and we no sooner agree to that than we find that ...

[zorspas]

Hi all.

Nothing can save us from a perpetual headlong fall into a bottomless abyss but a solid footing of dogma; and we no sooner agree to that than we find that the only trustworthy dogma is that there is no dogma. (source:http://www.thefreedictionary.com/)

The underlined than seems meaningless to me here. What is the meaning of this than?

Thanks

 

[Szkot]

No + comparative + than is a common English pattern

Meet me no later than three o'clock
No fewer than 1000 people were there
There was no greater ruler than Alexander the Great

You could also say:

As soon as we agree to that, we find ...

 

[zorspas]

No + comparative + than is a common English pattern

Meet me no later than three o'clock
No fewer than 1000 people were there
There was no greater ruler than Alexander the Great

You could also say:

As soon as we agree to that, we find ...

Ah yes, thanks...