Where does were all mad here come from?

Historical Events Movies

HE-1951-0104

A: 96.66%Affected: 96.66%

MMDE: We're all mad here

Current: Most everyone is mad here.

What did the Cheshire Cat say?

The mysterious Cheshire Cat is firmly lodged in many peoples memories having read about him, or equally likely seen him, in Lewis Carrols famous Alice in Wonderland.

In the Disney adaptation, many remember him saying "we're all mad here", and this phrase is referenced many times on the internet. It's this way in the original text, too. The problem is in the Disney movie, the phrase he uses is "Most everyone is mad here".

This Mass Memory Discrepancy Effect is likely explained by the phrase being different in the original, which is of course the authoritative source. However, it is remarkable just how many claim to have only seen the movie yet are sure they know the phrase.

Cat

The quote is misquoted many times, and in some unexpected places, too.

“But I don’t want to go among mad people," Alice remarked.
"Oh, you can’t help that," said the Cat: "we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad."
"How do you know I’m mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn’t have come here.”

-- Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

The novel was written in 1865, and most people know it was by Lewis Carrol but don't realise that was the pseudonym of Charles Luttwidge Dodgson. It was unique at the time for being aimed at both adults and children, both of which found different meanings throughout the work. It is world famous, and has been adapted for the theatre, radio, big screen and television many times as each new medium emerged. Translated into over 100 languages, a sequel in 1871 was written called Through the Looking-Glass.

The origin of the story is one a day when Dodgson was on a boat with the three young daughters of a friend, and started making up a story to pass the time. He just came up with the idea of a young girl called Alice who was bored and wanted an adventure. Later, on another boat trip, he elaborated on the earlier story and one of the girls - who was actually called Alice - asked him to write it down for her. This became the first draft of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland now commonly known as Alice in Wonderland.

I've read the books as a kid. I've watched the disney movie countless times. Without looking either up to check what is said it is now, and what my memory is, I remember the Mad Hatter saying "We're all mad here." to Alice in the book, and in the disney movie during the tea party. The Cheshire Cat says "Most everyone's mad here..." and flips up side down as a mouth and face only, lingering in the tree, after Alice has had an encounter with the Caterpillar. I do not know what it is now in the book or the movie has it has been probably 12 years since I watched the movie in it's entirety, and probably 16 years since I read the books to my kids.

People take the quote from the Mad Hatter and add it to both Hat tattoos and Cheshire Cat tattoos and Caterpillar tattoos. Sometimes people put the Most everyone's mad here, but it is far less. I think the lettering for We're all Mad Here tends to be easier. lol

We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.

Context

Imagine you're Alice. You've just arrived in Wonderland, and you're pretty much baffled by, well, everything. You're wondering which way to go, and suddenly the Cheshire Cat appears and drops some knowledge on you: this very quote.

When the cat tells her she could see the hatter or the hare, both of whom are mad, Alice replies, "But I don't want to go among mad people." The cat answers her with this quote, and (as she nibbles on discrete parts of a magical mushroom to change her size) Alice begins to wonder if he's right.

Where you've heard it

Have you ever felt like you're the only sane person in the room?

In the world, even?

That's how Alice feels, too, until that cat starts to make her question her own sanity. What if she is just as crazy as the rest of them? The cat even argues for his own madness, comparing himself to a dog, saying that dogs growl when they're angry and he growls when he's happy.

Alice points out that his argument doesn't really make sense…but then again, why would it if he's mad? Deep, we know.

When you hear this quote, it's usually in celebration of the total insanity that is human existence. Some folks say it in exasperation. Some folks say it in resignation. But in any case, it's an acknowledgment of this crazy thing we call life.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

Not even a little.

Where does the quote we're all mad here come from?

What does were all mad here mean?

Is it were all mad here or most everyone's mad here?

What does Mad mean in Alice in Wonderland?