorning.Iwentoutandpeedonatree100feet
away.WhenIcameback,thelighthadbeenswitchedoff,butwiththepalemoonlightcoming
throughthewindowIwasabletodistinguishanudemuscularmalebodyasJooPaulowas
washinghimselffromthekitchensinkwhilethesisterstalkedtogether.

MariaTeresatoldmeIcouldfreshenupifIwished.Iwaiteduntilthebrother,apparentlystill
nude,climbedintohisbed,andIwenttothesink.Fromthere,therestoftheroomlookedpitch
black,andIdecidednottocareandundressedcompletely.Iusedatowelfrommyluggageto
cleanmyselfup,tryingtowaterhalfofitwhilekeepingtheotherhalfdry.

AsIputonsomeboxershorts,theyoungersistercametothesinkandstartedundressingasifI
wasnotthere.Thepartialobscuritydidnothidethefactthatshewaswearingnothingbuther
dress,andshewasdonewashingbeforeIwenttomyluggagetostoremydirtylaundry.She
thenclimbedintotheupperbed,andIcouldhearhertalkbrieflytoherbrother.

IputmyselfunderthesheetswhileMariaTeresawenttothesink.Aseveryone,sheproceeded
togetnaked,althoughshewaswearingunderwear,andIwatchedherwhilegettinganxious
aboutwhatwouldhappennext.IwasrelievedwhenIsawherpickupashirtlongenoughto
coverherintimateparts.Lifeinthecitymayhavemadehermoreprudethantherestofher
family.

Shejoinedmeintothebed,andforthefirsttimesinceIarrivedwecouldtalk,whiletryingnotto
disturbhersiblings.Sheaskedmehowthetripwent,shetoldmeshewashappyIcouldcome,
andthatsheshouldhavewarnedmethatthereweren'treallyanynightlifeinherparentsplace.
Shepromisedtoshowmearoundthenextmorningandwishedmegoodnight.

Thankstothejetlag,Isleptverywell.Iwokeupbythesoundofthebedladderthebrotherwas
gettingup,naked,withamorningerectionhedidnottrytohide.Hestartedmakingcoffee,when
MariaTeresaopenedhereyes.Shesaidsomethingtohim,towhichheresponded.Iaskedher
whatshejustsaid,andshehadensuredthattherewouldbeenoughcoffeeformetoo.

Manuelathenwentdownherbed.Thistime,Ihadagoodlookatherwhilesheclimbeddone.
Shehadsmallbreasts,thehaircoveringhersexwasverysparseanddark.Shetookherdress
andwentintoherparentsroom.Whenshecamebackaminutelater,shehadputthedresson,
andJooPaulo,stillhalferect,dressedaswellandpouredthecoffeeintofourcups.

MariaTeresagotup.Stilllyinginthebed,Icouldnothelplookingunderhershirtasshedidso.
ThiswasthefirsttimeIhadaglimpseatarealshavedsex.Ionlyhadhadonesexual
encounteratthistime,andIcanstillrememberthepubichairgettinginmyway.Thisreinforced
mymorningwood,andIwaswonderinghowIwouldgetupwhenshetoldmetogetupandeat
mybreakfast.Iaskedwhenherparentswouldwakeup,andshetoldmethattheyalreadyleft
whenthesunrosetogoselltheirfruitstothemarket.Relieved,Ireachedtomyluggage,gota

pantandashirt,andwenttothebathroomwithmyclothesinfrontofmetryingtocovermy
erection.

Atthisstage,Iwasverylost.IhadcomefromFrancetothemiddleofnowheretomeetagirlI
didn'tknow,andhadlandedintoafamilywhosecustomswereunknowntome.Wasit
appropriatetolookateachotherwhilenaked?Wasitappropriatetobenaked?Woulditbe
possibletogetinvolvedinaromanticrelationshipwithMariaTeresa?IdecidedthatIcouldnot
doanythingaboutitbuttalkwithMarieTeresawhenwegetachance,andwentbacktothe
mainroom.ThebananasandanotherfruitIcouldnotnameweredelicious.

JooPaulobroughtustothecity.ThetwosistersandIclimbedintothecargoarea,and
MariaTeresatoldmetherewouldbemanypeopletherebecauseofthemarket.Whenwe
arrived,eightmerchants,includinghertwoparents,weresellingfruitsandvegetablestoa
dozenofcustomers.Also,thecommunitycenterwasopen,andaftera20minutewaitIwas
abletoaccesstheonlycomputerconnectedtotheInternet.Itwasusinganantiqueversionof
InternetExplorer,butitwasenoughtosendashortmailtofamilytoassurethemthateverything
wasok,eventhoughIhadtousetheHTMLonlyversionofgmail.

MariaTeresatookmeforawalkaroundthevillage.Weseemedtobegettingalong,andshe
tookmyhand.Wespentmostofthedaytalkingaboutherstudies,myjob,herbeinganxiousto
gettoEurope.Wehadlunchinatinyhousewhereawomantalkingloudlywascooking,and
MariaTeresapayedforbothofus.Wewalkedfortherestoftheafternoon,restingfromtimeto
timeundertheshadowofatree,gettingalittlebitcloserfromeachother,thenwewalkedback
tothecity.

Onthepath,JooPaulowaswaitingforus.HestartedtoyellatMariaTeresa,andtheyfought
formorethan10minutes,withmetryingtoaskMariaTeresawhatwashappening.Wewent
backtothecarwhereManuelawaswaiting,andduringtheridebacksheexplainedthather
brotherhadalwaysactedjealoustowardsherandthathemadeascenebecausewespenttoo
muchtimealonetogether.

Thenightmealwaspleasant,withhermothertryingtocommunicatewithme.MariaTeresa
spentthedinertranslatingasmuchaspossiblewhileeating,andherfathershowedmeona
mapthecountrieswherehewouldhavewantedtogo:Portugal,Angola,CapVert.Themother
thendidthedisheswhilethefathersmokedahandmadecigar,anditwastimetogotosleep
again.

However,MariaTeresatoldmethattherewouldbeasmallchangeofaccommodations.Her
brotherdidnotwanthertosleepinthesamebedasmeanylonger,soIwastosleepnearher
sisterinsteadifitwasokwithme.IwasdisappointedbecauseIhadhopedwecouldchatsome
more,butIconvincedmyselfthatthiswasnotabigdealandthattomorrowwasanotherday.

JooPauloturnedoffthelight,theroomwentdimasthenightbefore,andheundressed,

washed,andgottobed.Itwasthenmyturn,andafterfresheningup,Iputcleanboxershorts
andwenttobed.MariaTeresaputashirt,andwaitedforhersistertofinishwashing.When
Manuelacametothebed,stillnaked,MariaTeresatalkedtoherandtheygotintoanargument.
IseemedtounderstandthatMariaTeresatoldhertowearsomethingwhileManuelapretexted
thatshehadnoshirtaround,showingtheparentsroomwheretheclosetwaswithherhand.
MariaTeresaseemedtohavethelastword,inthatsheclimbedintotheupperbed,givingme
onceagainaclearviewofherintimacy,andshethrewtheshirtshewaswearingtohersister.

Manuelatooktheshirt,putinon,andwentintothebedonmyside.Afterlessthanaminute,I
felthermoveasshewasgettingridoftheshirt,whichshewasn'tusedtowearwhilesleeping
apparently.

Ispentanhorriblenight.WhileIwasnotinterestedinManuelaatall,Icouldnothelphavinga
gianterectionimagininghernudebehindmyback.EverytimeImovedalittle,theshortsover
mydickweremakingmeevenmoreexcited.Icouldfeelthebedshakelightly,andIcouldnot
tellwhetheroneofthesiblingswasmasturbating,maybetencentimetersawayfromme,orifI
wasmyselfslowlymakingthebedmovebyrubbingmyshortsagainstthebed.

Atthispoint,myonlyprioritywasnottocome,asIwouldhavebeenveryembarrassedifthat
happened.IdidtheonlythingIcouldthinkof,Iputmyshortsoff,throwthemontotheground
overManuela,removedthesheetoffmyselfandManuela,andliedontomybacksothat
nothingtouchesmyerectdickanymore.Manuela,whowaseithernotsleepingorgotwokenup,
turnedaroundandlookedatme,thenatmydick.Shedidnotlooksurprisednorshocked,and
shesimplyclosedhereyes,lyingnakedonherback.

Icouldfinallygettosleep,butwokeupinthemiddleofthenightandtriedtoassessthecurrent
situation.Whilesleeping,Manuelahadturnedtowardsmeandonhertummy,herheadlooking
awayfromme.Herrighthandliedonmyleg,myflaccidsextouchingherarm.Myownhand
wastrappedunderherbody,andIcouldfeelherpublichaironthebackofmyhand.Igotan
instanterection,whichhadtheimmediateandbeneficialsideeffectofseparatingmysexfrom
herarm,andstartedtoslowlywithdrawmyhandfromunderher.AsIdidso,Ifeltthebackof
mymiddlefingergoingontopofherlabia,andprobablyherclitoris.Finally,Imanagedtopull
myhandcompletely,andconfirmedwhatIfeltbysmellingmyfinger.

Thiswastoomuchforme.Sinceeveryonewassleeping,Istartedtomasturbateveryslowlyto
preventthebedfrommoving.ItlookslikeIwasnotdiscreetenoughasManuelaturnedher
bodytowardsmeasIwasnearingtheend.Ihadplannedtocontainmyejaculationwithmy
otherhand,butseeingherlookingatmewassuchassurprisethatIendedupejaculatingall
overmychestandalsooverhers.ItwassopowerfulafeelingthatIcouldnotletitgoandgave
itafewmorestrikeswhilelookingatherstupidly.

Withoutaword,orevenastrangelook,shegotupandturnedthesinkfaucetontowatera
towel.Shecleanedupherselfwhilewalkingbacktothebed,thenhandedmethetowel.I

cleanedmyselfwhileshelookedatmedoingit,thenshebroughtthetowelback.MariaTeresa
askedhersomethingandsheanswered,thenwentbacktobed.Withoutasmile,withoutan
angrylook,sheclosedhereyeswhileturnedtowardsmeandmystillerectmember.

IwokeupthenextmorningwhenManuelagotoutofbed.Herparents,fullydressed,were
silentlyseatedatthetableandlookingintoourdirection.Asthedaybefore,shetookherdress
fromthefloorandwalkedtotheparentsbedroom,whileIunsuccessfullylookedforthesheetto
covermyself.AsMariaTeresaclimbedofftheladder,Iforcedmyselfnottolooktoolongtotheir
shavedpussy,eventhoughitlookedliketheparentswouldnotcare.Asshewaspickingupthe
shirttocoverherself,shenoticedthatIwasnakedmyselfandlettheshirtgo.Shecametome
andkissedmehello,andsaidthatshefearedthatIwasshockedbytheirnudityandthatsheis
happythatI'mnot,becauseitismuchtoohottosleepwithclothes.

Ididnotknowwhattoanswer,especiallywhenIdidn'tknowwhathersisterwouldtellornot.
Apparently,shedidnottellmuchbeforewewentoutforaridetotheriverwiththeparentsand
bothsisters,andwespentanexcellentday.MarieTeresa,Manuela,andI,spentmostofthe
daybathingnudeintheriver,whiletheparentsseatedaround.Somephysicalcontactsgave
melighterections,butnobodyseemedtocare.

Iwasstartingtofeelthatthiswasaverygoodtrip,untilwegothome.JooPaulowaswaiting
forus,visiblyangry,withatowelinhand.Irecognizeditimmediately.ItwasthetowelManuela
andIusedtocleanourselvesduringthenight.Hesmelledthetowel,shoutedsomethingat
Manuelawhoshoutedsomethingbackandstartedtosob.HethrewthetoweltoMariaTeresa,
whoalsosmelledit,andthensheturnedtome.Iknewitcouldnotbegood.

Sheaskedmehowhersistertowelcouldsmelllikesperm.Shetoldmethathersisterwasa
virgin,andthatIhaddishonoredherfamily,andthatnowIhavetomarryManuela.Itriedto
explainthatIdidnotsleepwithhersister,thatIhadnevereventouchedher,butapparentlyshe
didnotbelieveme,norwereherparentsforwhomshetranslatedwhatIsaid.IexplainedthatI
hadanaccidentandthatIusedthetoweltoclearitup,butshestartedyellingatmesayingthat
shedidnotbelieveme.

Thentheunexpectedhappened.ThemothershoutedanordertoManuela,whogotundressed,
stillsobbing,andclimbedontothekitchentable,legsspreadout.Themotherthenwentto
checkthatherdaughterwasstillavirgin.Thefather,stillsayingnothing,alsocheckedwhenthe
mothercalledhim,thenthebrother,thenMariaTeresa.

MariaTeresaseemedtocalmdownalittle,thenexplainedtomethatIcouldnotbetrusted.I
hadtogo,now.Thefather,apparentlyunderstandingtheconversation,cametomeandpushed
metothedoor.IshoutedthatIneededmysuitcase,withmypapers,myplanetickets,andmy
clothes,butMariaTeresayelledatmeandtoldmethatImustgo.Now.

ThisishowIendedupwalkinginthedirectionofthecity.Ireacheditinthemiddleofthenight,

andsleptinfrontofthecommunitycenter,hopingthatnothingwouldhappentomeuntilthesun
rose.Theoperatorfoundmeseatedatthedoorwhenhearrived.Hewasaratherniceguywho
spokeafewEnglishwords.IaskedhimwhereIcoulddoaWesternUniontransfer,hehad
neverheardofit.IlookeditupontheInternet,anditappearsthatthereisnowaytodoa
moneytransferinthisdesertedarea.

Isentamailtomyparentsaskingthemforadvice,butitwasthemiddleofthenightinFrance,
soIwasstuckhere,andIwantedtomovebeforethefamilycomestotownandtellseverybody
whathappened,asIdidn'twantanangrymobagainstme.Soitstruckme:FrenchGuiana,a
provinceofFrance,wasonly200milesaway.IfIcouldgothere,Icouldprobablygetmoney
transferredtomemuchmoreeasily,andIcouldprobablyarrangeaflightbacktoParis.

IwasabletoinstallanIRCclientonthecommunitycentercomputer,andtalkwithsome
strangerslocatedinCayenne,theprefectureofFrenchGuiana.TheyalltoldmethatIwasout
ofluckfortworeasons:Ihadnochancetobeabletotravelwithnomoney,andIhadnochance
tobeabletocrosstheborderwithoutpapers,sincetheyfightveryhardagainstillegal
immigration.Oneguycontactedmeprivately,andtoldmethatheknewsomeonewhocould
helpmereachFrenchGuiana,butthatthisnecessitatedmoney.Iproposedtoinitiatea
internationalmoneywireandtohavehimtrustmethatitwillarrive,butheansweredthatnot
onlyhedidn'tknowmeandcouldnottrustme,butalsothathedidn'twanttoletafinancialtrail.

Thenitstruckme:bitcoins.Itoldhimtowait,whileIcheckedhowmuchthe350BTCIstillhad
wereworth.IcouldhavecriedwhenIlookedattheexchangerateandsawthatitwas
7.28/BTC,andthatIhadtheequivalentof2500(approximately$3300)togetoutofthis
mess.Iwentbacktotheguyandaskedhimifhecouldaccept2500worthofbitcoins.Hedidn't
knowaboutit,andItriedtoexplain,buthewasnotinterested.IaskedhimtowaitagainasI
checkedonanotherIRCchannelifIcouldfindsomeoneinterestedinthetransaction.One
person,withagoodonlinereputation,waswillingtodoitifIsentthebitcoinsfirst,andcould
deliver2000incashtoanyoneinCayenne.Afternegotiatingabit,Icouldsetupthedeal,send
thebitcoins,andhavethecashbroughttotheguy.

Thiswasarealrisk,asthiscouldbeascam,andabitcointransactioncannotbereversed.
Fortunately,bothguyswerehonest,atleastasfarasourdealisconcerned.Eighthourslater,
thatIspentinthecommunitycenter,aSUVcametopickmeup.Ithappenedthattheguywasa
Frenchcop,apparentlyusedtodoingdirtyjobs,andhewasverynice.Whenwereachedthe
border,hehadmehideunderablanket,whilehegavesomecashtoboththeBrazilianandthe
Frenchcustomsandpoliceofficers.WereachedCayenneinthemiddleofthenight,andhe
droppedmeinfrontofthemainCayennepolicestation.HeexplainedtomethatIhadnothing
tofearbecauseeventhoughIenteredthecountryillegally,IhadeveryrighttobehereasIwas
French.

Indeed,ItoldthepolicethatIwasvisitingBrazilwhenIgotmuggedatgunpointneartheFrench
Guianaborder,andthatsomeoneIdon'tknowanythingabouthelpedmecrosstheborder.

Theycheckedmyidentity,madesometemporaryidentityandtraveldocumentssothatIcould
boardaplanetoFrance,anddirectedmetoabankwhereIcouldgetsomeemergencymoney
transferredfrommyparentsFrenchbankaccount,atthecostofextravagantfees.

Endofstory,Iwasabletosleepinanhotelandtakeaplanetwodayslater.WhenIcameback
toParis,ItoldmyparentsthatIhadmetacrazyfamilyandthatIgotmuggedandhadnoway
tojointhemorthehostfamily.Ihaven'ttoldthemaboutthebitcoins,Ipretendedlatertohave
lostthemallinascam,butreally:thebitcoinssavedmylife.

Ilovebitcoins.

"Andthatisthewholeoftheirshabbysecret.Thesecretofalltheiresotericphilosophies,ofall
theirdialecticsandsupersenses,oftheirevasiveeyesandsnarlingwords,thesecretforwhich
theydestroycivilization,language,industriesandlives,thesecretforwhichtheypiercetheir
owneyesandeardrums,grindouttheirsenses,blankouttheirminds,thepurposeforwhich
theydissolvetheabsolutesofreason,logic,matter,existence,realityistoerectuponthat
plasticfogasingleholyabsolute:theirWish.

"Therestrictiontheyseektoescapeisthelawofidentity.Thefreedomtheyseekisfreedom
fromthefactthatanAwillremainanA,nomatterwhattheirtearsortantrumsthatariverwill
notbringthemmilk,nomatterwhattheirhungerthatwaterwillnotrunuphill,nomatterwhat
comfortstheycouldgainifitdid,andiftheywanttoliftittotheroofofaskyscraper,theymust
doitbyaprocessofthoughtandlabor,inwhichthenatureofaninchofpipelinecounts,but
theirfeelingsdonotthattheirfeelingsareimpotenttoalterthecourseofasinglespeckofdust
inspaceorthenatureofanyactiontheyhavecommitted.

"Thosewhotellyouthatmanisunabletoperceivearealityundistortedbyhissenses,mean
thattheyareunwillingtoperceivearealityundistortedbytheirfeelings.'Thingsastheyare'are
thingsasperceivedbyyourminddivorcethemfromreasonandtheybecome'thingsas
perceivedbyyourwishes.'

"Thereisnohonestrevoltagainstreasonandwhenyouacceptanypartoftheircreed,your
motiveistogetawaywithsomethingyourreasonwouldnotpermityoutoattempt.Thefreedom
youseekisfreedomfromthefactthatifyoustoleyourwealth,youareascoundrel,nomatter
howmuchyougivetocharityorhowmanyprayersyourecitethatifyousleepwithsluts,you're
notaworthyhusband,nomatterhowanxiouslyyoufeelthatyouloveourwifenextmorningthat
youareanentity,notaseriesofrandompiecesscatteredthroughauniversewherenothing
sticksandnothingcommitsyoutoanything,theuniverseofachild'snightmarewhereidentities
switchandswim,wheretherotterandtheheroareinterchangeablepartsarbuttrarilyassumed
atwillthatyouareamanthatyouareanentitythatyouare.

"Nomatterhoweagerlyyouclaimthatthegoalofyourmysticwishingisahighermodeoflife,
therebellionagainstidentityisthewishfornonexistence.Thedesirenottobeanythingisthe
desirenottobe.

"Yourteachers,themysticsofbothschools,havereversedcausalityintheirconsciousness,
thenstrivetoreverseitinexistence.Theytaketheiremotionsasacause,andtheirmindasa
passiveeffect.Theymaketheiremotionstheirtoolforperceivingreality.Theyholdtheirdesires
asanirreducibleprimary,asafactsupersedingallfacts.Anhonestmandoesnotdesireuntil
hehasidentifiedtheobjectofhisdesire.Hesays:'Itis,thereforeIwantit.'Theysay:'Iwantit,
thereforeitis.'

"Theywanttocheattheaxiomofexistenceandconsciousness,theywanttheirconsciousness
tobeaninstrumentnotofperceivingbutofcreatingexistence,andexistencetobenotthe
objectbutthesubjectoftheirconsciousnesstheywanttobethatGodtheycreatedintheir
imageandlikeness,whocreatesauniverseoutofavoidbymeansofanarbuttrarywhim.But
realityisnottobecheated.Whattheyachieveistheoppositeoftheirdesire.Theywantan
omnipotentpoweroverexistenceinstead,theylosethepoweroftheconsciousness.By
refusingtoknow,theycondemnthemselvestothehorrorofaperpetualunknown.

"Thoseirrationalwishesthatdrawyoutotheircreed,thoseemotionsyouworshipasanidol,on
whosealtaryousacrificetheearth,thatdark,incoherentpassionwithinyou,whichyoutakeas
thevoiceofGodorofyourglands,isnothingmorethanthecorpseofyourmind.Anemotion
thatclasheswithyourreason,anemotionthatyoucannotexplainorcontrol,isonlythecarcass
ofthatstalethinkingwhichyouforbadeyourmindtorevise.

"Wheneveryoucommittedtheevilofrefusingtothinkandtosee,ofexemptingfromthe
absoluteofrealitysomeonesmallwishofyours,wheneveryouchosetosay:Letmewithdraw
fromthejudgmentofreasonthecookiesIstole,ortheexistenceofGod,letmehavemyone
irrationalwhimandIwillbeamanofreasonaboutallelsethatwastheactofsubvertingyour
consciousness,theactofcorruptingyourmind.Yourmindthenbecameafixedjurywhotakes
ordersfromasecretunderworld,whoseverdictdistortstheevidencetofitanabsoluteitdares
nottouchandacensoredrealityistheresult,asplinteredrealitywherethebuttsyouchoseto
seearefloatingamongthechasmsofthoseyoudidn't,heldtogetherbythatembalmingfluidof
themindwhichisanemotionexemptedfromthought.

"Thelinksyoustrivetodrownarecasualconnections.Theenemyyouseektodefeatisthelaw
ofcausality:itpermitsyounomiracles.Thelawofcausalityisthelawofidentityappliedto
action.Allactionsarecausedbyentities.Thenatureofanactioniscausedanddeterminedby
thenatureoftheentitiesthatactathingcannotactincontradictiontoitsnature.Anactionnot
causedbyanentitywouldbecausedbyazero,whichwouldmeanazerocontrollingathing,a
nonentitycontrollinganentity,thenonexistentrulingtheexistentwhichistheuniverseofyour
teachers'desire,thecauseoftheirdoctrinesofcauselessaction,thereasonoftheirrevolt

againstreason,thegoaloftheirmorality,theirpolitics,theireconomics,theidealtheystrivefor:
thereignofthezero.

"Thelawofidentitydoesnotpermityoutohaveyourcakeandeatit,too.Thelawofcausality
doesnotpermityoutoeatyourcakebeforeyouhaveit.Butifyoudrownbothlawsintheblanks
ofyourmind,ifyoupretendtoyourselfandtoothersthatyoudon'tseethenyoucantryto
proclaimyourrighttoeatyourcaketodayandminetomorrow,youcanpreachthatthewayto
haveacakeistoeatitfirst,beforeyoubakeit,thatthewaytoproduceistostartbyconsuming,
thatallwishershaveanequalclaimtoallthings,sincenothingiscausedbyanything.The
corollaryofthecauselessinmatteristheunearnedinspirit.

"Wheneveryourebelagainstcausality,yourmotiveisthefraudulentdesire,nottoescapeit,but
worse:toreverseit.Youwantunearnedlove,asiflove,theeffect,couldgiveyoupersonal
value,thecauseyouwantunearnedadmiration,asifadmiration,theeffect,couldgiveyou
virtue,thecauseyouwantunearnedwealth,asifwealth,theeffect,couldgiveyouability,the
causeyoupleadformercy,mercy,notjustice,asifanunearnedforgivenesscouldwipeoutthe
causeofyourplea.Andtoindulgeyouruglylittleshams,yousupportthedoctrinesofyour
teachers,whiletheyrunhogwildproclaimingthatspending,theeffect,createsriches,the
cause,thatmachinery,theeffect,createsintelligence,thecause,thatyoursexualdesires,the
effect,createyourphilosophicalvalues,thecause.

"Whopaysfortheorgy?Whocausesthecauseless?Whoarethevictims,condemnedto
remainunacknowledgedandtoperishinsilence,lesttheiragonydisturbyourpretensethatthey
donotexist?Weare,we,themenofthemind.

"Wearethecauseofallthevaluesthatyoucovet,wewhoperformtheprocessofthinking,
whichistheprocessofdefiningidentityanddiscoveringcausalconnections.Wetaughtyouto
know,tospeak,toproduce,todesire,tolove.Youwhoabandonreasonwereitnotforuswho
preserveit,youwouldnotbeabletofulfilloreventoconceiveyourwishes.Youwouldnotbe
abletodesiretheclothesthathadnotbeenmade,theautomobilethathadnotbeeninvented,
themoneythathadnotbeendevised,asexchangeforgoodsthatdidnotexist,theadmiration
thathadnotbeenexperiencedformenwhohadachievednothing,thelovethatbelongsand
pertainsonlytothosewhopreservetheircapacitytothink,tochoose,tovalue.

"YouwholeaplikeasavageoutofthejungleofyourfeelingstotheFifthAvenueofourNew
Yorkandproclaimthatyouwanttokeeptheelectriclights,buttodestroythegeneratorsitisour
wealththatyouusewhiledestroyingus,itisourvaluesthatyouusewhiledamningus,itisour
languagethatyouusewhiledenyingthemind.

"Justasyourmysticsofspiritinventedtheirheavenintheimageofourearth,omittingour
existence,andpromisedyourewardscreatedbymiracleoutofnonmattersoyourmodern
mysticsofmuscleomitourexistenceandpromiseyouaheavenwheremattershapesitselfof
itsowncauselesswillintoalltherewardsdesiredbyyournonmind.


"Forcenturies,themysticsofspirithadexistedbyrunningaprotectionracketbymakinglifeon
earthunbearable,thenchargingyouforconsolationandrelief,byforbiddingallthevirtuesthat
makeexistencepossible,thenridingontheshouldersofyourguilt,bydeclaringproductionand
joytobesins,thencollectingblackmailfromthesinners.We,themenofthemind,werethe
unnamedvictimsoftheircreed,wewhowerewillingtobreaktheirmoralcodeandtobear
damnationforthesinofreasonwewhothoughtandacted,whiletheywishedandprayedwe
whoweremoraloutcasts,wewhowerebootleggersoflifewhenlifewasheldtobea
crimewhiletheybaskedinmoralgloryforthevirtueofsurpassingmaterialgreedandof
distributinginselflesscharitythematerialgoodsproducedbyblankout.

"Nowwearechainedandcommandedtoproducebysavageswhodonotgrantuseventhe
identificationofsinnersbysavageswhoproclaimthatwedonotexist,thenthreatentodeprive
usofthelifewedon'tpossess,ifwefailtoprovidethemwiththegoodswedon'tproduce.Now
weareexpectedtocontinuerunningrailroadsandtoknowtheminutewhenatrainwillarrive
aftercrossingthespanofacontinent,weareexpectedtocontinuerunningsteelmillsandto
knowthemolecularstructureofeverydropofmetalinthecablesofyourbridgesandinthe
bodyoftheairplanesthatsupportyouinmidairwhilethetribesofyourgrotesquelittlemystics
ofmusclefightoverthecarcassofourworld,gibberinginsoundsofnonlanguagethatthereare
noprinciples,noabsolutes,noknowledge,nomind.

"Droppingbelowthelevelofasavage,whobelievesthatthemagicwordsheuttershavethe
powertoalterreality,theybelievethatrealitycanbealteredbythepowerofthewordstheydo
notutterandtheirmagictoolistheblankout,thepretensethatnothingcancomeintoexistence
pastthevoodoooftheirrefusaltoidentifyit.

"Astheyfeedonstolenwealthinbody,sotheyfeedonstolenconceptsinmind,andproclaim
thathonestyconsistsofrefusingtoknowthatoneisstealing.Astheyuseeffectswhiledenying
causes,sotheyuseourconceptswhiledenyingtherootsandtheexistenceoftheconcepts
theyareusing.Astheyseek,nottobuild,buttotakeoverindustrialplants,sotheyseek,notto
think,buttotakeoverhumanthinking.

"Astheyproclaimthattheonlyrequirementforrunningafactoryistheabilitytoturnthecranks
ofthemachines,andblankoutthequestionofwhocreatedthefactorysotheyproclaimthat
therearenoentities,thatnothingexistsbutmotion,andblankoutthefactthatmotion
presupposesthethingwhichmoves,thatwithouttheconceptofentity,therecanbenosuch
conceptas'motion.'Astheyproclaimtheirrighttoconsumetheunearned,andblankoutthe
questionofwho'stoproduceitsotheyproclaimthatthereisnolawofidentity,thatnothing
existsbutchange,andblankoutthefactthatchangepresupposestheconceptsofwhat
changes,fromwhatandtowhat,that,withoutthelawofidentitynosuchconceptas'change'is
possible.Astheyrobanindustrialistwhiledenyinghisvalue,sotheyseektoseizepowerover
allofexistencewhiledenyingthatexistenceexists.

"'Weknowthatweknownothing,'theychatter,blankingoutthefactthattheyareclaiming
knowledge'Therearenotabsolutes,'theychatter,blankingoutthefactthattheyareutteringan
absolute'Youcannotprovethatyouexistorthatyou'reconscious,'theychatter,blankingout
thefactthatproofpresupposesexistence,consciousnessandacomplexchainofknowledge:
theexistenceofsomethingtoknow,ofaconsciousnessabletoknowit,andofaknowledgethat
haslearnedtodistinguishbetweensuchconceptsastheprovedandtheunproved.

"Whenasavagewhohasnotlearnedtospeakdeclaresthatexistencemustbeproved,heis
askingyoutoproveitbymeansofnonexistencewhenhedeclaresthatyourconsciousness
mustbeproved,heisaskingyoutoproveitbymeansofunconsciousnessheisaskingyouto
stepintoavoidoutsideofexistenceandconsciousnesstogivehimproofofbothheisasking
youtobecomeazerogainingknowledgeaboutazero.

"Whenhedeclaresthatanaxiomisamatterofarbuttrarychoiceandhedoesn'tchooseto
accepttheaxiomthatheexists,heblanksoutthefactthathehasaccepteditbyutteringthat
sentence,thattheonlywaytorejectitistoshutone'smouth,expoundnotheoriesanddie.

"Anaxiomisastatementthatidentifiesthebaseofknowledgeandofanyfurtherstatement
pertainingtothatknowledge,astatementnecessarilycontainedinallothers,whetherany
particularspeakerchoosestoidentifyitornot.Anaxiomisapropositionthatdefeatsits
opponentsbythefactthattheyhavetoacceptitanduseitintheprocessofanyattempttodeny
it.Letthecavemanwhodoesnotchoosetoaccepttheaxiomofidentity,trytopresenthis
theorywithoutusingtheconceptofidentityoranyconceptderivedfromitlettheanthropoidwho
doesnotchoosetoaccepttheexistenceofnouns,trytodevisealanguagewithoutnouns,
adjectivesorverbsletthewitchdoctorwhodoesnotchoosetoacceptthevalidityofsensory
perception,trytoproveitwithoutusingthedataheobtainedbysensoryperceptionletthe
headhunterwhodoesnotchoosetoacceptthevalidityoflogic,trytoproveitwithoutusing
logicletthepigmywhoproclaimsthataskyscraperneedsnofoundationafteritreachesits
fiftiethstory,yankthebasefromunderhisbuilding,notyoursletthecannibalwhosnarlsthat
thefreedomofman'smindwasneededtocreateanindustrialcivilization,butisnotneededto
maintainit,begivenanarrowheadandbearskin,notauniversitychairofeconomics.

"Doyouthinktheyaretakingyoubacktodarkages?Theyaretakingyoubacktodarkerages
thananyyourhistoryhasknown.Theirgoalisnottheeraofprescience,buttheeraof
prelanguage.Theirpurposeistodepriveyouoftheconceptonwhichman'smind,hislifeand
hisculturedepend:theconceptofanobjectivereality.Identifythedevelopmentofahuman
consciousnessandyouwillknowthepurposeoftheircreed.

"AsavageisabeingwhohasnotgraspedthatAisAandthatrealityisreal.Hehasarrestedhis
mindatthelevelofababy's,atthestatewhenaconsciousnessacquiresitsinitialsensory
perceptionandhasnotlearnedtodistinguishsolidobjects.Itistoababythattheworldappears
asablurofmotion,withoutthingsthatmoveandthebirthofhismindisthedaywhenhegrasps
thatthestreakthatkeepsflickeringpasthimishismotherandthewhirlbeyondherisacurtain,

thatthetwoaresolidentitiesandneithercanturnintotheother,thattheyarewhattheyare,
thattheyexist.Thedaywhenhegraspsthatmatterhasnovolitionisthedaywhenhegrasps
thathehasandthisishisbirthasahumanbeing.Thedaywhenhegraspsthatthereflection
heseesinamirrorisnotadelusion,thatitisreal,butitisnothimself,thatthemiragehesees
inadesertisnotadelusion,thattheairandthelightraysthatcauseitarereal,butitisnota
city,itisacity'sreflectionthedaywhenhegraspsthatheisnotapassiverecipientofthe
sensationsofanygivenmoment,thathissensesdonotprovidehimwithautomaticknowledge
inseparatesnatchesindependentofcontext,butonlywiththematerialofknowledge,whichhis
mindmustlearntointegratethedaywhenhegraspsthathissensescannotdeceivehim,that
physicalobjectscannotactwithoutcauses,thathisorgansofperceptionarephysicalandhave
novolition,nopowertoinventortodistort,thattheevidencetheygivehimisanabsolute,but
hismindmustlearntounderstandit,hismindmustdiscoverthenature,thecauses,thefull
contextofhissensorymaterial,hismindmustidentifythethingsthatheperceivesthatisthe
dayofhisbirthasathinkerandscientist.

"Wearethemenwhoreachthatdayyouarethemenwhochoosetoreachitpartlyasavage
isamanwhoneverdoes.

"Toasavage,theworldisaplaceofunintelligiblemiracleswhereanythingispossibleto
inanimatematterandnothingispossibletohim.Hisworldisnottheunknown,butthatirrational
horror:theunknowable.Hebelievesthatphysicalobjectsareendowedwithamysterious
volition,movedbycauseless,unpredictablewhims,whileheisahelplesspawnatthemercyof
forcesbeyondhiscontrol.Hebelievesthatnatureisruledbydemonswhopossessan
omnipotentpowerandthatrealityistheirfluidplaything,wheretheycanturnhisbowlofmeal
intoasnakeandhiswifeintoabeetleatanymoment,wheretheAhehasneverdiscoveredcan
beanynonAtheychoose,wheretheonlyknowledgehepossessesisthathemustnotattempt
toknow.Hecancountonnothing,hecanonlywish,andhespendshislifeonwishing,on
begginghisdemonstogranthimhiswishesbythearbuttrarypoweroftheirwill,givingthem
creditwhentheydo,takingtheblamewhentheydon't,offeringthemsacrificesintokenofhis
gratitudeandsacrificesintokenofhisguilt,crawlingonhisbellyinfearandworshipofsunand
moonandwindandrainandofanythugwhoannounceshimselfastheirspokesman,provided
hiswordsareunintelligibleandhismasksufficientlyfrighteninghewishes,begsandcrawls,
anddies,leavingyou,asarecordofhisviewofexistence,thedistortedmonstrositiesofhis
idols,partman,partanimal,partspider,theembodimentsoftheworldofnonA.

"Hisistheintellectualstateofyourmodernteachersandhisistheworldtowhichtheywantto
bringyou.

"Ifyouwonderbywhatmeanstheyproposetodoit,walkintoanycollegeclassroomandyou
willhearyourprofessorsteachingyourchildrenthatmancanbecertainofnothing,thathis
consciousnesshasnovaliditywhatever,thathecanlearnnofactsandnolawsofexistence,
thathe'sincapableofknowinganobjectivereality.What,then,ishisstandardofknowledgeand
truth?Whateverothersbelieve,istheiranswer.Thereisnoknowledge,theyteach,there'sonly

faith:yourbeliefthatyouexistisanactoffaith,nomorevalidthananother'sfaithinhisrightto
killyoutheaxiomsofscienceareanactoffaith,nomorevalidthanamystic'sfaithin
revelationsthebeliefthatelectriclightcanbeproducedby'ageneratorisanactoffaith,no
morevalidthanthebeliefthatitcanbeproducedbyarabbutt'sfootkissedunderastepladder
onthefirstofthemoontruthiswhateverpeoplewantittobe,andpeopleareeveryoneexcept
yourselfrealityiswhateverpeoplechoosetosayitis,therearenoobjectivefacts,thereare
onlypeople'sarbuttrarywishesamanwhoseeksknowledgeinalaboratorybymeansoftest
tubesandlogicisanoldfashioned,superstitiousfoolatruescientistisamanwhogoesaround
takingpublicpollsandifitweren'tfortheselfishgreedofthemanufacturersofsteelgirders,
whohaveavestedinterestinobstructingtheprogressofscience,youwouldlearnthatNew
YorkCitydoesnotexist,becauseapolloftheentirepopulationoftheworldwouldtellyoubya
landslidemajoritythattheirbeliefsforbiditsexistence.

"Forcenturies,themysticsofspirithaveproclaimedthatfaithissuperiortoreason,buthavenot
dareddenytheexistenceofreason.Theirheirsandproducts,themysticsofmuscle,have
completedtheirjobandachievedtheirdream:theyproclaimthateverythingisfaith,andcallita
revoltagainstbelieving.Asrevoltagainstunprovedassertions,theyproclaimthatnothingcan
beprovedasrevoltagainstsupernaturalknowledge,theyproclaimthatnoknowledgeis
possibleasrevoltagainsttheenemiesofscience,theyproclaimthatscienceissuperstitionas
revoltagainsttheenslavementofthemind,theyproclaimthatthereisnomind.

"Ifyousurrenderyourpowertoperceive,ifyouaccepttheswitchofyourstandardfromthe
objectivetothecollectiveandwaitformankindtotellyouwhattothink,youwillfindanother
switchtakingplacebeforetheeyesyouhaverenounced:youwillfindthatyourteachers
becometherulersofthecollective,andifyouthenrefusetoobeythem,protestingthattheyare
notthewholeofmankind,theywillanswer:'Bywhatmeansdoyouknowthatwearenot?Are,
brother?Wheredidyougetthatoldfashionedterm?'

"Ifyoudoubtthatsuchistheirpurpose,observewithwhatpassionateconsistencythemystics
ofmusclearestrivingtomakeyouforgetthataconceptsuchas'Mind'haseverexisted.
Observethetwistsofundefinedverbiage,thewordswithrubbermeanings,thetermsleft
floatinginmidstream,bymeansofwhichtheytrytogetaroundtherecognitionoftheconceptof
'thinking.'Yourconsciousness,theytellyou,consistsof'reflexes,''reactions,''experiences,'
'urges,'and'drives'andrefusetoidentifythemeansbywhichtheyacquiredthatknowledge,to
identifytheacttheyareperformingwhentheytellitortheactyouareperformingwhenyou
listen.Wordshavethepowerto'consider'you,theysayandrefusetoidentifythereasonwhy
wordshavethepowertochangeyourblankout.Astudentreadingabookunderstandsit
throughaprocessofblankout.Ascientistworkingonaninventionisengagedintheactivity
ofblankout.Apsychologisthelpinganeurotictosolveaproblemanduntangleaconflict,does
itbymeansofblankout.Anindustrialistblankoutthereisnosuchperson.Afactoryisa
'naturalresource,'likeatree,arockoramudpuddle.

"Theproblemofproduction,theytellyou,hasbeensolvedanddeservesnostudyorconcern
theonlyproblemleftforyour'reflexes'tosolveisnowtheproblemofdistribution.Whosolved
theproblemofproduction?Humanity,theyanswer.Whatwasthesolution?Thegoodsarehere.
Howdidtheygethere?Somehow.Whatcausedit?Nothinghascauses.

"Theyproclaimthateverymanbornisentitledtoexistwithoutlaborand,thelawsofrealityto
thecontrarynotwithstanding,isentitledtoreceivehis'minimumsustenance'hisfood,his
clothes,hisshelterwithnoeffortonhispart,ashisdueandhisbirthright.Toreceiveitfrom
whom?Blankout.Everyman,theyannounce,ownsanequalshareofthetechnological
benefitscreatedintheworld.Createdbywhom?Blankout.Franticcowardswhopostureas
defendersofindustrialistsnowdefinethepurposeofeconomicsas'anadjustmentbetweenthe
unlimiteddesiresofmenandthegoodssuppliedinlimitedquantity.'Suppliedbywhom?
Blankout.Intellectualhoodlumswhoposeasprofessors,shrugawaythethinkersofthepastby
declaringthattheirsocialtheorieswerebasedontheimpracticalassumptionthatmanwasa
rationalbeingbutsincemenarenotrational,theydeclare,thereoughttobeestablisheda
systemthatwillmakeitpossibleforthemtoexistwhilebeingirrational,whichmeans:while
defyingreality.Whowillmakeitpossible?Blankout.Anystraymediocrityrushesintoprintwith
planstocontroltheproductionofmankindandwhoeveragreesordisagreeswithhisstatistics,
noonequestionshisrighttoenforcehisplansbymeansofagun.Enforceonwhom?
Blankout.Randomfemaleswithcauselessincomestitterontripsaroundtheglobeandreturn
todeliverthemessagethatthebackwardpeoplesoftheworlddemandahigherstandardof
living.Demandofwhom?Blankout.

"AndtoforestallanyinquiryintothecauseofthedifferencebetweenajunglevillageandNew
YorkCity,theyresorttotheultimateobscenityofexplainingman'sindustrial
progressskyscrapers,cablebridges,powermotors,railroadtrainsbydeclaringthatmanisan
animalwhopossessesan'instinctoftoolmaking.'

"Didyouwonderwhatiswrongwiththeworld?Youarenowseeingtheclimaxofthecreedof
theuncausedandunearned.Allyourgangsofmystics,ofspiritormuscle,arefightingone
anotherforpowertoruleyou,snarlingthatloveisthesolutionforalltheproblemsofyourspirit
andthatawhipisthesolutionforalltheproblemsofyourbodyyouwhohaveagreedtohave
nomind.Grantingmanlessdignitythantheygranttocattle,ignoringwhatananimaltrainer
couldtellthemthatnoanimalcanbetrainedbyfear,thatatorturedelephantwilltrampleits
torturer,butwillnotworkforhimorcarryhisburdenstheyexpectmantocontinuetoproduce
electronictubes,supersonicairplanes,atomsmashingenginesandinterstellartelescopes,with
hisrationofmeatforrewardandalashonhisbackforincentive.

"Makenomistakeaboutthecharacterofmystics.Toundercutyourconsciousnesshasalways
beentheironlypurposethroughouttheagesandpower,thepowertoruleyoubyforce,has
alwaysbeentheironlylust.

"Fromtheritesofthejunglewitchdoctors,whichdistortedrealityintogrotesqueabsurdities,
stuntedthemindsoftheirvictimsandkepttheminterrorofthesupernaturalforstagnant
stretchesofcenturiestothesupernaturaldoctrinesoftheMiddleAges,whichkeptmen
huddlingonthemudfloorsoftheirhovels,interrorthatthedevilmightstealthesouptheyhad
workedeighteenhourstoearntotheseedylittlesmilingprofessorwhoassuresyouthatyour
brainhasnocapacitytothink,thatyouhavenomeansofperceptionandmustblindlyobeythe
omnipotentwillofthatsupernaturalforce:Societyallofitisthesameperformanceforthesame
andonlypurpose:toreduceyoutothekindofpulpthathassurrenderedthevalidityofits
consciousness.

"Butitcannotbedonetoyouwithoutyourconsent.Ifyoupermitittobedone,youdeserveit.

"Whenyoulistentoamystic'sharangueontheimpotenceofthehumanmindandbeginto
doubtyourconsciousness,nothis,whenyoupermityourprecariouslysemirationalstatetobe
shakenbyanyassertionanddecideitissafertotrusthissuperiorcertaintyandknowledge,the
jokeisonbothofyou:yoursanctionistheonlysourceofcertaintyhehas.Thesupernatural
powerthatamysticdreads,theunknowablespiritheworships,theconsciousnessheconsiders
omnipotentisyours.

"Amysticisamanwhosurrenderedhismindatitsfirstencounterwiththemindsofothers.
Somewhereinthedistantreachesofhischildhood,whenhisownunderstandingofreality
clashedwiththeassertionsofothers,withtheirarbuttraryordersandcontradictorydemands,he
gaveintosocravenafearofindependencethatherenouncedhisrationalfaculty.Atthe
crossroadsofthechoicebetween'Iknow'and'Theysay,'hechosetheauthorityofothers,he
chosetosubmitratherthantounderstand,tobelieveratherthantothink.Faithinthe
supernaturalbeginsasfaithinthesuperiorityofothers.Hissurrendertooktheformofthe
feelingthathemusthidehislackofunderstanding,thatotherspossesssomemysterious
knowledgeofwhichhealoneisdeprived,thatrealityiswhatevertheywantittobe,through
somemeansforeverdeniedtohim.

"Fromthenon,afraidtothink,heisleftatthemercyofunidentifiedfeelings.Hisfeelings
becomehisonlyguide,hisonlyremnantofpersonalidentity,heclingstothemwithferocious
possessivenessandwhateverthinkinghedoesisdevotedtothestruggleofhidingfromhimself
thatthenatureofhisfeelingsisterror.

"Whenamysticdeclaresthathefeelstheexistenceofapowersuperiortoreason,hefeelsitall
right,butthatpowerisnotanomniscientsuperspiritoftheuniverse,itistheconsciousnessof
anypasserbytowhomhehassurrenderedhisown.Amysticisdrivenbytheurgetoimpress,
tocheat,toflatter,todeceive,toforcethatomnipotentconsciousnessofothers.'They'arehis
onlykeytoreality,hefeelsthathecannotexistsavebyharnessingtheirmysteriouspowerand
extortingtheirunaccountableconsent.'They'arehisonlymeansofperceptionand,likeablind
manwhodependsonthesightofadog,hefeelshemustleashtheminordertolive.Tocontrol

theconsciousnessofothersbecomeshisonlypassionpowerlustisaweedthatgrowsonlyin
thevacantlotsofanabandonedmind.

"Everydictatorisamystic,andeverymysticisapotentialdictator.Amysticcravesobedience
frommen,nottheiragreement.Hewantsthemtosurrendertheirconsciousnesstohis
assertions,hisedicts,hiswishes,hiswhimsashisconsciousnessissurrenderedtotheirs.He
wantstodealwithmenbymeansoffaithandforcehefindsnosatisfactionintheirconsentifhe
mustearnitbymeansoffactsandreason.Reasonistheenemyhedreadsand,
simultaneously,considersprecarious:reason,tohim,isameansofdeception,hefeelsthat
menpossesssomepowermorepotentthanreasonandonlytheircauselessbeliefortheir
forcedobediencecangivehimasenseofsecurity,aproofthathehasgainedcontrolofthe
mysticendowmenthelacked.Hislustistocommand,nottoconvince:convictionrequiresan
actofindependenceandpressontheabsoluteofanobjectivereality.Whatheseeksispower
overrealityandovermen'smeansofperceivingit,theirmind,thepowertointerposehiswill
betweenexistenceandconsciousness,asif,byagreeingtofaketherealityheordersthemto
fake,menwould,infact,createit.

"Justasthemysticisaparasiteinmatter,whoexpropriatesthewealthcreatedbyothersjustas
heisaparasiteinspirit,whoplunderstheideascreatedbyotherssohefallsbelowthelevelof
alunaticwhocreateshisowndistortionofreality,tothelevelofaparasiteoflunacywhoseeks
adistortioncreatedbyothers.

"Thereisonlyonestatethatfulfillsthemystic'slongingforinfinity,noncausality,nonidentity:
death.Nomatterwhatunintelligiblecausesheascribestohisincommunicablefeelings,
whoeverrejectsrealityrejectsexistenceandthefeelingsthatmovehimfromthenonarehatred
forallthevaluesofman'slife,andlustforalltheevilsthatdestroyit.Amysticrelishesthe
spectacleofsuffering,ofpoverty,subservienceandterrorthesegivehimafeelingoftriumph,a
proofofthedefeatofrationalreality.Butnootherrealityexists.

"Nomatterwhosewelfareheprofessestoserve,beitthewelfareofGodorofthatdisembodied
gargoylehedescribesas'ThePeople,'nomatterwhatidealheproclaimsintermsofsome
supernaturaldimensioninfact,inreality,onearth,hisidealisdeath,hiscravingistokill,his
onlysatisfactionistotorture.

"Destructionistheonlyendthatthemystics'creedhaseverachieved,asitistheonlyendthat,
youseethemachievingtoday,andiftheravageswroughtbytheiractshavenotmadethem
questiontheirdoctrines,iftheyprofesstobemovedbylove,yetarenotdeterredbypilesof
humancorpses,itisbecausethetruthabouttheirsoulsisworsethantheobsceneexcuseyou
haveallowedthem,theexcusethattheendjustifiesthemeansandthatthehorrorsthey
practicearemeanstonoblerends.Thetruthisthatthosehorrorsaretheirends.

"Youwho'redepravedenoughtobelievethatyoucouldadjustyourselftoamystic'sdictatorship
andcouldpleasehimbyobeyinghisordersthereisnowaytopleasehimwhenyouobey,he

willreversehisordersheseeksobedienceforthesakeofobedienceanddestructionforthe
sakeofdestruction.Youwhoarecravenenoughtobelievethatyoucanmaketermswitha
mysticbygivingintohisextortionsthereisnowaytobuyhimoff,thebribehewantsisyourlife,
asslowlyorasfastasyouarewillingtogiveitinandthemonsterheseekstobribeisthe
hiddenblankoutinhismind,whichdriveshimtokillinordernottolearnthatthedeathhe
desiresishisown.

"Youwhoareinnocentenoughtobelievethattheforcesletlooseinyourworldtodayaremoved
bygreedformaterialplunderthemystics'scrambleforspoilsisonlyascreentoconcealfrom
theirmindthenatureoftheirmotive.Wealthisameansofhumanlife,andtheyclamorfor
wealthinimitationoflivingbeings,topretendtothemselvesthattheydesiretolive,buttheir
swinishindulgenceinplunderedluxuryisnotenjoyment,itisescape.Theydonotwanttoown
yourfortune,theywantyoutoloseittheydonotwanttosucceed,theywantyoutofailtheydo
notwanttolive,theywantyoutodietheydesirenothing,theyhateexistence,andtheykeep
running,eachtryingnottolearnthattheobjectofhishatredishimself.

"Youwho'venevergraspedthenatureofevil,youwhodescribethemas'misguided
idealists'maytheGodyouinventedforgiveyou!theyaretheessenceofevil,they,those
antilivingobjectswhoseek,bydevouringtheworld,tofilltheselflesszerooftheirsoul.Itisnot
yourwealththatthey'reafter.Theirsisaconspiracyagainstthemind,whichmeans:againstlife
andman.

"Itisaconspiracywithoutleaderordirection,andtherandomlittlethugsofthemomentwho
cashinontheagonyofonelandoranotherarechancescumridingthetorrentfromthebroken
damofthesewerofcenturies,fromthereservoirofhatredforreason,forlogic,forability,for
achievement,forjoy,storedbyeverywhiningantihumanwhoeverpreachedthesuperiorityof
the'heart'overthemind.

"Itisaconspiracyofallthosewhoseek,nottolive,buttogetawaywithliving,thosewhoseek
tocutjustonesmallcornerofrealityandaredrawn,byfeeling,toalltheotherswhoarebusy
cuttingothercornersaconspiracythatunitesbylinksofevasionallthosewhopursueazeroas
avalue:theprofessorwho,unabletothink,takespleasureincripplingthemindofhisstudents,
thebusinessmanwho,toprotecthisstagnation,takespleasureinchainingtheabilityof
competitors,theneuroticwho,todefendhisselfloathing,takespleasureinbreakingmenof
selfesteem,theincompetentwhotakespleasureindefeatingachievement,themediocritywho
takespleasureindemolishinggreatness,theeunuchwhotakespleasureinthecastrationofall
pleasureandalltheirintellectualmunitionmakers,allthosewhopreachthattheimmolationof
virtuewilltransformvicesintovirtue.Deathisthepremiseattherootoftheirtheories,deathis
thegoaloftheiractionsinpracticeandyouarethelastoftheirvictims.

"We,whoarethelivingbuffersbetweenyouandthenatureofyourcreed,arenolongerthereto
saveyoufromtheeffectsofyourchosenbeliefs.Wearenolongerwillingtopaywithourlives

thedebtsyouincurredinyoursorthemoraldeficitpiledupbyallthegenerationsbehindyou.
YouhadbeenlivingonborrowedtimeandIamthemanwhohascalledintheloan.

"Iamthemanwhoseexistenceyourblankoutswereintendedtopermityoutoignore.Iamthe
manwhomyoudidnotwanteithertoliveortodie.Youdidnotwantmetolive,becauseyou
wereafraidofknowingthatIcarriedtheresponsibilityyoudroppedandthatyourlivesdepended
uponmeyoudidnotwantmetodie,becauseyouknewit.

"Twelveyearsago,whenIworkedinyourworld,Iwasaninventor.Iwasoneofaprofession
thatcamelastinhumanhistoryandwillbefirsttovanishonthewaybacktothesubhuman.An
inventorisamanwhoasks'Why?'oftheuniverseandletsnothingstandbetweentheanswer
andhismind.

"Likethemanwhodiscoveredtheuseofsteamorthemanwhodiscoveredtheuseoil,I
discoveredasourceofenergywhichwasavailablesincethebirthoftheglobe,butwhichmen
hadnotknownhowtouseexceptasanobjectofworship,ofterrorandoflegendswithouta
thunderinggod.Icompletedtheexperimentalmodelofamotorthatwouldhavemadeafortune
formeandforthosewhohadhiredme,amotorthatwouldhaveraisedtheefficiencyofevery
humaninstallationusingpowerandwouldhaveaddedthegiftofhigherproductivitytoevery
houryouspendatearningyourliving.

"Then,onenightatafactorymeeting,Iheardmyselfsentencedtodeathbyreasonofmy
achievement.Iheardthreeparasitesassertthatmybrainandmylifeweretheirproperty,that
myrighttoexistwasconditionalanddependedonthesatisfactionoftheirdesires.Thepurpose
ofmyability,theysaid,wastoservetheneedsofthosewhowerelessable.Ihadnorightto
live,theysaid,byreasonofmycompetenceforliving:theirrighttolivewasunconditional,by
reasonoftheirincompetence.

"ThenIsawwhatwaswrongwiththeworld,Isawwhatdestroyedmenandnations,andwhere
thebattleforlifehadtobefought.Isawthattheenemywasaninvertedmoralityandthatmy
sanctionwasitsonlypower.Isawthatevilwasimpotentthatevilwastheirrational,theblind,
theantirealandthattheonlyweaponofitstriumphwasthewillingnessofthegoodtoserveit.
Justastheparasitesaroundmewereproclaimingtheirhelplessdependenceonmymindand
wereexpectingmevoluntarilytoacceptaslaverytheyhadnopowertoenforce,justasthey
werecountingonmyselfimmolationtoprovidethemwiththemeansoftheirplansothroughout
theworldandthroughoutmen'shistory,ineveryversionandform,fromtheextortionsofloafing
relativestotheatrocitiesofcollectivecountries,itisthegood,theable,themenofreason,who
actastheirowndestroyers,whotransfusetoevilthebloodoftheirvirtueandleteviltransmitto
themthepoisonofdestruction,thusgainingforevilthepowerofsurvival,andfortheirown
valuestheimpotenceofdeath.Isawthattherecomesapoint,inthedefeatofanymanof
virtue,whenhisownconsentisneededforeviltowinandthatnomannerofinjurydonetohim
byotherscansucceedifhechoosestowithholdhisconsent.IsawthatIcouldputanendto
youroutragesbypronouncingasinglewordinmymind.Ipronouncedit.Thewordwas'No.'


"Iquitthatfactory.Iquityourworld,Imadeitmyjobtowarnyourvictimsandtogivethemthe
methodandtheweapontofightyou.Themethodwastorefusetodeflectretribution.The
weaponwasjustice.

"IfyouwanttoknowwhatyoulostwhenIquitandwhenmystrikersdesertedyourworldstand
onanemptystretchofsoilinawildernessunexploredbymenandaskyourselfwhatmannerof
survivalyouwouldachieveandhowlongyouwouldlastifyourefusedtothink,withnoone
aroundtoteachyouthemotions,or,ifyouchosetothink,howmuchyourmindwouldbeableto
discoveraskyourselfhowmanyindependentconclusionsyouhavereachedinthecourseof
yourlifeandhowmuchofyourtimewasspentonperformingtheactionsyoulearnedfrom
othersaskyourselfwhetheryouwouldbeabletodiscoverhowtotillthesoilandgrowyour
food,whetheryouwouldbeabletoinventawheel,alever,aninductioncoil,agenerator,an
electronictubethendecidewhethermenofabilityareexploiterswholivebythefruitofyour
laborandrobyouofthewealththatyouproduce,andwhetheryoudaretobelievethatyou
possessthepowertoenslavethem.Letyourwomentasteajunglefemalewithhershriveled
faceandpendulousbreasts,asshesitsgrindingweedinabowl,hourafterhour,centuryby
centurythenletthemaskthemselveswhethertheir'instinctoftoolmaking'willprovidethem
withtheirelectricrefrigerators,theirwashingmachinesandvacuumcleaners,and,ifnot,
whethertheycaretodestroythosewhoprovideditall,butnot'byinstinct.'

"Takealookaroundyou,yousavageswhostutterthatideasarecreatedbymen'smeansof
production,thatamachineisnottheproductofhumanthought,butamysticalpowerthat
produceshumanthinking.Youhaveneverdiscoveredtheindustrialageandyouclingtothe
moralityofthebarbarianeraswhenamiserableformofhumansubsistencewasproducedby
themuscularlaborofslaves.Everymystichadalwayslongedforslaves,toprotecthimfromthe
materialrealityhedreaded.Butyou,yougrotesquelittleatavists,stareblindlyatthe
skyscrapersandsmokestacksaroundyouanddreamofenslavingthematerialproviderswho
arescientists,inventors,industrialists.Whenyouclamorforpublicownershipofthemeansof
production,youareclamoringforpublicownershipofthemind.Ihavetaughtmystrikersthat
theansweryoudeserveisonly:'Tryandgetit.'

"Youproclaimyourselfunabletoharnesstheforcesofinanimatematter,yetproposetoharness
themindsofmenwhoareabletoachievethefeatsyoucannotequal.Youproclaimthatyou
cannotsurvivewithoutus,yetproposetodictatethetermsofoursurvival.Youproclaimthatyou
needus,yetindulgetheimpertinenceofassertingyourrighttoruleusbyforceandexpectthat
we,whoarenotafraidofthatphysicalnaturewhichfillsyouwithterror,willcoweratthesightof
anyloutwhohastalkedyouintovotinghimachancetocommandus.

"Youproposetoestablishasocialorderbasedonthefollowingtenets:thatyou'reincompetent
torunyourownlife,butcompetenttorunthelivesofothersthatyou'reunfittoexistinfreedom,
butfittobecomeanomnipotentrulerthatyou'reunabletoearnyourlivingbytheuseofyour
ownintelligence,butabletojudgepoliticiansandtovotethemintojobsoftotalpoweroverarts

youhaveneverseen,oversciencesyouhaveneverstudied,overachievementsofwhichyou
havenoknowledge,overthegiganticindustrieswhereyou,byyourowndefinitionofyour
capacity,wouldbeunablesuccessfullytofillthejobofassistantgreaser.

"Thisidolofyourcultofzeroworship,thissymbolofimpotencethecongenitaldependentis
yourimageofmanandyourstandardofvalue,inwhoselikenessyoustrivetorefashionyour
soul.'It'sonlyhuman,'youcryindefenseofanydepravity,reachingthestageofselfabasement
whereyouseektomaketheconcept'human'meantheweakling,thefool,therotter,theliar,the
failure,thecoward,thefraud,andtoexilefromthehumanracethehero,thethinker,the
producer,theinventor,thestrong,thepurposeful,thepureasif'tofeel'werehuman,butto
thinkwerenot,asiftofailwerehuman,buttosucceedwerenot,asifcorruptionwerehuman,
butvirtuewerenotasifthepremiseofdeathwerepropertoman,butthepremiseoflifewere
not.

"Inordertodepriveusofhonor,thatyoumaythendepriveusofourwealth,youhavealways
regardedusasslaveswhodeservenomoralrecognition.Youpraiseanyventurethatclaimsto
benonprofit,anddamnthemenwhomadetheprofitsthatmaketheventurepossible.You
regardas'inthepublicinterest'anyprojectservingthosewhodonotpayitisnotinthepublic
interesttoprovideanyservicesforthosewhodothepaying.'Publicbenefit'isanythinggivenas
almstoengageintradeistoinjurethepublic.'Publicwelfare'isthewelfareofthosewhodonot
earnitthosewhodo,areentitledtonowelfare.'Thepublic,'toyou,iswhoeverhasfailedto
achieveanyvirtueorvaluewhoeverachievesit,whoeverprovidesthegoodsyourequirefor
survival,ceasestoberegardedaspartofthepublicoraspartofthehumanrace.

"Whatblankoutpermittedyoutohopethatyoucouldgetawaywiththismuckofcontradictions
andtoplanitasanidealsociety,whenthe'No'ofyourvictimswassufficienttodemolishthe
wholeofyourstructure?Whatpermitsanyinsolentbeggartowavehissoresinthefaceofhis
bettersandtopleadforhelpinthetoneofathreat?Youcry,ashedoes,thatyouarecounting
onourpity,butyoursecrethopeisthemoralcodethathastaughtyoutocountonourguilt.You
expectustofeelguiltyofourvirtuesinthepresenceofyourvices,woundsandfailuresguiltyof
succeedingatexistence,guiltyofenjoyingthelifethatyoudamn,yetbegustohelpyoutolive.

"DidyouwanttoknowwhoisJohnGalt?Iamthefirstmanofabilitywhorefusedtoregarditas
guilt.Iamthefirstmanwhowouldnotdopenanceformyvirtuesorletthembeusedasthe
toolsofmydestruction.Iamthefirstmanwhowouldnotsuffermartyrdomatthehandsofthose
whowishedmetoperishfortheprivilegeofkeepingthemalive.Iamthefirstmanwhotold
themthatIdidnotneedthem,anduntiltheylearnedtodealwithmeastraders,givingvaluefor
value,theywouldhavetoexistwithoutme,asIwouldexistwithoutthemthenIwouldletthem
learnwhoseistheneedandwhosetheabilityandifhumansurvivalisthestandard,whose
termswouldsetthewaytosurvive.

"Ihavedonebyplanandintentionwhathasbeendonethroughouthistorybysilentdefault.
Therehavealwaysbeenmenofintelligencewhowentonstrike,inprotestanddespair,butthey

didnotknowthemeaningoftheiraction.Themanwhoretiresfrompubliclife,tothink,butnot
tosharehisthoughtsthemanwhochoosestospendhisyearsintheobscurityofmenial
employment,keepingtohimselfthefireofhismind,nevergivingitform,expressionorreality,
refusingtobringitintoaworldhedespisesthemanwhoisdefeatedbyrevulsion,themanwho
renouncesbeforehehasstarted,themanwhogivesupratherthangivein,themanwho
functionsatafractionofhiscapacity,disarmedbyhislongingforanidealhehasnotfoundthey
areonstrike,onstrikeagainstunreason,onstrikeagainstyourworldandyourvalues.Butnot
knowinganyvaluesoftheirown,theyabandonthequesttoknowinthedarknessoftheir
hopelessindignation,whichisrighteouswithoutknowledgeofthefight,andpassionatewithout
knowledgeofdesire,theyconcedetoyouthepowerofrealityandsurrendertheincentivesof
theirmindandtheyperishinbutterfutility,asrebelswhoneverlearnedtheobjectoftheir
rebellion,asloverswhoneverdiscoveredtheirlove.

"TheinfamoustimesyoucalltheDarkAgeswereaneraofintelligenceonstrike,whenmenof
abilitywentundergroundandlivedundiscovered,studyinginsecret,anddieddestroyingthe
worksoftheirmind,whenonlyafewofthebravestofmartyrsremainedtokeepthehumanrace
alive.Everyperiodruledbymysticswasaneraofstagnationandwant,whenmostmenwere
onstrikeagainstexistence,workingforlessthantheirbarestsurvival,leavingnothingbut
scrapsfortheirrulerstoloot,refusingtothink,toventure,toproduce,whentheultimate
collectoroftheirprofitsandthefinalauthorityontruthorerrorwasthewhimofsomegilded
degeneratesanctionedassuperiortoreasonbydivinerightandbygraceofaclub.Likea
virgin,touchedfortheveryfirsttime.Theroadofhumanhistorywasastringofblankoutsover
sterilestretcheserodedbyfaithandforce,withonlyafewbriefburstsofsunlight,whenthe
releasedenergyofthemenofthemindperformedthewondersyougapedat,admiredand
promptlyextinguishedagain.

"Buttherewillbenoextinction,thistime.Thegameofthemysticsisup.Youwillperishinand
byyourownunreality.We,themenofreason,willsurvive.

"Ihavecalledoutonstrikethekindofmartyrswhohadneverdesertedyoubefore.Ihavegiven
themtheweapontheyhadlacked:theknowledgeoftheirownmoralvalue.Ihavetaughtthem
thattheworldisours,wheneverwechoosetoclaimit,byvirtueandgraceofthefactthatours
istheMoralityofLife.They,thegreatvictimswhohadproducedallthewondersofhumanity's
briefsummer,they,theindustrialists,theconquerorsofmatter,hadnotdiscoveredthenatureof
theirright.Theyhadknownthattheirswasthepower.Itaughtthemthattheirswastheglory.I
amyourVenus.Iamyourfire.Yourdesire.

"You,whodaretoregardusasthemoralinferiorsofanymysticwhoclaimssupernatural
visionsyou,whoscramblelikevulturesforplunderedpennies,yethonorafortunetellerabovea
fortunemakeryou,whoscornabusinessmanasignoble,butesteemanyposturingartistas
exaltedtherootofyourstandardsisthatmysticmiasmawhichcomesfromprimordialswamps,
thatcultofdeath,whichpronouncesabusinessmanimmoralbyreasonofthefactthathekeeps
youalive.You,whoclaimthatyoulongtoriseabovethecrudeconcernsofthebody,abovethe

drudgeryofservingmerephysicalneedswhoisenslavedbyphysicalneeds:theHinduwho
laborsfromsunrisetosunsetattheshaftsofahandplowforabowlofrice,ortheAmerican
whoisdrivingatractor?Whoistheconquerorofphysicalreality:themanwhosleepsonabed
ofnailsorthemanwhosleepsonaninnerspringmattress?Whichisthemonumenttothe
triumphofthehumanspiritovermatter:thegermeatenhovelsontheshorelinesoftheGanges
ortheAtlanticskylineofNewYork?

"Unlessyoulearntheanswerstothesequestionsandlearntostandatreverentattentionwhen
youfacetheachievementsofman'smindyouwillnotstaymuchlongeronthisearth,whichwe
loveandwillnotpermityoutodamn.Youwillnotsneakbywiththerestofyourlifespan.Ihave
foreshortenedtheusualcourseofhistoryandhaveletyoudiscoverthenatureofthepayment
youhadhopedtoswitchtotheshouldersofothers.Itisthelastofyourownlivingpowerthat
willnowbedrainedtoprovidetheunearnedfortheworshippersandcarriersofDeath.Donot
pretendthatamalevolentrealitydefeatedyouyouweredefeatedbyyourownevasions.Donot
pretendthatyouwillperishforanobleidealyouwillperishasfodderforthehatersofman.

"Buttothoseofyouwhostillretainaremnantofthedignityandwilltoloveone'slife,Iam
offeringthechancetomakeachoice.Choosewhetheryouwishtoperishforamoralityyou
haveneverbelievedorpracticed.Pauseonthebrinkofselfdestructionandexamineyour
valuesandyourlife.Youhadknownhowtotakeaninventoryofyourwealth.Nowtakean
inventoryofyourmind.

"Sincechildhood,youhavebeenhidingtheguiltysecretthatyoufeelnodesiretobemoral,no
desiretoseekselfimmolation,thatyoudreadandhateyourcode,butdarenotsayitevento
yourself,thatyou'redevoidofthosemoral'instincts'whichothersprofesstofeel.Thelessyou
felt,thelouderyouproclaimedyourselflessloveandservitudetoothers,indreadofeverletting
themdiscoveryourownself,theselfthatyoubetrayed,theselfthatyoukeptinconcealment,
likeaskeletonintheclosetofyourbody.Andthey,whowereatonceyourdupesandyour
deceivers,theylistenedandvoicedtheirloudapproval,indreadofeverlettingyoudiscoverthat
theywereharboringthesameunspokensecret.Existenceamongyouisagiantpretense,an
actyouallperformforoneanother,eachfeelingthatheistheonlyguiltyfreak,eachplacinghis
moralauthorityintheunknowableknownonlytoothers,eachfakingtherealityhefeelsthey
expecthimtofake,somehavingthecouragetobreaktheviciouscircle.

"Nomatterwhatdishonorablecompromiseyou'vemadewithyourimpracticablecreed,no
matterwhatmiserablebalance,halfcynicism,halfsuperstition,younowmanagetomaintain,
youstillpreservetheroot,thelethaltenet:thebeliefthatthemoralandthepracticalare
opposites.Sincechildhood,youhavebeenrunningfromtheterrorofachoiceyouhavenever
daredfullytoidentify:Ifthepractical,whateveryoumustpracticetoexist,whateverworks,
succeeds,achievesyourpurpose,whateverbringsyoufoodandjoy,whateverprofitsyou,is
evilandifthegood,themoral,istheimpractical,whateverfails,destroys,frustrates,whatever
injuresyouandbringsyoulossorpainthenyourchoiceistobemoralortolive.

"Thesoleresultofthatmurderousdoctrinewastoremovemoralityfromlife.Yougrewupto
believethatmorallawsbearnorelationtothejobofliving,exceptasanimpedimentandthreat,
thatman'sexistenceisanamoraljunglewhereanythinggoesandanythingworks.Andinthat
fogofswitchingdefinitionswhichdescendsuponafrozenmind,youhaveforgottenthatthe
evilsdamnedbyyourcreedwerethevirtuesrequiredforliving,andyouhavecometobelieve
thatactualevilsarethepracticalmeansofexistence.Forgettingthattheimpractical'good'was
selfsacrifice,youbelievethatselfesteemisimpracticalforgettingthatthepractical'evil'was
production,youbelievethatrobberyispractical.

"Swinginglikeahelplessbranchinthewindofanunchartedmoralwilderness,youdarenotfully
tobeevilorfullytolive.Whenyouarehonest,youfeeltheresentmentofasuckerwhenyou
cheat,youfeelterrorandshame,yourpainisaugmentedbythefeelingthatpainisyournatural
state.Youpitythemenyouadmire,youbelievetheyaredoomedtofailyouenvythemenyou
hate,youbelievetheyarethemastersofexistence.Youfeeldisarmedwhenyoucomeup
againstascoundrel:youbelievethatevilisboundtowin,sincethemoralistheimpotent,the
impractical.

"Morality,toyou,isaphantomscarecrowmadeofduty,ofboredom,ofpunishment,ofpain,a
crossbreedbetweenthefirstschoolteacherofyourpastandthetaxcollectorofyourpresent,a
scarecrowstandinginabarrenfield,wavingasticktochaseawayyourpleasuresandpleasure,
toyou,isaliquorsoggybrain,amindlessslut,thestuporofamoronwhostakeshiscashon
someanimal'srace,sincepleasurecannotbemoral.

"Ifyouidentifyyouractualbelief,youwillfindatripledamnationofyourself,oflife,ofvirtuein
thegrotesqueconclusionyouhavereached:youbelievethatmoralityisanecessaryevil.

"Doyouwonderwhyyoulivewithoutdignity,lovewithoutfireanddiewithoutresistance?Do
youwonderwhy,whereveryoulook,youseenothingbutunanswerablequestions,whyyourlife
istombyimpossibleconflicts,whyyouspenditstraddlingirrationalfencestoevadeartificial
choices,suchassoulorbody,mindorheart,securityorfreedom,privateprofitorpublicgood?

"Doyoucrythatyoufindnoanswers?Bywhatmeansdidyouhopetofindthem?Youreject
yourtoolofperceptionyourmindthencomplainthattheuniverseisamystery.Youdiscardyour
key,thenwailthatalldoorsarelockedagainstyou.Youstartoutinpursuitoftheirrational,then
damnexistenceformakingnosense.

"Thefenceyouhavebeenstraddlingfortwohourswhilehearingmywordsandseekingto
escapethemisthecoward'sformulacontainedinthesentence:'Butwedon'thavetogoto
extremes!'Theextremeyouhavealwaysstruggledtoavoidistherecognitionthatrealityisfinal,
thatAisAandthatthetruthistrue.Amoralcodeimpossibletopractice,acodethatdemands
imperfectionordeath,hastaughtyoutodissolveallideasinfog,topermitnofirmdefinitions,to
regardanyconceptasapproximateandanyruleofconductaselastic,tohedgeonany
principle,tocompromiseonanyvalue,totakethemiddleofanyroad.Byextortingyour

acceptanceofsupernaturalabsolutes,ithasforcedyoutorejecttheabsoluteofnature.By
makingmoraljudgmentsimpossible,ithasmadeyouincapableofrationaljudgment.Acode
thatforbidsyoutocastthefirststone,hasforbiddenyoutoadmittheidentityofstonesandto
knowwhenorifyou'rebeingstoned.

Whatthefuckdidyoujustfuckingsayaboutme,youlittlebitch?IllhaveyouknowIgraduated
topofmyclassintheNavySeals,andIvebeeninvolvedinnumeroussecretraidson
AlQuaeda,andIhaveover300confirmedkills.IamtrainedingorillawarfareandImthetop
sniperintheentireUSarmedforces.Youarenothingtomebutjustanothertarget.Iwillwipe
youthefuckoutwithprecisionthelikesofwhichhasneverbeenseenbeforeonthisEarth,
markmyfuckingwords.Youthinkyoucangetawaywithsayingthatshittomeoverthe
Internet?Thinkagain,fucker.AswespeakIamcontactingmysecretnetworkofspiesacross
theUSAandyourIPisbeingtracedrightnowsoyoubetterprepareforthestorm,maggot.The
stormthatwipesoutthepatheticlittlethingyoucallyourlife.Yourefuckingdead,kid.Icanbe
anywhere,anytime,andIcankillyouinoversevenhundredways,andthatsjustwithmybare
hands.NotonlyamIextensivelytrainedinunarmedcombat,butIhaveaccesstotheentire
arsenaloftheUnitedStatesMarineCorpsandIwilluseittoitsfullextenttowipeyour
miserableassoffthefaceofthecontinent,youlittleshit.Ifonlyyoucouldhaveknownwhat
unholyretributionyourlittleclevercommentwasabouttobringdownuponyou,maybeyou
wouldhaveheldyourfuckingtongue.Butyoucouldnt,youdidnt,andnowyourepayingthe
price,yougoddamnidiot.Iwillshitfuryalloveryouandyouwilldrowninit.Yourefucking
dead,kiddo.

"Themanwhorefusestojudge,whoneitheragreesnordisagrees,whodeclaresthatthereare
noabsolutesandbelievesthatheescapesresponsibility,isthemanresponsibleforallthe
bloodthatisnowspilledintheworld.Realityisanabsolute,existenceisanabsolute,aspeckof
dustisanabsoluteandsoisahumanlife.Whetheryouliveordieisanabsolute.Whetheryou
haveapieceofbreadornot,isanabsolute.Whetheryoueatyourbreakorseeitvanishintoa
looter'sstomach,isanabsolute.

"Therearetwosidestoeveryissue:onesideisrightandtheotheriswrong,butthemiddleis
alwaysevil.Themanwhoiswrongstillretainssomerespectfortruth,ifonlybyacceptingthe
responsibilityofchoice.Butthemaninthemiddleistheknavewhoblanksoutthetruthinorder
topretendthatnochoiceorvaluesexist,whoiswillingtositoutthecourseofanybattle,willing
tocashinonthebloodoftheinnocentortocrawlonhisbellytotheguilty,whodispenses
justicebycondemningboththerobberandtherobbedtojail,whoshovesconflictsbyordering
thethinkerandthefooltomeeteachotherhalfway.Inanycompromisebetweenfoodand
poison,itisonlydeaththatcanwin.Inanycompromisebetweengoodandevil,itisonlyevil
thatcanprofit.Inthattransfusionofbloodwhichdrainsthegoodtofeedtheevil,the
compromiseristhetransmittingrubbertube.

"You,whoarehalfrational,halfcoward,havebeenplayingacongamewithreality,butthe
victimyouhaveconnedisyourself.Whenmenreducetheirvirtuestotheapproximate,thenevil
acquirestheforceofanabsolute,whenloyaltytoanunyieldingpurposeisdroppedbythe
virtuous,it'spickedupbyscoundrelsandyougettheindecentspectacleofacringing,
bargaining,traitorousgoodandaselfrighteouslyuncompromisingevil.Asyousurrenderedto
themysticsofmusclewhentheytoldyouthatignoranceconsistsofclaimingknowledge,sonow
yousurrendertothemwhentheyshriekthatimmoralityconsistsofpronouncingmoraljudgment.
Whentheyyellthatitisselfishtobecertainthatyouareright,youhastentoassurethemthat
you'recertainofnothing.Whentheyshoutthatit'simmoraltostandonyourconvictions,you
assurethemthatyouhavenoconvictionswhatever.WhenthethugsofEurope'sPeople's
Statessnarlthatyouareguiltyofintolerance,becauseyoudon'ttreatyourdesiretoliveand
theirdesiretokillyouasadifferenceofopinionyoucringeandhastentoassurethemthatyou
arenotintolerantofanyhorror.WhensomebarefootbuminsomepestholeofAsiayellsatyou:
Howdareyouberichyouapologizeandbeghimtobepatientandpromisehimyou'llgiveitall
away.

"Youhavereachedtheblindalleyofthetreasonyoucommittedwhenyouagreedthatyouhad
norighttoexist.Once,youbelieveditwas'onlyacompromise':youconcededitwaseviltolive
foryourself,butmoraltoliveforthesakeofyourchildren.Thenyouconcededthatitwasselfish
toliveforyourchildren,butmoraltoliveforyourcommunity.Thenyouconcededthatitwas
selfishtoliveforyourcommunity,butmoraltoliveforyourcountry.Now,youarelettingthis
greatestofcountriesbedevouredbyanyscumfromanycorneroftheearth,whileyouconcede
thatitisselfishtoliveforyourcountryandthatyourmoraldutyistolivefortheglobe.Aman
whohasnorighttolife,hasnorighttovaluesandwillnotkeepthem.

"Attheendofyourroadofsuccessivebetrayals,strippedofweapons,ofcertainty,ofhonor,you
commityourfinalactoftreasonandsignyourpetitionofintellectualbankruptcy:whilethe
musclemysticsofthePeople'sStatesproclaimthatthey'rethechampionsofreasonand
science,youagreeandhastentoproclaimthatfaithisyourcardinalprinciple,thatreasonison
thesideofyourdestroyers,butyoursisthesideoffaith.Tothestrugglingremnantsofrational
honestyinthetwisted,bewilderedmindsofyourchildren,youdeclarethatyoucanofferno
rationalargumenttosupporttheideasthatcreatedthiscountry,thatthereisnorational
justificationforfreedom,forproperty,forjustice,forrights,thattheyrestonamysticalinsight
andcanbeacceptedonlyonfaith,thatinreasonandlogictheenemyisright,butfaithis
superiortoreason.Youdeclaretoyourchildrenthatitisrationaltoloot,totorture,toenslave,to
expropriate,tomurder,butthattheymustresistthetemptationsoflogicandsticktothe
disciplineofremainingirrationalthatskyscrapers,factories,radios,airplanesweretheproducts
offaithandmysticintuition,whilefamines,concentrationcamps,andfiringsquadsarethe
productsofareasonablemannerofexistencethattheindustrialrevolutionwastherevoltofthe
menoffaithagainstthateraofreasonandlogicwhichisknownastheMiddleAges.
Simultaneously,inthesamebreath,tothesamechild,youdeclarethatthelooterswhorulethe
People'sStateswillsurpassthiscountryinmaterialproduction,sincetheyarethe
representativesofscience,butthatit'seviltobeconcernedwithphysicalwealthandthatone

mustrenouncematerialprosperityyoudeclarethatthelooters'idealarenoble,buttheydonot
meanthem,whileyoudothatyourpurposeinfightingthelootersisonlytoaccomplishtheir
aims,whichtheycannotaccomplish,butyoucanandthatthewaytofightthemistobeatthem
toitandgiveone'swealthaway.ThenyouwonderwhyyourchildrenjointhePeople'sthugsor
becomehalfcrazeddelinquents,youwonderwhythelooters'conquestskeepcreepingcloserto
yourdoorsandyoublameitonhumanstupidity,declaringthatthemassesareimperviousto
reason.

"Youblankouttheopen,publicspectacleofthelooters'fightagainstthemind,andthefactthat
theirbloodiesthorrorsareunleashedtopunishthecrimeofthinking.Youblankoutthefactthat
mostmysticsofmusclestartedoutasmysticsofspirit,thattheykeepswitchingfromonetothe
other,thatthemenyoucallmaterialistsandspiritualistsareonlytwohalvesofthesame
dissectedhuman,foreverseekingcompletion,butseekingitbyswingingfromthedestructionof
thefleshtothedestructionofthesoulandviceversathattheykeeprunningfromyourcolleges
totheslavepensofEuropetoanopencollapseintothemysticmuckofIndia,seekingany
refugeagainstreality,anyformofescapefromthemind.

"Youblankitoutandclingtoyourhypocrisyof'faith'inordertoblankouttheknowledgethatthe
lootershaveastrangleholduponyou,whichconsistsofyourmoralcodethatthelootersarethe
finalandconsistentpractitionersofthemoralityyou'rehalfobeying,halfevadingthatthey
practiceittheonlywayitcanbepracticed:byturningtheearthintoasacrificialfurnacethat
yourmoralityforbidsyoutoopposethemintheonlywaytheycanbeopposed:byrefusingto
becomeasacrificialanimalandproudlyassertingyourrighttoexistthatinordertofightthemto
thefinishandwithfullrectitude,itisyourmoralitythatyouhavetoreject.

"Youblank'itout,becauseyourselfesteemistiedto'thatmystic'unselfishness'whichyou've
neverpossessedorpracticed,butspentsomanyyearspretendingtopossessthatthethought
ofdenouncingitfillsyouwithterror.Novalueishigherthanselfesteem,butyou'veinvesteditin
counterfeitsecuritiesandnowyourmoralityhascaughtyouinatrapwhereyouareforcedto
protectyourselfesteembyfightingforthecreedofselfdestruction.Thegrimjokeisonyou:
thatneedofselfesteem,whichyou'reunabletoexplainortodefine,belongstomymorality,not
yoursit'stheobjectivetokenofmycode,itismyproofwithinyourownsoul.

"Byafeelinghehasnotlearnedtoidentify,buthasderivedfromhisfirstawarenessof
existence,fromhisdiscoverythathehastomakechoices,manknowsthathisdesperateneed
ofselfesteemisamatteroflifeordeath.Asabeingofvolitionalconsciousness,heknowsthat
hemustknowhisownvalueinordertomaintainhisownlife.Heknowsthathehastoberight
tobewronginactionmeansdangertohislifetobewronginperson,tobeevil,meanstobe
unfitforexistence.

"Everyactofman'slifehastobewilledthemereactofobtainingoreatinghisfoodimpliesthat
thepersonhepreservesisworthyofbeingpreservedeverypleasureheseekstoenjoyimplies
thatthepersonwhoseeksitisworthyoffindingenjoyment.Hehasnochoiceabouthisneedof

selfesteem,hisonlychoiceisthestandardbywhichtogaugeit.Andhemakeshisfatalerror
whenheswitchesthisgaugeprotectinghislifeintotheserviceofhisowndestruction,whenhe
choosesastandardcontradictingexistenceandsetshisselfesteemagainstreality.

"Everyformofcauselessselfdoubt,everyfeelingofinferiorityandsecretunworthinessis,in
fact,man'shiddendreadofhisinabilitytodealwithexistence.Butthegreaterhisterror,the
morefiercelyheclingstothemurderousdoctrinesthatchokehim.Nomancansurvivethe
momentofpronouncinghimselfirredeemablyevilshouldhedoit,hisnextmomentisinsanity
orsuicide.Toescapeitifhe'schosenanirrationalStandardhewillfake,evade,blankouthe
willcheathimselfofreality,ofexistence,ofhappiness,ofmindandhewillultimatelycheat
himselfofselfesteembystrugglingtopreserveitsillusionratherthantoriskdiscoveringitslack.
Tofeartofaceanissueistobelievethattheworstistrue.

"Itisnotanycrimeyouhavecommittedthatinfectsyoursoulwithpermanentguilt,itisnoneof
yourfailures,errorsorflaws,buttheblankoutbywhichyouattempttoevadethemitisnotany
sortofOriginalSinorunknownprenataldeficiency,buttheknowledgeandfactofyourbasic
default,ofsuspendingyourmind,ofrefusingtothink.Fearandguiltareyourchronicemotions,
theyarerealandyoudodeservethem,buttheydon'tcomefromthesuperficialreasonsyou
inventtodisguisetheircause,notfromyour'selfishness,'weaknessorignorance,butfroma
realandbasicthreattoyourexistencefear,becauseyouhaveabandonedyourweaponof
survival,guilt,becauseyouknowyouhavedoneitvolitionally.

"Theselfyouhavebetrayedisyourmindselfesteemisrelianceonone'spowertothink.The
egoyouseek,thatessential'you'whichyoucannotexpressordefine,isnotyouremotionsor
inarticulatedreams,butyourintellect,thatjudgeofyoursupremetribunalwhomyou've
impeachedinordertodriftatthemercyofanystrayshysteryoudescribeasyour'feeling.'Then
youdragyourselfthroughaselfmadenight,inadesperatequestforanamelessfire,movedby
somefadingvisionofadawnyouhadseenandlost.

"Observethepersistence,inmankind'smythologies,ofthelegendaboutaparadisethatmen
hadoncepossessed,thecityofAtlantisortheGardenofEdenorsomekingdomofperfection,
alwaysbehindus.Therootofthatlegendexists,notinthepastoftherace,butinthepastof
everyman.Youstillretainasensenotasfirmasamemory,butdiffusedlikethepainof
hopelesslongingthatsomewhereinthestartingyearsofyourchildhood,beforeyouhad
learnedtosubmit,toabsorbtheterrorofunreasonandtodoubtthevalueofyourmind,youhad
knownaradiantstateofexistence,youhadknowntheindependenceofarational
consciousnessfacinganopenuniverse.Thatistheparadisewhichyouhavelost,whichyou
seekwhichisyoursforthetaking.

"SomeofyouwillneverknowwhoisJohnGalt.Butthoseofyouwhohaveknownasingle
momentofloveforexistenceandofprideinbeingitsworthylover,amomentoflookingatthis
earthandlettingyourglancebeitssanction,haveknownthestateofbeingaman,andIIam
onlythemanwhoknewthatthatstateisnottobebetrayed.Iamthemanwhoknewwhatmade

itpossibleandwhochoseconsistentlytopracticeandtobewhatyouhadpracticedandbeenin
thatonemoment.

"Thatchoiceisyourstomake.Thatchoicethededicationtoone'shighestpotentialismadeby
acceptingthefactthatthenoblestactyouhaveeverperformedistheactofyourmindinthe
processofgraspingthattwoandtwomakefour.

"Whoeveryouareyouwhoarealonewithmywordsinthismoment,withnothingbutyour
honestytohelpyouunderstandthechoiceisstillopentobeahumanbeing,butthepriceisto
startfromscratch,tostandnakedinthefaceofrealityand,reversingacostlyhistoricalerror,to
declare:'Iam,thereforeI'llthink.'

"Accepttheirrevocablefactthatyourlifedependsuponyourmind.Admitthatthewholeofyour
struggle,yourdoubts,yourfakes,yourevasions,wasadesperatequestforescapefromthe
responsibilityofavolitionalconsciousnessaquestforautomaticknowledge,forinstinctive
action,forintuitivecertaintyandwhileyoucalleditalongingforthestateofanangel,whatyou
wereseekingwasthestateofananimal.Accept,asyourmoralideal,thetaskofbecominga
man.

"Donotsaythatyou'reafraidtotrustyourmindbecauseyouknowsolittle.Areyousaferin
surrenderingtomysticsanddiscardingthelittlethatyouknow?Liveandactwithinthelimitof
yourknowledgeandkeepexpandingittothelimitofyourlife.Redeemyourmindfromthe
hockshopsofauthority.Acceptthefactthatyouarenotomniscient,butplayingazombiewillnot
giveyouomnisciencethatyourmindisfallible,butbecomingmindlesswillnotmakeyou
infalliblethatanerrormadeonyourownissaferthantentruthsacceptedonfaith,becausethe
firstleavesyouthemeanstocorrectit,buttheseconddestroysyourcapacitytodistinguish
truthfromerror.Inplaceofyourdreamofanomniscientautomation,acceptthefactthatany
knowledgemanacquiresisacquiredbyhisownwillandeffort,andthatthatishisdistinctionin
theuniverse,thatishisnature,hismorality,hisglory.

"Discardthatunlimitedlicensetoevilwhichconsistsofclaimingthatmanisimperfect.Bywhat
standarddoyoudamnhimwhenyouclaimit?Acceptthefactthatintherealmofmorality
nothinglessthanperfectionwilldo.Butperfectionisnottobegaugedbymystic
commandmentstopracticetheimpossible,andyourmoralstatureisnottobegaugedby
mattersnotopentoyourchoice.Manhasasinglebasicchoice:tothinkornot,andthatisthe
gaugeofhisvirtue.Moralperfectionisanunbreachedrationalitynotthedegreeofyour
intelligence,butthefullandrelentlessuseofyourmind,nottheextentofyourknowledge,but
theacceptanceofreasonasanabsolute.

"Learntodistinguishthedifferencebetweenerrorsofknowledgeandbreachesofmorality.An
errorofknowledgeisnotamoralflaw,providedyouarewillingtocorrectitonlyamysticwould
judgehumanbeingsbythestandardofanimpossible,automaticomniscience.Butabreachof
moralityistheconsciouschoiceofanactionyouknowtobeevil,orawillfulevasionof

knowledge,asuspensionofsightandofthought.Thatwhichyoudonotknow,isnotamoral
chargeagainstyoubutthatwhichyourefusetoknow,isanaccountofinfamygrowinginyour
soul.Makeeveryallowanceforerrorsofknowledgedonotforgiveoracceptanybreachof
morality.Givethebenefitofthedoubttothosewhoseektoknowbuttreataspotentialkillers
thosespecimensofinsolentdepravitywhomakedemandsuponyou,announcingthatthey
haveandseeknoreasons,proclaiming,asalicense,thatthey'justfeelit'orthosewhoreject
anirrefutableargumentbysaying:'It'sonlylogic,'whichmeans:'It'sonlyreality.'Theonlyrealm
opposedtorealityistherealmandpremiseofdeath.

"Acceptthefactthattheachievementofyourhappinessistheonlymoralpurposeofyourlife,
andthathappinessnotpainormindlessselfindulgenceistheproofofyourmoralintegrity,
sinceitistheproofandtheresultofyourloyaltytotheachievementofyourvalues.Happiness
wastheresponsibilityyoudreaded,itrequiredthekindofrationaldisciplineyoudidnotvalue
yourselfenoughtoassumeandtheanxiousstalenessofyourdayisthemonumenttoyour
evasionoftheknowledgethatthereisnomoralsubstituteforhappiness,thatthereisnomore
despicablecowardthanthemanwhodesertedthebattleforhisjoy,fearingtoasserthisrightto
existence,lackingthecourageandtheloyaltytolifeofabirdoraflowerreachingforthesun.
Discardtheprotectiveragsofthatvicewhichyoucalledavirtue:humilitylearntovalueyourself,
whichmeans:tofightforyourhappinessandwhenyoulearnthatprideisthesumofallvirtues,
youwilllearntolivelikeaman.

"Asabasicstepofselfesteem,learntotreatasthemarkofacannibalanyman'sdemandfor
yourhelp.Todemanditistoclaimthatyourlifeishispropertyandloathsomeassuchclaim
mightbe,there'ssomethingstillmoreloathsome:youragreement.Doyouaskifit'severproper
tohelpanotherman?Noifheclaimsitashisrightorasamoraldutythatyouowehim.Yesif
suchisyourowndesirebasedonyourownselfishpleasureinthevalueofhispersonandhis
struggle.Sufferingassuchisnotavalueonlyman'sfightagainstsuffering,is.Ifyouchooseto
helpamanwhosuffers,doitonlyonthegroundofhisvirtues,ofhisrighttorecover,ofhis
rationalrecord,orofthefactthathesuffersunjustlythenyouractionisstillatrade,andhis
virtueisthepaymentforyourhelp.Betohelpamanwhohasnovirtues,tohelphimonthe
groundofhissufferingassuch,toaccepthisfaults,hisneed,asaclaimistoacceptthe
mortgageofazeroonyourvalues.Amanwhohasnovirtuesisahaterofexistencewhoacts
onthepremiseofdeathtohelphimistosanctionhisevilandtosupporthiscareerof
destruction.Beitonlyapennyyouwillnotmissorakindlysmilehehasnotearned,atributeto
azeroistreasontolifeandtoallthosewhostruggletomaintainit.Itisofsuchpenniesand
smilesthatthedesolationofyourworldwasmade.

"Donotsaythatmymoralityistoohardforyoutopracticeandthatyoufearitasyoufearthe
unknown.Whateverlivingmomentsyouhaveknown,werelivedbythevaluesofmycode.But
youstifled,negated,betrayedit.Youkeptsacrificingyourvirtuestoyourvices,andthebest
amongmentotheworst.Lookaroundyou:whatyouhavedonetosociety,youhavedoneitfirst
withinyoursouloneistheimageoftheother.Thisdismalwreckage,whichisnowyourworld,

isthephysicalformofthetreasonyoucommittedtoyourvalues,toyourfriends,toyour
defenders,toyourfuture,toyourcountry,toyourself.

"Wewhomyouarenowcalling,butwhowillnotansweranylongerwehavelivedamongyou,
butyoufailedtoknowus,yourefusedtothinkandtoseewhatwewere.Youfailedtorecognize
themotorIinventedanditbecame,inyourworld,apileofdeadscrap.Youfailedtorecognize
theheroinyoursoulandyoufailedtoknowmewhenIpassedyouinthestreet.Whenyou
criedindespairfortheunattainablespiritwhichyoufelthaddesertedyourworld,yougaveitmy
name,butwhatyouwerecallingwasyourownbetrayedselfesteem.Youwillnotrecoverone
withouttheother.

"Whenyoufailedtogiverecognitiontoman'smindandattemptedtorulehumanbeingsby
forcethosewhosubmittedhadnomindtosurrenderthosewhohad,weremenwhodon't
submit.Thusthemanofproductivegeniusassumedinyourworldthedisguiseofaplayboyand
becameadestroyerofwealth,choosingtoannihilatehisfortuneratherthansurrenderitto
guns.Thusthethinker,themanofreason,assumedinyourworldtheroleofapirate,todefend
hisvaluesbyforceagainstyourforce,ratherthansubmittotheruleofbrutality.Doyouhear
me,Franciscod'AnconiaandRagnarDanneskjold,myfirstfriends,myfellowfighters,myfellow
outcasts,inwhosenameandhonorIspeak?

"ItwasthethreeofuswhostartedwhatIamnowcompleting.Itwasthethreeofuswho
resolvedtoavengethiscountryandtoreleaseitsimprisonedsoul.Thisgreatestofcountries
wasbuiltonmymoralityontheinviolatesupremacyofman'srighttoexistbutyoudreadedto
admititandliveuptoit.Youstaredatanachievementunequaledinhistory,andlootedits
effectsandblankedoutitscause.Inthepresenceofthatmonumenttohumanmorality,whichis
afactory,ahighwayorabridgeyoukeptdamningthiscountryasimmoralanditsprogressas
'materialgreed,'youkeptofferingapologiesforthiscountry'sgreatnesstotheidolofprimordial
starvation,todecayingEurope'sidolofaleprous,mysticbum.

"Thiscountrytheproductofreasoncouldnotsurviveonthemoralityofsacrifice.Itwasnotbuilt
bymenwhosoughtselfimmolationorbymenwhosoughthandouts.Itcouldnotstandonthe
mysticsplitthatdivorcedman'ssoulfromhisbody.Itcouldnotlivebythemysticdoctrinethat
damnedthisearthasevilandthosewhosucceededonearthasdepraved.Fromitsstart,this
countrywasathreattotheancientruleofmystics.Inthebrilliantrocketexplosionofitsyouth,
thiscountrydisplayedtoanincredulousworldwhatgreatnesswaspossibletoman,what
happinesswaspossibleonearth.Itwasoneortheother:Americaormystics.Themysticsknew
ityoudidn't.Youlettheminfectyouwiththeworshipofneedandthiscountrybecameagiant
inbodywithamoochingmidgetinplaceofitssoul,whileitslivingsoulwasdrivenunderground
tolaborandfeedyouinsilence,unnamed,unhonored,negated,itssoulandhero:the
industrialist.Doyouhearmenow,HankRearden,thegreatestofthevictimsIhaveavenged?

"Neitherhenortherestofuswillreturnuntiltheroadiscleartorebuildthiscountryuntilthe
wreckageofthemoralityofsacrificehasbeenwipedoutofourway.Acountry'spoliticalsystem

isbasedonitscodeofmorality.WewillrebuildAmerica'ssystemonthemoralpremisewhich
hadbeenitsfoundation,butwhichyoutreatedasaguiltyunderground,inyourfranticevasion
oftheconflictbetweenthatpremiseandyourmysticmorality:thepremisethatmanisanendin
himself,notthemeanstotheendsofothers,thatman'slife,hisfreedom,hishappinessarehis
byinalienableright.

"Youwho'velosttheconceptofaright,youwhoswinginimpotentevasivenessbetweenthe
claimthatrightsareagiftofGod,asupernaturalgifttobetakenonfaith,ortheclaimthatrights
areagiftofsociety,tobebrokenatitsarbuttrarywhimthesourceofman'srightsisnotdivine
laworcongressionallaw,butthelawofidentity.AisAandManisMan.Rightsareconditionsof
existencerequiredbyman'snatureforhispropersurvival.Ifmanistoliveonearth,itisrightfor
himtousehismind,hisrighttoactonhisownfreejudgment,itisrighttoworkforhisvalues
andtokeeptheproductofhiswork.Iflifeonearthishispurpose,hehasarighttoliveasa
rationalbeing:natureforbidshimtheirrational.Anygroup,anygang,anynationthatattemptsto
negateman'srights,iswrong,whichmeans:isevil,whichmeans:isantilife.

"Rightsareamoralconceptandmoralityisamatterofchoice.Menarefreenottochoose
man'ssurvivalasthestandardoftheirmoralsandtheirlaws,butnotfreetoescapefromthe
factthatthealternativeisacannibalsociety,whichexistsforawhilebydevouringitsbestand
collapseslikeacancerousbody,whenthehealthyhavebeeneatenbythediseased,whenthe
rationalhavebeenconsumedbytheirrational.Suchhasbeenthefateofyoursocietiesin
history,butyou'veevadedtheknowledgeofthecause.Iamheretostateit:theagentof
retributionwasthelawofidentity,whichyoucannotescape.Justasmancannotlivebymeans
oftheirrational,sotwomencannot,ortwothousand,ortwobillion.Justasmancan'tsucceed
bydefyingreality,soanationcan't,oracountry,oraglobe.AisA.Therestisamatteroftime,
providedbythegenerosityofvictims.

"Justasmancan'texistwithouthisbody,sonorightscanexistwithouttherighttotranslate
one'srightsintorealitytothink,toworkandtokeeptheresultswhichmeans:therightof
poverty.Themodernmysticsofmusclewhoofferyouthefraudulentalternativeof'humanrights'
versus'propertyrights,'asifonecouldexistwithouttheother,aremakingalast,grotesque
attempttorevivethedoctrineofsoulversusbody.Onlyaghostcanexistwithoutmaterial
propertyonlyaslavecanworkwithnorighttotheproductofhiseffort.Thedoctrinethat
'humanrights'aresuperiorto'propertyrights'simplymeansthatsomehumanbeingshavethe
righttomakepropertyoutofotherssincethecompetenthavenothingtogainfromthe
incompetent,itmeanstherightoftheincompetenttoowntheirbettersandtousethemas
productivecattle.Whoeverregardsthisashumanandright,hasnorighttothetitleof'human.'

"Thesourceofpropertyrightsisthelawofcausality.Allpropertyandallformsofwealthare
producedbyman'smindandlabor.Asyoucannothaveeffectswithoutcauses,soyoucannot
havewealthwithoutitssource:withoutintelligence.Youcannotforceintelligencetowork:those
who'reabletothink,willnotworkundercompulsion:thosewhowill,won'tproducemuchmore
thanthepriceofthewhipneededtokeepthemenslaved.Youcannotobtaintheproductsofa

mindexceptontheowner'sterms,bytradeandbyvolitionalconsent.Anyotherpolicyofmen
towardman'spovertyisthepolicyofcriminals,nomatterwhattheirnumbers.Criminalsare
savageswhoplayinshortrangeandstarvewhentheirpreyrunsoutjustasyou'restarving
today,youwhobelievedthatcrimecouldbe'practical'ifyourgovernmentdecreedthatrobbery
waslegalandresistancetorobberyillegal.

"Theonlyproperpurposeofagovernmentistoprotectman'srights,whichmeans:toprotect
himfromphysicalviolence.Apropergovernmentisonlyapoliceman,actingasanagentof
man'sselfdefense,and,assuch,mayresorttoforceonlyagainstthosewhostarttheuseof
force.Theonlyproperfunctionsofagovernmentare:thepolice,toprotectyoufromcriminals
thearmy,toprotectyoufromforeigninvadersandthecourts,toprotectyourpropertyand
contractsfrombreachorfraudbyothers,tosettledisputesbyrationalrules,accordingto
objectivelaw.Butagovernmentthatinitiatestheemploymentofforceagainstmenwhohad
forcednoone,theemploymentofarmedcompulsionagainstdisarmedvictims,isanightmare
infernalmachinedesignedtoannihilatemorality:suchagovernmentreversesitsonlymoral
purposeandswitchesfromtheroleofprotectortotheroleofman'sdeadliestenemy,fromthe
roleofpolicemantotheroleofacriminalvestedwiththerighttothewieldingofviolenceagainst
victimsdeprivedoftherightofselfdefense.Suchagovernmentsubstitutesformoralitythe
followingruleofsocialconduct:youmaydowhateveryoupleasetoyourneighbor,provided
yourgangisbiggerthanhis.

"Onlyabrute,afooloranevadercanagreetoexistonsuchtermsoragreetogivehisfellow
menablankcheckonhislifeandhismind,toacceptthebeliefthatothershavetherightto
disposeofhispersonattheirwhim,thatthewillofthemajorityisOmnipotent,thatthephysical
forceofmusclesandnumbersisasubstituteforjustice,realityandtruth.We,themenofthe
mind,wewhoaretraders,notmastersorslaves,donotdealinblankchecksorgrantthem.We
donotliveorworkwithanyformofthenonobjective.

"Solongasmen,intheeraofsavagery,hadnoconceptofobjectiverealityandbelievedthat
physicalnaturewasruledbythewhimofunknowabledemonsnothought,noscience,no
productionwerepossible.Onlywhenmendiscoveredthatnaturewasafirm,predictable
absoluteweretheyabletorelyontheirknowledge,tochoosetheircourse,toplantheirfuture
and,slowly,torisefromthecave.Nowyouhaveplacedmodernindustry,withitsimmense
complexityofscientificprecision,backintothepowerofunknowabledemonstheunpredictable
powerofthearbuttrarywhimsofhidden,uglylittlebureaucrats.Afarmerwillnotinvesttheeffort
ofonesummerifhe'sunabletocalculatehischancesofaharvest.Butyouexpectindustrial
giantswhoplanintermsofdecades,investintermsofgenerationsandundertake
ninetynineyearcontractstocontinuetofunctionandproduce,notknowingwhatrandom
capriceintheskullofwhatrandomofficialwilldescenduponthematwhatmomenttodemolish
thewholeoftheireffort.Driftersandphysicallaborersliveandplanbytherangeofaday.The
betterthemind,thelongertherange.Amanwhosevisionextendstoashanty,mightcontinue
tobuildonyourquicksands,tograbafastprofitandrun.Amanwhoenvisionsskyscrapers,will
not.Norwillhegivetenyearsofunswervingdevotiontothetaskofinventinganewproduct,

whenheknowsthegangsofentrenchedmediocrityarejugglingthelawsagainsthim,totiehim,
restricthimandforcehimtofail,butshouldhefightthemandstruggleandsucceed,theywill
seizehisrewardsandhisinvention.

"Lookpasttherangeofthemoment,youwhocrythatyoufeartocompetewithmenofsuperior
intelligence,thattheirmindisathreattoyourlivelihood,thatthestrongleavenochancetothe
weakinamarketofvoluntarytrade.Whatdeterminesthematerialvalueofyourwork?Nothing
buttheproductiveeffortofyourmindifyoulivedonadesertisland.Thelessefficientthe
thinkingofyourbrain,thelessyourphysicallaborwouldbringyouandyoucouldspendyourlife
onasingleroutine,collectingaprecariousharvestorhuntingwithbowandarrows,unableto
thinkanyfurther.Butwhenyouliveinarationalsociety,wheremenarefreetotrade,you
receiveanincalculablebonus:thematerialvalueofyourworkisdeterminednotonlybyyour
effort,butbytheeffortofthebestproductivemindswhoexistintheworldaroundyou.

"Whenyouworkinamodernfactory,youarepaid,notonlyforyourlabor,butforallthe
productivegeniuswhichhasmadethatfactorypossible:fortheworkoftheindustrialistwho
builtit,fortheworkoftheinvestorwhosavedthemoneytoriskontheuntriedandthenew,for
theworkoftheengineerwhodesignedthemachinesofwhichyouarepushingthelevers,for
theworkoftheinventorwhocreatedtheproductwhichyouspendyourtimeonmaking,forthe
workofthescientistwhodiscoveredthelawsthatwentintothemakingofthatproduct,forthe
workofthephilosopherwhotaughtmenhowtothinkandwhomyourspendyourtime
denouncing.

"Themachine,thefrozenformofalivingintelligence,isthepowerthatexpandsthepotentialof
yourlifebyraisingtheproductivityofyourtime.Ifyouworkedasablacksmithinthemystics'
MiddleAges,thewholeofyourearningcapacitywouldconsistofanironbarproducedbyyour
handsindaysanddaysofeffort.Howmanytonsofraildoyouproduceperdayifyouworkfor
HankRearden?Wouldyoudaretoclaimthatthesizeofyourpaycheekwascreatedsolelyby
yourphysicallaborandthatthoserailsweretheproductofyourmuscles?Thestandardofliving
ofthatblacksmithisallthatyourmusclesareworththerestisagiftfromHankRearden.

"Everymanisfreetoriseasfarashe'sableorwilling,butit'sonlythedegreetowhichhethinks
thatdeterminesthedegreetowhichhe'llrise.Physicallaborassuchcanextendnofurtherthan
therangeofthemoment.ThemanwhodoesnomoreFUUUUCCKthanphysicallabor,
consumesthematerialvalueequivalentofhisowncontributiontotheprocessofproduction,
andleavesnofurthervalue,neitherforhimselfnorothers.Butthemanwhoproducesanideain
anyfieldofrationalendeavorthemanwhodiscoversnewknowledgeisthepermanent
benefactorofhumanity.Materialproductscan'tbeshared,theybelongtosomeultimate
consumeritIsonlythevalueofanideathatcanbesharedwithunlimitednumbersofmen,
makingallsharersricheratnoone'ssacrificeorloss,raisingtheproductiveFUCKMEPLEASE
ITSTHEONLYREASONIREADTHISSHITcapacityofwhateverlabortheyperform.Itisthe
valueofhisowntimethatthestrongoftheintellecttransferstotheweak,lettingthemworkon
thejobshediscovered,whiledevotinghistimetofurtherdiscoveries.Thisismutualtradeto

mutualadvantagetheinterestsofthemindareone,nomatterwhatthedegreeofintelligence,
amongmenwhodesiretoworkanddon'tseekorexpecttheunearned.

"Inproportiontothementalenergyhespent,themanwhocreatesanewinventionreceivesbut
asmallpercentageofhisvalueintermsofmaterialpayment,nomatterwhatfortunehemakes,
nomatterwhatmillionsheearns.Butthemanwhoworksasajanitorinthefactoryproducing
thatinvention,receivesanenormouspaymentinproportiontothementaleffortthathisjob
requiresofhim.Andthesameistrueofallmenbetween,onalllevelsofambuttionandability.
ThemanatthetopoftheintellectualpyramidILIKEPENIScontributesthemosttoallthose
belowhim,butgetsnothingexcepthismaterialpayment,receivingnointellectualbonusfrom
otherstoaddtothevalueofhistime.Themanatthebottomwho,lefttohimself,wouldstarvein
hishopelessineptitude,contributesnothingtothoseabovehim,butreceivesthebonusofallof
theirbrains.Suchisthenatureofthe'competition'betweenthestrongandtheweakofthe
intellect.Suchisthepatternof'exploitation'forwhichyouhavedamnedthestrong.

"Suchwastheservicewehadgivenyouandweregladandwillingtogive.Whatdidweaskin
return?Nothingbutfreedom.Werequiredthatyouleaveusfreetofunctionfreetothinkandto
workaswechoosefreetotakeourownrisksandtobearourownlossesfreetoearnourown
profitsandtomakeourownfortunesfreetogambleonyourrationality,tosubmitourproducts
toyourjudgmentforthepurposeofavoluntarytrade,torelyontheobjectivevalueofourwork
andonyourmind'sabilitytoseeitfreetocountonyourintelligenceandhonesty,andtodeal
withnothingbutyourmind.Suchwasthepriceweasked,whichyouPENISISGOODchoseto
rejectastoohigh.Youdecidedtocallitunfairthatwe,whohaddraggedyououtofyourhovels
andprovidedyouwithmodernapartments,withradios,moviesandcars,shouldownour
palacesandyachtsyoudecidedthatyouhadarighttoyourwages,butwehadnorighttoour
profits,thatyoudidnotwantustodealwithyourmind,buttodeal,instead,withyourgun.Our
answertothat,was:'Mayyoubedamned!'Ouranswercametrue.Youare.

"Youdidnotcaretocompeteintermsofintelligenceyouarenowcompetingintermsof
brutality.Youdidnotcaretoallowrewardstobewonbysuccessfulproductionyouarenow
runningaraceinwhichrewardsarewonbysuccessfulplunder.Youcalleditselfishandcruel
thatmenshouldtradevalueforvalueyouhavenowestablishedanunselfishsocietywherethey
tradeextortionforextortion.Yoursystemisalegalcivilwar,wheremengangupononeanother
andstruggleforpossessionofthelaw,whichtheyuseasacluboverrivals,tillanothergang
wrestsitfromtheirclutchandclubsthemwithitintheirturn,allofthemclamoringprotestations
ofservicetoanunnamedpublic'sunspecifiedgood.Youhadsaidthatyousawnodifference
betweeneconomicandpoliticalpower,betweenthepowerofmoneyandthepowerofgunsno
differencebetweenrewardandpunishment,nodifferencebetweenpurchaseandplunder,no
differencebetweenpleasureandfear,nodifferencebetweenlifeanddeath.Youarelearning
thedifferencenow.

"Someofyoumightpleadtheexcuseofyourignorance,ofalimitedmindandalimitedrange.
Butthedamnedandtheguiltiestamongyouarethemenwhohadthecapacitytoknow,yet

chosetoblankoutreality,themenwhowerewillingtosteeltheirintelligenceintocynical
servitudetoforce:thecontemptiblebreedofthosemysticsofsciencewhoprofessadevotionto
somesortof'pureknowledge'thepurityconsistingoftheirclaimthatsuchknowledgehasno
practicalpurposeonthisearthwhoreservetheirlogicforinanimatematter,butbelievethatthe
subjectofdealingwithmenrequiresanddeservesnorationality,whoscornmoneyandselltheir
soulsinexchangeforalaboratorysuppliedbyloot.Andsincethereisnosuchthingas
'nonpracticalknowledge'oranysortof'disinterested'action,sincetheyscorntheuseoftheir
scienceforthepurposeandprofitoflife,theydelivertheirsciencetotheserviceofdeath,tothe
onlypracticalpurposeitcaneverhaveforlooters:toinventingweaponsofcoercionand
destruction.They,theintellectswhoseekescapefrommoralvalues,theyarethedamnedon
theirearth,theirsistheguiltbeyondforgiveness.Doyouhearme,Dr.RobertStadler?

"ButitisnottohimthatIwishtospeak.Iamspeakingtothoseamongyouwhohaveretained
somesovereignshredoftheirsoul,unsoldandunstamped:'totheorderofothers.'If,inthe
chaosofthemotivesthathavemadeyoulistentotheradiotonight,therewasanhonest,
rationaldesiretolearnwhatiswrongwiththeworld,youarethemanwhomIwishedto
address.Bytherulesandtermsofmycode,oneowesarationalstatementtothosewhomit
doesconcernandwho'remakinganefforttoknow.Thosewho'remakinganefforttofallto
understandme,arenotaconcernofmine.

"Iamspeakingtothosewhodesiretoliveandtorecapturethehonoroftheirsoul.Nowthatyou
knowthetruthaboutyourworldstopsupportingyourowndestroyers.Theeviloftheworldis
madepossiblebynothingbutthesanctiontogiveit.Withdrawyoursanction.Withdrawyour
support.Donottrytoliveonyourenemies'termsortowinatagamewherethey'resettingthe
rules.Donotseekthefavorofthosewhoenslavedyou,donotbegforalmsfromthosewho
haverobbedyou,beitsubsidies,loansorjobs,donotjointheirteamtorecoupwhatthey've
takenbyhelpingthemrobyourneighbors.Onecannothopetomaintainone'slifebyaccepting
bribestocondoneone'sdestruction.Donotstraggleforprofit,successorsecurityatthepriceof
alienonyourrighttoexist.Suchalienisnottobepaidoffthemoreyoupaythem,themore
theywilldemandthegreaterthevaluesyouseekorachieve,themorevulnerablyhelplessyou
become.Theirsisasystemofwhiteblackmaildevisedtobleedyou,notbymeansofyoursins,
butbymeansofyourloveforexistence.

"Donotattempttoriseonthelooters'termsortoclimbaladderwhilethey'reholdingtheropes.
Donotallowtheirhandstotouchtheonlypowerthatkeepstheminpower:yourliving
ambuttion.GoonstrikeinthemannerIdid.Useyourmindandskillinprivate,extendyour
knowledge,developyourability,butdonotshareyourachievementswithothers.Donottryto
produceafortune,withalooterridingonyourback.Stayonthelowestrungoftheirladder,earn
nomorethanyourbarestsurvival,donotmakeanextrapennytosupportthelooters'state.
Sinceyou'recaptive,actasacaptive,donothelpthempretendthatyou'refree.Bethesilent,
incorruptibleenemytheydread.Whentheyforceyou,obeybutdonotvolunteer.Never
volunteerastepintheirdirection,orawish,oraplea,orapurpose.Donothelpaholdupman
toclaimthatheactsasyourfriendandbenefactor.Donothelpyourjailerstopretendthattheir

jailisyournaturalstateofexistence.Donothelpthemtofakereality.Thatfakeistheonlydam
holdingofftheirsecretterror,theterrorofknowingthey'reunfittoexistremoveitandletthem
drownyoursanctionistheironlylifebelt.

"Ifyoufindachancetovanishintosomewildernessoutoftheirreach,doso,butnottoexistas
abanditortocreateagangcompetingwiththeirracketbuildaproductivelifeofyourownwith
thosewhoacceptyourmoralcodeandarewillingtostruggleforahumanexistence.Youhave
nochancetowinontheMoralityofDeathorbythecodeoffaithandforceraiseastandardto
whichthehonestwillrepair:thestandardofLifeandReason.

"Actasarationalbeingandaimatbecomingarallyingpointforallthosewhoarestarvedfora
voiceofintegrityactonyourrationalvalues,whetheraloneinthemidstofyourenemies,orwith
afewofyourchosenfriends,orasthefounderofamodestcommunityonthefrontierof
mankind'srebirth.

"Whenthelooters'statecollapses,deprivedofthebestofitsslaves,whenitfallstoalevelof
impotentchaos,likethemysticriddennationsoftheOrient,anddissolvesintostarvingrobber
gangsfightingtoroboneanotherwhentheadvocatesofthemoralityofsacrificeperishwith
theirfinalidealthenandonthatdaywewillreturn.

"Wewillopenthegatesofourcitytothosewhodeservetoenter,acityofsmokestacks,pipe
lines,orchards,marketsandinviolatehomes.Wewillactastherallyingcenterforsuchhidden
outpostsasyou'llbuild.Withthesignofthedollarasoursymbolthesignoffreetradeandfree
mindswewillmovetoreclaimthiscountryoncemorefromtheimpotentsavageswhonever
discovereditsnature,itsmeaning,itssplendor.Thosewhochoosetojoinus,willjoinusthose
whodon't,willnothavethepowertostopushordesofsavageshaveneverbeenanobstacleto
menwhocarriedthebannerofthemind.

"Thenthiscountrywilloncemorebecomeasanctuaryforavanishingspecies:therational
being.Thepoliticalsystemwewillbuildiscontainedinasinglemoralpremise:nomanmay
obtainanyvaluesfromothersbyresortingtophysicalforce.Everymanwillstandorfall,liveor
diebyhisrationaljudgment.Ifhefailstouseitandfalls,hewillbehisonlyvictim.Ifhefears
thathisjudgmentisinadequate,hewillnotbegivenaguntoimproveit.Ifhechoosestocorrect
hiserrorsintime,hewillhavetheunobstructedexampleofhisbetters,forguidanceinlearning
tothinkbutanendwillbeputtotheinfamyofpayingwithonelifefortheerrorsofanother.

"Inthatworld,you'llbeabletoriseinthemorningwiththespirityouhaveknowninyour
childhood:thatspiritofeagerness,adventureandcertaintywhichcomesfromdealingwitha
rationaluniverse.Nochildisafraidofnatureitisyourfearofmenthatwillvanish,thefearthat
hasstuntedyoursoul,thefearyouacquiredinyourearlyencounterswiththeincomprehensible,
theunpredictable,thecontradictory,thearbuttrary,thehidden,thefaked,theirrationalinmen.
Youwillliveinaworldofresponsiblebeings,whowillbeasconsistentandreliableasfactsthe
guaranteeoftheircharacterwillbeasystemofexistencewhereobjectiverealityisthestandard

ofthejudge.Yourvirtueswillbegivenprotection,yourvicesandweaknesseswillnot.Every
chancewillbeopentoyourgood,nonewillbeprovidedforyourevil.Whatyou'llreceivefrom
menwillnotbealms,orpity,ormercy,orforgivenessofsins,butasinglevalue:justice.And
whenyou'lllookatmenoratyourself,youwillfeel,notdisgust,suspicionandguilt,butasingle
constant:respect.

"Suchisthefutureyouarecapableofwinning.Itrequiresastrugglesodoesanyhumanvalue.
Alllifeisapurposefulstruggle,andyouronlychoiceisthechoiceofagoal.Doyouwishto
continuethebattleofyourpresentordoyouwishtofightformyworld?Doyouwishtocontinue
astrugglethatconsistsofclingingtoprecariousledgesinaslidingdescenttotheabyss,a
strugglewherethehardshipsyouendureareirreversibleandthevictoriesyouwinbringyou
closertodestruction?Ordoyouwishtoundertakeastrugglethatconsistsofrisingfromledge
toledgeinasteadyascenttothetop,astrugglewherethehardshipsareinvestmentsinyour
future,andthevictoriesbringyouirreversiblyclosertotheworldofyourmoralideal,andshould
youdiewithoutreachingfullsunlight,youwilldieonaleveltouchedbyitsrays?Suchisthe
choicebeforeyou.Letyourmindandyourloveofexistencedecide.

"Thelastofmywordswillbeaddressedtothoseheroeswhomightstillbehiddenintheworld,
thosewhoareheldprisoner,notbytheirevasions,butbytheirvirtuesandtheirdesperate
courage.Mybrothersinspirit,checkonyourvirtuesandonthenatureoftheenemiesyou're
serving.Yourdestroyersholdyoubymeansofyourendurance,yourgenerosity,your
innocence,yourlovetheendurancethatcarriestheirburdensthegenerositythatrespondsto
theircriesofdespairtheinnocencethatisunabletoconceiveoftheirevilandgivesthemthe
benefitofeverydoubt,refusingtocondemnthemwithoutunderstandingandincapableof
understandingsuchmotivesastheirsthelove,yourloveoflife,whichmakesyoubelievethat
theyaremenandthattheyloveit,too.Buttheworldoftodayistheworldtheywantedlifeisthe
objectoftheirhatred.Leavethemtothedeaththeyworship.Inthenameofyourmagnificent
devotiontothisearth,leavethem,don'texhaustthegreatnessofyoursoulonachievingthe
triumphoftheeviloftheirs.Doyouhearme...mylove?

"Inthenameofthebestwithinyou,donotsacrificethiswordtothosewhoareitsworst.Inthe
nameofthevaluesthatkeepyoualive,donotletyourvisionofmanbedistortedbytheugly,
thecowardly,themindlessinthosewhohaveneverachievedhistitle.Donotloseyour
knowledgethatman'sproperestateisanuprightposture,anintransigentmindandastepthat
travelsunlimitedroads.Donotletyourfiregoout,sparkbyirreplaceablespark,inthehopeless
swampsoftheapproximate,thenotquite,thenotyet,thenotatall.Donotlettheheroinyour
soulperish,inlonelyfrustrationforthelifeyoudeserved,buthaveneverbeenabletoreach.
Checkyourroadandthenatureofyourbattle.Theworldyoudesiredcanbewon,itexists,itis
real,itispossible,it'syours.

"Buttowinitrequiresyourtotaldedicationandatotalbreakwiththeworldofyourpast,withthe
doctrinethatmanisasacrificialanimalwhoexistsforthepleasureofothers.Fightforthevalue
ofyourperson.Fightforthevirtueofyourpride.Fightfortheessenceofthatwhichisman:for

hissovereignrationalmind.Fightwiththeradiantcertaintyandtheabsoluterectitudeof
knowingthatyoursistheMoralityofLifeandthatyoursisthebattleforanyachievement,any
value,anygrandeur,anygoodness,anyjoythathaseverexistedonthisearth.

"YouwillwinwhenyouarereadytopronouncetheoathIhavetakenatthestartofmy
battleandforthosewhowishtoknowthedayofmyreturn,Ishallnowrepeatittothehearing
oftheworld:

"IswearbymylifeandmyloveofitthatIwillneverliveforthesakeofanotherman,norask
anothermantoliveformine."