--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All are lunatics, but he who can analyze…" description: "\"All are lunatics, but he who can analyze his delusion is called a philosopher.\" — Ambrose Bierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/ambrose-bierce-140_delusion_all-are-lunatics-but-he-who-can-analyze_840585.jpg" --- # All are lunatics, but he who can analyze his delusion is… ![“All are lunatics, but he who can analyze his delusion is called a philosopher.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/ambrose-bierce-140_delusion_all-are-lunatics-but-he-who-can-analyze_840585.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/ambrose-bierce-140_delusion_all-are-lunatics-but-he-who-can-analyze_840585.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/ambrose-bierce-140_delusion_all-are-lunatics-but-he-who-can-analyze_840585.jpg) > “All are lunatics, but he who can analyze his delusion is called a philosopher.” [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. Recognizing one's own madness is the first step toward philosophical insight. **In simple terms:** Knowing your own delusion leads to wisdom. Key Takeaway Question your assumptions. Themes self-awareness philosophy madness Mood reflective introspective Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - personal growth - mental health - creative work Key Concepts metacognition critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - How do you distinguish delusion from belief? - What habits can you develop to stay self‑critical? A Different Perspective Self‑analysis can be paralyzing if not balanced with action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Called Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-philosopher-363564/) [Delusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delusion/) [Delusion Called](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delusion-called-516383/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Lunatics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lunatics/) [Lunatics Analyze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lunatics-analyze-638668/) [Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) ## Related quotes > [All are lunatics, but he who can analyze his delusions is called a philosopher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/all-are-lunatics-but-he-who-can-analyze-his-delusions-is-called-a/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [When one person suffers from a delusion, it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called a Religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/when-one-person-suffers-from-a-delusion-it-is-called-insanity-when/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [“Robert M. Pirsig, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: ‘When one person suffers from a delusion, it is called insanity. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/robert-m-pirsig-author-of-zen-and-the-art-of-motorcycle-maintenance/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [When a person suffers from a delusion it is called insanity; when a number of people suffer from a delusion it is called religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lekan-wahab/when-a-person-suffers-from-a-delusion-it-is-called-insanity-when-a/) [Lekan Wahab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lekan-wahab/) > [When one person suffers from a delusion it is called insanity; when many people suffer from a delusion it is called religion. - Robert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pirsig/when-one-person-suffers-from-a-delusion-it-is-called-insanity-when-2/) [Robert Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pirsig/) > [“...Since divine truth and scripture clearly teach us that God, the Creator of all things, is Wisdom, a true philosopher will be a lover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/since-divine-truth-and-scripture-clearly-teach-us-that-god-the/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > ['But the man who is ready to taste every form of knowledge, is glad to learn and never satisfied - he's the man who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/but-the-man-who-is-ready-to-taste-every-form-of-knowledge-is-glad-to/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [It is the man of science, eager to have his every opinion regenerated, his every idea rationalized, by drinking at the fountain of fact,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-the-man-of-science-eager-to-have-his-every-opinion-regenerated/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The stone that was rolled before Christ's tomb might appropriately be called the philosopher's stone because its removal gave not only the pharisees but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/the-stone-that-was-rolled-before-christ-s-tomb-might-appropriately-be/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [“But nobody has ever yet called a philosopher "a hired conscience," though everybody gives the lawyer this nickname. Why this partiality?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-shestov/but-nobody-has-ever-yet-called-a-philosopher-a-hired-conscience/) [Lev Shestov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-shestov/) > [DELUSION, n. The father of a most respectable family, comprising Enthusiasm, Affection, Self-denial, Faith, Hope, Charity and many other goodly sons and daughters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/delusion-n-the-father-of-a-most-respectable-family-comprising/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RATIONAL, adj. Devoid of all delusions save those of observation, experience and reflection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rational-adj-devoid-of-all-delusions-save-those-of-observation/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A delusion that encourages belief where there is no evidence is asking for trouble. Disagreements between incompatible beliefs cannot be settled by reasoned argument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/a-delusion-that-encourages-belief-where-there-is-no-evidence-is/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [APHORISM, n. Predigested wisdom. The flabby wine-skin of his brain Yields to some pathologic strain, And voids from its unstored abysm The driblet of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/aphorism-n-predigested-wisdom-the-flabby-wine-skin-of-his-brain/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There's no free will," says the philosopher; "To hang is most unjust." "There is no free will," assents the officer; "We hang because we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/there-s-no-free-will-says-the-philosopher-to-hang-is-most-unjust/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## 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 Delusion quotes > [Getting rid of a delusion makes us wiser than getting hold of a truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-borne/getting-rid-of-a-delusion-makes-us-wiser-than-getting-hold-of-a-truth/) [Ludwig Borne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-borne/) > [If the idea of having to change ourselves makes us uncomfortable, we can remain as we are. We can choose rest over labour, entertainment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/if-the-idea-of-having-to-change-ourselves-makes-us-uncomfortable-we/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [ It's \[Los Angeles\] mostly full of nonsense and delusion and egomania. They think they'll be young and beautiful forever, even though most of them… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-los-angeles-mostly-full-of-nonsense-and-delusion-and-egomania/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [The Science Delusion is the belief that science already understands the nature of reality in principle leaving only the details to be filled in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-sheldrake/the-science-delusion-is-the-belief-that-science-already-understands/) [Rupert Sheldrake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-sheldrake/) > [The world is a wonderfully weird place, consensual reality is significantly flawed, no institution can be trusted, certainty is a mirage, security a delusion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-world-is-a-wonderfully-weird-place-consensual-reality-is/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“we shouldn’t surrender our real world perception to a false reality too much or we may suffer the inevitable consequences of deluded thinking. Technology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-p-neary/we-shouldn-t-surrender-our-real-world-perception-to-a-false-reality/) [M.P. Neary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-p-neary/) > [Atheism Explained is a gem. It is clear, informative, well-argued, provocative, often witty, and unfailingly interesting. David Ramsay Steele ranges over so many issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-shearmur/atheism-explained-is-a-gem-it-is-clear-informative-well-argued/) [Jeremy Shearmur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-shearmur/) > [It is a great delusion to suppose that flesh-meat of any kind is essential to health. Considerably more than three parts of the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-booth/it-is-a-great-delusion-to-suppose-that-flesh-meat-of-any-kind-is/) [Catherine Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-booth/) > [The religions of mankind must be classed among the mass-delusions of this kind. No one, needless to say, who shares a delusion ever recognizes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/the-religions-of-mankind-must-be-classed-among-the-mass-delusions-of/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [I suffer from the delusion that every product of my imagination is not only possible, but always on the cusp of becoming real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-parker/i-suffer-from-the-delusion-that-every-product-of-my-imagination-is/) [Sean Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-parker/) > [I have a theory about marriage, Monsieur Boustouler. And it's that nearly always you will know within two weeks if it's going to work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/i-have-a-theory-about-marriage-monsieur-boustouler-and-it-s-that/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [“Someone who has the delusion Glass, is made of, does not literally believe herself to be made of glass but rather feels fragile and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/someone-who-has-the-delusion-glass-is-made-of-does-not-literally/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [Paranoia is a state of heightened awareness. Most people are persecuted beyond their wildest delusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-steiner/paranoia-is-a-state-of-heightened-awareness-most-people-are/) [Claude Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-steiner/) > [Women are women, and so are men, and the delusion that we are spiritually separate from or are about to spiritually separate from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anohni/women-are-women-and-so-are-men-and-the-delusion-that-we-are/) [Anohni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anohni/) > [I'd actually love to think that I could trust Kerry on national security. But the only way I could do that, at this point,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-reynolds/i-d-actually-love-to-think-that-i-could-trust-kerry-on-national/) [Glenn Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-reynolds/) [Browse all 1,172 Delusion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delusion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "All are lunatics, but he who can analyze his delusion is called a philosopher.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ambrose Bierce" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/all-are-lunatics-but-he-who-can-analyze-his-delusion-is-called-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Delusion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/all-are-lunatics-but-he-who-can-analyze-his-delusion-is-called-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/ambrose-bierce-140_delusion_all-are-lunatics-but-he-who-can-analyze_840585.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/ambrose-bierce-140_delusion_all-are-lunatics-but-he-who-can-analyze_840585.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/ambrose-bierce-140_delusion_all-are-lunatics-but-he-who-can-analyze_840585.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“All are lunatics, but he who can analyze his delusion is called a philosopher.” — Ambrose Bierce", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ambrose Bierce", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "All are lunatics, but he who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/all-are-lunatics-but-he-who-can-analyze-his-delusion-is-called-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/all-are-lunatics-but-he-who-can-analyze-his-delusion-is-called-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```