Letter from Sigmund Freud to Sándor Ferenczi, June 1, 1923

Vienna, June 1, 1923
IX., Berggasse 19

Dear friend,

I must contradict, I am not as satisfied as you assume, either with my condition after the operation or with my prospects. But now it has to do more with you. It seems questionable to me whether your operation is justified enough, and whether one can guarantee its harmlessness. Deutsch, with whom we spoke recently, is making a doubting gesture. For my part, I would certainly not like to have you come to harm on account of an identification with me.

I already made the concessions to Rank that you consider right. I see that one should leave him to his devices and would like best not to influence the work at all anymore. His finding is great indeed, he doesn't grasp it quite yet, and can't put it into proper perspective. Put some pressure on him to see that he certainly gets it done in the summer.

Write to me soon to enlighten and reassure.

Cordially,

Freud