" ...
We were defeated by the greed, the selfishness and the base, animal nature of men. It was the animal conflict between spirit and matter, between soul and body. They would not renounce their bodies, which was all we asked of them. I do not remember any of those men. I do not care to remember. The engineers? I believe it was they who started hemophilia... Yes, that is what I said: the hemophilia- the slow leak- the loss of blood that cannot be stopped. They ran first.
They deserted us, one after another... Our plan? We put into practice that noble historical precept: from each according to his ability, to each according to his need. Everybody in the factory, from charwomen to president, received the same salary-the barest minimum necessary.
Twice a year, we all gathered in a mass meeting, where every person presented his claim for what he believed to be his needs. We voted on every claim, and the will of the majority established every person's need and every person's ability. The income of the factory was distributed accordingly. Rewards were based on need, and penalties on ability. Those whose needs were voted to be the greatest, received the most. Those who had not produced as much as the vote said they could, were fined and had to pay the fines by working overtime without pay.
That was our plan. It was based on the principle of selflessness. It required men to be motivated, not by personal gain, but by love for their brothers."
Dagny heard a cold, implacable voice saying somewhere within her: Remember it - remember it well- it is not often that one can see pure evil- look at it- remember- and some day you'll find the words to name its essence...
..."
Taylor Schilling as Dagny Taggart in Atlas Shrugged the movie
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