Appearance Quote by Donald Barthelme
“--Why are we fighting them? --They're mad. We're sane. --How do we know? --That we're sane? --Yes. --Am I sane? --To all appearances. --And you, do you consider yourself sane? --I do. --Well, there you have it. --But don't they also consider themselves sane? --I think they know. Deep down. That they're not sane. --How must that make them feel? --Terrible, I should think. They must fight ever more fiercely, in order to deny what they know to be true. That they are not sane.”
About This Quote
Source Short story: "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" (hypothetical), 1976
A dialogue exposing how people justify conflict by claiming sanity while denying their own irrationality.
In simple terms: People fight by claiming sanity while fearing their own madness.
Key Takeaway
Question your assumptions about sanity and conflict.
Themes
psychology
conflict
identity
selfdeception
Mood
reflective
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
dialogue
When to use this quote
- political debates
- personal relationships
- mental health discussions
- group dynamics
Key Concepts
existentialism
cognitive dissonance
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to be sane in a conflict?
- How can we recognize our own biases?
A Different Perspective
The argument oversimplifies complex mental states and may ignore systemic factors.
