"What a mysterious thing madness is. I have watched patients whose lips are forever sealed in a perpetual silence. They live, breathe, eat; the human form is there, but that something, which the body can live without, but which cannot exist without the body, was missing"

Nellie Bly's quote captures the enigmatic nature of madness, diving into the complexities of mental illness and the typically unnoticeable line that separates sanity from insanity. Through her words, Bly evokes a sense of both marvel and melancholy, focusing on the individuals she observes who are caught in a state of continuous silence. These individuals, though physically alive and with all the trappings of mankind, appear to be missing an important part of their being-- the intangible essence that makes each person distinctively human.

Bly's observation that this "something" is missing in those she describes is poignant. The "something" she refers to is likely the mindful, self-aware part of the mind, the stimulate that makes it possible for communication, expression, and connection to the world. Her depiction recommends that madness, or extreme mental disorder, can remove away these aspects of humankind, leaving people in a state that is as perplexing as it is disturbing.

This concept that the body can continue to function without this essence, yet this essence can not subsist without the body, highlights the double nature of presence. It highlights the separation between the physical and the metaphysical, recommending that while the body is a vessel, it is the mind or soul that genuinely defines a person's essence. The quote subtly raises questions about identity and the essence of self, as well as the struggles dealt with by those afflicted with extreme mental illnesses.

In her time, Nellie Bly was understood for her pioneering investigative journalism, especially her exposé on conditions in psychological asylums. Her quote is reflective of her insights into the typically harsh realities faced by those deemed "mad" and serves as a call for compassion and understanding towards mental health concerns. Her compassionate perspective welcomes us to think about the humanity of those whose internal worlds are inaccessible and challenges us to recognize the dignity and worth in every human life, regardless of mental state.