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...
