a-math-lesson
Original: a-math-lesson on Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal
Transcript
Panel 1 (lecturer, glasses, holding a book): "I'm going to start with a story:"
Panel 2 (lecturer, hand to chin): "According to Plutarch, Solon was amazed that the first great mathematician, Thales of Miletus, didn't want to marry or have kids."
Panel 3 (lecturer): "So, Thales sent a messenger to slowly, tortuously, inform Solon that his son had died."
Panel 4 (lecturer): "'Whereupon Solon began to beat his head and do and say everything else that betokens a transport of grief'"
Panel 5 (lecturer): "At this point, Thales appeared and took Solon by the hand, saying: 'This it is O Solon, which keeps me from marriage and children; it overwhelms even thee, who art the most stouthearted of men.'"
Panel 6 (lecturer): "But be not dismayed at this story, for it is not true."
Panel 7 (a student in the audience): "So, the point is... that Thales was a giant dickhead?"
Panel 8 (lecturer): "And you can be too... if you work hard."
Panel 9 (label: EARLIER...) (lecturer): "Welcome to day one of your math PhD."
Bottom caption: This bonus comic is thanks to pre-orders of my new book, "Soonish." Click the comic for more info! - Z. Zach
Votey:
A woman speaking, smiling: "Day two is drinking!"
Panel 2 (lecturer, hand to chin): "According to Plutarch, Solon was amazed that the first great mathematician, Thales of Miletus, didn't want to marry or have kids."
Panel 3 (lecturer): "So, Thales sent a messenger to slowly, tortuously, inform Solon that his son had died."
Panel 4 (lecturer): "'Whereupon Solon began to beat his head and do and say everything else that betokens a transport of grief'"
Panel 5 (lecturer): "At this point, Thales appeared and took Solon by the hand, saying: 'This it is O Solon, which keeps me from marriage and children; it overwhelms even thee, who art the most stouthearted of men.'"
Panel 6 (lecturer): "But be not dismayed at this story, for it is not true."
Panel 7 (a student in the audience): "So, the point is... that Thales was a giant dickhead?"
Panel 8 (lecturer): "And you can be too... if you work hard."
Panel 9 (label: EARLIER...) (lecturer): "Welcome to day one of your math PhD."
Bottom caption: This bonus comic is thanks to pre-orders of my new book, "Soonish." Click the comic for more info! - Z. Zach
Votey:
A woman speaking, smiling: "Day two is drinking!"
Alt text
A nine-panel comic. A bespectacled lecturer tells a class a story: According to Plutarch, Solon was amazed that the great mathematician Thales of Miletus didn't want to marry or have kids. To make a point, Thales sent a messenger to falsely tell Solon his son had died; Solon beat his head in grief, and Thales appeared, took his hand, and said this fear of such loss is exactly what keeps him from marriage and children. The lecturer then adds, 'But be not dismayed at this story, for it is not true.' A student asks, 'So the point is that Thales was a giant dickhead?' The lecturer replies, 'And you can be too... if you work hard.' A final panel labeled 'EARLIER...' reveals this was the lecturer welcoming students to day one of their math PhD. A caption notes the bonus comic thanks pre-orders of the book 'Soonish.' In the votey aftercomic, a smiling person announces: 'Day two is drinking!'
Transcribed by Claude Opus 4.8.