Well, Roark was trying to erase the idea of the building he blew up, because it wasn't completely his. His unadulterated plans still existed on paper, and in his mind, whether he blew up the building or not. He just couldn't bear to have a building exist that incorporated some, but not all, of his plans.

It's funny, because even though they seem like opposites, Rand's philosophy churns out the exact same entitlement problems as parents who tell their kids they can be anything they want to be. Rand says work hard for it, while helicopter parents insist inborn talent will take care of everything--but both rely on the lie that "following your dreams" is the only noble path. Sometimes you have to do shit you're overqualified for, and sometimes you find out your dreams aren't what you thought they were, and neither situation makes you a failure.

Right, like wanting a toy, car, or job with all your might then being disappointed when you get it.

What Flint said. ;)

I actually have a fav Ayn Rand quote which is "Check your premises." I find that people at either extreme of the spectrum often have flawed or even completely false premises which they attempt to use when arguing the validity of their stance.

In any discussion the debate can only be useful if both sides agree on the same basic truths or "givens" as it were.

I was stuck on the word Jewish.

Looks like the significance is complicated.

Every corner of our history and civilization is packed full of instances where the significance is complicated.