--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Abnormal, adj. Not conforming to…" description: "\"Abnormal, adj. Not conforming to standard. In matters of thought and conduct, to be independent is to be abnormal, to be abnormal is to be detested.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/ambrose-bierce-140_abnormal_abnormal-adj-not-conforming-to-standard_1812970.jpg" --- # Abnormal, adj. Not conforming to standard. In matters of… ![“Abnormal, adj. Not conforming to standard. In matters of thought and conduct, to be independent is to be abnormal, to be abnormal is to be detested.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/ambrose-bierce-140_abnormal_abnormal-adj-not-conforming-to-standard_1812970.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/ambrose-bierce-140_abnormal_abnormal-adj-not-conforming-to-standard_1812970.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/ambrose-bierce-140_abnormal_abnormal-adj-not-conforming-to-standard_1812970.jpg) > “Abnormal, adj. Not conforming to standard. In matters of thought and conduct, to be independent is to be abnormal, to be abnormal is to be detested.” [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being independent in thought or behavior deviates from norms and often invites disapproval. **In simple terms:** Independence can be socially condemned. Key Takeaway Value authentic thinking despite criticism. Themes individualism conformity social pressure Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - creative work - social activism - personal decisions - non‑conformist art Key Concepts norms deviation authenticity Questions to Reflect On - What costs do you bear for being different? - Can you balance individuality with community? A Different Perspective Society may reward conformity over originality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abnormal psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abnormal-psychology/) [Conformity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conformity/) [Non conformity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/non-conformity/) ## Related quotes > [ABNORMAL, adj. Not conforming to standard. In matters of thought and conduct, to be independent is to be abnormal, to be abnormal is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/abnormal-adj-not-conforming-to-standard-in-matters-of-thought-and/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [“ABNORMAL, adj. Not conforming to standards in matters of thought and conduct. To be independent is to be abnormal, to be abnormal is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/abnormal-adj-not-conforming-to-standards-in-matters-of-thought-and/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [“In matters of thought and conduct, to be independent is to be abnormal, to be abnormal is to be detested. Wherefore the lexicographer adviseth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/in-matters-of-thought-and-conduct-to-be-independent-is-to-be-abnormal/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Nothing is wonderful except in the abnormal, and nothing is abnormal until we have grasped the norm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nothing-is-wonderful-except-in-the-abnormal-and-nothing-is-abnormal/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Our problem is not to be rid of fear but rather to harness and master it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/our-problem-is-not-to-be-rid-of-fear-but-rather-to-harness-and-master/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [There was nothing abnormal about it when homosexuality was the norm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/there-was-nothing-abnormal-about-it-when-homosexuality-was-the-norm/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [I am very abnormal... But it wasnt very long ago that I wasnt so abnormal. I was very normal and headed for a lifetime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-benedict/i-am-very-abnormal-but-it-wasnt-very-long-ago-that-i-wasnt-so/) [Dirk Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-benedict/) > [Even a woman of abnormal will cannot escape her hormonal identity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/even-a-woman-of-abnormal-will-cannot-escape-her-hormonal-identity/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I have been putting words like 'abnormal' and 'deviant' in quotes because those categorizations are under fire now, the boundary between normal and abnormal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-truett-anderson/i-have-been-putting-words-like-abnormal-and-deviant-in-quotes-because/) [Walter Truett Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-truett-anderson/) > [Normal fear protects us; abnormal fear paralyses us. Normal fear motivates us to improve our individual and collective welfare; abnormal fear constantly poisons and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/normal-fear-protects-us-abnormal-fear-paralyses-us-normal-fear/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [As the days go on…you will discover that most of the subjects you studied in college are useless, except the abnormal psychology and attitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goutham-aditya-devaguptapu/as-the-days-go-on-you-will-discover-that-most-of-the-subjects-you/) [Goutham Aditya Devaguptapu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goutham-aditya-devaguptapu/) > [“This was the first of the St. Augustines. Previous memos had borne messages from Zwingli, Lévi-Strauss, Rilke, Chekhov, Tillich, William Blake, Charles Olson and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/this-was-the-first-of-the-st-augustines-previous-memos-had-borne/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [Not everything that steps out of line, and thus "abnormal", must necessarily be "inferior".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-asperger/not-everything-that-steps-out-of-line-and-thus-abnormal-must/) [Hans Asperger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-asperger/) > [“Freud was the man who seeded a progeny of doctors interested in abnormal psychology. With the intellectual force of a battering ram, Freud penetrated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wilbur/freud-was-the-man-who-seeded-a-progeny-of-doctors-interested-in/) Dan Wilbur > [Interesting survey in the current Journal of Abnormal Psychology: New York City has a higher percentage of people you shouldn't make any sudden moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/interesting-survey-in-the-current-journal-of-abnormal-psychology-new/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) ## More by Ambrose Bierce > [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/obsessed-p-p-vexed-by-an-evil-spirit-like-the-gadarene-swine-and/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/review-v-t-to-set-your-wisdom-holding-not-a-doubt-of-it-although-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rubbish-n-worthless-matter-such-as-the-religions-philosophies/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/there-was-never-a-genius-who-was-not-thought-a-fool-until-he/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/telephone-n-an-invention-of-the-devil-which-abrogates-some-of-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Jealous, adj. Unduly concerned about the preservation of that which can be lost only if not worth keeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/jealous-adj-unduly-concerned-about-the-preservation-of-that-which-can/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RIDICULE, n. Words designed to show that the person of whom they are uttered is devoid of the dignity of character distinguishing him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/ridicule-n-words-designed-to-show-that-the-person-of-whom-they-are/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Think twice before you speak to a friend in need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/think-twice-before-you-speak-to-a-friend-in-need/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [TARIFF, n. A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/tariff-n-a-scale-of-taxes-on-imports-designed-to-protect-the-domestic/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A bad marriage is like an electrical thrilling machine: it makes you dance, but you can't let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-bad-marriage-is-like-an-electrical-thrilling-machine-it-makes-you/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Explore all 1,157 Ambrose Bierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More Abnormal quotes > [While sleep is clearly vital to emotional well-being, what is it, exactly, about sleep that is so necessary? As it turns out, mood disorders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/while-sleep-is-clearly-vital-to-emotional-well-being-what-is-it/) [Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/) > [“The abnormal ones stand out. Thankfully I'm abnormal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-bekoe/the-abnormal-ones-stand-out-thankfully-i-m-abnormal/) [Marion Bekoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-bekoe/) > [Power when wielded by abnormal energy is the most serious of facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/power-when-wielded-by-abnormal-energy-is-the-most-serious-of-facts/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [I think the thing that music can do is be unsettling. It is abnormal - music that's perceived to be different in an unresolved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-mccreary/i-think-the-thing-that-music-can-do-is-be-unsettling-it-is-abnormal/) [Bear McCreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-mccreary/) > [You don't want to love - your eternal and abnormal craving is to be loved. You aren't positive, you're negative. You absorb, absorb, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-don-t-want-to-love-your-eternal-and-abnormal-craving-is-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It may be an extreme example brought about by abnormal circumstances - but the criteria of human rights kick in, surely, precisely when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/breyten-breytenbach/it-may-be-an-extreme-example-brought-about-by-abnormal-circumstances/) [Breyten Breytenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/breyten-breytenbach/) > [Depression is not caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, and it is not cured by medication. Depression may not even be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kirsch/depression-is-not-caused-by-a-chemical-imbalance-in-the-brain-and-it/) [Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kirsch/) > [“A ‘normal person’ is what is left after society has squeezed out all unconventional opinions and aspirations out of a human being.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-normal-person-is-what-is-left-after-society-has-squeezed-out-all/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [In the theory of gender I began from zero. There is no masculine power or privilege I did not covet. But slowly, step by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/in-the-theory-of-gender-i-began-from-zero-there-is-no-masculine-power/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [Fury is an entirely appropriate response to a system that sends young people to kill other young people in a war that never should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/fury-is-an-entirely-appropriate-response-to-a-system-that-sends-young/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [I guess I'm attracted to these off beat roles because my life has been a bit abnormal. The only thing I have a problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-guess-i-m-attracted-to-these-off-beat-roles-because-my-life-has/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [My work involves the physical manifestation of emotional reality. Thus, the invisible becomes visible; the normal, abnormal; and the familiar, unfamiliar. Ordinary life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-skoglund/my-work-involves-the-physical-manifestation-of-emotional-reality-thus/) [Sandy Skoglund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-skoglund/) > [Victory is the normal experience of a Christian; defeat should be the abnormal experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/victory-is-the-normal-experience-of-a-christian-defeat-should-be-the/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [“He knew that he was caught up in one of those stretches of time when for anything to happen normally would be abnormal. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mervyn-peake/he-knew-that-he-was-caught-up-in-one-of-those-stretches-of-time-when/) [Mervyn Peake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mervyn-peake/) > [Benedict XVI kept saying that homosexuals are deviant. They're not deviant. They're deviant only if you say that anyone who is different from me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/benedict-xvi-kept-saying-that-homosexuals-are-deviant-they-re-not/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) Browse all 260 Abnormal quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Abnormal, adj. Not conforming to standard. 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