---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can answer it,” he said. “I can tell…"
description: "\"“I can answer it,” he said. “I can tell you who is John Galt.” “Really? Everybody seems to know him, but they never tell the same story twice.” “They’r..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a3/ayn-rand-59_quote_i-can-answer-it-he-said-i-can-tell-you-w_1346115.jpg"
---

#  I can answer it,” he said. “I can tell you who is John…

![“I can answer it,” he said. “I can tell you who is John Galt.” “Really? Everybody seems to know him, but they never tell the same story twice.” “They’re all true, though—all the stories you’ve heard about him.” “Well, what’s yours? Who is he?” “John Galt is Prometheus who changed his mind. After…” quote by Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a3/ayn-rand-59_quote_i-can-answer-it-he-said-i-can-tell-you-w_1346115.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a3/ayn-rand-59_quote_i-can-answer-it-he-said-i-can-tell-you-w_1346115.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a3/ayn-rand-59_quote_i-can-answer-it-he-said-i-can-tell-you-w_1346115.jpg)

> ““I can answer it,” he said. “I can tell you who is John Galt.” “Really? Everybody seems to know him, but they never tell the same story twice.” “They’re all true, though—all the stories you’ve heard about him.” “Well, what’s yours? Who is he?” “John Galt is Prometheus who changed his mind. After centuries of being torn by vultures in payment for having brought to men the fire of the gods, he broke his chains—and he withdrew his fire—until the day when men withdraw their vultures.””

[Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

John Galt embodies the spirit of individualism and rebellion against collectivist oppression, likened to Prometheus.

**In simple terms:** John Galt is a rebel champion of individual freedom.

Key Takeaway

Embrace personal responsibility and innovation.

Themes

individualism rebellion freedom

Mood

defiant inspirational

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- entrepreneurship
- creative projects
- political activism

Key Concepts

Objectivism mythic archetype political philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

- What does personal freedom mean to you?
- How can we balance individualism with community?

A Different Perspective

Idealizing lone heroes may ignore the value of cooperation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Prometheus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prometheus/)

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> [“Who is John Galt?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/who-is-john-galt/)

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> [Through all the darkness, through all the shame of which men are capable, the spirit of man will remain alive on this earth. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/through-all-the-darkness-through-all-the-shame-of-which-men-are/)

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> [He groaned slightly and winced like Prometheus watching his vulture dropping in for lunch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-groaned-slightly-and-winced-like-prometheus-watching-his-vulture/)

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> [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/)

[Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/)

## More by Ayn Rand

> [There are no white lies, there is only the blackest of destruction, and a white lie is the blackest of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/there-are-no-white-lies-there-is-only-the-blackest-of-destruction-and/)

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> [“This was reality, she thought, this sense of clear outlines, of purpose, of lightness, of hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/this-was-reality-she-thought-this-sense-of-clear-outlines-of-purpose/)

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> [“She moved her hand and let it rest against his. He did not withdraw his fingers and he did not pretend indifference. She bent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/she-moved-her-hand-and-let-it-rest-against-his-he-did-not-withdraw/)

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## More Prometheus quotes

> [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/)

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> [He groaned slightly and winced like Prometheus watching his vulture dropping in for lunch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-groaned-slightly-and-winced-like-prometheus-watching-his-vulture/)

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> [There is nothing in the desert and no man needs nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david/there-is-nothing-in-the-desert-and-no-man-needs-nothing/)

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> [“Here it comes," Niten said. The whites of his eyes,his teeth and his tongue had turned blue. "Ready," Prometheus said. Nicholas Flamel touched the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/here-it-comes-niten-said-the-whites-of-his-eyes-his-teeth-and-his/)

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