Christopher reeve Quote by Barbara Walters
![“There was something else that [Christopher] Reeve told me privately, off camera, and it made me grin. While he was lying in the hospital, just becoming conscious with tubes connected to all parts of his body, a doctor in a white coat came in and with a Russian accent, commanded: "Turn over!" Are…” quote by Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/754/barbara-walters-7622_humor_there-was-something-else-that-christophe_1848248.jpg)
““There was something else that [Christopher] Reeve told me privately, off camera, and it made me grin. While he was lying in the hospital, just becoming conscious with tubes connected to all parts of his body, a doctor in a white coat came in and with a Russian accent, commanded: "Turn over!" Are you nuts? Reeve thought. I said: 'Turn over!'" the doctor repeated. As Reeve was about to answer "the imbecile", he realized there was something familiar about the man in the white coat. He wasn't a doctor at all. He was Reeve's old buddy from acting school at Julliard, Robin Williams. Reeve waited for a breath, and almost choked with laughter. He realized, he told me, "If I can laugh, I can live.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: ABC News, 1995
Robin Williams, disguised as a doctor, used humor to help Christopher Reeve find joy during a painful recovery, illustrating laughter’s healing power.
In simple terms: Humor can lift spirits in crisis.
Key Takeaway
Use humor to cope with hardship.
Themes
healing
humor
friendship
Mood
empathetic
hopeful
Type
inspirational
reflective
When to use this quote
- Hospital recovery
- friend visits
- personal adversity
Key Concepts
psychology
coping mechanisms
Questions to Reflect On
- When can humor become inappropriate?
- How does laughter affect recovery?
A Different Perspective
Humor may not work for everyone or in all situations.
![“I know what you must think of me,' [the Doctor] said, his voice so slow. It was like a voice designed for laughing that didn't get to do it often. 'I'm going to tell you a story about a man who travels, and everywhere he goes, he makes everyone's lives better. I'm not that man. That man doesn't…” quote by James Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/38a/james-goss-19280_doctor-who_i-know-what-you-must-think-of-me-the-doc_2095882.jpg)
![“[On being indecisive and changeable:] On my gravestone I want inscribed: 'On the other hand, maybe I should have lived.” quote by Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a0c/barbara-walters-7622_gravestone_on-being-indecisive-and-changeable-on-my_51923.jpg)
![“A man cannot be comfortable [or cannot be made comfortable] without his own approval.” quote by Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b1b/barbara-walters-7622_approval_a-man-cannot-be-comfortable-or-cannot-be_131954.jpg)
