"Some deemed him wondrous wise, and some believed him mad"

This quote by James Beattie talks to the idea of understanding and how various people can see the exact same person in different ways. It suggests that some people viewed the person in question as being sensible and educated, while others thought about them as being crazy and unreasonable. This could be interpreted as a commentary on the subjective nature of viewpoint and how it can be formed by private experiences and viewpoints. It likewise talks to the idea that nobody individual can be judged as either wise or mad, as it is ultimately optional to choose how they see the world and the people in it. Ultimately, this quote serves as a pointer that we need to not be too quick to evaluate others, as we might not have the complete image of their life and experiences.