To be mad is to feel with excruciating intensity the…
““To be mad is to feel with excruciating intensity the sadness and joy of a time which has not arrived or has already been. And to protect their delicate vision of that other time, madmen will justify their condition with touching loyalty, and surround it with a thousand distractive schemes. These schemes, in turn, drive them deeper and deeper into the darkness and light (which is their mortification and their reward), and confront them with a choice. They may either slacken and fall back, accepting the relief of a rational view and the approval of others, or they may push on, and, by falling, arise. When and if by their unforgivable stubbornness they finally burst through to worlds upon worlds of motionless light, they are no longer called afflicted or insane. They are called saints.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Intense emotions can feel alien, but embracing them may transform perceived madness into profound insight.
In simple terms: Embrace intense feelings to discover deeper meaning.
Key Takeaway
Allow emotional depth to guide growth.
Themes
madness
spirituality
transformation
Mood
contemplative
inspirational
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- therapy
- artistic creation
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
creative insight
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance intensity with grounding?
- What does “light” represent in your life?
A Different Perspective
Intense feeling may overwhelm without support.