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Excerpt: John Galt's speech

Posted by richrobinson 9 years, 6 months ago to The Gulch: General
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I have been listening to AS and I am up to John Galts speech. I found this part to be particularly prescient.

“This country-the product of reason-could not survive on the morality of sacrifice. It was not built by men who sought self-immolation or by men who sought handouts. It could not stand on the mystic split that divorced man’s soul from his body. It could not live by the mystic doctrine that damned this earth as evil and those who succeeded on earth as depraved. From its start, this country was a threat to the ancient rule of mystics. In the brilliant rocket-explosion of its youth, this country displayed to an incredulous world what greatness was possible to man, what happiness was possible on earth. It was one or the other: America or mystics. The mystics knew it; you didn’t. You let them infect you with the worship of need-and this country became a giant in body with a mooching midget in place of its soul, while its living soul was driven underground to labor and feed you in silence, unnamed, unhonored, negated, its soul and hero: the industrialist.


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  • Posted by 9 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Yes. What makes it worse is that what we do is evil so it has to be taxed. Somehow taxing something looters see as evil makes it all right.
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  • Posted by j_IR1776wg 9 years, 6 months ago
    +1 Rich. "...The mystics knew it; you didn't. You let them infect you with the worship of need..." Too many have forgotten that tho opposite of mysticism and need is reason and rights.
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    Posted by Mamaemma 9 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I feel that way more every day. I work hard so I can be hated. Even if that is human nature, and I don't agree it is, that hate should not be sanctioned by society. It should be recognized as the destructive evil that it is.
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  • Posted by 9 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Good point. I think it comes from the fact that "the industrialist" has been confused with the "crony capitalist". While I agree with some of the things Trump is saying he is a crony. He has a definite "James Taggert" side to him.
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  • Posted by khalling 9 years, 6 months ago
    "while its living soul was driven underground to labor and feed you in silence, unnamed, unhonored, negated..."
    give back, anyone?
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  • Posted by 9 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    It was for me. So much of it applies today that I find my mind wondering as I read or listen to it. It's amazing how clearly Ayn Rand saw what was going to happen.
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  • Posted by khalling 9 years, 6 months ago
    excellent passage. I wonder how many, who even share Objectivist values, cringe a little inside when they read the final two words: "the Industrialist." How indoctrinated we all were
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  • Posted by Mamaemma 9 years, 6 months ago
    Wow. Thanks for sharing that. It was good to read a small excerpt carefully. The whole speech can be overwhelming.
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