method to one's madness

A specific, rational purpose in what one is doing or planning, even though it may appear crazy or absurd to another person. The phrase originated in Shakespeare's Hamlet: "Though this be madness, yet there is method in it." You may have method to your madness, but these radical changes to the business could still prove catastrophic. I know you don't understand my motivation for this decision, but after the dust settles you'll see that there is a method to my madness.

Do things in an unorthodox fashion, yet nevertheless achieve the intended result. Yet again Shakespeare's Hamlet provided a phrase that was picked up and used through the ages. Having observed Hamlet rave on in what appeared to be senseless sentences, Polonious makes a comment that turns out to be true: “Though this be madness, yet there is method in't.” Under less dramatic circumstances, the phrase applies to getting the right outcome by what seems to be the wrong method, and we've all done that.