quote on the importance of 'play'

Play is thus an activity that is undertaken for the sake of being active, meaningful, but directed towards no end outside itself. The happily playing child, the virtuoso playing upon his instrument--and how few really 'play' upon it;--the genius whose work flows from his fingers with the effortless ease of one playing a game--all these are but realizations of man's deep-seated longing for a free, unfettered, eager harmony between body and soul.

Hugo Rahner, Man at Play.