--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I proceed, gentlemen, to call your…" description: "\"I proceed, gentlemen, to call your attention to the present state of insane persons confined within the commonwealth; in cages, closets, cellars, stall..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/dorothea-dix-29243_attention_i-proceed-gentlemen-to-call-your-attenti_2246467.jpg" --- # I proceed, gentlemen, to call your attention to the… ![“I proceed, gentlemen, to call your attention to the present state of insane persons confined within the commonwealth; in cages, closets, cellars, stalls, pens; chained, naked, beaten with rods, and lashed into obedience.” quote by Dorothea Dix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/dorothea-dix-29243_attention_i-proceed-gentlemen-to-call-your-attenti_2246467.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/dorothea-dix-29243_attention_i-proceed-gentlemen-to-call-your-attenti_2246467.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb0/dorothea-dix-29243_attention_i-proceed-gentlemen-to-call-your-attenti_2246467.jpg) > “I proceed, gentlemen, to call your attention to the present state of insane persons confined within the commonwealth; in cages, closets, cellars, stalls, pens; chained, naked, beaten with rods, and lashed into obedience.” [Dorothea Dix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-dix/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She highlights the inhumane treatment of the mentally ill, urging reform and humane care. **In simple terms:** Mental patients suffer cruel conditions needing reform. Key Takeaway Advocate for humane mental health care. Themes human rights mental health reform Mood somber determined Type advocacy historical When to use this quote - policy advocacy - hospital inspections - public awareness campaigns Key Concepts ethics social justice Questions to Reflect On - What steps can improve conditions today? - How can society better support mental health? A Different Perspective Reform can be slow and face resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Commonwealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commonwealth/) [Gentleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman/) [Insane person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insane-person/) [Obedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obedience/) ## Related quotes > [Long ago they lowered insane persons into snake pits; they thought that an experience that might drive a sane person out of his wits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-jane-ward/long-ago-they-lowered-insane-persons-into-snake-pits-they-thought/) [Mary Jane Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-jane-ward/) > [I had never been near insane persons before in my life, and had not the faintest idea of what their actions were like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-bly/i-had-never-been-near-insane-persons-before-in-my-life-and-had-not/) [Nellie Bly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-bly/) > [In Germany, you would be hanged if you cracked a joke about Hitler and you would be killed by the state if you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/in-germany-you-would-be-hanged-if-you-cracked-a-joke-about-hitler-and/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [“An insane person believes his world is consistent. If he believes the government is trying to kill him, he will see ample evidence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/an-insane-person-believes-his-world-is-consistent-if-he-believes-the/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [If you are deemed insane, then all actions that would oherwise prove you are not do, in actuality, fall into the framework of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/if-you-are-deemed-insane-then-all-actions-that-would-oherwise-prove/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [“I was either still dreaming or I had entered an alternate reality where I was a flippin' insane person. I doubted I had entered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-s-martinez/i-was-either-still-dreaming-or-i-had-entered-an-alternate-reality/) P. S. Martinez > [“Muad’Dib: “If a child, an untrained person, an ignorant person, or an insane person incites trouble, it is the fault of authority for not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/muad-dib-if-a-child-an-untrained-person-an-ignorant-person-or-an/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [I think it's insane, absolutely insane for a person to have one of the highest and most important jobs in the entire world to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-payne/i-think-it-s-insane-absolutely-insane-for-a-person-to-have-one-of-the/) Charles Payne > [I find Billy Eichner to be hilarious, though I also imagine that for many, a little goes a long way. Billy provides a kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-schur/i-find-billy-eichner-to-be-hilarious-though-i-also-imagine-that-for/) [Michael Schur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-schur/) > [“This was taken when my brother was last on leave. My mom’s new boyfriend took it. 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I wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/it-sickens-me-to-think-of-you-a-prevalence-of-void-unholy-immovable/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [Most sane people think that no insane person can reason logically. But this is not so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-whittingham-beers/most-sane-people-think-that-no-insane-person-can-reason-logically-but/) [Clifford Whittingham Beers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-whittingham-beers/) > [For a long time, I would go out of my way to have a personal appearance on the verge of an insane person, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-braunohler/for-a-long-time-i-would-go-out-of-my-way-to-have-a-personal/) [Kurt Braunohler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-braunohler/) ## More by Dorothea Dix > [ \[To a woman who claimed she'd rather be dead than unconfined and unfashionable:\] My dear, if you continue to lace as tightly as you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-dix/to-a-woman-who-claimed-she-d-rather-be-dead-than-unconfined-and/) [Dorothea Dix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-dix/) > [Every evil has its good, and every ill an antidote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-dix/every-evil-has-its-good-and-every-ill-an-antidote/) [Dorothea Dix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-dix/) > [I have no particular love for my species, but own to an exhaustless fund of compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-dix/i-have-no-particular-love-for-my-species-but-own-to-an-exhaustless/) [Dorothea Dix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-dix/) > [While we diminish the stimulant of fear, we must increase to prisoners the incitements of hope, in proportion as we extinguish the terrors of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-dix/while-we-diminish-the-stimulant-of-fear-we-must-increase-to-prisoners/) [Dorothea Dix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-dix/) > [Man is not made better by being degraded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-dix/man-is-not-made-better-by-being-degraded/) [Dorothea Dix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-dix/) > [The tapestry of history has no point at which you can cut it and leave the design intelligible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-dix/the-tapestry-of-history-has-no-point-at-which-you-can-cut-it-and/) [Dorothea Dix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-dix/) > [I think even lying on my bed I can still do something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-dix/i-think-even-lying-on-my-bed-i-can-still-do-something/) [Dorothea Dix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-dix/) > [Be of good cheer, for sadness cannot heal the national wounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-dix/be-of-good-cheer-for-sadness-cannot-heal-the-national-wounds/) [Dorothea Dix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-dix/) > [Society, during the last hundred years, has been alternately perplexed and encouraged, respecting the two great questions -how shall the criminal and pauper be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-dix/society-during-the-last-hundred-years-has-been-alternately-perplexed/) [Dorothea Dix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-dix/) > [But the truth is the highest consideration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-dix/but-the-truth-is-the-highest-consideration/) [Dorothea Dix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-dix/) > [A man usually values that most for which he has labored; he uses that most frugally which he has toiled hour by hour and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-dix/a-man-usually-values-that-most-for-which-he-has-labored-he-uses-that/) [Dorothea Dix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-dix/) > [in proportion as my own discomfort has increased, my conviction of necessity to search into the wants of the friendless and afflicted has deepened.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-dix/in-proportion-as-my-own-discomfort-has-increased-my-conviction-of/) [Dorothea Dix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-dix/) > [I come to present the strong claims of suffering humanity. I come to place before the Legislature of Massachusetts the condition of the miserable,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-dix/i-come-to-present-the-strong-claims-of-suffering-humanity-i-come-to/) [Dorothea Dix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-dix/) > [I have learned to live each day as it comes, and not to borrow trouble by dreading tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-dix/i-have-learned-to-live-each-day-as-it-comes-and-not-to-borrow-trouble/) [Dorothea Dix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-dix/) > [Man is not made better by being degraded; he is seldom restrained from crime by harsh measures, except the principle of fear predominates in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-dix/man-is-not-made-better-by-being-degraded-he-is-seldom-restrained-from/) [Dorothea Dix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-dix/) [Explore all 18 Dorothea Dix quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-dix/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. 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