"When I got the money, the whole burden descended on me, and the realization of what I had done. And it led me then to make the further step, a change of loyalties"

Aldrich Ames' quote speaks with the weight of obligation that comes with making a major life decision. When he received the money, he was suddenly confronted with the truth of what he had actually done and the effects of his actions. This awareness led him to make a further action, a change of commitments. This could imply that he needed to change his allegiance from one group to another, or it could indicate that he had to re-evaluate his own worths and beliefs. In either case, it was a challenging decision that he needed to make, and it was a concern that he needed to bear. The quote talks to the power of cash and the effect it can have on our lives, and how it can lead us to make hard choices that can have far-reaching effects.