Have you ever quoted Aristotle in a resignation letter?

[Boozy]

We had this guy working for us for all of six weeks. He was a flake from day one. Always late, could never balance his till, etc etc. And he was lazy as hell.

He was also a snob. He thought he was better than everyone else because he was in university. My co-worker and I chose not to inform him that we both have honours BA's ourselves. It was funnier to listen to him go on and on about how a liberal arts education helps you look at the world in an enlightened fashion, and how he is on a different "plane" than everyone else.

My manager finally decided we had to fire him before his probation period ended. He saw the way the wind was blowing and handed in a two page resignation letter. I did my very best to get a copy of it for you guys, but failed.

The basic gist of it was that he is living in a world of "high ideals" and while the company's aims are "righteous" in and of themselves, they are no longer "coherently co-existing" with his own "loftier philosophical aspirations". He concludes with this:

"To quote the great philosopher Aristotle, 'All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind.' "

And for all his talk of "high ideals", we're now relatively certain he stole a few hundred dollars worth of wine from us.

I wonder how the smarmy son of a bitch plans on paying for his tuition next semester, without one of those "degrading" paid jobs.

[Geek King]

"To quote the great philosopher Aristotle, 'All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind.' "

I love this quote. It might help to point out that Aristotle was often in the employ of the wealthy when he spouted these things off. I would also like to see the full context on the situation, as I'm fairly certain he was probably advocating the sharpening of the mind after a hard days work to keep from losing your mental edge.

What? Origional topic? Oh, yeah, guy was a jerk. He's got a nasty wake-up call when he graduates. A BA in Libral Arts isn't going to help much unless you have a job that requires you to have a degree of some sort to move up, or plan to be a professor in a liberal arts program.

**Clarification** I will say that a Lib Arts degree is useful in conjunction with another degree. This could help to make you a better rounded person once you get out of the educational womb. And make you a hell of a Trivial Pursuit player.

[Rapscallion]

I can see the signs now:

"Will philosophise for food."

Rapscallion

[Ducky Dew]

I can see the signs now:

"Will philosophise for food."

Rapscallion

Oh, that is good. I have to remember that one.

[Pedersen]

Quoted Aristotle? No. Douglas Adams? Yes.

"So long, and thanks for all the fish"

To be fair, though, it wasn't my resignation letter, it was my farewell to everybody.

[Alfie]

"To quote the great philosopher Aristotle, 'All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind.' "

In other words, he's too lazy to keep turning up to work? It sounds like his mind is as degraded as it can get.

[Gurndigarn]

I love this quote. It might help to point out that Aristotle was often in the employ of the wealthy when he spouted these things off. I would also like to see the full context on the situation, as I'm fairly certain he was probably advocating the sharpening of the mind after a hard days work to keep from losing your mental edge.

He was also living in an era of subsistience farming. While that's possible still, it usually takes quite a bit of effort to pull it off.

[Bandit]

Quoted Aristotle? No. Douglas Adams? Yes.

"So long, and thanks for all the fish"

To be fair, though, it wasn't my resignation letter, it was my farewell to everybody.

In my last farewell, I used both Shakespeare - "Friends! Romans! Countrymen! Lend me your ears!" and the Grateful Dead - "What a long strange trip it's been".

And nary a BA in sight.

B

[Spiffy McMoron]

Quoted Aristotle? No. Douglas Adams? Yes.

"So long, and thanks for all the fish"

When it comes time for the guy in the OP to pay off his student loans, he might want to remember "Don't panic" as well.

[Pedersen]

When it comes time for the guy in the OP to pay off his student loans, he might want to remember "Don't panic" as well.

OMG. I just actually laughed out loud. Thank you

On a related note, I wonder if the loan officers are related to the Ravenous Bugblatter Beasts, and can be ignored simply by wrapping a towel around your head? Might want to suggest that to the Aristotelian Resigner, too

[Killer Bees]

Sounds like he thought his degree would enable him to laze around in a toga all day spouting bullshit while the employer throws $100 bills his way for his "enlightenment".

He could always become a stripper. I've always though stripping was a liberal art.

[ArenaBoy]

He could always become a stripper. I've always though stripping was a liberal art.

It's a progressive art.

[Soulstealer]

He could always become a stripper. I've always though stripping was a liberal art.

It would have at least been a better and more wanted service than spouting out bull shit for payment. Although there are some handlers that provide that 'service ' when they're off their meds.

[Imogene]

'All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind.'

So... he wants to be Bohemian? Or just a damn, dirty hippy?

[BookstoreEscapee]

A 2 page resignation letter and he wasn't even there 2 months? Damn. My resignation letter after a year was less than a page, said, in essence, I will be leaving and my last day will be X/X/XX. Thank you blah blah blah. Did he think he was getting graded on it or something? ... Actually, that's not a bad idea...send it back to him with a big red F on it