Context: (747.11) We have no rules of any kind", said
Galt, "except one. When a man took our oath,
it meant a single commitment: not to work in
his own profession, not to give to the world the
benefit of his mind.
(709.27) Our first rule here, Miss Taggart",
[Galt] answered, "is that one must always see
for oneself."
(714.13) "Miss Taggart,", [Galt] said, we have
no laws in this valley, no rules, no formal
organization of any kind. But we have certain
customs which we all observe..."
(714..16) [Galt speaking] "I'll warn you now
that there is one word that is forbidden in this
valley: the word, 'give'."
Discussion: Given the wide range of opinion from a single
individual regarding the rules, perhaps one
should check their premises. At the very least,
the set of rules, or lack thereof, should be cited
more consistently.
Alternative: The suggested alternative to this and other
errors of philosophy are too voluminous for this
otherwise-brief treatise.
Context: (995.13) But a different breed of teachers had
once existed, [Rearden] thought, and had
reared the men who created this country; he
thought that mothers should set out on their
knees to look for men like Hugh Akston, to find
them and beg them to return.
(1113.36) [Chick Morrison] pointed to a pile of
papers he had spread on a table [in front of
Galt]. "Here's a plea signed by ten thousand
schoolchildren, begging for you to join us and
save them. Here's a plea from the home for
the crippled. Here's a petition sent by the
ministers of two hundred different faiths.
Here's an appeal from the mothers of the
country." Galt remained motionless, not
extending his hand for the papers.
Discussion: Obviously it's not the begging that's important,
but rather the reason for begging. Yet no
standard for choosing one over the other is
explicitly mentioned.
Alternative: The suggested alternative to this and other
errors of philosophy are too voluminous for this
otherwise-brief treatise.
Context:(615.28) [Francisco speaking] "Dagny, if you think that I don't know how much I've hurt you..."
(618.10) He seized her hand, he pressed his mouth to it, then his face, not to let her see the reflection of what the years had been like. "If it's any kind of atonement, which it isn't... whatever I made you suffer, that's how I paid for it... by knowing what I was doing to you and having to do it..."
(517.14) [Dagny speaking] "Is that what you always do to those who... mean a great deal to you?"
Discussion: What sort of person deliberately hurts the woman he professes to love, then has the nerve to cite his own subsequent suffering as atonement for having hurt her -- which he then claims it isn't? What, then, is the atonement? He may just as well punch her in the face, then atone for the act by claiming his knuckles hurt -- which he can then assert that it doesn't. So metaphorically speaking, Dagny is left with a black eye and Francisco sore knuckles, both as collateral damage of Francisco's spiteful destruction of D'Anconia Copper.
Alternative: (618.10) He seized her hand, he pressed his mouth to it, then his face, not to let her see the reflection of what the years had been like. "Dagny, I can't expect you to ever forgive me for having been so deliberately cruel." He stood slowly. "I guess I'll be on my way now. You deserve better than the likes of me!"
Omit 618.15 through 620.40.
Context:(286.39) [Rearden and Dagny] reached the factory of the Twentieth Century Motor Company... A rusted padlock hung on the door of the main entrance...
(293.9) [The clerk] wondered why the blond, hard-faced man, who sat with the woman in front of his desk, looked grimly out the window at their car, at a large object wrapped in canvas, roped tightly under the raised cover of the car's luggage compartment.
(293.17) [The clerk speaking] "There's been a lot of looting going on. All of the mixed owners grabbed what furniture or other things they could haul out of [the factory], even if the sheriff did put a padlock on the door."
Discussion: What sort of person removes other people's property from a padlocked factory and hides it in their trunk? The clerk called it accurately: Looters!
Alternative: (293.9) [The clerk] wondered why the blond, hard-faced man, who sat with the woman in front of his desk, looked grimly out the window, as if he were visualizing some distant sacrilege.
Omit 298.19-21, 27-31.
Replace 358.2-16 with She looked at him, astonished. "Why, no. It's in Wisconsin."
Replace dead tunnels at 359.35 with platform area, and platform with tunnels.
Omit the sentence starting at 955.39.
Introduction
Part 1: Errors of Grammar
Part 2: Errors of Calculation
Part 3: Errors of Logic
> Part 4: Errors of Philosophy
Appendix: Finding quotes in other editions
Atlas Flubbed in PDF pamphlet format
ATLAS SNUBBED
An Unsanctioned
Pastiche Parody
Where no one is asking,
"Who is John Galt?"
Because now...
They know.