Page 55 - Big Idea

The Big Idea – Act 3

CLOWN 1:
Why not? You’ll get just the same view of things
Descending that I found ascending brings.

CLOWN 2:
Ah, but there’s the difference, don’t you see?
If I go down there, then down there I’ll be.

CLOWN 1:
Bah! You would attack my psychology,
But you resort to mere tautology.

CLOWN 2:
No—your mind is wandering off the track:
We could not converse unless I came back;

And were I to return right to this spot,
My knowledge then would be more than you’ve got:

Since I will have gained a new perspective,
One in which you must remain defective—

Unless, of course, you will give your assent
To joining me in this downhill descent.

CLOWN 1: (pulls away from CLOWN 2)
Hey! If you would remove your hairy paw,
I’ll show you where your logic has a flaw:

No matter how many times we repeat
Each other’s movements we cannot defeat

The asymmetry initially set
By our taking different routes to get

To the same place at the same time, you see;
So you can never get ahead of me.

CLOWN 2:
Thank you so much for opening my eyes;
Now I know what I didn’t realize:

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