To Ida Macken, a fan [Letter 482]

c/o Random House
457 Madison Ave.
New York 22, N.Y.

December 10, 1961

Miss Ita Macken
1169 Beardsley St.
Akron, Ohio

Dear Miss Macken:

In your letter of November 1, you ask me: “Would you mind if I dedicated my book to you?” I would not permit or accept such a dedication, because it would imply a sanction which I cannot give to a person I do not know. I should also point out that I do not undertake to read unpublished manuscripts.

I appreciate your interest in my novels, but I must point out to you that the things you say in your letter are in direct contradiction to my philosophy. You write: “You are the only person in this world that I would follow blindly. I believe everything you say” and: “We jokingly call you ‘Our God’ but I think perhaps that it isn’t a joke at all.”

My philosophy advocates reason, not faith; it requires men to think—to accept nothing without a full, rational, first-hand understanding and conviction—to claim nothing without factual evidence and logical proof. A blind follower is precisely what my philosophy condemns and what I reject. Objectivism is not a mystic cult.

Since you are very young, I suggest that you study philosophy more carefully.

Sincerely,

Ayn Rand

AR/.rh