--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mad; adj. Affected with a high degree of…" description: "\"Mad; adj. Affected with a high degree of intellectual independence; not conforming to standards of thought, speech, and action derived by the conforman..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0df/ambrose-bierce-140_action_mad-adj-affected-with-a-high-degree-of-i_3023692.jpg" --- # Mad; adj. Affected with a high degree of intellectual… ![“Mad; adj. Affected with a high degree of intellectual independence; not conforming to standards of thought, speech, and action derived by the conformants from study of themselves; at odds with the majority; in short, unusual. It is noteworthy that persons are pronounced mad by officials destitute…” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0df/ambrose-bierce-140_action_mad-adj-affected-with-a-high-degree-of-i_3023692.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0df/ambrose-bierce-140_action_mad-adj-affected-with-a-high-degree-of-i_3023692.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0df/ambrose-bierce-140_action_mad-adj-affected-with-a-high-degree-of-i_3023692.jpg) > “Mad; adj. Affected with a high degree of intellectual independence; not conforming to standards of thought, speech, and action derived by the conformants from study of themselves; at odds with the majority; in short, unusual. It is noteworthy that persons are pronounced mad by officials destitute of evidence that they themselves are sane.” [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. Mad describes a person who defies conventional thinking, showing strong intellectual independence and unconventional behavior. **In simple terms:** A person who thinks and acts independently, often seen as unusual. Key Takeaway Embrace your unique perspective. Themes independence nonconformity intellectual freedom Mood reflective defiant Type definition philosophical When to use this quote - creative work - leadership - artistic expression - academic research - political activism Key Concepts critical thinking individualism social norms Questions to Reflect On - How does society reward or punish nonconformity? - What value does independent thought bring? A Different Perspective Being different can lead to isolation or misunderstanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Insanity and sanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insanity-and-sanity/) [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Madness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madness/) [Madness and sanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madness-and-sanity/) [Odds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odds/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) ## Related quotes > [Mad, adj. Affected with a high degree of intellectual independence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/mad-adj-affected-with-a-high-degree-of-intellectual-independence/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [History is the same thing over and over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/history-is-the-same-thing-over-and-over-again/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Much Madness is divinest Sense -- To a discerning Eye -- Much Sense -- the starkest Madness -- 'Tis the Majority In this, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/much-madness-is-divinest-sense-to-a-discerning-eye-much-sense-the/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Madness need not be all breakdown. It may also be break-through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-d-laing/madness-need-not-be-all-breakdown-it-may-also-be-break-through/) [R. D. Laing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-d-laing/) > [Today I felt pass over me A breath of wind from the wings of madness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/today-i-felt-pass-over-me-a-breath-of-wind-from-the-wings-of-madness/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [Sanity is very rare; every man almost and every woman has a dash of madness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/sanity-is-very-rare-every-man-almost-and-every-woman-has-a-dash-of/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The way it is now, the asylums can hold the sane people, but if we tried to shut up the insane we should run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-way-it-is-now-the-asylums-can-hold-the-sane-people-but-if-we/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [And maddest of all, to see life as it is and not as it should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/and-maddest-of-all-to-see-life-as-it-is-and-not-as-it-should-be/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [Might we not say to the confused voices which sometimes arise from the depths of our being: "Ladies, be so kind as to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/might-we-not-say-to-the-confused-voices-which-sometimes-arise-from/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) > [A man might pass for insane who should see things as they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/a-man-might-pass-for-insane-who-should-see-things-as-they-are/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [There is always some madness in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/there-is-always-some-madness-in-love/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [A new degree of intellectual power seems cheap at any price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-new-degree-of-intellectual-power-seems-cheap-at-any-price/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Self-reliance leads to intellectual independence. Each man must think for himself, must train the mind to think, must habituate the soul to observe and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ameen-rihani/self-reliance-leads-to-intellectual-independence-each-man-must-think/) [Ameen Rihani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ameen-rihani/) > [“No intelligent radical can fail to realize the need of the rational education of the young. The rearing of the child must become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-berkman/no-intelligent-radical-can-fail-to-realize-the-need-of-the-rational/) [Alexander Berkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-berkman/) > [Without moral and intellectual independence, there is no anchor for national independence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ben-gurion/without-moral-and-intellectual-independence-there-is-no-anchor-for/) [David Ben-Gurion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ben-gurion/) ## 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 Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Mad; adj. Affected with a high degree of intellectual independence; not conforming to standards of thought, speech, and action derived by the conformants from study of themselves; at odds with the majority; in short, unusual. It is noteworthy that persons are pronounced mad by officials destitute of evidence that they themselves are sane.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ambrose Bierce" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/mad-adj-affected-with-a-high-degree-of-intellectual-independence-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/mad-adj-affected-with-a-high-degree-of-intellectual-independence-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0df/ambrose-bierce-140_action_mad-adj-affected-with-a-high-degree-of-i_3023692.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0df/ambrose-bierce-140_action_mad-adj-affected-with-a-high-degree-of-i_3023692.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0df/ambrose-bierce-140_action_mad-adj-affected-with-a-high-degree-of-i_3023692.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Mad; adj. Affected with a high degree of intellectual independence; not conforming to standards of thought…” — 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": "Mad; adj. Affected with a high...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/mad-adj-affected-with-a-high-degree-of-intellectual-independence-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/mad-adj-affected-with-a-high-degree-of-intellectual-independence-not/#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 } } ] } ```