THE OFFICER. Oh, it is dreadful, it is dreadful!
THE TEACHER. Yes, it is dreadful that such a big boy lacks all ambition——
THE OFFICER. [Hurt] Big boy—yes, I am big—bigger than all these others—I am full-grown, I am done with school—[As if waking up] I have graduated—why am I then sitting here? Have I not received my doctor's degree?
THE TEACHER. Certainly, but you are to sit here and mature, you know. You have to mature—isn't that so?
THE OFFICER. [Feels his forehead] Yes, that is right, one must mature—Twice two—makes two—and this I can demonstrate by analogy, which is the highest form of all reasoning. Listen!—Once one makes one; consequently twice two must make two. For what applies in one case must also apply in another.
THE TEACHER. Your conclusion is based on good logic, but your answer is wrong.
THE OFFICER. What is logical cannot be wrong. Let us test it. One divided by one gives one, so that two divided by two must give two.
THE TEACHER. Correct according to analogy. But how much does once three make?
THE OFFICER. Three, of course.
THE TEACHER. Consequently twice three must also make three.