Aniela Jaffe on Carl Jung’s Letters
Even when Aniela Jaffe, his part-time secretary since 1955, lent a hand with the writing and organizing, the correspondence absorbed much of his strength.
“Jung’s correspondence was terribly extensive and therefore often the cause of complaints and grumblings,” she recalled.
“It was obvious that the letters tired him out.
But they held an important place in his life.
When his libido no longer flowed into the form of scientific works, the letters took the place of the manuscripts and became the receptacle for his creative thoughts.
Thus their number continually grew in his later years.
But above all they formed a link to the world, and that reconciled him, living in the introverted, withdrawn way he did, with all the trouble and effort they caused him.
He needed the letters, he had to admit; and if out of misplaced consideration I forwarded too little mail on his vacations, I earned an appropriate reprimand.” ~Carl Jung, Jung: A Biography, Pages 417-418
