C.G. Jung Letters, Vol. 1: 1906-1950
To Claire Kaufmann
Dear Fraulein Kaufmann, 12 March 1934
I have nothing against your wish to write me letters “that reach him,” on the contrary I must say that I am interested in what you thin.
Though I don’t know who you are and your name conveys nothing to me, your philosophical discussion is none the less interesting for that.
So if you don’t expect me to give detailed answers everything is in order.
It is serenely feminine of you to define a man as a philosopher “if his life is realized in the concept.”
We know very well that a man’s ambition is for his concepts to be realized in life, whereas it is the most secret longing of all women for their lives to be realized in concepts.
This is not a fundamental criticism, only a friendly hint at the very natural fact that a man wants to understand, whereas a woman wants to be understood.
For this purpose she tries to make her life understandable to herself.
With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
C.G. Jung ~Carl Jung, Letters Vol. 1, Page 151