The meeting with Hapgood came about because I had told…
““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.”)””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Unions are seen as tools for demanding economic justice, but the narrator doubts their efficacy, likening it to futile appeals to gods.
In simple terms: It reflects skepticism about unions' power to achieve justice.
Key Takeaway
Consider both the potential and limits of collective action.
Themes
labor
justice
skepticism
union
economics
Mood
critical
thoughtful
questioning
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- workplace negotiations
- policy reform
- activist organizing
- academic study
Key Concepts
collective bargaining
social critique
philosophical doubt
Questions to Reflect On
- How can unions adapt to modern economic challenges?
- What alternative methods can achieve economic justice?
A Different Perspective
May underestimate unions' historical successes.