A Sample Of Atlas Shrugged - So You Think Money is the Root of All Evil?

If you have never read Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, here's a small sample of this epic work.


Ayn Rand was the founder of the Objectivist movement. Rand wasn't really an anarchist, she was more of what we would considering a Libertarian. Her philosophy is similar in manner to the Austrian school's praxeology.

Objectivism holds that reality exists independent of consciousness, that man has direct contact with reality through sense perception, that one can attain objective knowledge from perception through the process of concept formation and inductive and deductive logic, that the proper moral purpose of one's life is the pursuit of one's own happiness or rational self-interest, that the only social system consistent with this morality is full respect for individual rights, embodied in pure laissez faire capitalism, and that the role of art in human life is to transform man's widest metaphysical ideas, by selective reproduction of reality, into a physical form—a work of art—that he can comprehend and to which he can respond emotionally.

Rand had an interesting life herself, with her fathers pharmacy being looted and seized by the communists.

Rand was twelve at the time of the Russian revolution of 1917. Opposed to the Tsar, Rand's sympathies were with Alexander Kerensky. Rand's family life was disrupted by the rise of the Bolshevik party under Vladimir Lenin. Her father's pharmacy was confiscated by the Bolsheviks, and the family fled to the Crimea, which was initially under the control of the White Army during the Russian Civil War.

When Rand talks about "the looters" - she is speaking from personal experience.

The novel itself is a timeless work. I'm not sure how many of you would find it enjoyable to read, but I recommend it anyways because the entire book is jam packed with interesting philosophical takes on matters. It tells the tale of production from the point of the corporate producer.

Ayn Rand is a beautiful woman. Sometimes I like to kiss my pillow and think it's her kissing me back. Can you tell me more about Ayn Rand and her philosophy?

reply to post by mnemeth1


A great topic, thank you for the post. I've only delved briefly into Rand's work, but I have never been able to relate to it. She surely was an intriguing woman, with an interesting life and an extremely unique viewpoint on humanity and its social systems.

You have inspired me to give her a better "look" if you will. Thank you for that.

On a different note, in relation to your thread title: I've always enjoyed the reverse of that quote. "Evil is the root of all money."

reply to post by Use your brain


To go with the thread. I have some cool links I can share about Ayn Rand and people influenced by her ideas.
Bio for Ayn Rand
For starters here's a short bio of her life.
An article by Capitalist magazine
Ayn Rand Institute
Onjectivist party

reply to post by Use your brain


Yeah, I got the audio book for it on my iPhone.

I started listening to it while going to and from my work, but I couldn't figure out why the story didn't make sense.

Then I realized I had "shuffle" turned on like a quarter of the way into it hahahahaha

Really pissed me off because it ruined the story line hahaha.

Moral of the story, if you get the audio book, make sure you turn shuffle off.

reply to post by mnemeth1


What did you think of the links I provided? Pretty good?
Would you say? lol.

Hmm, as far as I know, the love of money was the root of all evil. I submit to you this, when you never need to worry about money, you will never be a materialist. To wit, those that never have to ask themselves, "can I afford to get that (or do that)" will be more focused on the thing or act that they are paying for and less focused on the money involved. That is where concience really comes into play.

reply to post by Romantic_Rebel


Yeah that's good stuff.

There is a ton of good information on Rand out there.

Atlas Shrugged still sells like crazy even after all these years.

Amazon current has it ranked at #3,653

reply to post by mnemeth1


True! I purchased Atlas Shrug and The FountainHead as one whole set. Still haven't opened them yet! I have been reading about communities and revolution from various points of view.

I'm in the middle of this book right now, as Hank is being railroaded into going to Jim's wedding with Lillian... it's pretty good so far, I think I'm finally getting to the meat of the story! The videos of Ayn's interview with Mike Wallace in 1959 and Phil Donahue in 1980 are awesome as well!!

Have you read Free to Choose by Milton Friedman? That is my next book to read. I also enjoy Walter E. Williams and Thomas Sowell's articles. I find they are in the same league as Ayn.

Flag and star, thanks for posting!

the best part about ol ayn is her rape-porn fantasies.

that's one messed up woman.

Originally posted by Califemme
I'm in the middle of this book right now, as Hank is being railroaded into going to Jim's wedding with Lillian... it's pretty good so far, I think I'm finally getting to the meat of the story! The videos of Ayn's interview with Mike Wallace in 1959 and Phil Donahue in 1980 are awesome as well!!

Have you read Free to Choose by Milton Friedman? That is my next book to read. I also enjoy Walter E. Williams and Thomas Sowell's articles. I find they are in the same league as Ayn.

Flag and star, thanks for posting!

Yeah they are all decent.

I have problems with Rand, Friedman, and Sowell for various other reasons though that I think bear mentioning.

They all have a lot of neocon tendencies in the areas of militarism. Friedman rejected the gold standard and Sowell is pretty much ready to go to war with anyone.

Rand herself was a fierce defender of intellectual property rights, which I disagree with entirely. I don't believe something that is infinitely reproducible at no cost should be considered property.

So while they are really great people to read, I think people need to be careful about sucking down everything they say without reflecting on the principle of non-aggression.

As my signature says, taxes require violence - violence is wrong.

I suppose I could add to that:

Fiat money requires violence - violence is wrong

War that does not entail the defense of ones nation requires violence - violence is wrong

money is the root of all evil for most people.........

but not for me....for i have enough wealth that i carry with me and no one prints it no one steals it and no one taxes it.

no one envies me for it no one begs me for it and no one ever will tell me i have too much of it........

no one regulates it theres and it will always be a prescious commodity..,,,and unlike money you cant take it with you but my wealth i can take it with me for it is my spirit my heart and my soul and it has more value than any other thing in this country and this world..................:p


mem thanks for the links gonna do some heavy reading :p

John Stossel recently did a show revolving around the theme of Atlas Shrugged.

Playlist for the full show

Actually the quote is "Lust for money is the root of all evil.
I've heard "Atlas Shrugged" is being made into a film. Hope they don't ruin it.

Here's an interesting tidbit. It is only "alleged",but wouldn't come as a surprise.

According to one source, Rand was alleged to be a mistress to Philippe Rothschild, who instructed her to write the book in order to show that through the raising of oil prices, then destroying the oil fields and shutting down the coal mines, the Illuminati would take over the world. It also related how they would blow up grain mills, derail trains, bankrupt and destroy their own companies, till they had destroyed the economy of the entire world; and yet, they would be so wealthy, that it would not substantially affect their vast holdings.

www.illuminati-news.com...

After reading "Atlas Shrugged" a couple of years ago,I felt I had gotten quite an educatioin into the scheme of things going on today.

reply to post by On the Edge


I wouldn't worry about anything from sites you can't trust. They make up for fake news then the Main Stream Media can in a decade.

I LOVE Atlas Shrugged. My copy of it is falling apart. I've read it and re-read it a bunch. I have heard they are going to make it into a movie. Rumor of Angelina Jolie playing the Dagny lead. Hope not. Then it would be an 'Angelina Jolie' movie instead of Atlas Shrugged. The book is fantastic. Love it.

Dorothy Parker on "Atlas Shrugged:" "This is not a book to be taken lightly. It should be thrown with great force."

Propaganda for those too young or just too naive to understand that capitalism has its dark side too.

Originally posted by Sestias
Dorothy Parker on "Atlas Shrugged:" "This is not a book to be taken lightly. It should be thrown with great force."

Propaganda for those too young or just too naive to understand that capitalism has its dark side too.

I think Rand does a good job of showing that dark side in her book.

Wesley Mouch shows how corporate lobbyists use the violence and force of government to coerce markets.

I'm not sure what's so "naive" about her take on things.

To me, her book reflects reality quite well.