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Hamlet Quote by William Shakespeare

“I will be brief: your noble son is mad: Mad call I it; for, to define true madness, What is't but to be nothing else but mad?” quote by William Shakespeare
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““I will be brief: your noble son is mad: Mad call I it; for, to define true madness, What is't but to be nothing else but mad?””

William Shakespeare

About This Quote

Source Play: King Lear, Act 1, Scene 4

Madness is defined as being nothing but madness; the speaker questions the nature of true insanity.

In simple terms: Madness is being wholly mad.

Key Takeaway

Question what truly defines madness.

Themes

madness identity philosophy

Mood

thought‑provoking dramatic

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • theatre
  • literature
  • personal reflection

Key Concepts

existentialism psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • Is madness a label or a state?
  • Can one be mad and sane simultaneously?
A Different Perspective

Interpretations vary across cultures.

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