What does the story of Atlas Shrugged say about the relative powers of good and evil and the conditions under which one is victorious over the other? The sanction of the victim and the horror of negation: “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. » This oft-repeated paraphrase of a less palatable phrase from Edmund Burke has made its way into modern public language as a call for vigilance against the eternal onslaught of evil. Yet the question remains: “What is the nature of this evil? "" and "What measures do good men take to prevent it?" » In her 1957 Magnum Opus, Atlas Shrugged, American novelist Ayn Rand proposes the next step in this line of thinking: "The evil of the world is only made possible by the sanction you give it. » (Rand 1066). Through Hank Rearden's family relationships, his struggles against the government, and John Galt's final exposition of his philosophical discoveries, Rand explains the nature of good and evil; good can only lose if it presents itself to be denied, and evil can only triumph with the voluntary consent of good. Henry Rearden is the model of the American industrialist: a self-made millionaire, famous for the uncompromising integrity of his business dealings and physical relationships. properties of its steel (the cornerstone of its activity). Outwardly, he appears to many as a perfectly integrated being. Yet he bears the guilt of a great sin; contradiction. He refuses to apply the same principles in his interpersonal relationships that allow him to excel in the industry. As his future friend Francisco D'Anconia would later ask: "You who do not allow one percent of impurity in a metal alloy, what have you allowed in your moral code?" » (Rand 4..... middle of paper ...... Whenever evil wins, it is only by default: by the moral failure of those who evade the fact that it cannot "(Rand - Capitalism)BibliographyBurke, Edmund. "Reflections on the cause of present discontents." 1770Original quote: "When bad men combine, good men must combine or they will fall; , one by one, in ruthless sacrifice in a contemptible struggle." Rand, Atlas shrugged. New York City, NY; Penguin Group Inc. 2005. Rand, Ayn. Capitalism: the unknown ideal. Works Cited Burke, Edmund « Reflections on the Cause of Today's Discontents. Otherwise, They Will Fall, One by One, Like a Ruthless Sacrifice in a Despicable Struggle. . Rand, Ayn. Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal.