Zürich, 14.3.1921

… I understand very well that it is impossible for you to think otherwise. The state of mind that leads you to encourage Groddeck is exactly the same as that which made you the discoverer and pioneer of psycho-analysis. But, with the best will in the world, I cannot adopt your view, as indeed you do not expect me to. But there is a big difference between Rabelais and Groddeck. The former remains within his role as a satirist and avoids the error of putting himself forward as a savant. Groddeck, however, wavers between science and belles lettres. You say yourself that his trend is definitely scientific, but I dislike his spicing it with jokes. I like a clean sheet of paper, and I also like fresh butter, but butter-stains on a sheet of paper satisfy neither my eye nor my belly. His interpretations are too Stekelian for me….