Puerilism and playfulness

Puerilism is to be distinguished from playfulness.

The club is a very ancient institution, but it is a disaster when whole nations turn into clubs, for these, besides promoting the precious qualities of friendship and loyalty, are also hotbeds of sectarianism, intolerance, suspicion, superciliousness and quick to defend any illusion that flatters self-love or group consciousness. We have seen great nations losing every shred of honour, all sense of humour, the very idea of decency and fair play.
Johan Huizinga, Homo Ludens, a study of the play element in culture, 1950