The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
—Anonymous
No excellent soul is exempt from a mixture of madness.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
Are you so unobservant as not to have found out that sanity and happiness are an impossible combination?
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
One of the definitions of sanity is the ability to tell real from unreal. Soon we’ll need a new definition
—Alvin Toffler (1928–2016) American Writer, Futurist
Insanity is often the logic of an accurate mind overtasked. Good mental machinery ought to break its own wheels and levers, if anything is thrust among them suddenly which tends to stop them or reverse their motion. A weak mind does not accumulate force enough to hurt itself; stupidity often saves a man from going mad.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
Sanity: that which is within the frame of reference of conventional thought.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher
Insanity: A perfectly rational adjustment to an insane world.
—R. D. Laing (1927–89) Scottish Psychiatrist
I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
A civilized society is one which tolerates eccentricity to the point of doubtful sanity.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
Sanity is not statistical.
—George Orwell (1903–50) English Novelist, Journalist
Madness need not be all breakdown. It may also be break-through. It is potential liberation and renewal as well as enslavement and existential death.
—R. D. Laing (1927–89) Scottish Psychiatrist
A lunatic may be “soothed,”… for a time, but in the end, he is very apt to become obstreperous. His cunning, too, is proverbial, and great…. When a madman appears thoroughly sane, indeed, it is high time to put him in a straight jacket.
—Edgar Allan Poe (1809–49) American Poet
There is a pleasure sure
In being mad which none but madmen know.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
You only require two things in life: your sanity and your wife
—Tony Blair (b.1953) British Statesman
The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans is suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they’re okay, then it’s you.
—Rita Mae Brown (b.1944) American Writer, Feminist
If we weren’t all crazy, we would go insane.
—Jimmy Buffett (b.1946) American Musician, Author
Madness is rare in individuals – but in groups, political parties, nations, and eras it’s the rule.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
Sanity is madness put to good uses.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
A little madness in the Spring
Is wholesome even for the King.
—Emily Dickinson (1830–86) American Poet
Sanity is very rare: every man almost, and every woman, has a dash of madness.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
What frightens us most in a madman is his sane conversation.
—Anatole France (1844–1924) French Novelist
Might we not say to the confused voices which sometimes arise from the depths of our being: “Ladies, be so kind as to speak only four at a time?”
—Sophie Swetchine (1782–1857) Russian Mystic, Writer
I don’t suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it.
—Anonymous
There is no insanity so devastating in man’s life as utter sanity.
—William Allen White (1868–1944) American Editor, Politician, Author
Madness takes its toll. Please have exact change.
—Unknown
I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity.
—Edgar Allan Poe (1809–49) American Poet
There was never a genius without a tincture of madness.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
To disagree with three-fourths of the British public is one of the first requisites of sanity
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
When dealing with the insane, the best method is to pretend to be sane.
—Hermann Hesse (1877–1962) German-born Swiss Novelist, Poet
If you are physically sick, you can elicit the interest of a battery of physicians; but if you are mentally sick, you are lucky if the janitor comes around.
—Martin H. Fischer