Letter from Sigmund Freud to Sándor Ferenczi, November 9, 1914

Vienna, November 9, 1914
IX., Berggasse 19

Dear friend,

I am writing to you today, 1) in order to confirm your letter of the third and your card which arrived today, 2) because I still sent you a folio of the Theory of Sexuality to the hotel, 3) because I have very much time—only one patient—and 4) because I conclude from your actions that you still haven't pulled yourself together, and I am very dissatisfied with that.

Little in the way of news. The Italian from Nocera (Bianchini) already today sent in the translation of the first of the Five Lectures, and I wrote an introduction to it.1 The case history, 116 pages strong, is finished. Rank took it along today to read. It threw me into heavy doubts which were not dispelled completely rationally; I presume the latent lurking doubt as to whether we will win added its punch. But there is something in it about which I would like to hear your opinion. There are, to be sure, still six months before it goes to press. The publisher of Kraus's handbook2 let me know today that my manuscript, which was set for April 1915, won't be needed before the end of '15 or beginning of '16. Every day something crumbles away. I don't know now what I should fill my days with.

On Sunday Martin reported for duty in Steyr,3 Ernst was sick with influenza, is probably still quite miserable. Oli is finding continued activity4 and seems to have found his niche. Annerl is, as always, industrious and gratifying. A tame, stupid letter from Pfister, otherwise the voice of ΨA is not being heard in the world above the thunder of cannons.

But if our friends haven't accomplished anything very decisive by Christmas, they will have to deal with the Japanese, whom England will certainly let come to France, and then the hope for a good outcome can be buried.5

I greet you cordially and await news from you.

Yours,

Freud