Madness refers to insanity. A person may be suffering from a mental illness which is the root cause of such madness. Mad people behave and act in a childish manner since they lose their mental equilibrium. Madness can be used in a general and light-hearted sense also. There are things which make one mad or drive one crazy. Those might be pin-up boys, actors, singers and other such exciting stuff. Madness is also the name of a famous British rock band.
In the words of John Updike, “A leader is one who, out of madness or goodness, volunteers to take upon himself the woe of the people. There are few men so foolish, hence the erratic quality of leadership in the world.” People call anger as short and momentary madness which can make someone lose his temper and composure and commit something mad, in fit of fury.Christopher Morley had once said, “All cities are mad: but the madness is gallant. All cities are beautiful: but the beauty is grim.”