A man who is “of sound mind” is one who keeps the inner madman under lock and key.
—Paul Valery (1871–1945) French Critic, 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
Insanity: A perfectly rational adjustment to an insane world.
—R. D. Laing (1927–89) Scottish Psychiatrist
Sanity: that which is within the frame of reference of conventional thought.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher
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
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
I don’t suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it.
—Anonymous
There is no great genius without some touch of madness.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Insanity in individuals is something rare—but in groups, parties, nations, and epochs it is the rule.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
Every madman thinks all other men mad.
—Latin Proverb
I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity.
—Edgar Allan Poe (1809–49) American Poet
Show me a sane man and I will cure him for you.
—Carl Gustav Jung (1875–1961) Swiss Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Philosopher
Sanity is not statistical.
—George Orwell (1903–50) English Novelist, Journalist
Sanity is a cozy lie
—Susan Sontag (1933–2004) American Writer, Philosopher
There is a thin line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line.
—Oscar Levant (1906–72) American Musician, Composer, Author, Comedian, Actor
To disagree with three-fourths of the British public is one of the first requisites of sanity
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Sanity is the lot of those who are most obtuse, for lucidity destroys one’s equilibrium: it is unhealthy to honestly endure the labors of the mind which incessantly contradict what they have just established.
—Georges Bataille (1897–1962) French Essayist, Intellectual
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
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
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
In a mad world, only the mad are sane.
—Akira Kurosawa (1910–98) Japanese Film Director, Film Producer, Screenwriter
Everything great in the world comes from neurotics. They alone have founded our religions and composed our masterpieces.
—Marcel Proust (1871–1922) French Novelist
There is a pleasure sure
In being mad which none but madmen know.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
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
There is no insanity so devastating in man’s life as utter sanity.
—William Allen White (1868–1944) American Editor, Politician, Author
Sanity is very rare: every man almost, and every woman, has a dash of madness.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
An asylum for the sane would be empty in America.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
What sane person could live in this world and not be crazy?
—Ursula K. Le Guin (b.1929) American Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer
No excellent soul is exempt from a mixture of madness.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
A civilized society is one which tolerates eccentricity to the point of doubtful sanity.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
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