--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pranking is a great way to indicate the…" description: "\"Pranking is a great way to indicate the underlying absurdities of the world.\" — Mac Barnett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbd/mac-barnett-23936_absurdities_pranking-is-a-great-way-to-indicate-the_1240384.png" --- # Pranking is a great way to indicate the underlying… ![“Pranking is a great way to indicate the underlying absurdities of the world.” quote by Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbd/mac-barnett-23936_absurdities_pranking-is-a-great-way-to-indicate-the_1240384.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbd/mac-barnett-23936_absurdities_pranking-is-a-great-way-to-indicate-the_1240384.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbd/mac-barnett-23936_absurdities_pranking-is-a-great-way-to-indicate-the_1240384.png) > “Pranking is a great way to indicate the underlying absurdities of the world.” [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pranks expose hidden absurdities by highlighting contradictions in everyday life. **In simple terms:** Pranks reveal absurdities. Key Takeaway Use humor to critique norms. Themes humor social critique creativity Mood playful critical Type satirical educational When to use this quote - classroom - political activism - media - team building Key Concepts absurdism satire cognitive dissonance Questions to Reflect On - What absurdity does your prank target? - How to balance humor and respect? A Different Perspective Pranks can alienate if not mindful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absurdities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurdities/) [Absurdity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurdity/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I don't think there's just one person for everyone. It would be very hard for me to be with a guy who was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/i-don-t-think-there-s-just-one-person-for-everyone-it-would-be-very/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [Pranking exposes the truth that underneath this appearance of order is joy, laughter, and disorder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/pranking-exposes-the-truth-that-underneath-this-appearance-of-order/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [“Leave it to Niles Sparks to prank his pranking partner in the middle of a prank.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/leave-it-to-niles-sparks-to-prank-his-pranking-partner-in-the-middle/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [The most pernicious of absurdities is that weak, blind, stupid faith is better than the constant practice of every human virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/the-most-pernicious-of-absurdities-is-that-weak-blind-stupid-faith-is/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [The idea that each corporation can be a feudal monarchy and yet behave in its corporate action like a democratic citizen concerned for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-idea-that-each-corporation-can-be-a-feudal-monarchy-and-yet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“More absurdity in myself, endless absurdities. My own childishness sometimes amused me. Would it amuse others? Were others like myself, hopelessly childish?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-anderson/more-absurdity-in-myself-endless-absurdities-my-own-childishness/) [Sherwood Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-anderson/) > [Absurdities are great or small in proportion to custom or insuetude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/absurdities-are-great-or-small-in-proportion-to-custom-or-insuetude/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [How important the concept of God is, and how instead of valuing what has been given us, we with light hearts spurn it because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/how-important-the-concept-of-god-is-and-how-instead-of-valuing-what/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [One is more certain to influence men, to produce more effect on them, by absurdities than by sensible ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/one-is-more-certain-to-influence-men-to-produce-more-effect-on-them/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [To all the rest of his Absurdities, (for vice is always unreasonable,) he adds one more, who expects that Vertue from another which he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-astell/to-all-the-rest-of-his-absurdities-for-vice-is-always-unreasonable-he/) [Mary Astell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-astell/) > [False reasoners are often best confuted by giving them the full swing of their own absurdities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/false-reasoners-are-often-best-confuted-by-giving-them-the-full-swing/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [But whatever you do, take neither yourselves nor your fellow-creatures too seriously. There is tragedy enough in our daily routine, but there is room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/but-whatever-you-do-take-neither-yourselves-nor-your-fellow-creatures/) [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) > [“It is with philosophy as with religion : men marvel at the absurdity of other people's tenets, while exactly parallel absurdities remain in their own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/it-is-with-philosophy-as-with-religion-men-marvel-at-the-absurdity-of/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [What monstrous absurdities and paradoxes have resisted whole batteries of serious arguments, and then crumbled swiftly into dust before the ringing death-knell of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/what-monstrous-absurdities-and-paradoxes-have-resisted-whole/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [Thought of the incomprehensible sequence of changes and chances that make up a life, all the beauties and horrors and absurdities whose conjunctions create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/thought-of-the-incomprehensible-sequence-of-changes-and-chances-that/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) ## More by Mac Barnett > [I'd much rather have a book that a few people love intensely than a book that a lot of people like okay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/i-d-much-rather-have-a-book-that-a-few-people-love-intensely-than-a/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [Kevin Cornell and I have worked together a bunch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/kevin-cornell-and-i-have-worked-together-a-bunch/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [“I live well! I may have been swallowed, but I have no intention of being eaten.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/i-live-well-i-may-have-been-swallowed-but-i-have-no-intention-of/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [“A clue! From M!" "Who's M?" "Maybe M is for Mackintosh! Maybe Grabes ans Mackintosh are in cahoots!" "Or maybe M is for Mom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/a-clue-from-m-who-s-m-maybe-m-is-for-mackintosh-maybe-grabes-ans/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [Danger is the snack food of a true sleuth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/danger-is-the-snack-food-of-a-true-sleuth/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [I think the trick of writing a good picture book manuscript is to leave that space for illustration. An illustrated novel can do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/i-think-the-trick-of-writing-a-good-picture-book-manuscript-is-to/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [Every Librarian is a highly trained agent. An expert in intelligence, counterintelligence, Boolean searching, and hand-to-hand combat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/every-librarian-is-a-highly-trained-agent-an-expert-in-intelligence/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [Not only is a good prank harmless, but, like a good story, it reveals an essential truth that would otherwise be hidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/not-only-is-a-good-prank-harmless-but-like-a-good-story-it-reveals-an/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [Too often we tell kids pleasant stories devoid of truth, and stories without truth are not good stories. Our audience deserves more from us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/too-often-we-tell-kids-pleasant-stories-devoid-of-truth-and-stories/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [We put authors on such a pedestal, and it's a moment that humanizes the whole thing, and lends an absurdity to what otherwise is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/we-put-authors-on-such-a-pedestal-and-it-s-a-moment-that-humanizes/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [“He checked out his surrounding. More books. A drinking fountain. A poster showing a guy slam-dunking a basketball with one hand and holding a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/he-checked-out-his-surrounding-more-books-a-drinking-fountain-a/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [ I love those adult writers with the pranking ethos, \[Don\] DeLillo and \[Donald\] Barthelme and David Foster Wallace. I don't see any reason not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/i-love-those-adult-writers-with-the-pranking-ethos-don-delillo-and/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [“Dana was what Steve called a "silent partner" in the Brixton Brothers Detective Agency. Being a silent partner meant that Dana didn't carry a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/dana-was-what-steve-called-a-silent-partner-in-the-brixton-brothers/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [“I may have been swallowed, said the duck, but I have no intention of being eaten.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/i-may-have-been-swallowed-said-the-duck-but-i-have-no-intention-of/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) > [“No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no/) [Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) [Explore all 25 Mac Barnett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/) ## More Absurdities quotes > [Thought of the incomprehensible sequence of changes and chances that make up a life, all the beauties and horrors and absurdities whose conjunctions create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/thought-of-the-incomprehensible-sequence-of-changes-and-chances-that/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [My work is not so much a direct commentary as it is an open-ended observation of the absurdities around us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ori-gersht/my-work-is-not-so-much-a-direct-commentary-as-it-is-an-open-ended/) [Ori Gersht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ori-gersht/) > [What monstrous absurdities and paradoxes have resisted whole batteries of serious arguments, and then crumbled swiftly into dust before the ringing death-knell of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/what-monstrous-absurdities-and-paradoxes-have-resisted-whole/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [“It is with philosophy as with religion : men marvel at the absurdity of other people's tenets, while exactly parallel absurdities remain in their own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/it-is-with-philosophy-as-with-religion-men-marvel-at-the-absurdity-of/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [But whatever you do, take neither yourselves nor your fellow-creatures too seriously. There is tragedy enough in our daily routine, but there is room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/but-whatever-you-do-take-neither-yourselves-nor-your-fellow-creatures/) [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) > [False reasoners are often best confuted by giving them the full swing of their own absurdities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/false-reasoners-are-often-best-confuted-by-giving-them-the-full-swing/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [To all the rest of his Absurdities, (for vice is always unreasonable,) he adds one more, who expects that Vertue from another which he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-astell/to-all-the-rest-of-his-absurdities-for-vice-is-always-unreasonable-he/) [Mary Astell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-astell/) > [“I have now gone through the examination of the four books ascribed to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John; and when it is considered that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/i-have-now-gone-through-the-examination-of-the-four-books-ascribed-to/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [One is more certain to influence men, to produce more effect on them, by absurdities than by sensible ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/one-is-more-certain-to-influence-men-to-produce-more-effect-on-them/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [How important the concept of God is, and how instead of valuing what has been given us, we with light hearts spurn it because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/how-important-the-concept-of-god-is-and-how-instead-of-valuing-what/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Absurdities are great or small in proportion to custom or insuetude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/absurdities-are-great-or-small-in-proportion-to-custom-or-insuetude/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [“More absurdity in myself, endless absurdities. My own childishness sometimes amused me. Would it amuse others? Were others like myself, hopelessly childish?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-anderson/more-absurdity-in-myself-endless-absurdities-my-own-childishness/) [Sherwood Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-anderson/) > [The idea that each corporation can be a feudal monarchy and yet behave in its corporate action like a democratic citizen concerned for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-idea-that-each-corporation-can-be-a-feudal-monarchy-and-yet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Poor human reason, when it trusts in itself, substitutes the strangest absurdities for the highest divine concepts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/poor-human-reason-when-it-trusts-in-itself-substitutes-the-strangest/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The most pernicious of absurdities is that weak, blind, stupid faith is better than the constant practice of every human virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/the-most-pernicious-of-absurdities-is-that-weak-blind-stupid-faith-is/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) [Browse all 78 Absurdities quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurdities/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Pranking is a great way to indicate the underlying absurdities of the world.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mac Barnett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/pranking-is-a-great-way-to-indicate-the-underlying-absurdities-of-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Absurdities" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/pranking-is-a-great-way-to-indicate-the-underlying-absurdities-of-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbd/mac-barnett-23936_absurdities_pranking-is-a-great-way-to-indicate-the_1240384.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbd/mac-barnett-23936_absurdities_pranking-is-a-great-way-to-indicate-the_1240384.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbd/mac-barnett-23936_absurdities_pranking-is-a-great-way-to-indicate-the_1240384.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Pranking is a great way to indicate the underlying absurdities of the world.” — Mac Barnett", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mac Barnett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Pranking is a great way to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/pranking-is-a-great-way-to-indicate-the-underlying-absurdities-of-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/pranking-is-a-great-way-to-indicate-the-underlying-absurdities-of-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```