A conversation between Roark and Mallory. (The Fountainhead.)
Posted by LetsShrug 10 years, 1 month ago to Philosophy
I have SO many examples of Ayn Rand's writings that have hard smacked me into seeing reality more clearly, but this conversation between Roark and Mallory has got to be the biggest ass kicker of them all....
"Now, talk. Talk about the things you really want said. Don't tell me about your family, your childhood, your friends or your feelings. Tell me about the things you think."
Mallory looked at him incredulously and whispered: "How did you know that?" Roark smiled and said nothing. "How did you know what's been killing me? Slowly, for years, driving me to hate people when I don't want to hate.... Have you felt it, too? Have you seen how your best friends love everything about you--except the things that count? And your most important is nothing to them, nothing, not even a sound they can recognize. You mean, you want to hear? You want to know what I do and why I do it, you want to know what I think? It's not boring to you? It's important?" "Go ahead," said Roark. Then he sat for hours, listening, while Mallory spoke of his work, of the thoughts behind his work, of the thoughts that shaped his life, spoke gluttonously, like a drowning man flung out to shore, getting drunk on huge, clean snatches of air."
"Now, talk. Talk about the things you really want said. Don't tell me about your family, your childhood, your friends or your feelings. Tell me about the things you think."
Mallory looked at him incredulously and whispered: "How did you know that?" Roark smiled and said nothing. "How did you know what's been killing me? Slowly, for years, driving me to hate people when I don't want to hate.... Have you felt it, too? Have you seen how your best friends love everything about you--except the things that count? And your most important is nothing to them, nothing, not even a sound they can recognize. You mean, you want to hear? You want to know what I do and why I do it, you want to know what I think? It's not boring to you? It's important?" "Go ahead," said Roark. Then he sat for hours, listening, while Mallory spoke of his work, of the thoughts behind his work, of the thoughts that shaped his life, spoke gluttonously, like a drowning man flung out to shore, getting drunk on huge, clean snatches of air."
It's surreal to me to hear my granddaughter chatter on about a "boyfriend" she's had for months without ever seeing or actually speaking to him in person. There are many of these "text-only" relationships, and the young participants are a rich field of victims. I've seen the look of horror on a number of young girls faces when I suggest that the pictures of the good-looking young man they see may actually be sent to them by a 50 year old pedophile. Thankfully, most have taken my advice and terminated exchanges with these unidentified strangers.
It is still a rush for me, and even more so for Atlas.
And then there's the boy on the bicycle scene.
These are the kind of conversations I have with people I meet - often encouraging reading for their lives and appreciating what practical philosophy can be.
for me, that there were such people. . Rand was
the first. . I have found several others, and many of
them here, but she proved it FIRST! -- wow. -- j
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