People who use the phrase "There's a fine line between being brilliant and being crazy" could be expressing a number of layperson sentiments. One very positive interpretation could be that the person accepts not only that there eccentric or "different" people in the world but also that the rest of us are enriched by their presence. However, they could also be saying just the opposite, that highly creative people are just too "different" than most people to be completely sane. .

             In either case, the phrase ignores one of the most important features of any psychiatric diagnosis - that the person's condition should make significant problems for him or her. Most people don't think of those they describe as "brilliant" as functioning poorly in life. People love to laugh about the "absent-minded professor," whose head is so occupied with deep thoughts that he or she could miss the door and walk into the wall, but such phrases are usually stated with some degree of affection. By comparison, the "fine line" statement is a double-edged sword that can be very negative. .

             However, there may be some truth to the statement. Patty Duke wrote a book called A Fine Madness, where she described her bipolar disorder and the terribly negative effects it had on her life until she was diagnosed and got treatment. However, she made the point that the bipolar is an important part of who she is and that it contributes to her talent as an actress. It seems possible that in the manic phase of her illness she exceeded boundaries that might have held her back as an actress. Perhaps there is some ability to think more freely that accompanies her even when not manic. If so, she would be a good example of the fine line between being brilliant and being crazy.

             2. When many people think of mental illness, they may think of major, disruptive disorders such as schizophrenia, but people with schizophrenia may not be in a close relationship to begin with.