When you look directly at an insane man all you see is a reflection of your own knowledge that he's insane, which is not to see him at all. To see him you must see what he saw and when you are trying to see the vision of an insane man, an oblique route is the only way to come at it.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Seeing an insane person directly reflects our own assumptions; to truly understand, we must view the world through their perspective, which requires an indirect approach.
- In plain terms
- Understanding madness needs seeing from the insane person's view, not our own bias.
- What can you take from it?
- Use empathy and indirect methods to grasp perspectives different from yours.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How can we truly step into another's mind?
- When does empathy become projection?
Another view
Indirect approaches may still be limited by our own cognitive frameworks.
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