Letter on Translating Stirner

Feb 19, 1907

Dear Mr. [George] Schumm:

As to the sentence about the rich and the poor giving up themselves, I was to blame for the false rendering. But now that I know from you the meaning, I know also that both you and Byington conspicuously fail to express that meaning. I do not understand, however, why Stirner should say such a thing. I thought the whole purpose of the book was to show that it is not beneficially to anybody to give up themselves.

I now render it as follows (and, if wrong, should be corrected at once ): “Why should the rich let go their fleeces and give up themselves , though a similar course could be followed advantageously by the poor?”

When I see you (next Saturday evening_ why I think it would be unwise to have still a third price for the book.

I regret to say that the book will not be a “fine” book. It will only be passable. The important proofreading features will be all right, thanks to our combined efforts. But I know that the locking-up for has not been done really well either at Tuttles or at the Winthrop. In so many of the pages the lines are just the least bit crooked. When this fault is both constant and slight, it is hard to guard against it. But the general effect is deplorable. When the whole job is safely in the hands of the binder (who is A1) I shall heave a deep sigh of relief.

Yours sincerely,

Benj R. Tucker