--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The reader must be reminded that it takes…" description: "\"“The reader must be reminded that it takes a good 'mind' to be 'insane'. Morons, imbeciles, and idiots are 'mentally' deficient, but could not be insan..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebb/alfred-korzybski-8234_books_the-reader-must-be-reminded-that-it-take_1783950.jpg" --- # The reader must be reminded that it takes a good 'mind' to… ![“The reader must be reminded that it takes a good 'mind' to be 'insane'. Morons, imbeciles, and idiots are 'mentally' deficient, but could not be insane.” quote by Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebb/alfred-korzybski-8234_books_the-reader-must-be-reminded-that-it-take_1783950.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebb/alfred-korzybski-8234_books_the-reader-must-be-reminded-that-it-take_1783950.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebb/alfred-korzybski-8234_books_the-reader-must-be-reminded-that-it-take_1783950.jpg) > ““The reader must be reminded that it takes a good 'mind' to be 'insane'. Morons, imbeciles, and idiots are 'mentally' deficient, but could not be insane.”” [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that true insanity requires a sound mind, while those labeled as mentally deficient cannot be truly insane, highlighting a paradox in how mental health is perceived. **In simple terms:** A sound mind is needed to be truly insane; the mentally deficient cannot. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about mental health labels. Themes psychology philosophy language paradox mental health perception Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - clinical practice - educational settings - public discourse Key Concepts logic semantic analysis cognitive bias diagnostic criteria Questions to Reflect On - How do language and definitions shape our view of sanity? - What are the risks of oversimplifying mental health? A Different Perspective Labels can obscure the complexity of mental states. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Insanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insanity/) [Madness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madness/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [“By their very nature, idiots do not have the intellectual capacity to identify genius. All that idiots are mentally equipped to recognize are other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dermot-davis/by-their-very-nature-idiots-do-not-have-the-intellectual-capacity-to/) [Dermot Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dermot-davis/) > [What does it mean, to lose one's mind? Where does it go? If a man is out of his mind, where is he? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-r-king/what-does-it-mean-to-lose-one-s-mind-where-does-it-go-if-a-man-is-out/) [Laurie R. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-r-king/) > [In the depths of a mind insane. Fantasy and reality are the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slayer/in-the-depths-of-a-mind-insane-fantasy-and-reality-are-the-same/) [Slayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slayer/) > [It's the refuge for the mentally deficient. It's made by dull people for dull people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-morrissey/it-s-the-refuge-for-the-mentally-deficient-it-s-made-by-dull-people/) [Steven Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-morrissey/) > [“A human being is not mindless or mentally deficient without language, but he is severely restricted in the range of his thoughts, confined, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sacks/a-human-being-is-not-mindless-or-mentally-deficient-without-language/) [Oliver Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sacks/) > [“You sound like you're mentally deficient. And possibly Chinese.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-hall/you-sound-like-you-re-mentally-deficient-and-possibly-chinese/) Heidi Hall > [“You make her sound—what?—mentally deficient?” “Yes. She was incapable of holding on to malice. A serious defect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/you-make-her-sound-what-mentally-deficient-yes-she-was-incapable-of/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“... everything based on arguments involving the ''is'' of identidy and the older el (elementalistic) 'logic' and 'psychology', such as the prevailing doctrines, laws,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/everything-based-on-arguments-involving-the-is-of-identidy-and-the/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [I was born in Tyrone, 1956, for something I didn't do. I was innocent. But they gave me life. I still remember the midwife…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mcaleer/i-was-born-in-tyrone-1956-for-something-i-didn-t-do-i-was-innocent/) Kevin McAleer > [What is commonly honored with the name of Friendship is no very profound or powerful instinct. Men do not, after all, love their Friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/what-is-commonly-honored-with-the-name-of-friendship-is-no-very/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A veil of insanity everywhere: Oh why I was born in this age? It is a terrible age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/a-veil-of-insanity-everywhere-oh-why-i-was-born-in-this-age-it-is-a/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“Yeah, and there’s this constant refrain from privileged people; it’s like they’re all racing to prove how miserable they used to be. Every single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-archura/yeah-and-there-s-this-constant-refrain-from-privileged-people-it-s/) K. Archura > [You perceive, now, that these things are all impossible except in a dream. You perceive that they are pure and puerile insanities, the silly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/you-perceive-now-that-these-things-are-all-impossible-except-in-a/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Insanity is beautiful, I'm absolutely glad to be crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/insanity-is-beautiful-i-m-absolutely-glad-to-be-crazy/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [Not everyone is capable of madness; and of those lucky enough to be capable, not many have the courage for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/not-everyone-is-capable-of-madness-and-of-those-lucky-enough-to-be/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) ## More by Alfred Korzybski > [The objective level is not words, and cannot be reached by words alone. We must point our finger and be silent, or we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/the-objective-level-is-not-words-and-cannot-be-reached-by-words-alone/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [God may forgive your sins, but your nervous system won't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/god-may-forgive-your-sins-but-your-nervous-system-won-t/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [“We humans, through old habits, and because of the inherent structure of human knowledge have a tendency to make static, definite, and, in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/we-humans-through-old-habits-and-because-of-the-inherent-structure-of/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [Whatever you say it is, it isn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/whatever-you-say-it-is-it-isn-t/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [Let us repeat the two crucial negative premises as established firmly by all human experience: (1) Words are not the things we are speaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/let-us-repeat-the-two-crucial-negative-premises-as-established-firmly/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [To regard human beings as tools - as instruments - for the use of other human beings is not only unscientific but it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/to-regard-human-beings-as-tools-as-instruments-for-the-use-of-other/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [I am the same kind of moron as the rest of you, it's the method that does the work, for me as well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/i-am-the-same-kind-of-moron-as-the-rest-of-you-it-s-the-method-that/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [Who rules our symbols, rules us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/who-rules-our-symbols-rules-us/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [Whatever you may say something is, it is not!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/whatever-you-may-say-something-is-it-is-not/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [Second order effects, such as belief in belief, makes fanaticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/second-order-effects-such-as-belief-in-belief-makes-fanaticism/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [“Definitions create conditions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/definitions-create-conditions/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [Mathematics and logic have been proved to be one; a fact from which it seems to follow that mathematics may successfully deal with non-quantitative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/mathematics-and-logic-have-been-proved-to-be-one-a-fact-from-which-it/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [There are two ways to slice easily thorugh life; to believe everything or to doubt everything. Both ways save us from thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/there-are-two-ways-to-slice-easily-thorugh-life-to-believe-everything/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [“Philosophy, as defined by Fichte, is the "science of sciences." Its aim was to solve the problems of the world. In the past, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/philosophy-as-defined-by-fichte-is-the-science-of-sciences-its-aim/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) > [“There are two ways to slide easily through life: Namely, to believe everything, or to doubt everything; both ways save us from thinking. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-korzybski/there-are-two-ways-to-slide-easily-through-life-namely-to-believe/) [Alfred Korzybski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) [Explore all 82 Alfred Korzybski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-korzybski/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! 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Krebs > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. 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