--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Would Alexander, madman as he was, have…" description: "\"Would Alexander, madman as he was, have been so much a madman, had it not been for Homer?\" — Samuel Richardson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/samuel-richardson-1695_homer_would-alexander-madman-as-he-was-have-be_669531.png" --- # Would Alexander, madman as he was, have been so much a… ![“Would Alexander, madman as he was, have been so much a madman, had it not been for Homer?” quote by Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/samuel-richardson-1695_homer_would-alexander-madman-as-he-was-have-be_669531.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/samuel-richardson-1695_homer_would-alexander-madman-as-he-was-have-be_669531.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/samuel-richardson-1695_homer_would-alexander-madman-as-he-was-have-be_669531.png) > “Would Alexander, madman as he was, have been so much a madman, had it not been for Homer?” [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even a madman’s madness may be shaped by cultural narratives like Homer’s epics. **In simple terms:** Madness can be influenced by stories. Key Takeaway Question the stories that shape you. Themes madness influence literature Mood analytical thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal identity - creative writing - historical analysis Key Concepts psychology cultural impact Questions to Reflect On - What narratives have shaped your behavior? - Can you separate personal madness from cultural influence? A Different Perspective Overlooks personal agency beyond external influences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alexander Madman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alexander-madman-5318333/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homer/) [Madman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madman/) [Madman Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madman-homer-5318332/) [Madman Madman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madman-madman-402511/) ## Related quotes > [“One must have common sense, nothing is permanent, nothing endures. I have come to the conclusion that this place is run by a madman.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/one-must-have-common-sense-nothing-is-permanent-nothing-endures-i/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“Wherever a choice has had to be made between the man of reason and the madman, the world has unhesitatingly followed the madman. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/wherever-a-choice-has-had-to-be-made-between-the-man-of-reason-and/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [There is only one difference between the madman and me. The madman thinks he is sane. I know I am mad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-dali/there-is-only-one-difference-between-the-madman-and-me-the-madman/) [Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) > [There is only one difference between a madman and me. The madman thinks he is sane. I know I am mad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-dali/there-is-only-one-difference-between-a-madman-and-me-the-madman/) [Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) > [“A madman should have a madman’s laugh, not the warm chuckle of a favorite uncle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/a-madman-should-have-a-madman-s-laugh-not-the-warm-chuckle-of-a/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [Oh yes! The one man in the world who never believes he's mad is the madman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/oh-yes-the-one-man-in-the-world-who-never-believes-he-s-mad-is-the/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [“Passion often makes a madman of the cleverest man, and renders the greatest fools clever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/passion-often-makes-a-madman-of-the-cleverest-man-and-renders-the/) [François de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“Confined on the ship, from which there is no escape, the madman is delivered to the river with its thousand arms, the sea with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/confined-on-the-ship-from-which-there-is-no-escape-the-madman-is/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [The fellow is either a madman or a poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/the-fellow-is-either-a-madman-or-a-poet/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Someone like myself, who claimed to be a real madman, living and organized with a Pythagorean precision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-dali/someone-like-myself-who-claimed-to-be-a-real-madman-living-and/) [Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) > [“There's no difference between a madman and a professor...it should be clear to you in the way they dress, act and think.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/there-s-no-difference-between-a-madman-and-a-professor-it-should-be/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“Why is it every time a madman's prayers are answered, a witch burns?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-danielle-dorn/why-is-it-every-time-a-madman-s-prayers-are-answered-a-witch-burns/) [J. Danielle Dorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-danielle-dorn/) > [If a madman were to come into this room with a stick in his hand, no doubt we should pity the state of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-a-madman-were-to-come-into-this-room-with-a-stick-in-his-hand-no/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“a pro does as well as he can within what he has set out to do and a madman does exceptionally well at what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/a-pro-does-as-well-as-he-can-within-what-he-has-set-out-to-do-and-a/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [Either Jesus is the Son of God ; or a madman or worse. But His being just a great teacher? He's not left that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/either-jesus-is-the-son-of-god-or-a-madman-or-worse-but-his-being/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## More by Samuel Richardson > [I never knew a man who deserved to be thought well of for his morals who had a slight opinion of our Sex in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/i-never-knew-a-man-who-deserved-to-be-thought-well-of-for-his-morals/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [The life of a good man was a continual warfare with his passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/the-life-of-a-good-man-was-a-continual-warfare-with-his-passions/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [A beautiful woman must expect to be more accountable for her steps, than one less attractive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/a-beautiful-woman-must-expect-to-be-more-accountable-for-her-steps/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [The person who is worthiest to live, is fittest to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/the-person-who-is-worthiest-to-live-is-fittest-to-die/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [Vast is the field of Science... the more a man knows, the more he will find he has to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/vast-is-the-field-of-science-the-more-a-man-knows-the-more-he-will/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [The difference in the education of men and women must give the former great advantages over the latter, even where geniuses are equal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/the-difference-in-the-education-of-men-and-women-must-give-the-former/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [There are men who think themselves too wise to be religious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/there-are-men-who-think-themselves-too-wise-to-be-religious/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [Love is a blazing, crackling, green-wood flame, as much smoke as flame; friendship, married friendship particularly, is a steady,intense, comfortable fire. Love, in courtship,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/love-is-a-blazing-crackling-green-wood-flame-as-much-smoke-as-flame/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [A good man will honor him who lives up to his religious profession, whatever it be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/a-good-man-will-honor-him-who-lives-up-to-his-religious-profession/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [Quantity in diet is more to be regarded than quality. A full meal is a great enemy both to study and industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/quantity-in-diet-is-more-to-be-regarded-than-quality-a-full-meal-is-a/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [Superstitious notions propagated in infancy are hardly ever totally eradicate, not even in minds grown strong enough to despise the like credulous folly in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/superstitious-notions-propagated-in-infancy-are-hardly-ever-totally/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [The eye is the casement at which the heart generally looks out. Many a woman who will not show herself at the door, has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/the-eye-is-the-casement-at-which-the-heart-generally-looks-out-many-a/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [People of little understanding are most apt to be angry when their sense is called into question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/people-of-little-understanding-are-most-apt-to-be-angry-when-their/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [I have my choice: who can wish for more? Free will enables us to do everything well while imposition makes a light burden heavy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/i-have-my-choice-who-can-wish-for-more-free-will-enables-us-to-do/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [There would be no supporting life were we to feel quite as poignantly for others as we do for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/there-would-be-no-supporting-life-were-we-to-feel-quite-as-poignantly/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) [Explore all 215 Samuel Richardson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) ## More Homer quotes > [It is true that from a behavioral economics perspective we are fallible, easily confused, not that smart, and often irrational. We are more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/it-is-true-that-from-a-behavioral-economics-perspective-we-are/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [“we're looking for a planeet on the strength of a song. it's crazy I know, but its the only chance we have to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-kagan/we-re-looking-for-a-planeet-on-the-strength-of-a-song-it-s-crazy-i/) [Janet Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-kagan/) > [“Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story of that man skilled in all ways of contending, the wanderer, harried for years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/sing-in-me-muse-and-through-me-tell-the-story-of-that-man-skilled-in/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Homer, Hesiod, Pythagoras, Plato, and Cicero, just to name a few, all lived in pagan societies. Some of the greatest political and military leaders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/homer-hesiod-pythagoras-plato-and-cicero-just-to-name-a-few-all-lived/) [Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/) > [I've seen few things more depressing than the end-of-season Giants-Padres series in 2001 in which Barry Bonds hit his 68th homer of the year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rodrick/i-ve-seen-few-things-more-depressing-than-the-end-of-season-giants/) [Stephen Rodrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rodrick/) > [The Iliad is only great because all life is a battle, The Odyssey because all life is a journey, The Book of Job because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-iliad-is-only-great-because-all-life-is-a-battle-the-odyssey/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > ['The Odyssey' is a great poem to refugee-dom... Odysseus is not entirely a refugee... he's somebody who's blown off course. The entire book is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-osborne/the-odyssey-is-a-great-poem-to-refugee-dom-odysseus-is-not-entirely-a/) [Lawrence Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-osborne/) > [The Iliad is the private lives of people thrown into disorder by history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-queneau/the-iliad-is-the-private-lives-of-people-thrown-into-disorder-by/) [Raymond Queneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-queneau/) > [We see then how far the monuments of wit and learning are more durable than the monuments of power, or of the hands. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/we-see-then-how-far-the-monuments-of-wit-and-learning-are-more/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [“The Odyssey was written by Homer, or another Greek of the same name.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-odyssey-was-written-by-homer-or-another-greek-of-the-same-name/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Everything since Homer has improved, except poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-leopardi/everything-since-homer-has-improved-except-poetry/) [Giacomo Leopardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-leopardi/) > [Homer and Hesiod attributed to the gods all things which are disreputable and worthy of blame when done by men; and they told of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xenophanes/homer-and-hesiod-attributed-to-the-gods-all-things-which-are/) [Xenophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xenophanes/) > [“For a long time the human instinct to understand was thwarted by facile religious explanations, as in ancient Greece in the time of Homer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/for-a-long-time-the-human-instinct-to-understand-was-thwarted-by/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [There were poets before Homer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/there-were-poets-before-homer/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“Nestor is the spokesman for the status quo, for the tradition-hallowed belief that institutional power equates with unquestioned authority.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-alexander/nestor-is-the-spokesman-for-the-status-quo-for-the-tradition-hallowed/) [Caroline Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-alexander/) [Browse all 228 Homer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Would Alexander, madman as he was, have been so much a madman, had it not been for Homer?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Richardson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/would-alexander-madman-as-he-was-have-been-so-much-a-madman-had-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Homer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/would-alexander-madman-as-he-was-have-been-so-much-a-madman-had-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/samuel-richardson-1695_homer_would-alexander-madman-as-he-was-have-be_669531.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/samuel-richardson-1695_homer_would-alexander-madman-as-he-was-have-be_669531.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/samuel-richardson-1695_homer_would-alexander-madman-as-he-was-have-be_669531.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Would Alexander, madman as he was, have been so much a madman, had it not been for Homer?” — Samuel Richardson", "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": "Samuel Richardson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Would Alexander, madman as he was,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/would-alexander-madman-as-he-was-have-been-so-much-a-madman-had-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/would-alexander-madman-as-he-was-have-been-so-much-a-madman-had-it/#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 } } ] } ```