Madmen Quote by Tad Williams
““Even the king's Erkynguard might have wished to be elsewhere, rather than here on this killing ground where duty brought them and loyalty prisoned them. Only the mercenaries were here by choice. To Simon, the minds of men who would come to this of their own will were suddenly as incomprehensible as the thoughts of spiders or lizards—less so, even, for the small creatures of the earth almost always fled from danger. These were madmen, Simon realized, and that was the direst problem of the world: that madmen should be strong and unafraid, so that they could force their will on the weak and peace-loving. If God allowed such madness to be, Simon could not help thinking, then He was an old god who had lost His grip.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Shadowmarch, 2004
The quote warns that powerful, irrational leaders can dominate the weak, and that divine neglect may allow such chaos.
In simple terms: Mad leaders threaten peace.
Key Takeaway
Beware and challenge irrational power.
Themes
power
madness
divine
war
morality
Mood
tense
reflective
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- political leadership
- military command
- social movements
- ethical debates
Key Concepts
authoritarianism
free will
theodicy
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do societies protect the vulnerable from tyrannical forces?
- What role does belief in a higher power play in confronting evil?
A Different Perspective
Even strong madmen can be resisted through collective action.
