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{{trope}}
{{trope}}
[[File:tycho-sane-man.jpg|link=Penny Arcade (Webcomic)|right]]
[[File:tycho-sane-man.jpg|link=Penny Arcade (Webcomic)|frame]]


{{quote|''"The next time you get the urge to take over someone else's holiday, I'd listen to '''''her'''''. She's the only one who makes any sense in this insane asylum!"''|'''[[Santa Claus]]''', ''[[The Nightmare Before Christmas (Animation)|The Nightmare Before Christmas]]''}}
{{quote|''"The next time you get the urge to take over someone else's holiday, I'd listen to '''''her'''''. She's the only one who makes any sense in this insane asylum!"''|'''[[Santa Claus]]''', ''[[The Nightmare Before Christmas]]''}}


A standard comedy piece: something absolutely insane [[No Mere Windmill|is going on]], but only one person notices (or cares).
A standard comedy piece: something absolutely insane [[No Mere Windmill|is going on]], but only one person notices (or cares).
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# '''[[Deadpan Snarker|Bitter Sarcasm]]''' (Acceptance). He gives up and just goes with the flow, finding refuge in a heartfelt loathing towards the stupidity of the world in general.
# '''[[Deadpan Snarker|Bitter Sarcasm]]''' (Acceptance). He gives up and just goes with the flow, finding refuge in a heartfelt loathing towards the stupidity of the world in general.


In the more extreme cases, the poor soul may be trapped in a [[World Gone Mad]] and/or wind up [[Giving Up On Logic]] in frustration. Sometimes, though, they are [[Not So Above It All]].
In the more extreme cases, the poor soul may be trapped in a [[World Gone Mad]] and/or wind up [[Giving Up on Logic]] in frustration. Sometimes, though, they are [[Not So Above It All]].


A [[Too Dumb to Fool]] character may be the Only Sane Man, although he is likely to be less worked up about the failures of others to see than in most cases.
A [[Too Dumb to Fool]] character may be the Only Sane Man, although he is likely to be less worked up about the failures of others to see than in most cases.


The [[Only Sane Man]] is [[The Reliable One|often relied upon]] as the [[Only Sane Employee]]. This character often ends up a [[Knight in Sour Armor]]. For a more horrific version, see [[Through the Eyes of Madness]]. For the sci-fi version, The [[Ignored Expert]] is your go-to guy. If all the other characters are otherwise sane, and really should see something, but only one guy does, he's an [[Einstein Sue]]. The [[Nietzsche Wannabe]] is a villain who views himself this way. Occasionally, when the [[Only Sane Man]] expresses his creator's opinions, he serves as an [[Author Avatar]]. See also [[Cassandra Truth]], [[Surrounded By Idiots]], and [[Surrounded By Smart People]]; contrast with the [[Unfazed Everyman]]. May temporarily overlap with [[What the Hell, Hero?]].
The [[Only Sane Man]] is [[The Reliable One|often relied upon]] as the [[Only Sane Employee]]. This character often ends up a [[Knight in Sour Armor]]. For a more horrific version, see [[Through the Eyes of Madness]]. For the sci-fi version, The [[Ignored Expert]] is your go-to guy. If all the other characters are otherwise sane, and really should see something, but only one guy does, he's an [[Einstein Sue]]. The [[Nietzsche Wannabe]] is a villain who views himself this way. Occasionally, when the [[Only Sane Man]] expresses his creator's opinions, he serves as an [[Author Avatar]]. See also [[Cassandra Truth]], [[Surrounded by Idiots]], and [[Surrounded by Smart People]]; contrast with the [[Unfazed Everyman]]. May temporarily overlap with [[What the Hell, Hero?]].


If several characters take turns being the [[Only Sane Man]], they're playing with a [[Sanity Ball]]. If it's a two-person show, with one person playing the [[Only Sane Man]] to the other's wackiness, it's a [[Straight Man and Wise Guy]] scenario. This trope is one third of a [[Comic Trio]].
If several characters take turns being the [[Only Sane Man]], they're playing with a [[Sanity Ball]]. If it's a two-person show, with one person playing the [[Only Sane Man]] to the other's wackiness, it's a [[Straight Man and Wise Guy]] scenario. This trope is one third of a [[Comic Trio]].


[[The Wonka]] may well feel like this (or be this!) in a world that doesn't follow his thinking. Insanity is, after all, in the eye of the beholder, and [[The Wonka]] often has quite valid points.
[[The Wonka]] may well feel like this (or be this!) in a world that doesn't follow his thinking. Insanity is, after all, in the eye of the beholder, and [[The Wonka]] often has quite valid points.
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{{examples}}


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{{examples on subpages}}

* [[Only Sane Man/Advertising|Advertising]]
* [[Only Sane Man/Anime and Manga|Anime and Manga]]
* [[Only Sane Man/Comic Books|Comic Books]]
* [[Only Sane Man/Fanfic|Fanfic]]
* [[Only Sane Man/Film|Film]]
* [[Only Sane Man/Literature|Literature]]
* [[Only Sane Man/Live Action TV|Live Action TV]]
* [[Only Sane Man/Music|Music]]
* [[Only Sane Man/Radio|Radio]]
* [[Only Sane Man/Stand Up Comedy|Stand Up Comedy]]
* [[Only Sane Man/Theatre|Theatre]]
* [[Only Sane Man/Video Games|Video Games]]
* [[Only Sane Man/Webcomics|Webcomics]]
* [[Only Sane Man/Web Original|Web Original]]
* [[Only Sane Man/Western Animation|Western Animation]]
* [[Only Sane Man/Real Life|Real Life]]


{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
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[[Category:Romanticism Versus Enlightenment]]
[[Category:Romanticism Versus Enlightenment]]
[[Category:Comedy Tropes]]
[[Category:Comedy Tropes]]
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[[Category:TV Tropes Superhero Team]]
[[Category:Normal People]]
[[Category:Normal People]]
[[Category:Truth in Television]]
[[Category:Truth in Television]]
[[Category:Older Than Feudalism]]
[[Category:Older Than Feudalism]]
[[Category:index]]
[[Category:Only Sane Man]]
[[Category:Only Sane Man]]
⚫
[[Category:All the Tropes Superhero Team]]

Latest revision as of 16:39, 18 August 2023
"The next time you get the urge to take over someone else's holiday, I'd listen to her. She's the only one who makes any sense in this insane asylum!"
—Santa Claus, The Nightmare Before Christmas

A standard comedy piece: something absolutely insane is going on, but only one person notices (or cares).

There are usually three stages:

  1. Bewilderment (Shock and Anger). The OSM looks around, realizes that something is wrong, and immediately has to face the maddening fact that apparently no one else sees what they see, or if they do, then they see nothing wrong with it. (This is not the same as Glamour Failure, though it may contribute to the fact. The character's anguish comes from the fact that others have access to the same information, yet he is the only one to come to the seemingly inevitable conclusion.)
  2. Trying to Explain (Bargaining and Denial). The character tries to explain why it is wrong to those who are accepting it as normal - and at the same time confirm for himself that he is not crazy. He may go to great lengths to be able to get proof, or yell, groan, cry, howl and berate, in the hope that someone will notice. Sadly, nobody does, and he may just make a fool of himself.
  3. Bitter Sarcasm (Acceptance). He gives up and just goes with the flow, finding refuge in a heartfelt loathing towards the stupidity of the world in general.

In the more extreme cases, the poor soul may be trapped in a World Gone Mad and/or wind up Giving Up on Logic in frustration. Sometimes, though, they are Not So Above It All.

A Too Dumb to Fool character may be the Only Sane Man, although he is likely to be less worked up about the failures of others to see than in most cases.

The Only Sane Man is often relied upon as the Only Sane Employee. This character often ends up a Knight in Sour Armor. For a more horrific version, see Through the Eyes of Madness. For the sci-fi version, The Ignored Expert is your go-to guy. If all the other characters are otherwise sane, and really should see something, but only one guy does, he's an Einstein Sue. The Nietzsche Wannabe is a villain who views himself this way. Occasionally, when the Only Sane Man expresses his creator's opinions, he serves as an Author Avatar. See also Cassandra Truth, Surrounded by Idiots, and Surrounded by Smart People; contrast with the Unfazed Everyman. May temporarily overlap with What the Hell, Hero?.

If several characters take turns being the Only Sane Man, they're playing with a Sanity Ball. If it's a two-person show, with one person playing the Only Sane Man to the other's wackiness, it's a Straight Man and Wise Guy scenario. This trope is one third of a Comic Trio.

The Wonka may well feel like this (or be this!) in a world that doesn't follow his thinking. Insanity is, after all, in the eye of the beholder, and The Wonka often has quite valid points.

Examples of Only Sane Man are listed on these subpages:
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