--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only madmen and fools are pleased with…" description: "\"Only madmen and fools are pleased with themselves; no wise man is good enough for his own satisfaction.\" — Benjamin Whichcote" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/benjamin-whichcote-7885_enough_only-madmen-and-fools-are-pleased-with-t_1535303.png" --- # Only madmen and fools are pleased with themselves; no wise… ![“Only madmen and fools are pleased with themselves; no wise man is good enough for his own satisfaction.” quote by Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/benjamin-whichcote-7885_enough_only-madmen-and-fools-are-pleased-with-t_1535303.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/benjamin-whichcote-7885_enough_only-madmen-and-fools-are-pleased-with-t_1535303.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/benjamin-whichcote-7885_enough_only-madmen-and-fools-are-pleased-with-t_1535303.png) > “Only madmen and fools are pleased with themselves; no wise man is good enough for his own satisfaction.” [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑satisfaction is a folly of the irrational; true wisdom recognizes its own insufficiency. **In simple terms:** Foolish to be content with oneself alone. Key Takeaway Seek humility and external growth. Themes humility wisdom self‑criticism Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal development - leadership - creative pursuits Key Concepts philosophical ethical Questions to Reflect On - What drives your sense of fulfillment? - How can you balance confidence with humility? A Different Perspective Self‑satisfaction can motivate healthy self‑esteem when balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Fools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fools/) [Good enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-enough/) [Madmen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madmen/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Satisfaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfaction/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Wise man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-man/) ## Related quotes > [Madmen and fools see everything through the medium of humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/madmen-and-fools-see-everything-through-the-medium-of-humor/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [This cold night will turn us all to fools and madmen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/this-cold-night-will-turn-us-all-to-fools-and-madmen/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Will, without reason, is a blind man's motion; will, against reason, is a madman's motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/will-without-reason-is-a-blind-man-s-motion-will-against-reason-is-a/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [Only fools use their mouth to speak. A smart man uses his brain, and a wise man uses his heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/only-fools-use-their-mouth-to-speak-a-smart-man-uses-his-brain-and-a/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Fools call wise men fools. A wise man never calls any man a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/fools-call-wise-men-fools-a-wise-man-never-calls-any-man-a-fool/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Always win fools first. They talk much, and what they have once uttered they will stick to; whereas there is always time, up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/always-win-fools-first-they-talk-much-and-what-they-have-once-uttered/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [As a wise man once said, April Fools Day is for amateurs. You NEVER need an excuse to mess with people's heads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-a-wise-man-once-said-april-fools-day-is-for-amateurs-you-never/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A wise man told me don't argue with fools. Cause people from a distance can't tell who is who.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/a-wise-man-told-me-don-t-argue-with-fools-cause-people-from-a/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [A wise man will not communicate his differing thoughts to unprepared minds, or in a disorderly manner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/a-wise-man-will-not-communicate-his-differing-thoughts-to-unprepared/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [I hold a beast, an angel, and a madman in me, and my enquiry is as to their working, and my problem is their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/i-hold-a-beast-an-angel-and-a-madman-in-me-and-my-enquiry-is-as-to/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [If a madman were to come into this room with a stick in his hand, no doubt we should pity the state of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-a-madman-were-to-come-into-this-room-with-a-stick-in-his-hand-no/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [We're certain there are people that can't stand what America stands for... We're certain there are madmen in this world, and there's terror, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-re-certain-there-are-people-that-can-t-stand-what-america-stands/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Oh yes! The one man in the world who never believes he's mad is the madman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/oh-yes-the-one-man-in-the-world-who-never-believes-he-s-mad-is-the/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [They used to be seen as insane or unthinkable acts of madmen. But if they take place they'll be called 'war' too. And there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/they-used-to-be-seen-as-insane-or-unthinkable-acts-of-madmen-but-if/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [Either Jesus is the Son of God ; or a madman or worse. But His being just a great teacher? He's not left that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/either-jesus-is-the-son-of-god-or-a-madman-or-worse-but-his-being/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## More by Benjamin Whichcote > [Whoever despiseth shame, despiseth sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/whoever-despiseth-shame-despiseth-sin/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [Truth is not only a man's ornament but his instrument; it is the great man's glory, and the poor man's stock: a man's truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/truth-is-not-only-a-man-s-ornament-but-his-instrument-it-is-the-great/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [He that repents is angry with himself; I need not be angry with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/he-that-repents-is-angry-with-himself-i-need-not-be-angry-with-him/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [None can do a man so much harm as he doeth himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/none-can-do-a-man-so-much-harm-as-he-doeth-himself/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [Let not a man's self be to him all in all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/let-not-a-man-s-self-be-to-him-all-in-all/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [Take away the self-conceited, and there will be elbowroom in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/take-away-the-self-conceited-and-there-will-be-elbowroom-in-the-world/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [Let us all so live as we shall wish we had lived when we come to die; for that only is well, that ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/let-us-all-so-live-as-we-shall-wish-we-had-lived-when-we-come-to-die/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [Christ is God clothed with human nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/christ-is-god-clothed-with-human-nature/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [The sense of repentance is better assurance of pardon than the testimony of an angel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/the-sense-of-repentance-is-better-assurance-of-pardon-than-the/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [We are made for one another, and each is to be a supply to his neighbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/we-are-made-for-one-another-and-each-is-to-be-a-supply-to-his-neighbor/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [A benefactor is a representative of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/a-benefactor-is-a-representative-of-god/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [He that would have the perfection of pleasure must be moderate in the use of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/he-that-would-have-the-perfection-of-pleasure-must-be-moderate-in-the/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [He that useth his reason doth acknowledge God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/he-that-useth-his-reason-doth-acknowledge-god/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [None of us was born knowing or wise; but men become wise by consideration, observation, experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/none-of-us-was-born-knowing-or-wise-but-men-become-wise-by/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) > [None are so empty as those who are full of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-whichcote/none-are-so-empty-as-those-who-are-full-of-themselves/) [Benjamin Whichcote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) [Explore all 86 Benjamin Whichcote quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-whichcote/) ## More Enough quotes > [I guess at it's very core love is connection that just makes so much sense you wonder how you used to live before you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-stone/i-guess-at-it-s-very-core-love-is-connection-that-just-makes-so-much/) [Benjamin Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-stone/) > [Failures happen. 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I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [The vast majority of organizations today have more than enough intelligence, experience and knowledge to be successful. What they lack is organizational health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-vast-majority-of-organizations-today-have-more-than-enough/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I've been to Manchester enough to know it's a real place. It's not Factory Records and the Smiths bicycling around. I get it. 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