Letter from Sigmund Freud to Ernest Jones, January 14, 1912

14 January 1912
Vienna, IX. Berggasse 19

Dear Professor Jones,

I dont remember I ever left a letter of yours so long unanswered. I first postponed reaction until finishing the reading of your “Nightmare”, then I got into so hard a time that I could not, my regular relief on Sundays getting lost every time.1 May be I was sorry too having heard that you got yourself into fresh difficulties with a woman. Taking a more lively interest in your private affairs since your last communication at Weimar I pity it very much that you should not master such dangerous cravings, well aware at the same time of the source from which all these evils spring, taking away from you nearly all the blame but nothing of the dangers.2

By ill chance I had to give you some trifle remarks, which looked as if I wanted to put you under criticism everywhere, and as you know my sympathy for your person, my esteem for your work and my gratitude to your services, you will not wonder that the letter refused itself to the pen, until at last I saw I had better not to pursue in this line.