I see people who write characters who are loonies and make them convincing and believable, and I envy them tremendously. I don’t really understand th… - Harry Turtledove

He realized, belatedly, that he had been less than diplomatic. That did not bother him, either: he was less than diplomatic.

And then, to Shakespeare's amazement and dismay, Burbage and Will Kemp tramped forward together, both of them plainly intent on marching on the Tower of London, too. Shakespeare seized Burbage's arm. "Hold, Dick!" he said urgently. "Let not this wild madness infect your wit. Can a swarm of rude mechanicals pull down those gray stone walls? The soldiers on 'em'll work a fearful slaughter. Throw not your life away." Before Burbage could answer, Will Kemp did: "The soldiery on the walls may work a fearful slaughter, ay, an they have the stomach for't. But think you 'twill be so? A plot that stretcheth to the Theatre surely shall not fall short of the tower."

Any time you could split the difference between what you really wanted and what you would settle for, you weren’t doing too bad.