Francisco's 'Money' Speech from "Atlas Shrugged"

Atlas Shrugged ^ | 1957 | Ayn Rand

[Entrepreneur]

This is a speech from Ayn Rand's great book, Atlas Shrugged. If you haven't read it, invest $15 in a copy or borrow one for free from your local library. Although it was written 50 years ago, it's extremely timely for 2009.

[Pharmboy]

Thanks...great post. Although my kids have read Rand, I will forward this to them—good antidote for the socialist bilge that surrounds us.

[griswold3]

What people learn from history, is that people don’t learn from history.

We shall see how Obama’s policies affect human nature. It’s not going to be pretty. They’re not going to like the many of us that are ‘opting’ out.

[ridesthemiles]

I pulled out my copy of Atlas Shrugged and started it on Dec 1, 2008 and finished on Dec 11.
That was my 6th or 7th reading. I have lost count.

I cannot recommend it enough for everyone who has a brain to read this book.

[MarkL]

Although it was written 50 years ago, it's extremely timely for 2009.

"Timely?" Heck, there have been days when reading the paper I could swear that I was Eddie, wondering just what the hell is going on in the world around me!

One thing that I have realized, though... Leftists and dems have REALLY taken Rand to heart, though not in the way she could have imagined. Hank Reardon is hobbled by guilt, in such a way that he gives up his lifes work in order to try to save Dagney from the scandal and embarrassment of having their affair revealed. Eventually he throws off the yoke of the guilt ("the guilt of the willing") and he's liberated.

Well, what we've seen in the leftists and dems is that they've perfected that "liberation." They simply have no limits to what they'll do, because they simply have no shame, and guilt no longer limits what they'll try to get away with.

Rand is probably spinning in her grave over that one.

Mark

[yankeedame]

"Money is your means of survival...."

B/c it gives you freedom the freedom to tell people you don;t like to get lost.

[TheConservativeParty]

It is not “money” that is the root of all evil.

“The LOVE of money is the root of all evil.”

That is the proper original saying about this.

Money can be put to very GOOD purposes...like donating to the FREE REPUBLIC during the Freepathon!

[Rusty0604]

I am actually rereading it right now. Some parts of it are like reading a prophecy that is coming true in my life.

[Mark was here]

Wasn't Fransiso her boy friend for a while. Darn, now I can't recall her name, its been 20 years. You know it is hard to keep the players straight in some of these romances.

Was it Naggy? No fair looking it up as anyone could.

[Rusty0604]

Dagny

[Rusty0604]

I heard that there was a movie in the making and that Angelina Jollie was playing Dagny.

[r-q-tek86]

I love Atlas... but dear Ayn should have used an editor.

Anthem is just as powerful in 1/10 the size.

[Larry Lucido]

Still wondering how the movie with Brad/Angelina will work out.

BTW, we named our new kitty Dagny.

[Mark was here]

Thanks. ;) I thought I was close.

[Allegra]

Dagny remionds me of my dear, departed Dulcie.

She is very beautiful.

[r-q-tek86]

"Do you wish to know whether that day is coming? Watch money. Money is the barometer of a society's virtue. When you see that trading is done, not by consent, but by compulsion – when you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing – when you see that money is flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favors – when you see that men get richer by graft and by pull than by work, and your laws don't protect you against them, but protect them against you – when you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice – you may know that your society is doomed. Money is so noble a medium that it does not compete with guns and it does not make terms with brutality. It will not permit a country to survive as half-property, half-loot.

Sounds familier

[KarlInOhio]

I love Atlas... but dear Ayn should have used an editor.

Anthem is just as powerful in 1/10 the size.

Editors are the looters and moochers of the publishing industry. Ayn Rand would have nothing to do with them. :-)

About the only thing in Atlas Shrugged that would have to be updated in 50 years is its focus on railroads. The politics and power lust in Washington have only gotten worse since then.

[MarineBrat]

I’ve read AS a couple of times, and working on my 3rd, and I must admit that I’ve read everything else in the book, but I have never made it all the way through “The Speech.” Not the one in this article, but the one by John Galt that’s 70+ pages long. It ends up being a massive “preaching to the chior” effort to get through it, and I start skimming. :)

[Larry Lucido]

Was it Naggy?

LOL! That's in "Atlas Shrugged, 10 Years Later."

John Galt: "Yeah, yeah, I'll take out the trash. Geez, with your nagging I'll never get this time machine finished!"

[Larry Lucido]

Awwww, sorry about Dulcie!