He never went mad in your sense. My dear fellow, you're very much wrong if you think there was anything pathological about him - then. The man was brilliantly sane. His mind was as keen as a keen sword. I couldn't understand him, but I could judge of his sanity right enough.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- A character defends another's mental state, arguing that brilliance does not equal madness. He emphasizes keen intelligence rather than pathology.
- In plain terms
- Being highly intelligent and intense is not the as being mad.
- What can you take from it?
- Distinguish between mental instability and sharp, unconventional intelligence.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do you define sanity?
- Can brilliance look like madness?
Another view
The definition of madness can vary culturally and historically.
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