there is (a) method in (one's) madness
(redirected from there was a method in his 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.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
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.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
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’.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
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).’Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017