--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I doubt if a single individual could be…" description: "\"I doubt if a single individual could be found from the whole of mankind free from some form of insanity. The only difference is one of degree. A man wh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c1/desiderius-erasmus-3351_doubt_i-doubt-if-a-single-individual-could-be_2402177.jpg" --- # I doubt if a single individual could be found from the… ![“I doubt if a single individual could be found from the whole of mankind free from some form of insanity. The only difference is one of degree. A man who sees a gourd and takes it for his wife is called insane because this happens to very few people.” quote by Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c1/desiderius-erasmus-3351_doubt_i-doubt-if-a-single-individual-could-be_2402177.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c1/desiderius-erasmus-3351_doubt_i-doubt-if-a-single-individual-could-be_2402177.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c1/desiderius-erasmus-3351_doubt_i-doubt-if-a-single-individual-could-be_2402177.jpg) > “I doubt if a single individual could be found from the whole of mankind free from some form of insanity. The only difference is one of degree. A man who sees a gourd and takes it for his wife is called insane because this happens to very few people.” [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. All humans share some insanity; differences are matters of degree. **In simple terms:** Everyone has some madness; it varies. Key Takeaway Accept imperfection in yourself and others. Themes human nature insanity degree perception Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - mental health awareness - conflict resolution - self‑acceptance Key Concepts psychology philosophy humanity Questions to Reflect On - What does “insanity” mean to you? - How can we compassionately address differing perspectives? A Different Perspective Insanity is a spectrum, not a binary. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Individual Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual-mankind-3407504/) [Insane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insane/) [Insanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insanity/) [Insanity Difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insanity-difference-3407506/) [Madness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madness/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Mankind Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind-free-3407505/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Single individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single-individual/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) ## Related quotes > [“I doubt if a single individual could be found from the whole of mankind free from some form of insanity. The only difference is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/i-doubt-if-a-single-individual-could-be-found-from-the-whole-of/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [It is the main motivation of mankind to be free, to express our true selves and pursue our dreams without restriction--to experience what may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendon-burchard/it-is-the-main-motivation-of-mankind-to-be-free-to-express-our-true/) [Brendon Burchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendon-burchard/) > [Mankind has a free will; but it is free to milk cows and to build houses, nothing more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/mankind-has-a-free-will-but-it-is-free-to-milk-cows-and-to-build/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Neither in the life of the individual nor in that of mankind is it desirable to know the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-burckhardt/neither-in-the-life-of-the-individual-nor-in-that-of-mankind-is-it/) [Jacob Burckhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-burckhardt/) > [You ought to love all mankind; nay, every individual of mankind. You ought not to love the individuals of your domestic circles less, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/you-ought-to-love-all-mankind-nay-every-individual-of-mankind-you-2/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [The Mother of Christ, who stands at the very center of this mystery...is given as mother to every single individual and all mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/the-mother-of-christ-who-stands-at-the-very-center-of-this-mystery-is/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [A school of art or of anything else is to be looked on as a single individual, who keeps talking to himself for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/a-school-of-art-or-of-anything-else-is-to-be-looked-on-as-a-single/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [in race relations, the single gesture and the single individual are more often than not doomed to failure. 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The author of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/there-is-no-way-that-the-fourth-gospel-was-written-by-john-zebedee-or/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [The uniqueness of the unit was more or less that it was focused on a single individual. It was really the first time the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scheuer/the-uniqueness-of-the-unit-was-more-or-less-that-it-was-focused-on-a/) [Michael Scheuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scheuer/) > [The whole theory of the universe is directed unerringly to one single individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/the-whole-theory-of-the-universe-is-directed-unerringly-to-one-single/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [“... That no single, individual moment is in and of itself unendurable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/that-no-single-individual-moment-is-in-and-of-itself-unendurable/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [If I could press a button and have all of Sequoia Capital on the Midas List, I would choose to do that over a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-leone/if-i-could-press-a-button-and-have-all-of-sequoia-capital-on-the/) [Douglas Leone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-leone/) ## More by Desiderius Erasmus > [Wherever you encounter truth, look upon it as Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/wherever-you-encounter-truth-look-upon-it-as-christianity/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [War is delightful for those who don't know it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/war-is-delightful-for-those-who-don-t-know-it/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [They may attack me with an army of six hundred syllogisms; and if I do not recant, they will proclaim me a heretic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/they-may-attack-me-with-an-army-of-six-hundred-syllogisms-and-if-i-do/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [Invoked or not invoked, the god is present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/invoked-or-not-invoked-the-god-is-present/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [Eagles don't catch flies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/eagles-don-t-catch-flies/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [The entire world is my temple, and a very fine one too, if I'm not mistaken, and I'll never lack priests to serve it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/the-entire-world-is-my-temple-and-a-very-fine-one-too-if-i-m-not/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [A good prince will tax as lightly as possible those commodities which are used by the poorest members of society: grain, bread, beer, wine,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/a-good-prince-will-tax-as-lightly-as-possible-those-commodities-which/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [Christians would show sense if they dispatched these argumentative Scotists and pigheaded Ockhamists and undefeated Albertists along with the whole regiment of Sophists to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/christians-would-show-sense-if-they-dispatched-these-argumentative/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/when-i-get-a-little-money-i-buy-books-and-if-any-is-left-i-buy-food/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [From hence, no question, has sprung an observation ... confirmed now into a settled opinion, that some long experienced souls in the world, before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/from-hence-no-question-has-sprung-an-observation-confirmed-now-into-a/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [Nothing is so foolish, they say, as for a man to stand for office and woo the crowd to win its vote, buy its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/nothing-is-so-foolish-they-say-as-for-a-man-to-stand-for-office-and/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [Retain the wind by compressing the belly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/retain-the-wind-by-compressing-the-belly/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [So our student will flit like a busy bee through the entire garden of literature, light on every blossom, collect a little nectar from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/so-our-student-will-flit-like-a-busy-bee-through-the-entire-garden-of/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [By identifying the new learning with heresy, you make orthodoxy synonymous with ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/by-identifying-the-new-learning-with-heresy-you-make-orthodoxy/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) > [Now what else is the whole life of mortals, but a sort of comedy in which the various actors, disguised by various costumes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiderius-erasmus/now-what-else-is-the-whole-life-of-mortals-but-a-sort-of-comedy-in/) [Desiderius Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) [Explore all 124 Desiderius Erasmus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiderius-erasmus/) ## More Doubt quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I don't doubt that straight white men have identity issues and identity complexes and struggle with defining themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-don-t-doubt-that-straight-white-men-have-identity-issues-and/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [“Where there is doubt (shanka), there is misery. The moment one begins to doubt the knowledge that, 'I am Chandubhai,' misery arises. Once one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-is-doubt-shanka-there-is-misery-the-moment-one-begins-to/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [How could you feel worthless when God has honoured you by creating you and choosing you to be with Him, in this life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/how-could-you-feel-worthless-when-god-has-honoured-you-by-creating/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Vision motivates, sustains and dispels doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-young/vision-motivates-sustains-and-dispels-doubt/) [Thomas Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-young/) > [One may not doubt that, somehow Good Shall come of Water and of Mud; And sure, the reverent eye must see A purpose in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-brooke/one-may-not-doubt-that-somehow-good-shall-come-of-water-and-of-mud/) [Rupert Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-brooke/) > [Let smiles overshadow sadness. Let faith make you believe. Let confidence wash away doubts. Let love complete your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/let-smiles-overshadow-sadness-let-faith-make-you-believe-let/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [When in doubt, suggest that a subcommittee be appointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-chapman/when-in-doubt-suggest-that-a-subcommittee-be-appointed/) [Harry Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-chapman/) > [“Those who contemplate never escape the doubt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/those-who-contemplate-never-escape-the-doubt/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) [Browse all 9,582 Doubt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I doubt if a single individual could be found from the whole of mankind free from some form of insanity. The only difference is one of degree. 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