KevinDW78 Posted July 6, 2008 Report Share Posted July 6, 2008 I am writing a term paper for school and want to use a Rand quote but I need to cite it and don't remember exactly where it is. It is either in VOS or PWNI "A moron, raised to the level of a genuis, would paint graffiti on the sides of a computer... then die of starvation." Anyone know what essay this might be from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidOdden Posted July 6, 2008 Report Share Posted July 6, 2008 The fact that a brain cannot project an alteration of its own nature and power, that a genius cannot project himself into the state of a moron, and vice versa, that the needs and desires of a genius and a moron are not identical, that a genius reduced to the existential level of a moron would perish in unspeakable agony, and a moron raised to the existential level of a genius would paint graffiti on the sides of a computer, then die of starvation—all this does not enter the skulls of men who have dispensed with the law of identity (and, therefore, with reality), who demand "equal results" regardless of unequal causes, and who propose to alter metaphysical facts by the power of whims and guns. The Metaphysical Versus the Man-Made part II, The Ayn Rand Letter vol II, no 13, March 26, 1973; p. 185 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinDW78 Posted July 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2008 Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrock3215 Posted July 6, 2008 Report Share Posted July 6, 2008 Interesting quote that I had never read it before. Thanks for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkyTrooper Posted July 6, 2008 Report Share Posted July 6, 2008 ...a moron raised to the existential level of a genius would paint graffiti on the sides of a computer, then die of starvation. Can someone expand on this? I don't get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grames Posted July 7, 2008 Report Share Posted July 7, 2008 Environment doesn't make the man. Giving a moron a genius's job, a genius's clothes, a genius's paycheck and a genius's access to supercomputing facilities is not going to turn a moron into a genius. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinDW78 Posted July 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2008 Also pay attention the the sentence that immediately follows it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkyTrooper Posted July 8, 2008 Report Share Posted July 8, 2008 Environment doesn't make the man. Giving a moron a genius's job, a genius's clothes, a genius's paycheck and a genius's access to supercomputing facilities is not going to turn a moron into a genius. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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