[Ads-l] Quote Origin: Blessed Are the Cracked for They Shall Let in the Light

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

The traditional slang meaning of "cracked" is crazy, foolish, or
eccentric. Here are three versions of a comical saying which uses
wordplay:

(1) You've got to be cracked to let the light in.
(2) Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light.
(3) They were certainly cracked: but the crack let in light.

This quip has been attributed to Irish comedian Spike Milligan,
Canadian politician Lydia Augusta Arsens, U.S comedian Groucho Marx,
pseudonymous humorist Tramp Starr, Scottish classical scholar John
Stuart Blackie, and others. An email about this saying inspired my
exploration.

The earliest match I found appeared in an 1830 book titled "An Inquiry
Concerning the Indications of Insanity" by John Conolly, Professor of
Medicine at the University of London:

[Begin excerpt]
Every county presents one or more specimens of individuals who are
reputed scientific by those more ignorant of science than themselves;
eccentric men, whose wandering attention has travelled over every
subject … in the opinion of their neighbours, they become accounted
"wonderfully clever men, but certainly a little mad." The learned and
benevolent Dr. Parr used to say of such men, that they were certainly
cracked: but that the crack let in light;--and even then, it is to be
feared, he estimated them too highly.
[End excerpt]

I do not know the first name of Dr. Parr who is currently the leading
candidate for coiner of this quip.

Here is a link to the Quote Investigator article.
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2026/09/24/cracked-light/

Feedback welcome
Garson O'Toole

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