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Like a cartoon world, where the figures are flat and outlined in black, jerking through some kind of goofy story that might be real funny if it weren't for the cartoon figures being real guys.
Ken Kesey
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote compares real life to a cartoon, highlighting the absurdity of our experiences.

Ken Kesey uses the metaphor of a cartoon to explore the juxtaposition of reality and absurdity. It suggests that while life may appear funny and exaggerated like a cartoon, the underlying realities of our existence can be more serious and complex, infused with genuine emotion and truth amidst the superficial humor.

Themes

LifeCartoonAbsurdityRealityHumor

In practice

Example use cases

Sharing this quote during a presentation about the nature of art and reality.

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The job is to seek mystery, evoke mystery, plant a garden in which strange plants grow and mysteries bloom. The need for mystery is greater than the need for an answer.
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If this glorious birth to death hassle is the only hassle we are ever to have ..if our grand exhilarating fight of life is such a tragically short little scrap anyway,compared to the eons of rounds before and after-then why should one want to relinquish even a few precious seconds of it?
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