Atlas ShruggedParts 1, 2 and 3Sapere Aude (Dare to

Know)
I grew up as a writer onamong othersJames Agee, especially his
Let Us Now Praise Famous Men. And just before him was given
Stephen Spender whose singular poems single line has lodged
permanently and thankfully into my neurons as: I think continually of
those who were truly great.
So the theme here is GREAT PERSONS. Who should be considered
such and why? Tell me who you consider a Great Person and I will tell
you who you are.
I will add here a rather unknown American poet, George Dillons sticky
note:
All honor be to those who give their lives in learning how to live.
Now, what can we make of the above word hash that can fortify our
mind? I think it should be this: do not necessarily AGREE with
anything; and notice what you do agree with, automatically.

I will assume his Spirit in explicating these three films with an

emphasis on the last.
Let Us Now Praise Famous Men by James Agee
Isnt every human being both a scientist and an artist; and in writing
of human experience, isnt there a good deal to be said for recognizing
that fact and for using both methods?
For one who sets himself to look at all earnestly, at all in purpose
toward truth, into the living eyes of a human life: what is it he there
beholds that so freezes and abashes his ambitious heart?
How, looking thus into your eyes and seeing thus, how each of you is
a creature which has never in all time existed before and which shall
never in all time exist again and which is not quite like any other and
which has the grand stature and natural warmth of every other and
whose existence is all measured upon a still mad and incurable time
The Truly Great by Stephen Spender
I think continually of those who were truly great.

Who, from the womb, remembered the souls history

Through corridors of light, where the hours are suns,
Endless and singing. Whose lovely ambition
Was that their lips, still touched with fire,
Should tell of the Spirit, clothed from head to foot in song.
And who hoarded from the Spring branches
The desires falling across their bodies like blossoms.
What is precious, is never to forget
The essential delight of the blood drawn from ageless springs
Breaking through rocks in worlds before our earth.
Never to deny its pleasure in the morning simple light
Nor its grave evening demand for love.
Never to allow gradually the traffic to smother
With noise and fog, the flowering of the spirit.
Near the snow, near the sun, in the highest fields,
See how these names are fted by the waving grass
And by the streamers of white cloud
And whispers of wind in the listening sky
The names of those who in their lives fought for life,
Who wore at their hearts the fires centre.
Born of the sun, they travelled a short while toward the sun
And left the vivid air signed with their honour.