Laughter and Cries Contain All That is Wise! bumper sticker

A full-sentence sticker. No symbol to decode; it says the thing and lets you take it or leave it.

Durable vinyl. Made for the outside of a vehicle, or a window, a laptop, or a case.

An argument, not a slogan. The kind of sticker that gets read at a red light and thought about at the next one.

• Vinyl bumper sticker
• Reads: Laughter and Cries Contain All That is Wise!
• For vehicles, windows, laptops, and similar smooth surfaces
• SKU: EBLAU

There is an old current in the wisdom traditions that distrusts the composed face. The Zen teachers who laughed at their own koans, the Sufi poets who wept in public, the fools and tricksters who are permitted to say what the courtiers cannot: the through-line is that something true tends to arrive sideways, in the reactions a person cannot govern.

Whether the sticker's claim survives scrutiny is another matter, and it is fair to point out that plenty of wisdom arrives in perfectly dry prose. But there is something to the idea that the moments you did not choose are the ones worth examining, and a bumper sticker is an unexpectedly good place to be reminded of it.

1. Clean the surface thoroughly and let it dry before applying.
2. Peel and place it carefully, smoothing outward from the center to avoid bubbles.
3. Choose the spot with some care, since removal can be difficult.
4. Keep it clear of wipers, sensors, and anything that needs to move.

• Love Heals Bumper Sticker: the plainspoken one, for the same bumper.
• Om Bumper Sticker: a sacred symbol, for those who prefer one.
• Ahimsa Bumper Sticker: the principle of nonviolence.
• Joyful Pan Poster: the laughing register, for a wall instead.
• Green Aventurine Worry Stone: something to hold at the red light.

What does it say?

Laughter and Cries Contain All That is Wise, exclamation mark included.

What is it made of?

Vinyl, made for the outside of a car.

Where can I put it?

A bumper, a window, a laptop, a case: any smooth clean surface. Keep it clear of wipers and sensors.

How do I apply it?

Clean and dry the surface first, then peel and smooth it outward from the center. Choose the spot deliberately, since it will not come off cleanly.

Is the claim actually true?

Debatable, and probably meant to be. Plenty of wisdom arrives in dry prose. But the moments you did not choose are usually the ones worth examining.