Page 40 - Big Idea

The Big Idea – Act 2

CLOWN 1: And if I take you seriously, aren’t I being gullible?

CLOWN 2: Probably.

CLOWN 1: But I also take myself seriously.

CLOWN 2: So what?

CLOWN 1: So I must sacrifice my self-esteem in order to take you
seriously. If I am gullible enough to take seriously someone else like
you who is foolish, then I cannot escape the conclusion that I have
fooled myself into believing that I should take myself seriously.

CLOWN 2: Ah, I understand at last, my friend. You are too kind.
How can I ever repay you for assuming this burden?

CLOWN 1: Watch it, there! You’re starting to sound like you take
yourself seriously.

CLOWN 2: Oops! No, I shouldn’t do that. Well, then, to hell with
you! (kicks CLOWN 1; they chase each other away from front of
stage)

INTELLECTUAL: Ah! Those rascals!
Whatever they think simply tumbles out;
When I examine the yarn they’re spinning,
The great dangling chain either collapses
Or circles back to its own beginning.

Language has loosened not merely our tongues,
But the foundations of logic itself;
No more need a symbol wait for a thing,
Resting ‘til needed on some mental shelf.

Tangible objects cannot be twisted
Into impossible knots like their names;
That fact alone should suffice to reveal
The danger in using words to play games.

Heedless, we permit our intelligence
To be captured by imagination,
And passively accept its images
Like a blind lover’s infatuation.
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