Quote the Raving Trivia Quiz

Answer: Friedrich Nietzsche

Nietzsche isn't everyone's favourite philosopher but he is one of the most famous from the Victorian era. Residing in Germany for much of his life, he based most of his thoughts on existentialism and has since been a poster boy for the field. Madness isn't too far off for Nietzsche though-- his thoughts on the subject influenced later postmodern thinkers like Michel Foucault (who wrote "Madness and Civilization"). In his later years, Nietzsche suffered from a breakdown; these years marked some of his most famous quotes.
Despite saying the quote in question, Nietzsche never married. He passed away in 1900.

Madness is rare in individuals - but in groups, parties, nations, and ages it is the rule.

Answer: George Carlin

Although Carlin is best-recognized as a comedian, his words have long stood for something more than simple comedy. Starting his career in radio in the 1950s, Carlin branched into other media in the next fifty years, inevitably finding footing on stage for over a dozen popular HBO specials.

Many of these later specials didn't contain his earlier, basic jokes-- they contained more scathing comedy aimed at examining politics, hot-button issues, and life itself. Some of his musings may have been considered nihilist, but it didn't stop him from becoming one of the world's most important satirists, even into the 21st century. To some, his views may have been mad in and of themselves; to others, he was speaking loud and clear. In one of his shows, Carlin also stated that "those who dance are considered insane by those who cannot hear the music."

Answer: Edgar Allan Poe

A man obsessed with his writing (and with his drinking), Poe began his writing career in the 1820s with poetry but became most famous for his short stories in later years. An American author in the Victorian period, his works focused on the sensational supernatural-- you'd likely know him for "The Tell-Tale Heart", "The Black Cat", "The Raven", and "The Fall of the House of Usher". Much of his work did indeed involved insanity and, like many horror authors after him, much of it was written while he imbibed.

He passed away in 1849 of reasons unknown. His canon has since been a cornerstone in several genres (including horror and mystery) and has given insight into the madness of the human psyche.

Answer: Thomas Moore

Living through the Romantic era and well into Victoria's reign, Thomas Moore (1779-1852) emerged as one of Ireland's leading poets and musicians. The trek there, however, was dotted with memorable life events including inciting rebellion, sailing to America (and disliking it) and nearly getting involved in a duel.

At the turn of the century, his focus shifted to writing Irish lyrical poems-- he would later be recognized as the Bard of Ireland for these pieces. After a while, however, he found poetry too tiresome and gave it up. Perhaps the mystery was lost.

Answer: Aristotle

One of the most famous Greek philosophers, Aristotle was far from simply a thinker-- he also established basic principles used in the fields of biology, political science, and the arts. In fact, Aristotle's work with logic and scientific method makes him a less-than-likely candidate for having a 'touch of madness'. Maybe there's something we don't know.
The quote is also known under a variant: "No excellent soul is exempt from a mixture of madness."

Answer: Tim Burton

Known for creating stilted, dark films including "Beetlejuice", "The Nightmare Before Christmas", and "Edward Scissorhands", Tim Burton established himself in the 1990s as a director for all things weird. His visual style evokes the gothic and all matters of morbidity and eccentricity.

It's likely to see a quote about madness coming from Burton; not only did he adapt "Sweeney Todd" for the cinema, but he made a biopic about infamous B-movie director Ed Wood who, in a way, was a bit mad to bring his works to the big screen.

Answer: Dwight D. Eisenhower

Well, the irony is, Eisenhower was President of the United States, and for eight years at that. The thirty-fourth man to take office in the United States, Eisenhower was the U.S. leader during a great deal of the Cold War, ultimately fighting the Communist scares generated by McCarthy and fueling the funding for NASA (to beat the Russians in the Space Race). Maybe he was a bit crazy-- during World War II, Eisenhower became Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, ultimately becoming a driving figure in an Allied victory.

After presidency he continued to involve himself in diffusing political conflict. He passed away in 1969.

Answer: Hunter S. Thompson

Also known for writing "The Rum Diary" and for having been a journalist for "Rolling Stone", Thompson committed suicide in 2005 after contributing years of acclaimed works and creating a unique persona. For decades, friends and family members (and the press) believed that Thompson's life had become as unstable as his work, and seamlessly so.

His friend, Johnny Depp, portrayed major characters in two films based on his works; surprisingly, neither was influenced by Tim Burton. Thompson also said the following: "The Edge, there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."

Answer: Theodor Geisel

Theodor Geisel, better known to readers as the famous Dr. Seuss, was more than a little bit zany. Well-known for "The Cat in the Hat", "Green Eggs and Ham", "Fox in Socks", "Yertle the Turtle", "The Lorax", and "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas", his colourful books became standard literature for early readers and inspirational classics for adolescents (it's hard to find a college graduate who hasn't received or known someone to receive "Oh, the Places You'll Go!"). Unbeknownst to many, his political cartoons made during World War II exposed his views on conflict and Nazi leaders.

He passed away in 1991; "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" was his last work.

Answer: Joss Whedon

Known for commentary and meta-humour, Joss Whedon amassed a certain cult following (of Whedonites) after bringing "Buffy" to the small screen. After the cancellation of "Firefly", he went on the write more films, inevitably finding fame with "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog", "Serenity", "The Cabin in the Woods", and the big-screen version of "The Avengers". Because of his strong and somewhat rabid fan-base, he has tended to be a go-to contemporary figure in the media when examining social issues-- "Buffy", for instance, was examined for its strong role in supporting feminism. Most of his works tend to be a little kooky; he's definitely been a bit more crazy than kooky.