--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mental illnesses are so strange. A…" description: "\"“Mental illnesses are so strange. A physical problem we can understand. But when the mind works irrationally, well, by its very definition, the rationa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a7/harlan-coben-847_mental_mental-illnesses-are-so-strange-a-physic_1351569.jpg" --- # Mental illnesses are so strange. A physical problem we can… ![“Mental illnesses are so strange. A physical problem we can understand. But when the mind works irrationally, well, by its very definition, the rational mind cannot truly relate.” quote by Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a7/harlan-coben-847_mental_mental-illnesses-are-so-strange-a-physic_1351569.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a7/harlan-coben-847_mental_mental-illnesses-are-so-strange-a-physic_1351569.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a7/harlan-coben-847_mental_mental-illnesses-are-so-strange-a-physic_1351569.jpg) > ““Mental illnesses are so strange. A physical problem we can understand. But when the mind works irrationally, well, by its very definition, the rational mind cannot truly relate.”” [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The irrational mind is hard for the rational mind to comprehend, unlike physical illnesses. **In simple terms:** Rational minds struggle with irrational mental illness. Key Takeaway Seek empathy for irrational mental states. Themes mental health irrationality empathy Mood thoughtful serious Type psychological philosophical When to use this quote - therapy sessions - patient counseling - educational workshops Key Concepts psychology cognitive dissonance Questions to Reflect On - How can we better bridge rational and irrational perspectives? - What role does empathy play in mental health? A Different Perspective Rational explanations may oversimplify complex conditions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Illnesses Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illnesses-strange-4598568/) [Mental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental/) [Mental Illnesses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-illnesses-443138/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Rational Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational-mind/) [Understand Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-mind-446188/) ## Related quotes > [“The difference between President Trump and Steven Magee? Steven Magee publicly acknowledges his mental illnesses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-difference-between-president-trump-and-steven-magee-steven-magee/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [It goes without saying that all mental illnesses are neurologically instantiated. But this says nothing about their causation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-fisher/it-goes-without-saying-that-all-mental-illnesses-are-neurologically-2/) [Mark Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-fisher/) > [“It's just that I take riddling seriously. I was taught that the ability to solve them indicates a sane and rational mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/it-s-just-that-i-take-riddling-seriously-i-was-taught-that-the/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Number one, we have to talk about mental illnesses. Number two, you can actually address things from a purer and honest direct line to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariel-hemingway/number-one-we-have-to-talk-about-mental-illnesses-number-two-you-can/) [Mariel Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariel-hemingway/) > [The mental health conversation is very important to me. I have friends that struggle with various mental illnesses. I've struggled with depression and anxiety.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/the-mental-health-conversation-is-very-important-to-me-i-have-friends/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [Mental illnesses are so frightening and there's so much ignorance about them that I think it comforts people to think, 'Oh, well, it happens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-earley/mental-illnesses-are-so-frightening-and-there-s-so-much-ignorance/) [Pete Earley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-earley/) > [People with mental illnesses are dying on our streets. More than 350,000 are in jails and prisons. Most are people whose only real crime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-earley/people-with-mental-illnesses-are-dying-on-our-streets-more-than-350/) [Pete Earley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-earley/) > [Many politicians, celebrities, businessmen and women, and community leaders now are open about their struggles with mental illnesses, something almost unheard of when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalynn-carter/many-politicians-celebrities-businessmen-and-women-and-community/) [Rosalynn Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalynn-carter/) > [“There are sins much more serious than socio-pathologies which really are mental illnesses, whereas self-righteousness is an illness of the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/there-are-sins-much-more-serious-than-socio-pathologies-which-really/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [I think people who come from abuse and/or people who have mental illnesses, have terrible self-esteem problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinead-o-connor/i-think-people-who-come-from-abuse-and-or-people-who-have-mental/) [Sinead O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinead-o-connor/) > [Mental health can be just as important as physical health - and major depression is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental illnesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-greger/mental-health-can-be-just-as-important-as-physical-health-and-major/) [Michael Greger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-greger/) > [I find human behavior to be fascinating, which is probably why I'm an actor, and I think that there are a lot of dangerous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-benanti/i-find-human-behavior-to-be-fascinating-which-is-probably-why-i-m-an/) [Laura Benanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-benanti/) > [“Some 40 percent of people with serious mental illnesses have been arrested at some point in their lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-40-percent-of-people-with-serious-mental-illnesses-have-been/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We have to get the word out that mental illnesses can be diagnosed and treated, and almost everyone suffering from mental illness can live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalynn-carter/we-have-to-get-the-word-out-that-mental-illnesses-can-be-diagnosed/) [Rosalynn Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalynn-carter/) > [“shorter intervals between babies are associated with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-agus/shorter-intervals-between-babies-are-associated-with-mental-illnesses/) [David B. Agus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-agus/) ## More by Harlan Coben > [“He flipped through the music stations as he drove, searching for some nonexistent perfect song that would be, as Stevie Nicks might sing, “hauntingly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/he-flipped-through-the-music-stations-as-he-drove-searching-for-some/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [“The whole place had a feel and aura about as warm as a cold sore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/the-whole-place-had-a-feel-and-aura-about-as-warm-as-a-cold-sore/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [When I was seventeen, I worked as a counsellor at a co-ed sleep-away camp for eight weeks. I loved it but it could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/when-i-was-seventeen-i-worked-as-a-counsellor-at-a-co-ed-sleep-away/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [Man plans. God laughs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/man-plans-god-laughs/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [“You could trust nature but not man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/you-could-trust-nature-but-not-man/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [I like to see the difference between good and evil as kind of like the foul line at a baseball game. It's very thin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/i-like-to-see-the-difference-between-good-and-evil-as-kind-of-like/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [The state of New Jersey is really two places - terrible cities and wonderful suburbs. 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He was lying on cold ground, his right cheek on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/awareness-started-to-creep-in-clawing-its-way-past-the-pain-and/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [“Her smile shames the sun”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/her-smile-shames-the-sun/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [This is the price you pay for having a great father. You get the wonder, the joy, the tender moments - and you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/this-is-the-price-you-pay-for-having-a-great-father-you-get-the/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [“The words kept landing like punches, dazing Adam, sapping his resistance, leaving him shaken and confused and ready to take a standing eight count.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/the-words-kept-landing-like-punches-dazing-adam-sapping-his/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [I'm not very happy idle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/i-m-not-very-happy-idle/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [“Making friends?” Tripp asked. “I’m a people person,” Adam said. “You know he’s the VP of the board, right?” “I must remember to genuflect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/making-friends-tripp-asked-i-m-a-people-person-adam-said-you-know-he/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) [Explore all 351 Harlan Coben quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) ## More Mental quotes > [“This one’s mental.’ ‘Eccentric.’ ‘What’s the difference?’ ‘A bag of cash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/this-one-s-mental-eccentric-what-s-the-difference-a-bag-of-cash/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [Biggest Challenges in life are more mental then physical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/biggest-challenges-in-life-are-more-mental-then-physical/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think a big part of success in football is mental, not physical. How you are inside your head matters more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iker-casillas/i-think-a-big-part-of-success-in-football-is-mental-not-physical-how/) [Iker Casillas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iker-casillas/) > [Mental health is an issue close to my heart - an issue, indeed, I've covered repeatedly for Channel 4 News.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-newman/mental-health-is-an-issue-close-to-my-heart-an-issue-indeed-i-ve/) [Cathy Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-newman/) > [Be curious not judge mental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknow/be-curious-not-judge-mental/) [Unknow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unknow/) > [Because there is actually something very interesting in Goodfellas, how the style of the film changes as time goes by and based on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cox/because-there-is-actually-something-very-interesting-in-goodfellas/) [Alex Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cox/) > [“It is unnatural to fear something natural.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/it-is-unnatural-to-fear-something-natural/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [I think we need to talk about mental illness a lot more. People complain about tax dollars and say we don't have the money.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-long/i-think-we-need-to-talk-about-mental-illness-a-lot-more-people/) [Nia Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-long/) > [“Mental illness is not something you misunderstand in this era. Get educated because bias is no different than racism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/mental-illness-is-not-something-you-misunderstand-in-this-era-get/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Ninety-nine percent of getting over a problem is mental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-hopkins/ninety-nine-percent-of-getting-over-a-problem-is-mental/) [Bernard Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-hopkins/) > [The first principle of cognitive therapy is that all your moods are created by your 'cognitions,' or thoughts. A cognition refers to the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/the-first-principle-of-cognitive-therapy-is-that-all-your-moods-are/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [Those things that give you pleasure, they can only give you mental pain...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazher-mazher50/those-things-that-give-you-pleasure-they-can-only-give-you-mental-pain/) [Mazher (@mazher50](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazher-mazher50/) > [It is true that my mental age is quite young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ok-taec-yeon/it-is-true-that-my-mental-age-is-quite-young/) [Ok Taec-yeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ok-taec-yeon/) > [“My mind," he said, "rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram or the most intricate analysis,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/my-mind-he-said-rebels-at-stagnation-give-me-problems-give-me-work/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) [Browse all 1,466 Mental quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Mental illnesses are so strange. A physical problem we can understand. 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