Page 17 - Big Idea

The Big Idea – Act 1

WOMAN 1:

First I’ll tell you all about
The well-known man of action:
He spends no part of his time
On thinking—not a fraction!

Whatever need he senses
Impels him to rush ahead;
He’ll never be caught napping
Or wondering what was said.

I do not mean to imply
That he hasn’t any brains:
Just that all his ideas
Emerge without conscious pains.

His woman can help herself
To avoid unpleasant scenes
By appearing to be meek,
Saying no more than she means.

You see, since he can’t admit
To having his emotions,
She can, by observation,
Predict his coming notions.

WOMAN 3: And that is her secret.

WOMAN 1: Exactly.

But the man who thinks a lot
Presents a different case:
Here a woman must do more
Than simply study his face.

Before the thinker will act,
He considers many things:
Past mistakes and future threats
Are the thoughts to which he clings.

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