The Professor and the Madman
"The Professor and the Madman" by Simon Winchester recounts the fascinating story behind the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary, focusing on the collaboration between Professor James Murray and Dr. William Chester Minor, a brilliant but troubled American psychiatrist. Minor, incarcerated in an asylum for murder, contributed thousands of entries to the dictionary, highlighting themes of genius, madness, and the transformative power of language. The book explores their unlikely friendship and the intricate process of compiling a monumental linguistic work.
10 curated highlights from this book
Key Insights & Memorable Quotes
Below are the most impactful passages and quotes from The Professor and the Madman, carefully selected to capture the essence of the book.
The dictionary is a living thing, an evolving entity.
Words are the most powerful tool we have.
A word can change the world.
The beauty of language is its capacity to create.
We are all mad here; some of us are just better at hiding it.
To define is to limit.
Every word tells a story.
The act of writing is an act of discovery.
Understanding the past is essential to understanding the present.
There is a fine line between genius and madness.