--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The psychical condition of men's minds…" description: "\"The psychical condition of men's minds may be compared with a set of bells close together, and so arranged that in the ordinary man a bell rings only w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad9/otto-weininger-11319_absurd_the-psychical-condition-of-men-s-minds-m_2722026.jpg" --- # The psychical condition of men's minds may be compared… ![“The psychical condition of men's minds may be compared with a set of bells close together, and so arranged that in the ordinary man a bell rings only when one beside it sounds, and the vibration lasts only a moment. In the genius, when a bell sounds it vibrates so strongly that it sets in action…” quote by Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad9/otto-weininger-11319_absurd_the-psychical-condition-of-men-s-minds-m_2722026.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad9/otto-weininger-11319_absurd_the-psychical-condition-of-men-s-minds-m_2722026.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad9/otto-weininger-11319_absurd_the-psychical-condition-of-men-s-minds-m_2722026.jpg) > “The psychical condition of men's minds may be compared with a set of bells close together, and so arranged that in the ordinary man a bell rings only when one beside it sounds, and the vibration lasts only a moment. In the genius, when a bell sounds it vibrates so strongly that it sets in action the whole series, and remains in action throughout life. The latter kind of movement often gives rise to extraordinary conditions and absurd impulses, that may last for weeks together and that form the basis of the supposed kinship of genius with insanity.” [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Men’s minds are like bells; genius causes one bell to sustain and amplify others, leading to extraordinary, sometimes irrational, impulses. **In simple terms:** Genius creates lasting, resonant ideas. Key Takeaway Cultivate ideas that resonate beyond themselves. Themes genius mind influence Mood inspired cautious Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - leadership - artistic creation - scientific breakthroughs Key Concepts cognitive resonance creative cascade Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster ideas that inspire others? - What risks accompany intense mental resonance? 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If a man thinks he can write, does that make him genius or insane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-miller/they-say-theres-a-fine-line-between-genius-and-insanity-if-a-man/) [John Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-miller/) > [“how slim the line is between genius and insanity and between determination and stubbornness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/how-slim-the-line-is-between-genius-and-insanity-and-between/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [The step between genius and insanity is very short.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-step-between-genius-and-insanity-is-very-short/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [My mum is in a mental hospital. There's a fine line between genius and insanity. Winston Churchill, Mozart, John Lennon. These people all had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/my-mum-is-in-a-mental-hospital-there-s-a-fine-line-between-genius-and/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [“There's a fine line between genius and insanity--and I enjoy trampling all over it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-angelis/there-s-a-fine-line-between-genius-and-insanity-and-i-enjoy-trampling/) Nick Angelis > [“And there's a thin line between genius and insanity, isn't there?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/and-there-s-a-thin-line-between-genius-and-insanity-isn-t-there/) [Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/) > [“Genius and insanity are fraternal twins.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-henegan/genius-and-insanity-are-fraternal-twins/) [Carl Henegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-henegan/) > [Genius is insanity right up until it works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forrest-griffin/genius-is-insanity-right-up-until-it-works/) [Forrest Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forrest-griffin/) > [“There's a fine mascara line between genius and insanity”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/there-s-a-fine-mascara-line-between-genius-and-insanity/) [Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) > [There's a fine line between genius and insanity, as we all know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-phillips/there-s-a-fine-line-between-genius-and-insanity-as-we-all-know/) [Mackenzie Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-phillips/) > [There's a fine line between genius and insanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-a-fine-line-between-genius-and-insanity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One man's insanity is another man's genius; someday the world will recognize the genius in my insanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/one-man-s-insanity-is-another-man-s-genius-someday-the-world-will/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [“A lot of people say there's a fine line between genius and insanity. I don't think there's a fine line, I actually think there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/a-lot-of-people-say-there-s-a-fine-line-between-genius-and-insanity-i/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [There is a thin line between genius and insanity, and in Larry's (MacPhail) case it was sometimes so thin you could see him drifting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-durocher/there-is-a-thin-line-between-genius-and-insanity-and-in-larry-s/) [Leo Durocher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-durocher/) ## More by Otto Weininger > [Woman, in short, has an unconscious life, man a conscious life, and the genius the most conscious life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/woman-in-short-has-an-unconscious-life-man-a-conscious-life-and-the/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [ No one suffers so much as he \[the genius\] with the people, and, therefore, for the people, with whom he lives. For, in a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/no-one-suffers-so-much-as-he-the-genius-with-the-people-and-therefore/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [“Only from within himself can a person know the depth of the world: in him lie the interconnections of the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/only-from-within-himself-can-a-person-know-the-depth-of-the-world-in/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [No men who really think deeply about women retain a high opinion of them; men either despise women or they have never thought seriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/no-men-who-really-think-deeply-about-women-retain-a-high-opinion-of/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [“Napoleon the greatest of the conquerors, is a sufficient proof that great men of action are criminals, and, therefore not geniuses. One can understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/napoleon-the-greatest-of-the-conquerors-is-a-sufficient-proof-that/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [The number of different aspects that the face of a man has assumed may be taken almost as a physiognomical measure of his ... genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/the-number-of-different-aspects-that-the-face-of-a-man-has-assumed/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [Man is alone in the world, in tremendous eternal isolation. He has no object outside himself; lives for nothing else; he is far removed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/man-is-alone-in-the-world-in-tremendous-eternal-isolation-he-has-no/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [“No men who really think deeply about women retain a high opinion of them”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/no-men-who-really-think-deeply-about-women-retain-a-high-opinion-of-2/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [All genius is a conquering of chaos and mystery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/all-genius-is-a-conquering-of-chaos-and-mystery/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [With ordinary men the moments which are united in a close continuity out of the original discrete multiplicity are very few, and the course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/with-ordinary-men-the-moments-which-are-united-in-a-close-continuity/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [“Napoleon, the greatest of the conquerors, is a sufficient proof that great men of action are criminals, and therefore, not geniuses. One can understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/napoleon-the-greatest-of-the-conquerors-is-a-sufficient-proof-that-2/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [Not only virtue, but also insight, not only sanctity but also wisdom, are the duties and tasks of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/not-only-virtue-but-also-insight-not-only-sanctity-but-also-wisdom/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [Everything evil is revenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/everything-evil-is-revenge/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [The fixed stars signify the angel in man. That is why man orients himself by them; and that is why women have no appreciation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/the-fixed-stars-signify-the-angel-in-man-that-is-why-man-orients/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [A nation orients itself by its own geniuses, and derives from them its ideas of its own ideals, but the guiding star serves also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/a-nation-orients-itself-by-its-own-geniuses-and-derives-from-them-its/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) [Explore all 59 Otto Weininger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) ## More Absurd quotes > [“It seem absurd to me that they don't know, haven't felt any change or tremor, even as my life has been completely turned upside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/it-seem-absurd-to-me-that-they-don-t-know-haven-t-felt-any-change-or/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [When a person’s tongue is extensively wrong, it is absurd, no less than unscriptural, to say that their heart is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/when-a-person-s-tongue-is-extensively-wrong-it-is-absurd-no-less-than/) [J. 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For after you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-dangerous-and-fateful-presumption-besides-the-absurd-temerity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I thought to myself: if it’s true that every person has a star in the sky, mine must be distant, dim, and absurd. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadegh-hedayat/i-thought-to-myself-if-it-s-true-that-every-person-has-a-star-in-the/) [Sadegh Hedayat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadegh-hedayat/) > [If, indeed, a firearm were more dangerous to its possessors than to potential aggressors, would it not make sense for the government to arm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/if-indeed-a-firearm-were-more-dangerous-to-its-possessors-than-to/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [“You were torturing a cat," she says. "With a freaking prod." "A prod I built myself in metal shop," he says. 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