--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All are lunatics, but he who can analyze…" description: "\"All are lunatics, but he who can analyze his delusions is called a philosopher.\" — Ambrose Bierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/ambrose-bierce-140_lunatics_all-are-lunatics-but-he-who-can-analyze_2894835.jpg" --- # All are lunatics, but he who can analyze his delusions is… ![“All are lunatics, but he who can analyze his delusions is called a philosopher.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/ambrose-bierce-140_lunatics_all-are-lunatics-but-he-who-can-analyze_2894835.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/ambrose-bierce-140_lunatics_all-are-lunatics-but-he-who-can-analyze_2894835.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/ambrose-bierce-140_lunatics_all-are-lunatics-but-he-who-can-analyze_2894835.jpg) > “All are lunatics, but he who can analyze his delusions 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. Analyzing one's own delusions is the hallmark of philosophical insight. **In simple terms:** Self‑analysis defines a philosopher. Key Takeaway Question your own beliefs. Themes philosophy self‑knowledge critical thinking Mood introspective critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal crises - academic study - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts psychology logic Questions to Reflect On - What delusions hinder your growth? - How can you balance analysis with action? A Different Perspective Self‑analysis can be painful; may cause paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Called Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-philosopher-363564/) [Delusions Called](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delusions-called-4084074/) [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 delusion is called a philosopher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/all-are-lunatics-but-he-who-can-analyze-his-delusion-is-called-a/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [“...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/) > [The palmist looks at the wrinkles made by closing the hand and says they signify character. The philosopher reads character by what the hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/the-palmist-looks-at-the-wrinkles-made-by-closing-the-hand-and-says/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [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/) > [Lunatics are similar to designated hitters. Often an entire family is crazy, but since an entire family can't go into the hospital, one person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-kaysen/lunatics-are-similar-to-designated-hitters-often-an-entire-family-is/) [Susanna Kaysen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-kaysen/) > [The lunatics have taken over the asylum and we can do anything we want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-lunatics-have-taken-over-the-asylum-and-we-can-do-anything-we-want/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [“When Dr. James Young Simpson sought to apply anesthesia to a woman in childbirth, the clergymen of his day foamed at the mouth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/when-dr-james-young-simpson-sought-to-apply-anesthesia-to-a-woman-in/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [Astrology, or when the stars enlighten illuminated who dazzle a bunch of lunatics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-carvel/astrology-or-when-the-stars-enlighten-illuminated-who-dazzle-a-bunch/) [Paul Carvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-carvel/) > [There are four kinds of people in this world: cretins, fools, morons, and lunatics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/there-are-four-kinds-of-people-in-this-world-cretins-fools-morons-and/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [“Sane people did what their neighbours did, so that if any lunatics were at large, one might know and avoid them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/sane-people-did-what-their-neighbours-did-so-that-if-any-lunatics/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) ## 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 Lunatics quotes > [“Sane people did what their neighbours did, so that if any lunatics were at large, one might know and avoid them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/sane-people-did-what-their-neighbours-did-so-that-if-any-lunatics/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [There are four kinds of people in this world: cretins, fools, morons, and lunatics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/there-are-four-kinds-of-people-in-this-world-cretins-fools-morons-and/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [Astrology, or when the stars enlighten illuminated who dazzle a bunch of lunatics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-carvel/astrology-or-when-the-stars-enlighten-illuminated-who-dazzle-a-bunch/) [Paul Carvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-carvel/) > [“When Dr. James Young Simpson sought to apply anesthesia to a woman in childbirth, the clergymen of his day foamed at the mouth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/when-dr-james-young-simpson-sought-to-apply-anesthesia-to-a-woman-in/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [The lunatics have taken over the asylum and we can do anything we want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-lunatics-have-taken-over-the-asylum-and-we-can-do-anything-we-want/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [Lunatics are similar to designated hitters. Often an entire family is crazy, but since an entire family can't go into the hospital, one person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-kaysen/lunatics-are-similar-to-designated-hitters-often-an-entire-family-is/) [Susanna Kaysen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-kaysen/) > [The captain, thinking over this event afterward, realized that by his own lifelong standards he had a crew composed entirely of lunatics, with himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-clement/the-captain-thinking-over-this-event-afterward-realized-that-by-his/) [Hal Clement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-clement/) > [Only a lunatic would want to be president. These lunatics are created deliberately by those who wish to be presided over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-dunn/only-a-lunatic-would-want-to-be-president-these-lunatics-are-created/) [Katherine Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-dunn/) > [My view of actors is that basically they're all harmless lunatics who'd be on the psychiatrist's couch, except that we get this sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/my-view-of-actors-is-that-basically-they-re-all-harmless-lunatics-who/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [Im's offspring stare at stars and make clocks that calculate useless happenings like the angle of a hawk's claws as it strikes its prey.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/im-s-offspring-stare-at-stars-and-make-clocks-that-calculate-useless/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [She didn't quite know what the relationship was between lunatics and the moon, but it must be a strong one, if they used a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/she-didn-t-quite-know-what-the-relationship-was-between-lunatics-and/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Degenerates are not always criminals, anarchists, and pronounced lunatics; They are often authors and artists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-nordau/degenerates-are-not-always-criminals-anarchists-and-pronounced/) [Max Nordau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-nordau/) > [My fans are lunatics. I encourage mosh pits, I encourage lunacy, I make music to let go to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzee-rascal/my-fans-are-lunatics-i-encourage-mosh-pits-i-encourage-lunacy-i-make/) [Dizzee Rascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzee-rascal/) > [“Anything goes now, apparently,” Fiedel told me. “The lunatics have taken over the asylum.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-c-mann/anything-goes-now-apparently-fiedel-told-me-the-lunatics-have-taken/) [Charles C. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-c-mann/) > [Who are the lunatics? The ones who see horror in the heart of their fellow humans and search for peace at any price? Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/who-are-the-lunatics-the-ones-who-see-horror-in-the-heart-of-their/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) [Browse all 104 Lunatics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lunatics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "All are lunatics, but he who can analyze his delusions 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-delusions-is-called-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Lunatics" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/all-are-lunatics-but-he-who-can-analyze-his-delusions-is-called-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/ambrose-bierce-140_lunatics_all-are-lunatics-but-he-who-can-analyze_2894835.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/ambrose-bierce-140_lunatics_all-are-lunatics-but-he-who-can-analyze_2894835.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/ambrose-bierce-140_lunatics_all-are-lunatics-but-he-who-can-analyze_2894835.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“All are lunatics, but he who can analyze his delusions 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-delusions-is-called-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/all-are-lunatics-but-he-who-can-analyze-his-delusions-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 } } ] } ```