An opaque neutrality shallowly shielding the potential for crippling malevolence. No longer guided by flawed, appropriated, and piecemeal judgement; in the least, still seeking betterment.

"...-overcome by a growing suspicion that the man had never really had any relationship with Society at all; that it was neither right nor wrong. Its significance was that it functioned...and it functioned in many ways: It offered structure with which other constructs could be housed and operated. It entrapped some within it, and trapped others outside it. He chose instead to clamber upon the ramparts and climb towards his own ends."

If it is now the belief of my fellow men, who call themselves the public, that their mood requires victims, then I say: The public good be damned, I will have no part of it!
-Hank Rearden

Once, a lonely misanthropy, but a standard by which there is no insult without deliberate conviction and purpose...
Now only a strangely optimistic, amoral utilitarianism: with the freedom to act, interact, and manipulate, it is only a matter of time before anything or anyone becomes useful.

[There's this passage I got memorized. Ezekiel 25:17. "The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my fingers upon thee." I been saying that ♥♥♥♥ for years. And if you heard it, that meant your ass. I never gave much thought to what it meant. I just thought it was some cold-blooded ♥♥♥♥ to say to a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ before I popped a cap in his ass. But I saw some ♥♥♥♥ this morning made me think twice. See, now I'm thinking, maybe it means you're the evil man, and I'm the righteous man, and Mr. 9 millimeter here, he's the shepherd protecting my righteous ass in the valley of darkness. Or it could mean you're the righteous man and I'm the shepherd and it's the world that's evil and selfish. I'd like that. But that ♥♥♥♥ ain't the truth. The truth is, you're the weak, and I'm the tyranny of evil men. But I'm trying, Ringo. I'm trying real hard to be the shepherd.]

"It is said that the meek shall inherit the earth. Yes, inherit it, when it comes crashing down upon their feeble skulls. And when all that is left rises from the rubble, I'd think you find it grows a new strength all its own. Your point is moot."

"And within the Man must be made an Engine; one that refines Fear into Indignation and ignites it as Hatred and Zeal. But Man must drink of both and inoculate himself to their intrinsic, corrupting influence. He must learn to use them as fuel, propelling him towards what must be done."

"I never understood why people kept asking about the meaning of life. It is to create purpose. Without life, of any kind, nothing would have a purpose. Beyond survival, it's up to you to find specific purpose in things, places, people, anything. There is no morality or 'higher' purpose. There are only layers of purpose. What's good is what's good for you, and should you encompass things beyond yourself into your concerns, that only creates more, intricate, purpose. Conflicts of purpose are inevitable, and the future is as impartial as you make it."

“Beware the ire of the man that builds. All too few understand that construction and destruction are dialectic opposites: one and the same. Where there was once a city, one might create a blasted crater. Where there was once a body, one might create a shredded husk of flesh and viscera. If a man expends time, effort, and emotion into creation, what will you do to stop him from becoming the architect of your deserved damnation?”