25

While Michael Balint is known the world over for training general practitioners in his “Balint Groups,” he is, however, less known for his theoretical work published in England. And he is ignored for his crucial role in the transmission of the legacy of the Budapest School, particularly of the theory and technique of Sándor Ferenczi: object relation, trauma, technique adapted to the patient, presence of the analyst. Balint, the most gifted pupil of Ferenczi, pursued his rechearch prudently but surely. We all are indebted to Balint for this and for his innovations in the treatment of difficult patients; and, with J.-B. Pontalis, we should recognize him as a precursor of our actual practice.