Carl Jung: For me every book is a kind of fate
To Kurt Wolff
Dear Mr. Wolff, 1 February 1958
Best thanks for your kind letter.
Frau Jaffe has told me that she has written to you that I am engaged in setting down the memories of my early childhood.
It is indeed true that while I was recounting my memories to her I myself got the desire to delve more deeply into them sometime.
Often we do not sufficiently appreciate what we are carrying around in us.
I realize that in a certain sense I am coming into collision with Frau
Jaffe’s work, but I think this difficulty can be obviated by our entering into a collaborative relationship.
I would contribute my bit, so to speak.
Since the whole thing is still in a fluid state at present, any technical publishing problems have not yet become acute.
These will arise only when the general make-up of the book has to be considered.
I myself don’t know how far my preoccupation with my early memories will lead me.
At the moment I feel I would like to carry my account of them only up to the point where they join up with my scientific work.
For me every book is a kind of fate, and for this reason I cannot say with any certainty where the boundary line will set itself.
You may rest assured, however, that I have no desire to publicize my present activities unnecessarily.
I have always observed this principle whenever I was preparing a book.
While it is in the making I forbid myself all speculations about its future.
So if you want to discuss the situation with me sometime, your next visit to Europe will be soon enough.
For the time being there is no need for a definitive arrangement on my side.
I had a very amiable letter from Cary in which she expressed a very positive opinion on what she had read, and I have already answered
her.
Meanwhile I remain, with best greetings,
Very sincerely yours,
C.G. Jung ~Carl Jung, Letters Vol. II, Pages 413-414
