--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Were you always like this?’ ‘Like what?’…" description: "\"“Were you always like this?’ ‘Like what?’ ‘A madman. With a time machine.’ ‘Oh, no. It took ages until I got the time machine.”\" — Neil Gaiman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfc/neil-gaiman-29_computers_were-you-always-like-this-like-what-a-ma_607133.jpg" --- # Were you always like this?’ ‘Like what?’ ‘A madman. With a… ![“Were you always like this?’ ‘Like what?’ ‘A madman. With a time machine.’ ‘Oh, no. It took ages until I got the time machine.” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfc/neil-gaiman-29_computers_were-you-always-like-this-like-what-a-ma_607133.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfc/neil-gaiman-29_computers_were-you-always-like-this-like-what-a-ma_607133.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfc/neil-gaiman-29_computers_were-you-always-like-this-like-what-a-ma_607133.jpg) > ““Were you always like this?’ ‘Like what?’ ‘A madman. With a time machine.’ ‘Oh, no. It took ages until I got the time machine.”” [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A conversation reveals confusion about identity and the absurdity of time travel, highlighting paradoxes of self‑knowledge. **In simple terms:** Identity confusion with time travel. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about self and reality. Themes identity time paradox humor Mood thoughtful playful Type literary humorous When to use this quote - science fiction writing - creative brainstorming - philosophical debate Key Concepts philosophy science fiction Questions to Reflect On - What does “madman” imply about self‑perception? - Can time alter identity? A Different Perspective Time travel narratives can obscure personal clarity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Like Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-like/) [Like Madman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-madman-1030110/) [Madman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madman/) [Madman Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madman-time-4937381/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time machine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-machine/) ## Related quotes > [The real drug is to train like a madman, really like a madman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-karelin/the-real-drug-is-to-train-like-a-madman-really-like-a-madman/) [Aleksandr Karelin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-karelin/) > [I always drive like a madman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zlatan-ibrahimovic/i-always-drive-like-a-madman/) [Zlatan Ibrahimovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zlatan-ibrahimovic/) > [Because sometimes you just have to dance like a madman in the Self-Help section of your local bookstore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/because-sometimes-you-just-have-to-dance-like-a-madman-in-the-self/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [It is sometimes pleasant even to act like a madman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/it-is-sometimes-pleasant-even-to-act-like-a-madman/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [I love cinema like a madman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-kishan/i-love-cinema-like-a-madman/) [Ravi Kishan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-kishan/) > [“From then on, my thesis hung over me like a curse, and with bloodshot eyes, I worked like a madman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsume-s-seki/from-then-on-my-thesis-hung-over-me-like-a-curse-and-with-bloodshot/) [Natsume Sōseki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsume-s-seki/) > [For if he like a madman lived; At least he like a wise one died.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/for-if-he-like-a-madman-lived-at-least-he-like-a-wise-one-died/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [“Because,” announced Tristran, “every lover is in his heart a madman, and in his head a minstrel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/because-announced-tristran-every-lover-is-in-his-heart-a-madman-and/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“THE DAY THE SAUCERS CAME “That day, the saucer day the zombie day The Ragnarok and fairies day, the day the great winds came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-day-the-saucers-came-that-day-the-saucer-day-the-zombie-day-the/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Every lover is, in his heart, a madman, and, in his head, a minstrel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/every-lover-is-in-his-heart-a-madman-and-in-his-head-a-minstrel/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“At the serried-eyed time of eventide, Kings Cross is' like a madman with the pills wearing off - quiet for the moment, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-boag/at-the-serried-eyed-time-of-eventide-kings-cross-is-like-a-madman/) [C. 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