History Main / OnlySaneMan

'''NoRealLifeExamplesPlease You are not the only one that doesn't belong in an asylum, contrary to what you might think.''' It is sufficient to say this trope has been very much TruthInTelevision, both in the past and in the present and any specific examples are therefore redundant.

Picture this: Alice is a PsychoForHire, Bob is a CloudCuckoolander, Doug is an EmptyShell, and Emily is a MadScientist. Looks like your standard DysfunctionJunction. But then you have Gardenia. Gardenia is actually a very well-adjusted individual. She reacts with appropriate horror to things like Alice's finger collection and the crimes against nature that Emily calls pets. Gardenia is the Only Sane Woman.

-->-- '''Creator/WilliamBurroughs'''

-->-- '''Creator/WilliamBurroughs"''

->''"The only thing that sustains one through life is the consciousness of the immense inferiority of everybody else, and this is a feeling that I have always cultivated."''
-->-- '''Creator/OscarWilde'''

->''The only thing that sustains one through life is the consciousness of the immense inferiority of everybody else, and this is a feeling that I have always cultivated.''

[[folder:Machinima]]
* ''Machinima/Supermarioglitchy4sSuperMario64Bloopers'': Starman3. While he does have his moments, he has the least amount of plans that are unsafe.

The Only Sane Man is [[TheReliableOne often relied upon]] as the OnlySaneEmployee. This character often ends up a KnightInSourArmor. For a more horrific version, see ThroughTheEyesOfMadness. For the sci-fi version, the IgnoredExpert is your go-to guy. The comedy version will often end up being either a ButtMonkey or a ChewToy. If all the other characters are otherwise sane, and really should see something, but only one guy does, he's an EinsteinSue. The NietzscheWannabe is a [[EvilCounterpart villain who views himself this way]]. See also CassandraTruth, SurroundedByIdiots, and SurroundedBySmartPeople; contrast with the UnfazedEveryman. May temporarily overlap with WhatTheHellHero.

Picture this: Alice is a [[PsychoForHire bloodthirsty assassin]], Bob is a CloudCuckoolander, Doug is an EmptyShell, and Emily is a MadScientist. Looks like your standard DysfunctionJunction. But then you have Gardenia. Gardenia is actually a very well-adjusted individual. She reacts with appropriate horror to things like Alice's finger collection and the crimes against nature that Emily calls pets. Gardenia is the Only Sane Woman.

Picture this: Alice is a [[PsychoForHire bloodthirsty assassin*]], Bob is a CloudCuckoolander, Doug is an EmptyShell, and Emily is a MadScientist. Looks like your standard DysfunctionJunction. But then you have Gardenia. Gardenia is actually a very well-adjusted individual. She reacts with appropriate horror to things like Alice's finger collection and the crimes against nature that Emily calls pets. Gardenia is the Only Sane Woman.

Picture this: Alice is a PsychoForHire, Bob is a CloudCuckoolander, Doug is an EmptyShell, and Emily is a MadScientist. Looks like your standard DysfunctionJunction. But then you have Gardenia. Gardenia is actually a very well-adjusted individual. She reacts with appropriate horror to things like Alice's finger collection and the crimes against nature that Emily calls pets. Gardenia is the Only Sane Woman.

If several characters take turns being the Only Sane Man, they're playing with a SanityBall. If it's a two-person show, with one person playing the Only Sane Man to the other's wackiness, it's a StraightManAndWiseGuy scenario. This trope is one third of a ComicTrio and part of the FourManBand.

!!Other examples
[[AC:{{Machinima}}]]
* Machinima/Supermarioglitchy4sSuperMario64Bloopers: Starman3. While he does have his moments, he has the least amount of plans that are unsafe.

!!Examples

[[quoteright:285:[[Webcomic/PennyArcade http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tycho-sane-man.jpg]]]]

-->-- '''OscarWilde'''

'''NoRealLifeExamplesPlease You are not the only one that doesn't belong in an asylum, contrary to what you might think.'''

In the more extreme cases, the poor soul may be trapped in a WorldGoneMad and/or wind up GivingUpOnLogic in frustration. Sometimes, though, they are NotSoAboveItAll. A character may also ''think'' of themselves at the Only Sane Man without proper justification.

The Only Sane Man is [[TheReliableOne often relied upon]] as the OnlySaneEmployee. This character often ends up a KnightInSourArmor. For a more horrific version, see ThroughTheEyesOfMadness. For the sci-fi version, the IgnoredExpert 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 EinsteinSue. The NietzscheWannabe is a [[EvilCounterpart villain who views himself this way]]. See also CassandraTruth, SurroundedByIdiots, and SurroundedBySmartPeople; contrast with the UnfazedEveryman. May temporarily overlap with WhatTheHellHero.

->''"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!"''
-->-- '''SantaClaus''', ''WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas''

The Only Sane Man is [[TheReliableOne often relied upon]] as the OnlySaneEmployee. This character often ends up a KnightInSourArmor. For a more horrific version, see ThroughTheEyesOfMadness. For the sci-fi version, the IgnoredExpert 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 EinsteinSue. The NietzscheWannabe is a [[EvilCounterpart villain who views himself this way]]. Occasionally, when the Only Sane Man expresses his creator's opinions, he serves as an AuthorAvatar. See also CassandraTruth, SurroundedByIdiots, and SurroundedBySmartPeople; contrast with the UnfazedEveryman. May temporarily overlap with WhatTheHellHero.

Picture this: Alice is a PsychoForHire, Bob is a CloudCuckoolander, Doug is an EmptyShell, and Emily is a MadScientist. Looks like your standard DysfunctionJunction. But then you have Gardenia. Gardenia is actually a very well-adjusted individual. She reacts with appropriate horror to things like Alice's finger collection and the crimes against nature that Emily calls pets. Gardenia is the OnlySaneWoman.

The other variant is where the other characters aren't ''always'' that weird, but everyone save one character is acting weird in a particular situation. For example, they might regard something absurd as SeriousBusiness, with the OnlySaneMan the only one who notices how crazy that is.

In the more extreme cases, the poor soul may be trapped in a WorldGoneMad and/or wind up GivingUpOnLogic in frustration. Sometimes, though, they are NotSoAboveItAll. A character may also ''think'' of themselves at the OnlySaneMan without proper justification.

The OnlySaneMan is [[TheReliableOne often relied upon]] as the OnlySaneEmployee. This character often ends up a KnightInSourArmor. For a more horrific version, see ThroughTheEyesOfMadness. For the sci-fi version, the IgnoredExpert 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 EinsteinSue. The NietzscheWannabe is a [[EvilCounterpart villain who views himself this way]]. Occasionally, when the OnlySaneMan expresses his creator's opinions, he serves as an AuthorAvatar. See also CassandraTruth, SurroundedByIdiots, and SurroundedBySmartPeople; contrast with the UnfazedEveryman. May temporarily overlap with WhatTheHellHero.

If several characters take turns being the OnlySaneMan, they're playing with a SanityBall. If it's a two-person show, with one person playing the OnlySaneMan to the other's wackiness, it's a StraightManAndWiseGuy scenario. This trope is one third of a ComicTrio and part of the FourManBand.

Picture this: Alice is a PsychoForHire, Bob is a CloudCuckoolander, Doug is an Empty Shell, and Emily is a MadScientist. Looks like your standard DysfunctionJunction. But then you have Gardenia. Gardenia is actually a very well-adjusted individual. She reacts with appropriate horror to things like Alice's finger collection and the crimes against nature that Emily calls pets. Gardenia is the OnlySaneWoman.

Picture this: Alice is a PsychoForHire, Bob is a CloudCuckoolander, Doug is an Empty Shell, and Emily is a Mad Scientist. Looks like your standard DysfunctionJunction. But then you have Gardenia. Gardenia is actually a very well-adjusted individual. She reacts with appropriate horror to things like Alice's finger collection and the crimes against nature that Emily calls pets. Gardenia is the OnlySaneWoman.