Cities Quote by Ayn Rand
“He stepped to the window and pointed to the skyscrapers of the city. He said that we had to extinguish the lights of the world, and when we would see the lights of New York go out, we would know that our job was done.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, 1957
She suggests that destroying the world’s power sources would signal the completion of their mission, reflecting a radical anti‑civilization stance.
In simple terms: Destroying lights means mission complete.
Key Takeaway
Consider the consequences of total destruction.
Themes
power
destruction
mission
nihilism
Mood
dark
ominous
Type
prophetic
controversial
When to use this quote
- warfare
- environmental activism
- fictional dystopia
Key Concepts
extremism
political philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- Is total annihilation ever justified?
- What alternatives exist to achieve change?
A Different Perspective
The plan ignores human survival and moral cost.
![“Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed Countries]?... I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that... I’ve always…” quote by Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ac4/lawrence-summers-16940_air_just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-wo_4703.jpg)
