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Madness


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Madness

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Quotations

Friedrich NietzscheIn individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule.

—  Friedrich Nietzsche, 1844-1900, German philosopher

14 likes
VoltaireMadness is to think of too many things in succession too fast, or of one thing too exclusively.

—  Voltaire, 1694-1778, French philosopher & writer

13 likes
Jacques LacanIf a man who thinks he is a king is mad, a king who thinks he is a king is no less so.

—  Jacques Lacan, 1901-1981, French psychoanalyst

12 likes
Sigmund FreudLove is a state of temporary psychosis.

—  Sigmund Freud, 1856-1939, Austrian psychologist, founder of psychoanalysis

11 likes
Jean Jacques RousseauTo be sane in a world of madman is in itself madness.

—  Jean Jacques Rousseau, 1712-1778, Swiss-French philosopher

9 likes
André GideOnly those things are beautiful which are inspired by madness and written by reason.

—  André Gide, 1869-1951, French writer, Nobel 1947

8 likes
Karl JungShow me a sane man and I will cure him for you.

—  Karl Jung, 1875-1961, Swiss psychiatrist

7 likes
Georg Christoph LichtenbergThe thoughts written on the walls of madhouses by their inmates might be worth publicizing.

—  Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, 1742-1799, German author of maxims

7 likes
Salvador DaliThe only difference between a madman and me is that I am not mad.

—  Salvador Dali, 1904-1989, Spanish painter

6 likes
Marlen DietrichIf there is a supreme being, he's crazy.

—  Marlen Dietrich, 1901-1992, German-American actress

6 likes
Oscar LevantThere's a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line

—  Oscar Levant, 1906-1972, American pianist

6 likes
Paul ValeryA man who is of 'sound mind' is one who keeps his inner madman under lock and key.

—  Paul Valery, 1871-1945, French poet

6 likes
AristotlePoetry is for an intelligent man or a madman.

—  Aristotle, 384-322 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

5 likes
Robin WilliamsYou’re only given a little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it.

—  Robin Williams, 1951-2014, American actor

5 likes
David Lloyd GeorgeThe world is becoming like a lunatic asylum run by lunatics.

—  David Lloyd George, 1863-1945, British Prime Minister [1916-1922]

4 likes
Blaise PascalMen are so necessarily mad, that not to be mad would amount to another form of madness.

—  Blaise Pascal, 1623-1662, French thinker

4 likes
Dwight EisenhowerAny man who wants to be president is either an egomaniac or crazy.

—  Dwight Eisenhower, 1890-1969, American general & President

4 likes
Arthur ClarkeIf he was indeed mad, his delusions were beautifully organized

—  Arthur Clarke, 1917-2008, British Sci-Fi writer

4 likes
Marcel ProustEverything great in the world is done by neurotics; they alone founded our religions and created our masterpieces.

—  Marcel Proust, 1871-1922, French writer

4 likes
Saul BellowIn an age of madness, to expect to be untouched by madness is a form of madness. But the pursuit of sanity can be a form of madness, too.

—  Saul Bellow, 1914-2005, Canadian-American writer, Nobel 1976

4 likes
Edgar Allan PoeI became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity.

—  Edgar Allan Poe, 1809-1849, American writer

4 likes
Cornelius CastoriadisThe modern society is fundamentally insane.

—  Cornelius Castoriadis, 1922-1997, Greek-French philosopher & social critic

3 likes
Eugene IonescoReason is the folly of the powerful. The reason of the less powerful is a folly.

—  Eugene Ionesco, 1912-1994, French-Romanian playwright

3 likes
Saul BellowIs our species crazy? Plenty of evidence.

—  Saul Bellow, 1914-2005, Canadian-American writer, Nobel 1976

3 likes
Edward GibbonGenerations may be swept away by the madness of kings in the space of a single hour.

—  Edward Gibbon, 1737-1794, English historian

3 likes
AnonymousThe final test of fame is to have a crazy person imagine he is you.

—  Anonymous

2 likes
Samuel BeckettWe are all born mad. Some remain so.

—  Samuel Beckett, 1906-1989, Irish writer, Nobel 1969

2 likes
Baltasar GracianBetter mad with the rest of the world than wise alone.

—  Baltasar Gracian, 1601-1658, Spanish writer

Bertrand RussellOne of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one's work is terribly important.

—  Bertrand Russell, 1872-1970, British philosopher

Nicolas Gomez DavilaThe folly of an old man has the illusion of being wisdom; of an adult, experience; and of a young man, genius.

—  Nicolas Gomez Davila, 1913-1994, Colombian writer

Joseph JoubertThere are certain people to whom one must advise craziness.

—  Joseph Joubert, 1754-1824, French author of maxims

Oliver W. Holmes Sr.Stupidity often saves a man from going mad.

—  Oliver W. Holmes Sr., 1809-1894, American writer

Oliver W. Holmes Sr.Insanity is often the logic of an accurate mind overtasked.

—  Oliver W. Holmes Sr., 1809-1894, American writer

Aldοus HuxleyBeware of being too rational. In the country of the insane, the integrated man doesn’t become king. He gets lynched.

—  Aldοus Huxley, 1894-1963, English writer

Rudyard KiplingEveryone is more or less mad on one point.

—  Rudyard Kipling, 1865-1936, English writer, Nobel 1907

Graham GreeneIn a mad world it always seems simpler to obey.

—  Graham Greene, 1904-1991, British writer

Terry PratchettThe duke had a mind that ticked like a clock and, like a clock, it regularly went cuckoo.

—  Terry Pratchett, 1948-2015, British writer

Marshall McLuhanSchizophrenia may be a necessary consequence of literacy.

—  Marshall McLuhan, 1911-1980, Canadian academic & media theorist

Hermann HesseMadness, in a higher sense, is the beginning of all wisdom

—  Hermann Hesse, 1877-1962, German writer, Nobel 1946

Arthur KoestlerIf one looks with a cold eye at the mess man has made of history, it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that he has been afflicted by some built-in mental disorder which drives him towards self-destruction.

—  Arthur Koestler, 1905-1983, Hungarian-British writer

Gabriel Garcia MarquezMake no mistake: peaceful madmen are ahead of the future.

—  Gabriel Garcia Marquez, 1927-2014, Colombian writer

Marty RubinWe all talk to ourselves. Those we call mad just talk a little louder.

—  Marty Rubin, 1930-1994, Canadian gay activist, author & journalist

P.J. O’ RourkeThe 2016 presidential campaign is the most severe case of mass psychosis since the Salem witch trials of 1692.

—  P.J. O’ Rourke, 1947-2022, American columnist & writer

Robert M. PirsigWhen one person suffers from a delusion, it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called a Religion.

—  Robert M. Pirsig, 1928-2017, American writer

Philip DickEither I've invented a whole new logic or, ahem, I'm not playing with a full deck.

—  Philip Dick, 1928-1982, American sci-fi writer

Philip DickIt has been said of dreams that they are a “controlled psychosis,” or, put another way, a psychosis is a dream breaking through during waking hours.

—  Philip Dick, 1928-1982, American sci-fi writer

Philip DickWhen you are crazy you learn to keep quiet.

—  Philip Dick, 1928-1982, American sci-fi writer

Philip DickIt is sometimes an appropriate response to reality to go insane.

—  Philip Dick, 1928-1982, American sci-fi writer

Saul BellowIt seems, after all that there are no nonpeculiar people.

—  Saul Bellow, 1914-2005, Canadian-American writer, Nobel 1976

Edgar Allan PoeMen have called me mad; but the question is not yet settled whether madness is or is not the loftiest intelligence.

—  Edgar Allan Poe, 1809-1849, American writer

Edgar Allan PoeAnd now have I not told you that what you mistake for madness is but overacuteness of the senses?

—  Edgar Allan Poe, 1809-1849, American writer

Edgar Allan PoeI was never really insane except upon occasions when my heart was touched.

—  Edgar Allan Poe, 1809-1849, American writer

Edgar Allan PoeI remained too much inside my head and ended up losing my mind.

—  Edgar Allan Poe, 1809-1849, American writer

André BretonIt is not the fear of madness that will force us to lower the flag of the imagination.

—  André Breton, 1896-1966, French writer, founder of Surrealism

André BretonColumbus had to leave with madmen to discover America. And see how this madness has taken shape and duration.

—  André Breton, 1896-1966, French writer, founder of Surrealism

Agatha ChristieMany homicidal lunatics are very quiet, unassuming people. Delightful fellows.

—  Agatha Christie, 1890-1976, British writer

Susan SontagMad people = People who stand alone and burn. I'm attracted to them because they give me permission to do the same.

—  Susan Sontag, 1933-2004, American writer, critic, activist

Susan SontagSanity is a cozy lie.

—  Susan Sontag, 1933-2004, American writer, critic, activist

Joseph ConradMadness alone is truly terrifying, inasmuch as you cannot placate it by threats, persuasion, or bribes.

—  Joseph Conrad, 1857-1924, British-Polish writer

Ambrose BierceAll are lunatics, but he who can analyze his delusion is called a philosopher.

—  Ambrose Bierce, 1842–1914, American writer

Charles BukowskiSome people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must live.

—  Charles Bukowski, 1920-1994, American writer

Personal Stories

Vincent Van GoghI put my heart and soul into my work, and have lost my mind in the process.

—  Vincent Van Gogh, 1853-1890, Dutch painter

6 likes

Quotes in Verse

Emily DickinsonPardon My Sanity In A World Insane.

—  Emily Dickinson, 1830-1886, American poet

2 likes

Funny Quotes

Rodney DangerfieldI told my psychiatrist that everyone hates me. He said I was being ridiculous, everyone hasn’t met me yet.

—  Rodney Dangerfield, 1924-2004, American comedian

5 likes
Jean CocteauVictor Hugo was a madman who thought he was Victor Hugo.

—  Jean Cocteau, 1889-1963, French artist

2 likes

Ancient Greek

PlatoThe madness of love is the greatest of the blessings of the gods.

Επ᾽ ευτυχία τη μεγίστη παρά θεών η τοιαύτη μανία [ο έρως] δίδοται.

—  Plato, 427-347 BC, Ancient Greek philosopher

10 likes
Chilon of SpartaWhen speaking do not wave your hands about, as it is a sign of craziness.

Λέγοντα μη κινείν την χείρα, μανικόν γαρ.

—  Chilon of Sparta, 6th cent. BC, one of the 7 sages of Ancient Greece

4 likes

Movie Quotes

Zorba the Greek (1964)Damn it boss, I like you too much not to say it. You've got everything except one thing: madness! A man needs a little madness, or else…

—  from the film Zorba the Greek (1964)

5 likes



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