--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They certified that I was sane; but I…" description: "\"“They certified that I was sane; but I know that I am mad.\" This confession gives us the key to what is most important and significant in Tolstoy's hid..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d21/lev-shestov-12374_mad_they-certified-that-i-was-sane-but-i-kno_434197.jpg" --- # They certified that I was sane; but I know that I am mad."… ![“They certified that I was sane; but I know that I am mad." This confession gives us the key to what is most important and significant in Tolstoy's hidden life.” quote by Lev Shestov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d21/lev-shestov-12374_mad_they-certified-that-i-was-sane-but-i-kno_434197.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d21/lev-shestov-12374_mad_they-certified-that-i-was-sane-but-i-kno_434197.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d21/lev-shestov-12374_mad_they-certified-that-i-was-sane-but-i-kno_434197.jpg) > ““They certified that I was sane; but I know that I am mad." This confession gives us the key to what is most important and significant in Tolstoy's hidden life.”” [Lev Shestov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-shestov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognizing one’s madness reveals deeper truths about existence. **In simple terms:** Madness uncovers hidden significance. Key Takeaway Embrace inner contradictions. Themes existentialism psychology truth Mood introspective provocative Type existential literary When to use this quote - therapy sessions - artistic creation - spiritual practice - philosophical debate Key Concepts absurdism self‑knowledge Questions to Reflect On - What does “madness” symbolize for you? - How can confronting inner chaos lead to insight? A Different Perspective May romanticize mental illness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Madness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madness/) ## Related quotes > [“Many a present-day Alcibiades, who laves all the week in the muddy waters of life, comes on Sundays to cleanse himself in the pure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-shestov/many-a-present-day-alcibiades-who-laves-all-the-week-in-the-muddy/) [Lev Shestov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-shestov/) > [“Count Tolstoy preached inaction. It seems he had no need. We "inact" remarkably. 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She was the smile that shed light all around her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/everything-was-made-bright-by-her-she-was-the-smile-that-shed-light/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [In 'A Confession,' Tolstoy found meaning that he could hold on to, and he lived for another 30 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/in-a-confession-tolstoy-found-meaning-that-he-could-hold-on-to-and-he/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“show them, not in reasoning but in life itself, the joy of general union beyond the barriers set up by life itself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/show-them-not-in-reasoning-but-in-life-itself-the-joy-of-general/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“Truth, like gold, is to be obtained not by its growth, but by washing away from it all that is not gold. —Count Leo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/truth-like-gold-is-to-be-obtained-not-by-its-growth-but-by-washing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The same Sermon on the Mount that influenced Tolstoy to write “The Kingdom of God is Within You”, inspired me to a great extent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-same-sermon-on-the-mount-that-influenced-tolstoy-to-write-the/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“I already love in you your beauty, but I am only beginning to love in you that which is eternal and ever precious –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-already-love-in-you-your-beauty-but-i-am-only-beginning-to-love-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## More by Lev Shestov > [“Art, science, love, inspiration, ideals—choose out all the words with which humanity is wont, or has been in the past, to be consoled or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-shestov/art-science-love-inspiration-ideals-choose-out-all-the-words-with/) [Lev Shestov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-shestov/) > [“After a tragedy, a farce. 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When I got nominated for Diary of a Mad Housewife, I didn't think, 'Aah, now I'll get more money.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-snodgress/my-life-always-came-first-when-i-got-nominated-for-diary-of-a-mad/) [Carrie Snodgress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-snodgress/) > [I'm not mad at digital media at all; I just see the importance and beauty of physical media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-m-not-mad-at-digital-media-at-all-i-just-see-the-importance-and/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [The planet's survival has become so uncertain that any effort, any thought that presupposes an assured future amounts to a mad gamble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/the-planet-s-survival-has-become-so-uncertain-that-any-effort-any/) [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) > [Most men are secretly still mad at their mothers for throwing away their comic books. They would be valuable now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/most-men-are-secretly-still-mad-at-their-mothers-for-throwing-away/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [Your eyes are closed in hell and you haven't even opened them to see heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-eyes-are-closed-in-hell-and-you-haven-t-even-opened-them-to-see/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You see all of us go through the same doubts. We are afraid of being mad; unfortunately for us, of course, all of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/you-see-all-of-us-go-through-the-same-doubts-we-are-afraid-of-being/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [I don't think you can ever get used to being this famous. I've learnt how to keep things separate or at a distance. 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