To Jean Vontobel-Ruosch
Dear Herr Vontobel-Ruosch, 28 April 1959
You are quite right: I also ask myself why I do not use the means that appear to be at my disposal to do my bit in combatting the atrocities that are going on in the world.
I can give no rational reasons for this.
In such matters I usually wait for an order from within.
I have heard nothing of the kind.
The world situation has got so hopelessly out of hand that even the most stirring words signify nothing.
It would be more to the point, or so it seems to me, if each of us were sure of his own attitude.
But an individual who thinks that his voice is heard afar merely exposes himself to the suspicion that he is one of that band who have said something in order to prove to themselves that they have done something whereas in reality they have done nothing at all.
Words have become much too cheap.
Being is more difficult and is therefore fondly replaced by verbalizing.
Unfortunately this is all I have to say on the matter.
Yours sincerely,
C.G. Jung ~Carl Jung, Letters Vol. II, Pages 502-503