# Quote — G. Chesterton, Orthodoxy

> The madman's explanation of a thing is always complete, and often in a purely rational sense satisfactory. Or, to speak more strictly, the insane explanation, if not conclusive, is at least unanswerable; this may be observed specially in the two or three commonest kinds of madness. If a man says (for instance) that men have a conspiracy against him, you cannot dispute it except by saying that all the men deny that they are conspirators; which is exactly what conspirators would do. His explanation covers the facts as much as yours. Or if a man says that he is the rightful King of England, it is no complete answer to say that the existing authorities call him mad; for if he were King of England that might be the wisest thing for the existing authorities to do. Or if a man says that he is Jesus Christ, it is no answer to tell him that the world denies his divinity; for the world denied Christ's.

- Author: [G. Chesterton](https://www.leafyquotes.com/g-chesterton.md)
- Book: [Orthodoxy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/g-chesterton/orthodoxy.md)
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Orthodoxy_(book)#Chapter_II._%22The_Maniac%22) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/g-chesterton/orthodoxy/the-madmans-explanation

## More from this book

> In so far as we desire the definite reconstructions and the dangerous revolutions which have distinguished European civilisation, we shall not discourage the thought of possible ruin; we shall rather encourage it.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/g-chesterton/orthodoxy/in-so-far-as.md)

> Angels can fly because they can take themselves lightly.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/g-chesterton/orthodoxy/angels-can-fly.md)

> Alone of all creeds, Christianity has added courage to the virtues of the Creator. For the only courage worth calling courage must necessarily mean that the soul passes a breaking point—and does not break.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/g-chesterton/orthodoxy/alone-of-all.md)