This Letter from Ayn Rand Shows a Niece ‘Tough Love’ for Wanting $25. It Will Have Parents Cheering.

independence journalreview BLOG ^ | january 16, 2015 | kyle becker

[lowbridge]

Ayn Rand. Two of the most divisive words in all of modern literature and philosophy. Her sweeping novel Atlas Shrugged a dystopian work written 50 years ago, continues to have many prescient observers seeing parallels with a modern America that is going off the rails. Atlas is still an international bestseller – whether or not one has read it and enjoyed it (and more than likely, didn’t read it – still don’t like it).

Wherever one might stand on Rand’s “Objectivist” philosophy, it is the mark of intellectual cowardice to condemn ideas without a fair hearing.

For all the caterwauling about Rand’s “cold” ideology, and the inevitable misinterpretation that her ideal world is a loveless one driven only by achievement, Rand is able to display what she means by “tough love” as evidenced by a letter to a 17-year-old niece requesting a loan of $25 that was printed in a collectionLetters of Ayn Rand.

The letter, reprinted in a piece by Distractify, illustrates a point-of-view that many parents who are raising young people nowadays might find really appealing:

[iowamark]

$25 dollars for a dress in 1949? Equivalent to $250 today.

[lavaroise]

Great read. Some people tell me that if you loan money to a friend, just think it as a gift and do not expect it back.

Frankly Ayn Rand is right, maybe these people are not friends anymore but actually rotten with a sense of superiority and entitlement.

[PeterPrinciple]

It is always worth lending 25 to a friend or relative go find out what they are made of so you know how to deal with them in the future. I have made several people go away for less..................................

[GeronL]

this was a relative

[wally_bert]

After a few burns over the years, money is between immediate family.

[Dubh_Ghlase]

Dave Ramsey recommends not lending $$$ to friends or family. If you have to, give it to them as it may never come back and will do nothing but generate hard feelings and family strife. Happened to me before I wised up...

[NativeSon]

When we were young, My siblings would ask to borrow money from time to time. I'd ask very clearly; "borrow or have?, because if you want to borrow from me I will get my money back from you".

Years later you can easily see which of my sibs is the responsible and trustworthy adult.

[SamAdams76]

Several times I loaned money to friends and family. I have never once been fully repaid. In fact, I have been called a cheapskate and other names for not wanting to lend out more. And in most cases, once they get some, they always want, and expect, more. The adage "no good deed goes unpunished" holds true with loaning money to friends and family.

I suppose that has to do with the fact that I am perceived as wealthy (at least compared to them) but what they don't realize is that the main reason I am well off is that I live below my means and do not borrow from others (other than a mortgage and occasional car loan). If I cannot afford that gadget or vacation or whatever, I don't buy it and I don't borrow money in order to do so.

[Publius]

Rand ping.

[Misterioso]

If read without a bias, the letter contains a wealth of instruction on morality. But, since it is coming from an atheist, it is evil.

[Tired of Taxes]

Love it.

The letter indicates that Rand lent money to this girl’s two sisters, and they misused the money and never repaid. Given that background information, this letter is the perfect response to the third niece.

I wonder what decision this third niece made after receiving this letter.