--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Of lunacy, Innumerous were the causes…" description: "\"Of lunacy, Innumerous were the causes; humbled pride, Ambition disappointed, riches lost, And bodily disease, and sorrow, oft By man inflicted on his b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f1/robert-pollok-29566_ambition_of-lunacy-innumerous-were-the-causes-hum_940770.jpg" --- # Of lunacy, Innumerous were the causes; humbled pride… ![“Of lunacy, Innumerous were the causes; humbled pride, Ambition disappointed, riches lost, And bodily disease, and sorrow, oft By man inflicted on his brother man; Sorrow, that, made the reason drunk, and yet Left much untasted. So the cup was fill'd.” quote by Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f1/robert-pollok-29566_ambition_of-lunacy-innumerous-were-the-causes-hum_940770.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f1/robert-pollok-29566_ambition_of-lunacy-innumerous-were-the-causes-hum_940770.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f1/robert-pollok-29566_ambition_of-lunacy-innumerous-were-the-causes-hum_940770.jpg) > “Of lunacy, Innumerous were the causes; humbled pride, Ambition disappointed, riches lost, And bodily disease, and sorrow, oft By man inflicted on his brother man; Sorrow, that, made the reason drunk, and yet Left much untasted. So the cup was fill'd.” [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human folly stems from pride, ambition, wealth loss, illness, and self‑inflicted sorrow, leaving life unfulfilled. **In simple terms:** Pride, ambition, loss, illness, and sorrow cause emptiness. Key Takeaway Recognize and temper these drives. Themes pride ambition loss illness sorrow Mood reflective somber Type philosophical poetic When to use this quote - personal relationships - financial decisions - health crises - conflict resolution Key Concepts human frailty ethical decay Questions to Reflect On - How do you confront pride before it leads to loss? - What steps can reduce self‑inflicted sorrow? A Different Perspective These causes are interwoven; addressing one may not resolve others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Causes Humbled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes-humbled-1606244/) [Cups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cups/) [Disappointed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointed/) [Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease/) [Drunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drunk/) [Inflicted Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inflicted-brother-1606246/) [Innumerous Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innumerous-causes-1606243/) [Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Lunacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lunacy/) [Lunacy Innumerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lunacy-innumerous-1606245/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Madness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madness/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Riches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/riches/) [Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow/) [Sorrow Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow-reason-1606247/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [Love Can Be The Reason Of Your sorrow or Can Be The Reason Of your Joy :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-can-be-the-reason-of-your-sorrow-or-can-be-the-reason-of-your-joy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Times relieves the foolish from sorrow, but reason relieves the wise”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/times-relieves-the-foolish-from-sorrow-but-reason-relieves-the-wise/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Idiocy is the female defect ... It is no worse than the male defect, which is lunacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/idiocy-is-the-female-defect-it-is-no-worse-than-the-male-defect-which/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [“Oddity, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. What one person rejects as lunacy, another reveres as truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gulley/oddity-like-beauty-is-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder-what-one-person/) [Philip Gulley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gulley/) > [Moderates want their faith respected. They don't want faith itself criticized, and yet faith itself is what is bringing us all this - this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/moderates-want-their-faith-respected-they-don-t-want-faith-itself/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“There is a duality to darkness known only to those who’ve been infected by its touch. Everyone knows the shadows: shallow, comfortable, mostly harmless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-drake/there-is-a-duality-to-darkness-known-only-to-those-who-ve-been/) [Darrell Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-drake/) > [Golf is typical capitalist lunacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/golf-is-typical-capitalist-lunacy/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [She is furious with herself for her own stupidity. Opening herself up like this, voluntarily, to a lifetime of worry and anguish. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/she-is-furious-with-herself-for-her-own-stupidity-opening-herself-up/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [“How do people know they are sane? Can a person be gripped by lunacy, only to be released a short time later, never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-remy/how-do-people-know-they-are-sane-can-a-person-be-gripped-by-lunacy/) [Dee Remy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-remy/) > [“It must be nice to be righteous; from where I stand it looks like fucking lunacy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-lynch/it-must-be-nice-to-be-righteous-from-where-i-stand-it-looks-like/) [Scott Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lynch/) > [The human race has today the means for annihilating itself--either in a fit of complete lunacy, i.e., in a big war...or by the careless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-born/the-human-race-has-today-the-means-for-annihilating-itself-either-in/) [Max Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-born/) > [“He is smitten on the brain, -he reads and writes verses! I caught him in the act! Fools might say he was inspired; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-john-trelawny/he-is-smitten-on-the-brain-he-reads-and-writes-verses-i-caught-him-in/) [Edward John Trelawny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-john-trelawny/) > [“When you are gunning to be like other people, you are foolishly repeating their mistakes, and the worst of it all is that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/when-you-are-gunning-to-be-like-other-people-you-are-foolishly/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Oh, all kinds of lunacy happens in Ireland, all kinds of lunacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anjelica-huston/oh-all-kinds-of-lunacy-happens-in-ireland-all-kinds-of-lunacy/) [Anjelica Huston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anjelica-huston/) > [If you accept the institutional lunacy, then the policies are rational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-accept-the-institutional-lunacy-then-the-policies-are-rational/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## More by Robert Pollok > [Of all the phantoms fleeting in the mist Of time, though meagre all and ghostly thin; Most unsubstantial, unessential shade Was earthly fame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/of-all-the-phantoms-fleeting-in-the-mist-of-time-though-meagre-all/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [With one hand he put A penny in the urn of poverty, And with the other took a shilling out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/with-one-hand-he-put-a-penny-in-the-urn-of-poverty-and-with-the-other/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [Maternal love! thou word that sums all bliss, Gives and receives all bliss,-- fullest when most Thou givest! spring-head of all felicity, Deepest when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/maternal-love-thou-word-that-sums-all-bliss-gives-and-receives-all/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [He was the freeman whom the truth made free; Who first of all, the bands of Satan broke; Who broke the bands of sin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/he-was-the-freeman-whom-the-truth-made-free-who-first-of-all-the/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [Sometimes you have to let go of the one you love to find out if there is really something there. Sometimes you won't let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/sometimes-you-have-to-let-go-of-the-one-you-love-to-find-out-if-there-2/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [Sin is dark and loves the dark, still hides from itself in gloom, and in the darkest hell is still itself the darkest hell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/sin-is-dark-and-loves-the-dark-still-hides-from-itself-in-gloom-and/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [But the unfaithful priest, what tongue Enough, shall execrate?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/but-the-unfaithful-priest-what-tongue-enough-shall-execrate/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [Mercy stood in the cloud, with eye that wept Essential love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/mercy-stood-in-the-cloud-with-eye-that-wept-essential-love/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [Enjoyment stops where indolence begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/enjoyment-stops-where-indolence-begins/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [The Book, this Holy Book, on every line, Mark'd with the seal of high divinity, On every leaf bedew'd with drops of love Divine,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/the-book-this-holy-book-on-every-line-mark-d-with-the-seal-of-high/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [Rumour was the messenger Of defamation, and so swift, that none Could be the first to tell an evil tale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/rumour-was-the-messenger-of-defamation-and-so-swift-that-none-could/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [Living jewels dropped unstained from heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/living-jewels-dropped-unstained-from-heaven/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [All are friends in heaven, all faithful friends, And many friendships in the days of Time Begun, are lasting there and growing still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/all-are-friends-in-heaven-all-faithful-friends-and-many-friendships/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [The sun rejoicing round the earth, announced Daily the wisdom, power and love of God. The moon awoke, and from her maiden face, Shedding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/the-sun-rejoicing-round-the-earth-announced-daily-the-wisdom-power/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) > [Who born so poor, Of intellect so mean, as not to know What seem'd the best; and knowing not to do? As not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pollok/who-born-so-poor-of-intellect-so-mean-as-not-to-know-what-seem-d-the/) [Robert Pollok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) [Explore all 18 Robert Pollok quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pollok/) ## More Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Of lunacy, Innumerous were the causes; humbled pride, Ambition disappointed, riches lost, And bodily disease, and sorrow, oft By man inflicted on his brother man; Sorrow, that, made the reason drunk, and yet Left much untasted. 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