--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes it's to your advantage for…" description: "\"Sometimes it's to your advantage for people to think you're crazy\" — Thelonious Monk" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/thelonious-monk-12808_advantage_sometimes-it-s-to-your-advantage-for-peo_2807204.png" --- # Sometimes it's to your advantage for people to think… ![“Sometimes it's to your advantage for people to think you're crazy” quote by Thelonious Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/thelonious-monk-12808_advantage_sometimes-it-s-to-your-advantage-for-peo_2807204.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/thelonious-monk-12808_advantage_sometimes-it-s-to-your-advantage-for-peo_2807204.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/thelonious-monk-12808_advantage_sometimes-it-s-to-your-advantage-for-peo_2807204.png) > “Sometimes it's to your advantage for people to think you're crazy” [Thelonious Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelonious-monk/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Embracing perceived madness can give strategic advantage. **In simple terms:** Being seen as crazy can be useful. Key Takeaway Use unconventional perception to your benefit. Themes creativity strategy perception Mood playful confident Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - business negotiations - artistic expression - social dynamics Key Concepts Psychology of eccentricity strategic advantage Questions to Reflect On - When can being “crazy” help? - How to avoid negative fallout? A Different Perspective Risk of alienation if misapplied. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage/) [Advantage People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage-people-248448/) [Crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Madness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madness/) [Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monk/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-think/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-crazy/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes its to your advantage for people to think you are crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-its-to-your-advantage-for-people-to-think-you-are-crazy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Dont take advantage of people who love you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-gonzalez/dont-take-advantage-of-people-who-love-you/) [Liz Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-gonzalez/) > [In Hollywood if you don't have a shrink, people think you're crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/in-hollywood-if-you-don-t-have-a-shrink-people-think-you-re-crazy/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [The stigma that's around mental health, people think you're crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-katona/the-stigma-that-s-around-mental-health-people-think-you-re-crazy/) [Kerry Katona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-katona/) > [I don't have a definition of Jazz. You're just supposed to know it when you hear it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelonious-monk/i-don-t-have-a-definition-of-jazz-you-re-just-supposed-to-know-it/) [Thelonious Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelonious-monk/) > [At this time the fashion is to bring something to jazz that I reject. They speak of freedom. But one has no right, under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelonious-monk/at-this-time-the-fashion-is-to-bring-something-to-jazz-that-i-reject/) [Thelonious Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelonious-monk/) > [I say, play your own way. Don't play what the public want - you play what you want and let the public pick up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelonious-monk/i-say-play-your-own-way-don-t-play-what-the-public-want-you-play-what/) [Thelonious Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelonious-monk/) > [Just because you're not a drummer doesn't mean you don't have to keep time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelonious-monk/just-because-you-re-not-a-drummer-doesn-t-mean-you-don-t-have-to-keep/) [Thelonious Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelonious-monk/) > [I was a magnet for people who want to take advantage of people like me, who think they're part of this life but they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-almond/i-was-a-magnet-for-people-who-want-to-take-advantage-of-people-like/) [Marc Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-almond/) > [For me, it works to my advantage when people think I'm stupid. If somebody who disdains you or wants to control you underestimates you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-webb/for-me-it-works-to-my-advantage-when-people-think-i-m-stupid-if/) [Veronica Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-webb/) > [By mandating equal pay, the government erases the competitive advantage of those people who are willing to take less pay. In addition, employers are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane/by-mandating-equal-pay-the-government-erases-the-competitive/) [Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane/) > [I have taken advantage of other people's weaknesses in order to cover my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-have-taken-advantage-of-other-people-s-weaknesses-in-order-to-cover/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [I had an advantage because people would post me on blogs because I had co-signs from Kanye West, Def Jam, and G.O.O.D. Music. Everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-had-an-advantage-because-people-would-post-me-on-blogs-because-i/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [Try not to take advantage of people that love you they eventually get tired :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-mcfatridge-terry/try-not-to-take-advantage-of-people-that-love-you-they-eventually-get/) [Kris( McFatridge) Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-mcfatridge-terry/) > [“If we can focus on making clear what parts of our day are within our control and what parts are not, we will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/if-we-can-focus-on-making-clear-what-parts-of-our-day-are-within-our/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) ## More by Thelonious Monk > [Everyone is influenced by everybody but you bring it down home the way you feel it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelonious-monk/everyone-is-influenced-by-everybody-but-you-bring-it-down-home-the/) [Thelonious Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelonious-monk/) > [A note can be as small as a pin or as big as the world, it depends on your imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelonious-monk/a-note-can-be-as-small-as-a-pin-or-as-big-as-the-world-it-depends-on/) [Thelonious Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelonious-monk/) > [When I was a kid, some of the guys would try to get me to hate white people for what they've been doing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelonious-monk/when-i-was-a-kid-some-of-the-guys-would-try-to-get-me-to-hate-white/) [Thelonious Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelonious-monk/) > [Jazz is freedom. You think about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelonious-monk/jazz-is-freedom-you-think-about-that/) [Thelonious Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelonious-monk/) > [Don't play everything (or every time); let some things go by... What you don't play can be more important than what you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelonious-monk/don-t-play-everything-or-every-time-let-some-things-go-by-what-you/) [Thelonious Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelonious-monk/) > [I made the wrong mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelonious-monk/i-made-the-wrong-mistakes/) [Thelonious Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelonious-monk/) > [I have to listen to New York; I live there. I wasn't born there, but I've been living there all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelonious-monk/i-have-to-listen-to-new-york-i-live-there-i-wasn-t-born-there-but-i/) [Thelonious Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelonious-monk/) > [I was playing birthday parties. House-rent parties where they used to sell whisky during prohibition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelonious-monk/i-was-playing-birthday-parties-house-rent-parties-where-they-used-to/) [Thelonious Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelonious-monk/) > [I always believed in being myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelonious-monk/i-always-believed-in-being-myself/) [Thelonious Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelonious-monk/) > [All musicians are subconsciously mathematicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelonious-monk/all-musicians-are-subconsciously-mathematicians/) [Thelonious Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelonious-monk/) > [ Man, that cat \[Ornette Coleman\] is nuts. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelonious-monk/man-that-cat-ornette-coleman-is-nuts/) [Thelonious Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelonious-monk/) > [I didn't know there were 2 ten o'clocks in a day...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelonious-monk/i-didn-t-know-there-were-2-ten-o-clocks-in-a-day/) [Thelonious Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelonious-monk/) > [I guess, you know, if I didn't make it with the piano, I guess I would've been the biggest bum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelonious-monk/i-guess-you-know-if-i-didn-t-make-it-with-the-piano-i-guess-i-would/) [Thelonious Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelonious-monk/) > [Jazz is my adventure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelonious-monk/jazz-is-my-adventure/) [Thelonious Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelonious-monk/) > [Trying to explain music is like trying to dance architecture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelonious-monk/trying-to-explain-music-is-like-trying-to-dance-architecture/) [Thelonious Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelonious-monk/) [Explore all 53 Thelonious Monk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelonious-monk/) ## More Advantage quotes > [Dogmatists have one advantage: they are poor listeners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/dogmatists-have-one-advantage-they-are-poor-listeners/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Talented people can predict with great accuracy what's about to happen just a tiny bit ahead of their competitors. It might be two seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/talented-people-can-predict-with-great-accuracy-what-s-about-to/) [Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/) > [All I ever wanted was an unfair advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-wynn/all-i-ever-wanted-was-an-unfair-advantage/) [Garrison Wynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-wynn/) > [Part of the advantage, and part of the result of trying to be a producer and director, are the practical things, you find. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/part-of-the-advantage-and-part-of-the-result-of-trying-to-be-a/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [I was born with a silver microphone in my mouth, and that was an advantage. My father wrote books and was also a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dimbleby/i-was-born-with-a-silver-microphone-in-my-mouth-and-that-was-an/) [Jonathan Dimbleby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dimbleby/) > [Like funny men, skilled diners are apparently perceived to have an evolutionary advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/like-funny-men-skilled-diners-are-apparently-perceived-to-have-an/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [For some reason when I decide to pursue something, I never have any fear that it won't happen. I think it's just ingrained in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-blatz/for-some-reason-when-i-decide-to-pursue-something-i-never-have-any/) [Kelly Blatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-blatz/) > [I think I have good hands, so I try to use them to my advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-andreescu/i-think-i-have-good-hands-so-i-try-to-use-them-to-my-advantage/) [Bianca Andreescu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-andreescu/) > [My influences are jazz, blues, European classical music; they are rock music and pop music. So many kinds of music. World music from different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rokia-traore/my-influences-are-jazz-blues-european-classical-music-they-are-rock/) [Rokia Traore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rokia-traore/) > [Baseball needs to put the steroids era behind it by having and enforcing tough rules against all kinds of artificial advantages, so that spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-olasky/baseball-needs-to-put-the-steroids-era-behind-it-by-having-and/) [Marvin Olasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-olasky/) > [Daily contact with some teachers is itself all-sided ethical education for the child without a spoken precept. Here, too, the real advantage of male…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-stanley-hall/daily-contact-with-some-teachers-is-itself-all-sided-ethical/) [G. Stanley Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-stanley-hall/) > [ If \[Donald\] Trump throws 20 million off of health care, that's going to be - if he handles this badly - and it's very… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/if-donald-trump-throws-20-million-off-of-health-care-that-s-going-to/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [Live in the world you inhabit. Look upon things as they are. Take them as you find them. Make the best of them. Turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/live-in-the-world-you-inhabit-look-upon-things-as-they-are-take-them/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [I always tell women that the fact that you're different and that you're noticed, because there are few of us in the tech industry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padmasree-warrior/i-always-tell-women-that-the-fact-that-you-re-different-and-that-you/) [Padmasree Warrior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padmasree-warrior/) [Browse all 3,503 Advantage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sometimes it's to your advantage for people to think you're crazy", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thelonious Monk" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelonious-monk/sometimes-it-s-to-your-advantage-for-people-to-think-you-re-crazy/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Advantage" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelonious-monk/sometimes-it-s-to-your-advantage-for-people-to-think-you-re-crazy/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/thelonious-monk-12808_advantage_sometimes-it-s-to-your-advantage-for-peo_2807204.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/thelonious-monk-12808_advantage_sometimes-it-s-to-your-advantage-for-peo_2807204.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/thelonious-monk-12808_advantage_sometimes-it-s-to-your-advantage-for-peo_2807204.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sometimes it's to your advantage for people to think you're crazy” — Thelonious Monk", "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": "Thelonious Monk", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelonious-monk/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Sometimes it's to your advantage for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelonious-monk/sometimes-it-s-to-your-advantage-for-people-to-think-you-re-crazy/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelonious-monk/sometimes-it-s-to-your-advantage-for-people-to-think-you-re-crazy/#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 } } ] } ```