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Berggasse 19,
Vienna IX,
24.1.1910
Dear Dr Pfister,
To my unbounded thanks for the galleys, which are now back with you again, I now add a few lines to express my mixed feelings on reading them. Do you want to hear the positive or the negative first? Or a mixture of the two?
Well, I admire your ability to write like that, in such a moderate, affable, considerate manner, so factually and so much more for the reader than against your opponent. That is obviously the better way educationally and the more appropriate to your calling. In particular, I thank you for leaving me in the background. I could not write like that, I prefer not writing at all, i.e., I do not write at all. I could write only to free my soul, to release my affect and, as the latter would not emerge in an edifying manner, and as our opponents would be only too delighted to see me roused, I prefer not answering at all. Just imagine it, the fellow plays the upholder of moral rectitude denouncing evil, thus assuming the prerogative of talking nonsense, parading his ignorance and superficiality, unloading his spleen, distorting and making insinuations. And all this in the name of the higher morality. In face of this I could not restrain myself. But, as I am incapable of artistically modifying my indignation, of giving it an aura pleasurable to others, I hold my peace. I could not lower the temperature in dealing with him.
I hope that you too will not engage further in controversy, either with Förster or with anyone else of his stamp, but will instead use paper and pen for describing your own work. Let them gape, and let us continue along our uphill road.
Your informative letter gave me great pleasure. Last week the Binswangers were here-to call them guests would be too high-flown for the kind of hospitality we dispense. He is correct and honest. I squabbled with him slightly, but cordiality was the stronger feeling, and I like him well. His trace of hesitancy will not hold him back for long. There is