As always, I celebrate Ayn Rand’s birthday, February 2nd, by opening one of Ayn Rand’s novels to a random page and reading a passage. Today, I opened The Fountainhead to this passage (Ayn Rand ([1943] 1994, 191, Part 1, Chapter XV).

“Look Peter, I believe you. I know that you have nothing to gain by saying this. I know more than that. I know that you don’t want me to succeed–it’s all right, I’m not reproaching you, I’ve always known it–you don’t want me ever to reach these things you’re offering me. And yet you’re pushing me on to reach them, quite sincerely. And you know that if I take your advice, I’ll reach them. And it’s not love for me, because that wouldn’t make you so angry–and so frightened. … Peter, what is it that disturbs you about me as I am?”

“I don’t know …” whispered Keating.

Reference

Rand, Ayn ([1943] 1994), The Fountainhead. New York: Plume. Reprint of hardcover edition published by The Bobbs-Merrill Company.