The Fountainhead Howard Roark Quotes

Reason, as depicted by Ayn Rand in The Fountainhead and embodied by the protagonist,

Howard Roark, is the lifeblood of human progress. The theme of Rand’s novel—the notion that the self-sufficient ego is the fountainhead of human progress—is inextricably linked to a single philosophic idea: that man’s strength is the product of his reasoning mind. By portraying Howard Roark as the fulfillment of human potential, celebrating his ego-affirming independence, and emphasizing his reliance on reason, Rand links the faculty of reason to the demanding task of self-actualization. As Roark observes, reason is something “no one really wants to have on his side” (Rand 165). Throughout

The Fountainhead, it becomes apparent that Roark, in contrast to other

Roark’s friendship with the sculptor Steven Mallory further demonstrates his willingness to heed the call of reason. Despite Mallory’s reputation for violence, and in contrast to other prominent architects who exploit Mallory for the thrill of exerting their personal power, Roark respects Mallory for the quality of his sculpture. Skeptical of Roark’s intentions, however, Mallory demands incredulously, “You decided that you wanted [to hire] me . . . only because of the things I’ve done . . . only because you saw—and what you saw made me important to you?” (Rand 327). Roark responds, “I came here for a simple, selfish reason . . . to seek the best. I didn’t come here for your sake. I came here for mine” (Rand 328). Roark’s decision rests on the tangible product of Mallory’s creation, revealing Roark’s respect for objective evidence and his ability to make decisions based on rational consideration of the material provided by his senses. That Roark does so purely for the fulfillment of his own self-interest exemplifies his commitment to selfaffirming