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Insanity: Quotations from Cyclopedia of Practical Quotations

Hence, bashful cunning! And prompt me, plain and holy innocence!— Shakespeare — Tempest. Act III. Sc. I. L. 81.

I doubt not then but innocence shall make False accusation blush, and tyranny Tremble at patience.— Shakespeare — Winter's Tale. Act III. Sc. 2. L. 31.

O, take the sense, sweet, of my innocence, Love takes the meaning in love's conference. Midsummer-Night's Dream. Act II. Sc. 2. L. 45. We were as twinn'd lambs that did frisk i' the sun, And bleat the one at the other; what we chang'd Was innocence for innocence; we knew not The doctrine of ill-doing, nor dream'd That any did.— Shakespeare — Winter's Tale. Act I. Sc. 2. L. 67.

O, white innocence, That thou shouldst wear the mask of guilt to hide Thine awful and serenest countenance From those who know thee not!— SHELLEY — The Cenci. Act V. Sc. 3. L. 24.

No excellent soul is exempt from a mixture of madness.— ARISTOTLE — Problem. Sect. 30.

A mere madness, to live like a wretch, and die rich.— BURTON — Anatomy of Melancholy. Pt. I. Sect. 2. Memb. 3.

Subsect. 13. Much madness is divinest sense To a discerning eye; Much sense the starkest madness. 'Tis the majority In this, as all, prevails. Assent, and you are sane; Demur, you're straightway dangerous, And handled with a chain.— EMILY DICKINSON — Poems. XI.

(Ed. 1891). For those whom God to ruin has designed He fits for fate, and first destroys their mind,— DRYDEN — Fables. The Hind and the Panther. Pt. III. L. 2,387.

There is a pleasure, sure, In being mad, which none but madmen know!— DRYDEN — Spanish Friar. Act II. St. 1.

The alleged power to charm down insanity, or ferocity in beasts, is a power behind the eye.— EMERSON — Essays. Conduct of Life.

Of Behaviour. O, hark! what mean those yells and cries? His chain some furious madman breaks; He comes-I see his glaring eyes; Now, now, my dungeon grate he shakes. Help! Help! He's gone! - fearful woe, Such screams to hear, such sights to see! My brain, my brain, -I know, I know I am not mad but soon shall be. MATTHEW GREGORY LEWIS ("Monk Lewis")-The Maniac. My dear Sir, take any road, you can't go amiss. The whole State is one vast insane asylum.— JAMES L. PETIGRU — On being asked the

way to the Charleston, S. C., Insane Asylum. 1860. Fetter strong madness in a silken thread.— Shakespeare — Much Ado About Nothing. Act V. Sc. 1. L. 25.

I am not mad; I would to heaven I were! For then, 'tis like I should forget myself.— Shakespeare — King John. Act III. Sc. 4. L. 48.

It shall be so: Madness in great ones must not unwatch'd go.— Shakespeare — Hamlet. Act III. Sc. 1. L. 196.

Madam, I swear I use no art at all. That he is mad, 'tis true, 'tis true 'tis pity; And pity 'tis 'tis true.— Shakespeare — Hamlet. Act II. Sc. 2. L. 96.

Though this be madness, yet there is method in 't.— Shakespeare — Hamlet. Act II. Sc. 2. L. 208.

You will never run mad, niece; No, not till a hot January.— Shakespeare — Much Ado About Nothing. Act I. Act I. Sc. 1. L. 93.

We are not ourselves When nature, being oppress'd, commands the mind To suffer with the body.— Shakespeare — King Lear. Act II. Sc. 4. L. 109.

Were such things here as we do speak about? Or have we eaten on the insane root That takes the reason prisoner?— Shakespeare — Macbeth. Act I. Sc. 3. L. 83

Ant. Ants never sleep.— EMERSON — Nature. Ch. IV.

Bacillus. Oh, powerful bacillus, With wonder how you fill us, Every day! While medical detectives, With powerful objectives, Watch your play. τ.— WM. TOD HELMUTH — Ode to the

Nimirum insanus paucis videatur, eo quod Maxima pars hominum morbo jactatur eodem. He appears mad indeed but to a few, because the majority is infected with the same disease.— HORACE — Satiræ. II. 3. 120.

O major tandem parcas, insane, minori. Oh! thou who art greatly mad, deign to spare me who am less mad.— HORACE — Satiræ. II. 3. 326.

Quisnam igitur sanus? Qui non stultus. Who then is sane? He who is not a fool.— HORACE — Satira. II. 3. 158,