A Philosophy of Play

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C. Scribner's Sons, 1920 - Play - 291 pages

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Page 272 - And only the Master shall praise us. and only the Master shall blame: And no one shall work for money. and no one shall work for fame. But each for the joy of the working. and each. in his separate star. Shall draw the Thing as he sees It for the God of Things as They Are!
Page 273 - Play up! play up! and play the game!' The sand of the desert is sodden red, — Red with the wreck of a square that broke; — The Catling's* jammed and the Colonel dead, And the regiment blind with dust and smoke. The river of death has brimmed his banks. And England's far, and Honour a name. But the voice of a schoolboy rallies the ranks: 'Play up! play up! and play the game!
Page 64 - As fuel is brought to the fire So I purpose to bring My strength My ambition My heart's desire My joy And my sorrow •To the fire Of humankind For I will tend As my fathers have tended And my father's fathers Since time began The fire that is called The love of man for man The love of man for God To gain the third rank of Torch-Bearer, the girl must be a leader.
Page 64 - Oh, Fire! Long years ago when our fathers fought with great animals you were their protection. From the cruel cold of winter, you saved them. When they needed food you changed the flesh of beasts into savory meat for them. During all the ages your mysterious flame has been a symbol to them for Spirit. So (to-night) we light our fire in remembrance of the Great Spirit who gave you to us.
Page xiv - The individual is more completely revealed in play than in any one other way ; and conversely, play has a greater shaping power over the character and nature of man than has any one other activity. A man shows what he really is when he is free to do what he chooses, and if a person can be influenced so that his highest aspirations — which are followed when he is free to pursue his ideals — are a gain, then character is being shaped profoundly.
Page 273 - This is the word that year by year, While in her place the School is set, Every one of her sons must hear, And none that hears it dare forget. This they all with a joyful mind Bear through life like a torch of flame, And falling fling to the host behind — "Play up ! play up ! and play the game !" LINES FROM "SONG OF MYSELF" WALT WHITMAN child said, "What is the grass?
Page 245 - The gang of boys that grows up to be the political unit, bent merely upon serving itself, possessing a power which mutual loyalty alone can give, is thereby enabled to exploit others for its own advantage in a way that is most vicious. My point is that these mutual relationships have an ethical effect. This effect may be toward evil and it may be toward good; but the ethical nature in itself is primarily related to self-control and to freedom.
Page xv - It is an impression which has been growing during my years of observation, that the individual is more an agent in life than a directing force. It seems that certain great desires engulf the individual, directing his will, his purposes, to their own ends, with but slight regard for the benefit of the individual himself. These desires come in great waves, growing larger and farther apart as the years pass , from infancy to old age. Each of these great waves or tides of desire raises the level of the...
Page 249 - The two great institutions that have to deal with children, the school and the home, rest primarily upon the development of the qualities of obedience. The playground alone affords to children the one great opportunity for cultivating those qualities that grow out of meeting others of like kind under conditions of freedom; it develops progressively, from babyhood up, the sense of human relationships which is basal to wholesome living.
Page 273 - Play up! play up! and play the game! " This is the word that year by year, While in her place the School is set, Every one of her sons must hear, And none that hears it dare forget. This they all with a joyful mind Bear through life like a torch in flame, And falling fling to the host behind — " Play up! play up! and play the game!

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