there is (a) method in (one's) madness

there is (a) method in (one's) madness

There is a specific, rational purpose in what one is doing or planning, even though it may seem crazy or absurd to another person. I know you don't understand my motivation for this decision, but after the dust settles you'll see that there is a method in my madness. You may have method in your madness, but these radical changes to the business could still prove catastrophic.See also: madness, method, there

there is method in someone's madness

If you say there is method in someone's madness, you mean that although what they do seems strange, they have a good reason for doing it. Of course, there's method in her madness because an empty fridge means I have to take her out to dinner. Note: People also say there is method in the madness. This sounds like pointless technology, but there is method in the madness.See also: madness, method, there

there is method in someone's madness

there is a sensible foundation for what appears to be foolish or strange behaviour. This expression comes from the scene in Hamlet in which Hamlet feigns madness, causing Polonius to remark: ‘Though this be madness, yet there is method in't’.See also: madness, method, there

there’s ˌmethod in somebody’s ˈmadness

there is a reason for your behaviour and it is not as strange or as stupid as it seems: ‘Why do you always read your newspaper backwards?’ ‘Ah, there’s method in my madness — the back pages are where the sport is.’This comes from Shakespeare’s play Hamlet: ‘Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t (= in it).’See also: madness, method