The Fountainhead

"Mr. Roark, were alone here. Why dont you tell me what you think of me? In any words you wish. No one will hear us." "But I dont think of you."

"We must not think. We must believe. Believe, Katie, even if your mind objects. Dont think. Believe. Trust your heart, not your brain. Dont think. Feel. Believe."

"Here are my rules: what can be done with one substance must never be done with another. No two materials are alike. No two sites on earth are alike. No two buildings have the same purpose. The purpose, the site, the material determine the shape. Nothing can be reasonable or beautiful unless its made by one central idea, and the idea sets every detail. A building is alive, like a man. Its integrity is to follow its own truth, its one single theme, and to serve its own single purpose. A man doesnt borrow pieces of his body. A building doesnt borrow hunks of its soul. Its maker gives it the soul and every wall, window and stairway to express it."

"Do you mean to tell me that youre thinking seriously of building that way, when and if you are an architect?" "Yes." "My dear fellow, who will let you?" "Thats not the point. The point is, who will stop me?"

"Every form has its own meaning. Every man creates his meaning and form and goal. Why is it so important—what others have done? Why does it become sacred by the mere fact of not being your own? Why is anyone and everyone right—so long as its not yourself? Why does the number of those others take the place of truth? Why is truth made a mere matter of arithmetic—and only of addition at that? Why is everything twisted out of all sense to fit everything else? There must be some reason. I dont know. Ive never known it. Id like to understand."

"I dont intend to build in order to have clients; I intend to have clients in order to build."

"How do you always manage to decide?" "How can you let others decide for you?"

"If you want my advice, Peter, youve made a mistake already. By asking me. By asking anyone. Never ask people. Not about your work. Dont you know what you want? How can you stand it, not to know?"

"Do you always have to have a purpose? Do you always have to be so damn serious? Cant you ever do things without reason, just like everybody else? Youre so serious, so old. Everythings important with you, everythings great, significant in some way, every minute, even when you keep still. Cant you ever be comfortable—and unimportant?" "No."

"A house can have integrity, just like a person; and just as seldom."

"As a matter of fact, one can feel some respect for people when they suffer. They have a certain dignity. But have you ever looked at them when theyre enjoying themselves? Thats when you see the truth."

"Ask anything of men. Ask them to achieve wealth, fame, love, brutality, murder, self-sacrifice. But dont ask them to achieve self-respect. They will hate your soul."