John Law at the 1991 Burning Man festival.

Three of these quotes were actually said by John Law at Cacophony Society events in the 1980s – while the other seven are statements in support of the Cacophony philosophy by famous thinkers.  Can you tell the difference?

Play our quiz!  The answers are below!

1)       “The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves.”

2)      “The opposite of courage in our society is not cowardice, it is conformity.”

3)      “Move the neon smiley face 10 inches to the left!”

4)      “Play is the exultation of the possible.”

5)      “Play keeps us vital and alive. It gives us an enthusiasm for life that is irreplaceable. Without it, life just doesn’t taste good”

6)      “Turn off the flame thrower!  Turn OFF THE FLAME THROWER!”

7)      “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.”

8)      “Play is the highest form of research.”

9)      “The true object of all human life is play.”

10)   “Clowns go to the left, giant lizard monsters in tiaras sit in the front.”

Ready for the Answers?  They might surprise you!

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Photo courtesy of the Steiff Museum, Giengen Germany

There are so many to choose from … so many that had photographs … so many that got video taped … but in the end it’s a simple story that does it for me.

The Reverend Al got some big plush teddy bears. Cut open the seam on the back, gutted the stuffing. Replaced it with cement. Sewed the bears back up, and smuggled them into Toys R Us at Christmas. He and Sneery the Evil Clown made tags: Cement Cuddlers. Their UPC bar code came up as a Vienna Sausage. The reverse side of the tag included the following verse:

“Unfortunate child, do not mistake me for a living thing, nor seek in me the warmth denied you by your parents. For beneath my plush surface lies a hardness as impervious and unforgiving as this World’s own indifference to your mortal struggle. Hold on to me when you are sad, and I will weigh you down, but bear this weight throughout your years, and it will strengthen your limbs and harden your will so that one day no man dare oppose you.” (more…)