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All In Your Mind
22. Madness; Prayer
"Madness frequently discovers itself merely by unnecessary
deviation from the usual modes of the world. My poor friend
Smart showed the disturbance of his mind, by falling upon his
knees, and saying his prayers in the street, or in any other
unusual place. Now although, rationally speaking, it is greater
madness not to pray at all, than to pray as Smart did, I am
afraid there are so many who do not pray that their understanding
is not called in question."
Boswell: Life
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491. Madness
"Of the uncertainties of our present state, the most dreadful and
alarming is the uncertain continuance of reason."
Johnson: Rasselas [Imlac]
Note: If you haven't read it yet, please read this note of caution regarding quotes from
Rasselas.
Link
492. Madness
"Disorders of intellect ... happen much more often than
superficial observers will easily believe. Perhaps, if we speak
with rigorous exactness, no human mind is in its right
state."
Johnson: Rasselas [Imlac]
Note: If you haven't read it yet, please read this note of caution regarding quotes from
Rasselas.
Link
493. Focus; Madness
"There is no man whose imagination does not sometimes predominate
over his reason, who can regulate his attention wholly by his
will, and whose ideas will come and go at his command. No man
will be found in whose mind airy motions do not sometimes
tyrannize, and force him to hope or fear beyond the limits of
sober probability."
Johnson: Rasselas [Imlac]
Note: If you haven't read it yet, please read this note of caution regarding quotes from
Rasselas.
Link
1,316. Madness; Reason
"There is no state more contrary to the dignity of wisdom than
perpetual and unlimited dependance, in which the understanding
lies useless, and every motion is received from external impulse.
Reason is the great distinction of human nature, the faculty by
which we approach the same degree of association with celestial
intelligences; but as the excellence of every power appears only
in its operations, not to have reason, and to have it unemployed
is nearly the same."
Johnson: Rambler #162 (October 5, 1751)
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