The meeting with Hapgood came about because I had told Uncle Alex that I might try to get a job with a labor union after the Army let me go. Unions were admirable instruments for extorting something like economic justice from employers then. Uncle Alex must have thought something like this: God help us. Against stupidity even the gods contend in vain. Well-at least there is a Harvard man with whom he can discuss this ridiculous dream. {It was Schiller who first said that about stupidity and the gods. This was Nietzsche's reply: Against boredom even the gods contend in vain.}
The protagonist is contemplating a post-Army career with a labor union, which he views as a means to achieve economic fairness. His uncle, Alex, holds a pessimistic view on the matter, reflecting on the challenges of fighting against ignorance. Uncle Alex's response suggests a mix of concern and resignation toward the idea, indicating that even intelligent discussions might not change the naivety of such aspirations.
The quote highlights a philosophical perspective on the futility of battling human shortcomings, with references to Schiller and Nietzsche underscoring the notion that even divine forces struggle against the flaws of humanity. The conversation with Hapgood seems to offer a glimmer of hope for intellectual engagement amidst the absurdity of the protagonist's ambitions.
Rate the Quote
User Reviews
Other quotes in book quote
All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
