--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Human madness is oftentimes a cunning and…" description: "\"Human madness is oftentimes a cunning and most feline thing\" — Herman Melville" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/herman-melville-162_cunning_human-madness-is-oftentimes-a-cunning-an_1035645.jpg" --- # Human madness is oftentimes a cunning and most feline thing ![“Human madness is oftentimes a cunning and most feline thing” quote by Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/herman-melville-162_cunning_human-madness-is-oftentimes-a-cunning-an_1035645.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/herman-melville-162_cunning_human-madness-is-oftentimes-a-cunning-an_1035645.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/herman-melville-162_cunning_human-madness-is-oftentimes-a-cunning-an_1035645.jpg) > “Human madness is oftentimes a cunning and most feline thing” [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It portrays human insanity as a clever, stealthy predator, likening it to a cat’s cunning nature. **In simple terms:** Human madness is clever and sneaky. Key Takeaway Beware the subtle dangers of irrationality. Themes madness deception human nature Mood cautious thoughtful Type philosophical warning When to use this quote - political manipulation - financial scams - personal delusion Key Concepts psychology predatory behavior Questions to Reflect On - In what ways does madness hide behind charm? - How can we detect cunning irrationality? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cats/) [Feline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feline/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Madness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madness/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) ## Related quotes > [Human madness is oftentimes a cunning and most feline thing. When you think it fled, it may have but become transfigured into some still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/human-madness-is-oftentimes-a-cunning-and-most-feline-thing-when-you/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“When dreams are turned away, death becomes the ultimate salvation….There are only two extremes in human madness: the instant when you become aware of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmina-khadra/when-dreams-are-turned-away-death-becomes-the-ultimate-salvation/) [Yasmina Khadra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmina-khadra/) > [Today’s milestone is human madness. Politics is a part of it, particularly in its lethal outbursts. Politics is not, as it was for Hannah…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-kristeva/today-s-milestone-is-human-madness-politics-is-a-part-of-it/) [Julia Kristeva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-kristeva/) > [How can anyone be interested in war? - that glorious pursuit of annihilation with its ceremonious bellowings and trumpetings over the mangling of human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-caroline-anderson/how-can-anyone-be-interested-in-war-that-glorious-pursuit-of/) [Margaret Caroline Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-caroline-anderson/) > [What can everyone do? Praise and blame. This is human virtue, this is human madness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/what-can-everyone-do-praise-and-blame-this-is-human-virtue-this-is/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [One only needs to read twentieth-century history to see that it has been the climax of human madness, if it's measured in terms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/one-only-needs-to-read-twentieth-century-history-to-see-that-it-has/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“Ah, ye brethren, that God whom I created was human work and human madness, like all the Gods!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/ah-ye-brethren-that-god-whom-i-created-was-human-work-and-human/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“There is no mountain on earth which is greater than the mountain of human madness!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/there-is-no-mountain-on-earth-which-is-greater-than-the-mountain-of/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [O Nature, and O soul of man! how far beyond all utterance are your linked analogies; not the smallest atom stirs or lives on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/o-nature-and-o-soul-of-man-how-far-beyond-all-utterance-are-your/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [In this world of lies, Truth is forced to fly like a scared white doe in the woodlands; and only by cunning glimpses will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/in-this-world-of-lies-truth-is-forced-to-fly-like-a-scared-white-doe/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Stripped of the cunning artifices of the tailor, and standing forth in the garb of Eden - what a sorry set of round-shouldered, spindle-shanked,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/stripped-of-the-cunning-artifices-of-the-tailor-and-standing-forth-in/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [A biologist, if he wishes to know how many toes a cat has, does not "frame the hypothesis that the number of feline digital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-standen/a-biologist-if-he-wishes-to-know-how-many-toes-a-cat-has-does-not/) [Anthony Standen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-standen/) > [“A female feline named Katta Is getting fatta and fatta But she's pretty and purry And funny and furry So what does an ounce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/a-female-feline-named-katta-is-getting-fatta-and-fatta-but-she-s/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [The trouble with sharing one's bed with cats is that they'd rather sleep on you than beside you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/the-trouble-with-sharing-one-s-bed-with-cats-is-that-they-d-rather/) [Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/) > [You see, Greg, my mother is going through a feline phase. Blinky is a Persian,' Hale said simply, as if that should explain everything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/you-see-greg-my-mother-is-going-through-a-feline-phase-blinky-is-a/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) ## More by Herman Melville > [“and man, though idiotic, and knowing not what he does, yet full of the sweet things of love and gratitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/and-man-though-idiotic-and-knowing-not-what-he-does-yet-full-of-the/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“But were the coming narrative to reveal in any instance, the complete abasement of poor Starbuck's fortitude, scarce might I have the heart to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/but-were-the-coming-narrative-to-reveal-in-any-instance-the-complete/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“(On Ralph Waldo Emerson)I love all men who dive. Any fish can swim near the surface, but it takes a great whale to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/on-ralph-waldo-emerson-i-love-all-men-who-dive-any-fish-can-swim-near/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“So seemed it to me, as I stood at her helm, and for long hours silently guided the way of this fire-ship on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/so-seemed-it-to-me-as-i-stood-at-her-helm-and-for-long-hours-silently/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“the only real owner of anything is its commander;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/the-only-real-owner-of-anything-is-its-commander/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Consider the subtleness of the sea; how its most dreaded creatures glide under water, unapparent for the most part, and treacherously hidden beneath the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/consider-the-subtleness-of-the-sea-how-its-most-dreaded-creatures/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Is it that by its indefiniteness it shadows forth the heartless voids and immensities of the universe, and thus stabs us from behind with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/is-it-that-by-its-indefiniteness-it-shadows-forth-the-heartless-voids/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Now, as I before hinted, I have no objection to any person's religion, be it what it may, so long as that person does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/now-as-i-before-hinted-i-have-no-objection-to-any-person-s-religion/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Let America first praise mediocrity even, in her children, before she praises... the best excellence in the children of any other land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/let-america-first-praise-mediocrity-even-in-her-children-before-she/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Only the man who says no is free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/only-the-man-who-says-no-is-free/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Beneath those stars is a universe of gliding monsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/beneath-those-stars-is-a-universe-of-gliding-monsters/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Yet this is life. For hardly have we mortals by long toilings extracted from this world's vast bulk its small but valuable sperm; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/yet-this-is-life-for-hardly-have-we-mortals-by-long-toilings/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [I never fancied broiling fowls; - though once broiled, judiciously buttered, and judgmatically salted and peppered, there is no one who will speak more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/i-never-fancied-broiling-fowls-though-once-broiled-judiciously/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [War should be carried on like a monsoon; one changeless determination of every particle towards the one unalterable aim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/war-should-be-carried-on-like-a-monsoon-one-changeless-determination/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Genius is full of trash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/genius-is-full-of-trash/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) [Explore all 1,009 Herman Melville quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## More Cats quotes > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I liked Cats as a kid, now its hard to say. I dont live in New York anymore so dont see so many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-moennig/i-liked-cats-as-a-kid-now-its-hard-to-say-i-dont-live-in-new-york/) [Katherine Moennig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-moennig/) > [“The next day, Trixie pawed Maddie awake, patting her arm gently. “I’m up,” Maddie groaned, blinking sleep out of her eyes. “Mrrow.” Trixie peered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jinty-james/the-next-day-trixie-pawed-maddie-awake-patting-her-arm-gently-i-m-up/) Jinty James > [“So Nikki came aboard as Jaqueline's spare cat, presumably in case our prime cat, Eliza, goes on vacation, takes industrial action, or requests a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-s-wren/so-nikki-came-aboard-as-jaqueline-s-spare-cat-presumably-in-case-our/) Christopher S. Wren > [One reason why my memory decays is that I have three cats, all so loving and insistent that they play cat's-cradle with every train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/one-reason-why-my-memory-decays-is-that-i-have-three-cats-all-so/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [It's an interesting fact that fewer than 17 % of Real cats end their lives with the same name they started with. Much family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-an-interesting-fact-that-fewer-than-17-of-real-cats-end-their/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The dog is guided by kindly instinct to the man or woman whose heart is open to his advances. The cat often leaves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/the-dog-is-guided-by-kindly-instinct-to-the-man-or-woman-whose-heart/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [When I see things through my eyes, I don't want to ever just be really negative towards someone's performance. There are many ways to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stone-cold-steve-austin/when-i-see-things-through-my-eyes-i-don-t-want-to-ever-just-be-really/) [Stone Cold Steve Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stone-cold-steve-austin/) > [One cat just leads to another. The place is so damned big it doesn't really seem as though there were many cats until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/one-cat-just-leads-to-another-the-place-is-so-damned-big-it-doesn-t/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“In the morning, when she wishes me to wake, she crouches on my chest, and pats my face with her paw. Or, if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/in-the-morning-when-she-wishes-me-to-wake-she-crouches-on-my-chest/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Kittens can happen to anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gallico/kittens-can-happen-to-anyone/) [Paul Gallico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gallico/) > [“Curiosity killed the cat, but not before teaching her that honey bees are not sweet, tweeting birds are slow to react, mice can serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/curiosity-killed-the-cat-but-not-before-teaching-her-that-honey-bees/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Quin took on the air of someone who has just realized it's time for the yearly visit to the spinster great-aunt in a desperate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-fecteau/quin-took-on-the-air-of-someone-who-has-just-realized-it-s-time-for/) [Amy Fecteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-fecteau/) > [“Save for the ancient Egyptians, he found, virtually no one kept cats as pets until the latter part of the 1700s. The first people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-mcauliffe/save-for-the-ancient-egyptians-he-found-virtually-no-one-kept-cats-as/) [Kathleen McAuliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-mcauliffe/) [Browse all 3,253 Cats quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cats/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Human madness is oftentimes a cunning and most feline thing", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herman Melville" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/human-madness-is-oftentimes-a-cunning-and-most-feline-thing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cats" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/human-madness-is-oftentimes-a-cunning-and-most-feline-thing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/herman-melville-162_cunning_human-madness-is-oftentimes-a-cunning-an_1035645.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/herman-melville-162_cunning_human-madness-is-oftentimes-a-cunning-an_1035645.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/herman-melville-162_cunning_human-madness-is-oftentimes-a-cunning-an_1035645.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Human madness is oftentimes a cunning and most feline thing” — Herman Melville", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Herman Melville", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Human madness is oftentimes a cunning...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/human-madness-is-oftentimes-a-cunning-and-most-feline-thing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/human-madness-is-oftentimes-a-cunning-and-most-feline-thing/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```