"Humanity has advanced, when it has advanced, not because it has been sober, responsible and cautious, but because it has been playful, rebellious, and immature."
Tom Robbins - Still Life with Woodpecker (1980)
I read this quote several years ago in the newspaper that I currently write for. I cut it out and taped it to the front of the notebook which held the novel I was writing at the time. It reminds me that life, in all its mundane, repetitive, daily responsibilities, should not be taken so seriously. It makes me smile. We should make a serious attempt to fill our lives with immature silliness, laughing and playing. Fuck what ever society says about how a person should behave because they are a certain age. This life is too short and too full of things that can drag me down, and I will not let it.
By the way, if you get a chance, you should really read Tom Robbins' book Skinny Legs and All. If I had an actual list of my top five books I couldn't live without, this one would be on there. It's wild, surreal, hilarious, thought-provoking, and sexy. It's a crazy story about politics, art, religion, sex, marriage, art, relationships, waitressing, and more art. Yes, the book does get a little bit preachy at times, like you are getting a history lesson, but I like that. And besides, you are getting this lesson from a large can of pork and beans. As he tells it to a small silver dessert spoon. It doesn't get much better. Also, Tom Robbins has a way of putting into words exactly how I feel about religion in a way that I have never been talented enough to do.
OK, that's enough. I gotta get to bed.
1 comment:
I went and checked out "Skinny Legs and All" from the library almost as soon as I read this blog entry yesterday. You made it sound interesting, what with all its politics, art, religion, sex, etc. Sounds interesting. I like the quote about "responsible" versus "playful" too. I totally agree.
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