I believed that one person owes a duty to another with no payment for it in return

I believed that one person owes a duty to another with no payment for it in return. I believed that it was my duty to love a woman who gave me nothing, who betrayed everything I lived for, who demanded her happiness at the price of mine. I believed that love is some static gift which, once granted, need no longer be deserved-just as they believe that wealth is a static possession which can be seized and held without further effort. I believed that love is a gratuity, not a reward to be earned-just as they believe it is their right to demand an unearned wealth.

Айн Рэнд, Атлант расправил плечи