--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: MOTHER. Is he mad, or a rascal? LADY…" description: "\"“MOTHER. Is he mad, or a rascal? LADY. He's neither. He's no ordinary man; and it's a pity I can tell him nothing he doesn't know already. That's why w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/750/august-strindberg-3638_mother_mother-is-he-mad-or-a-rascal-lady-he-s-n_2010999.png" --- # MOTHER. Is he mad, or a rascal? LADY. He's neither. He's… ![“MOTHER. Is he mad, or a rascal? LADY. He's neither. He's no ordinary man; and it's a pity I can tell him nothing he doesn't know already. That's why we don't speak much; but he's glad to have me near him; and so am I to be near him.” quote by August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/750/august-strindberg-3638_mother_mother-is-he-mad-or-a-rascal-lady-he-s-n_2010999.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/750/august-strindberg-3638_mother_mother-is-he-mad-or-a-rascal-lady-he-s-n_2010999.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/750/august-strindberg-3638_mother_mother-is-he-mad-or-a-rascal-lady-he-s-n_2010999.png) > ““MOTHER. Is he mad, or a rascal? LADY. He's neither. He's no ordinary man; and it's a pity I can tell him nothing he doesn't know already. That's why we don't speak much; but he's glad to have me near him; and so am I to be near him.”” [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The character is enigmatic, neither mad nor ordinary, and remains a mystery. **In simple terms:** He is a mysterious, ordinary man. Key Takeaway Accept mystery in others. Themes mystery identity perception Mood curious introspective Type dramatic psychological When to use this quote - psychological analysis - literary critique - relationship dynamics Key Concepts character analysis human complexity social interaction Questions to Reflect On - What does his mystery reveal about us? - How do we handle ambiguous people? A Different Perspective Mystery can prevent genuine connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mad Rascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mad-rascal-3591610/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Mother Mad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-mad-2688827/) [Ordinary man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary-man/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Rascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rascal/) [Rascal Lady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rascal-lady-3591609/) ## Related quotes > [When your mother is mad and asks you, Do I look stupid? it's best not to answer her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-your-mother-is-mad-and-asks-you-do-i-look-stupid-it-s-best-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When he beat my mother it made me so mad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/when-he-beat-my-mother-it-made-me-so-mad/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [“My mother was mad, but I was not. My father was old, but I was young. Like Spartan Helen, I caused a war. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/my-mother-was-mad-but-i-was-not-my-father-was-old-but-i-was-young/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [“You said you were the King of the Castle – and you’re not, not by any means! But that’s the Dirty Rascal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-l-travers-2/you-said-you-were-the-king-of-the-castle-and-you-re-not-not-by-any/) [P.L. Travers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-l-travers-2/) > [I got the big beat Dizzee Rascal! I get on down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzee-rascal/i-got-the-big-beat-dizzee-rascal-i-get-on-down/) [Dizzee Rascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzee-rascal/) > [I'm not nearly as outrageously brave as many of my rascals that I write. But I think the rascal spirit must reside in me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/i-m-not-nearly-as-outrageously-brave-as-many-of-my-rascals-that-i/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [When I hear that a man is religious, I conclude he is a rascal!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/when-i-hear-that-a-man-is-religious-i-conclude-he-is-a-rascal/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [This rascal ego must be obliterated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/this-rascal-ego-must-be-obliterated/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [My dad is kind of a rascal, like in a Dickensian sense. He just goes from career to career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-walker/my-dad-is-kind-of-a-rascal-like-in-a-dickensian-sense-he-just-goes/) [Benjamin Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-walker/) > [“While I was growing up, I was mostly compliant and easy going. But sometimes I could be a little rascal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janell-haworth-desmond/while-i-was-growing-up-i-was-mostly-compliant-and-easy-going-but/) [Janell Haworth Desmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janell-haworth-desmond/) > [Every man of any education would rather be called a rascal, than accused of deficiency in the graces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/every-man-of-any-education-would-rather-be-called-a-rascal-than/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [Yeah, Dizzee Rascal is a huge influence on what I'm doing. I learnt a lot from him even though he's younger than me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-brown/yeah-dizzee-rascal-is-a-huge-influence-on-what-i-m-doing-i-learnt-a/) [Danny Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-brown/) > [The first clergyman was the first rascal who met the first fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/the-first-clergyman-was-the-first-rascal-who-met-the-first-fool/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Every rascal is not a thief, but every thief is a rascal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/every-rascal-is-not-a-thief-but-every-thief-is-a-rascal/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [In order to become a great man, one must first be a great rascal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/in-order-to-become-a-great-man-one-must-first-be-a-great-rascal/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) ## More by August Strindberg > [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/) > [Growing old-it's not nice, but it's interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/growing-old-it-s-not-nice-but-it-s-interesting/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [People who keep dogs are cowards who haven't got the guts to bite people themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/people-who-keep-dogs-are-cowards-who-haven-t-got-the-guts-to-bite/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [Sometimes not seeing things can be a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/sometimes-not-seeing-things-can-be-a-blessing/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [When aristocrats pretend they're common people -- they get common!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/when-aristocrats-pretend-they-re-common-people-they-get-common/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [“It appears from these letters that for some time past you have been arraying my old friends against me by spreading reports about my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/it-appears-from-these-letters-that-for-some-time-past-you-have-been/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [Everything can happen, everything is possible and probable. Time and place do not exist; on a significant bases of reality, the imagination spins, weaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/everything-can-happen-everything-is-possible-and-probable-time-and/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [“LAWYER. Justice that destroys itself in seeking to be just!— — —Right, that so often fosters wrong!!! DAUGHTER”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/lawyer-justice-that-destroys-itself-in-seeking-to-be-just-right-that/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [“CAPTAIN. Well, you dear, have I forgotten it? You have been like a mother to me, and always have stood by me when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/captain-well-you-dear-have-i-forgotten-it-you-have-been-like-a-mother/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [Now I know the full power of evil. It makes ugliness seem beautiful and goodness seem ugly and weak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/now-i-know-the-full-power-of-evil-it-makes-ugliness-seem-beautiful/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [When people drink, they talk, and talk is dangerous!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/when-people-drink-they-talk-and-talk-is-dangerous/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [“My daughter became my enemy when she had to choose between me and you. And you, my wife, you have been my archenemy, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/my-daughter-became-my-enemy-when-she-had-to-choose-between-me-and-you/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [“LAURA. Suppose that I was prepared to bear anything, even to being despised and driven out, everything for the sake of being able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/laura-suppose-that-i-was-prepared-to-bear-anything-even-to-being/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [“Now you have fulfilled your function as an unfortunately necessary father and breadwinner, you are not needed any longer and you must go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/now-you-have-fulfilled-your-function-as-an-unfortunately-necessary/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [“The mother was your friend, you see, but the woman was your enemy, and love between the sexes is strife. Do not think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/the-mother-was-your-friend-you-see-but-the-woman-was-your-enemy-and/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) [Explore all 119 August Strindberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) ## More Mother quotes > [My mother says I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/my-mother-says-i-didn-t-open-my-eyes-for-eight-days-after-i-was-born/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [(knitting while on a motorcycle) "For several years she knitted in secret (my father would not approve; she was to concentrate on motorcycling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-zimmermann/knitting-while-on-a-motorcycle-for-several-years-she-knitted-in/) [Elizabeth Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-zimmermann/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [My mother was strong-willed, demanding, and very supportive all at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-spence/my-mother-was-strong-willed-demanding-and-very-supportive-all-at-the/) [Michael Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-spence/) > [Everything comes home, my mother used to say; every word spoken, every shadow cast, every footprint in the sand. It can't be helped; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-harris/everything-comes-home-my-mother-used-to-say-every-word-spoken-every/) [Joanne Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-harris/) > [I would give anything to be able to kick a ball with my son or read the kids a bedtime story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-burrow/i-would-give-anything-to-be-able-to-kick-a-ball-with-my-son-or-read/) [Rob Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-burrow/) > [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [Named after my mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-raitt/named-after-my-mother/) [Bonnie Raitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-raitt/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [When will society, like a mother, take care of all her children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/when-will-society-like-a-mother-take-care-of-all-her-children/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [Surely, if Mother Nature had been consulted, she would never have consented to building a city in New Orleans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-zuckerman/surely-if-mother-nature-had-been-consulted-she-would-never-have/) [Mortimer Zuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-zuckerman/) > [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/) [Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/) > [I'm a strange mixture of my mother's curiosity; my father, who grew up the son of the manse in a Presbyterian family, who had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/i-m-a-strange-mixture-of-my-mother-s-curiosity-my-father-who-grew-up/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [Guns have little or nothing to do with juvenile violence. The causes of youth violence are working parents who put their kids into daycare,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/guns-have-little-or-nothing-to-do-with-juvenile-violence-the-causes/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) [Browse all 24,507 Mother quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“MOTHER. 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