--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first thing you need to know about me…" description: "\"“The first thing you need to know about me is I’m not retarded. Or mentally handicapped I guess is the polite term these days. But whatever you call it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27f/bonnie-dee-14127_born-this-way_the-first-thing-you-need-to-know-about-m_1085450.jpg" --- # The first thing you need to know about me is I’m not… ![“The first thing you need to know about me is I’m not retarded. Or mentally handicapped I guess is the polite term these days. But whatever you call it, I’m not that. I have a mental disability, but I wasn’t born this way. It took extra stupidity for me to get this way— driving drunk, shooting…” quote by Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27f/bonnie-dee-14127_born-this-way_the-first-thing-you-need-to-know-about-m_1085450.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27f/bonnie-dee-14127_born-this-way_the-first-thing-you-need-to-know-about-m_1085450.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27f/bonnie-dee-14127_born-this-way_the-first-thing-you-need-to-know-about-m_1085450.jpg) > ““The first thing you need to know about me is I’m not retarded. Or mentally handicapped I guess is the polite term these days. But whatever you call it, I’m not that. I have a mental disability, but I wasn’t born this way. It took extra stupidity for me to get this way— driving drunk, shooting through the windshield, landing on my noggin, and scrambling my brains permanently. I don’t babble and I don’t drool, except sometimes on my pillow when I’m sleeping, but everybody does that.”” [Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker describes acquiring a mental disability through reckless behavior, emphasizing it was not congenital and rejecting outdated, offensive labels. **In simple terms:** He got his disability from dangerous actions, not from birth. Key Takeaway Recognize how choices affect health and avoid risky behavior. Themes responsibility health self-awareness Mood reflective serious Type personal cautionary When to use this quote - driving under influence - dangerous stunts - personal reflection - public speaking Key Concepts disability personal narrative stigma consequences Questions to Reflect On - How have your actions shaped your life? - What can you do to prevent similar risks? A Different Perspective The anecdote may exaggerate for shock value and lacks medical accuracy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Born this way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born-this-way/) [Mentally Handicapped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentally-handicapped/) ## Related quotes > [...you have no idea how mentally handicapped I could be if push comes to shove.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-have-no-idea-how-mentally-handicapped-i-could-be-if-push-comes-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You see what I am driving at. The mentally handicapped do not have a consciousness of power. Because of this perhaps their capacity for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/you-see-what-i-am-driving-at-the-mentally-handicapped-do-not-have-a/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [After I got married, the first child born to us was mentally handicapped.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenzaburo-oe/after-i-got-married-the-first-child-born-to-us-was-mentally/) [Kenzaburo Oe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenzaburo-oe/) > [I believe that if you are elderly, physically or mentally handicapped we have an obligation too you, but if you are able-bodied, you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonso-jackson/i-believe-that-if-you-are-elderly-physically-or-mentally-handicapped/) [Alphonso Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonso-jackson/) > [The members - mentally handicapped people who are marginal in society and not useful in an economic sense - welcomed me into their lives.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-members-mentally-handicapped-people-who-are-marginal-in-society/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [One of my sisters is physically and mentally handicapped. She took a lot of my parents' attention, so I grew up in my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-kingston/one-of-my-sisters-is-physically-and-mentally-handicapped-she-took-a/) [Alex Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-kingston/) > [Women are treated differently by society for exactly the same reason that children and the mentally handicapped are treated differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/women-are-treated-differently-by-society-for-exactly-the-same-reason/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [Before I was known, I would go on stage and pretend I was other people. Once I pretended I was mentally handicapped. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dick/before-i-was-known-i-would-go-on-stage-and-pretend-i-was-other-people/) [Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/) > [In their poverty, the mentally handicapped reveal God to us and hold us close to the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/in-their-poverty-the-mentally-handicapped-reveal-god-to-us-and-hold/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [You don't argue with a four-year old about why he shouldn't eat candy for dinner. You don't punch a mentally handicapped guy even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/you-don-t-argue-with-a-four-year-old-about-why-he-shouldn-t-eat-candy/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [And, well, that's my story," I said. "I'm sorry that it's so, you know. Retarded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wong/and-well-that-s-my-story-i-said-i-m-sorry-that-it-s-so-you-know/) [David Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wong/) > [Nobody, at least sitting in my seat , is defending drunk driving. I am not for drunk driving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-carlson/nobody-at-least-sitting-in-my-seat-is-defending-drunk-driving-i-am/) [Tucker Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-carlson/) > [There's been times when I've been in really tough shape at the top of the course. Talk about a hard challenge right there. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bode-miller/there-s-been-times-when-i-ve-been-in-really-tough-shape-at-the-top-of/) [Bode Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bode-miller/) > [“During this period, I served many celebrities, including Jennifer Aniston, Vince Vaughn, Gary Oldman, Leonardo DiCaprio, Juliette Lewis, Rob Lowe, Colin Farrell, Tom Selleck,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hartford/during-this-period-i-served-many-celebrities-including-jennifer/) [Paul Hartford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hartford/) > [Social networking while driving is worse than texting while driving and drunk driving put together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/social-networking-while-driving-is-worse-than-texting-while-driving/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Bonnie Dee > [“Sarah drew a deep breath and released it slowly, waiting for her voice to steady before she spoke. “It’s a ve ry good story.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/sarah-drew-a-deep-breath-and-released-it-slowly-waiting-for-her-voice/) [Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) > [“Alan prayed she wasn’t complying from some sense of obligation. He didn’t want that, but neither could he bear for her to leave him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/alan-prayed-she-wasn-t-complying-from-some-sense-of-obligation-he/) [Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) > [“When he finally broke off the kiss and moved his lips to her neck, then her breast again, sucking her nipples back to hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/when-he-finally-broke-off-the-kiss-and-moved-his-lips-to-her-neck/) [Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) > [“Jim had spent most of his life alone. The solitary nature of his disability and the constant moving had made it difficult for him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/jim-had-spent-most-of-his-life-alone-the-solitary-nature-of-his/) [Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) > [“I had to work out a new sequence for how my date with Anna would go. I reviewed what bus I’d take to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/i-had-to-work-out-a-new-sequence-for-how-my-date-with-anna-would-go-i/) [Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) > [“It may be old news to you, but it’s new to me. I’m uncovering bits of my past and finding out I don’t much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/it-may-be-old-news-to-you-but-it-s-new-to-me-i-m-uncovering-bits-of/) [Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) > [“Her tone changed from shocked to curious. “How was it? Was it… different?” Sarah bit her lip, ashamed to be gossiping but feeling the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/her-tone-changed-from-shocked-to-curious-how-was-it-was-it-different/) [Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) > [“Alan shook his head. Jeremy was hopeless. Either he’d find an equally soft-headed girl and they’d live happily ever after like two cooing doves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/alan-shook-his-head-jeremy-was-hopeless-either-he-d-find-an-equally/) [Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) > [“She thought that they could live together for twenty years and he might never consider asking her about marriage. Tom didn’t follow the usual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/she-thought-that-they-could-live-together-for-twenty-years-and-he/) [Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) > [“As he left Chinatown behind, Alan thought of the woman he’d seen on the wharf the other day, the golden splendor of her gown,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/as-he-left-chinatown-behind-alan-thought-of-the-woman-he-d-seen-on/) [Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) > [“I know you’ve done that. I watched you fight with that man and stab him, but what does it feel like? Not just stabbing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/i-know-you-ve-done-that-i-watched-you-fight-with-that-man-and-stab/) [Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) > [“He waited a few more seconds, hoping her tight jaw would unclench and she’d ask him to stay, but she sat staring down the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/he-waited-a-few-more-seconds-hoping-her-tight-jaw-would-unclench-and/) [Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) > [“But, after one quick trace of his tongue between her lips, he abruptly pulled away and stepped back from her. She was leaning into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/but-after-one-quick-trace-of-his-tongue-between-her-lips-he-abruptly/) [Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) > [“The weight of time and history felt profound in the quiet night in a tiny chapel with several wooden pews and a granite altar.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/the-weight-of-time-and-history-felt-profound-in-the-quiet-night-in-a/) [Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) > [“I’m sorry. No.” Her mouth continued to move, too fast, pouring out a stream of explanation and apology. Jim didn’t need to understand all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/i-m-sorry-no-her-mouth-continued-to-move-too-fast-pouring-out-a/) [Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) [Explore all 48 Bonnie Dee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) ## More Born this way quotes > [Do not allow people to dim your shine because they are blinded. Tell them to put on some sunglasses because we were born this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/do-not-allow-people-to-dim-your-shine-because-they-are-blinded-tell/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > ['Born This Way' is shaping up to be creative ecstasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurieann-gibson/born-this-way-is-shaping-up-to-be-creative-ecstasy/) [Laurieann Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurieann-gibson/) > [And it’s more. It’s about getting past that question of whats wrong with me, to knowing there’s nothing wrong, that you were born this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-peters/and-it-s-more-it-s-about-getting-past-that-question-of-whats-wrong/) [Julie Anne Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-peters/) > [My fashion is part of who I am, and though I was not born with these clothes on, I was born this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/my-fashion-is-part-of-who-i-am-and-though-i-was-not-born-with-these/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [I'm beautiful in my way 'cause God makes no mistakes. I'm on the right track baby, I was born this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/i-m-beautiful-in-my-way-cause-god-makes-no-mistakes-i-m-on-the-right/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [“I am addicted to reading, I will never reach the end of my TBR list because it multiplies all by itself. It is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lani/i-am-addicted-to-reading-i-will-never-reach-the-end-of-my-tbr-list/) Lani > [No matter gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgendered life, I'm on the right track baby I was born to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/no-matter-gay-straight-or-bi-lesbian-transgendered-life-i-m-on-the/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [“There was nowhere to go. This hate was everywhere, even in my bedroom. I choked out a sob and wondered why everyone thought I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-nacht/there-was-nowhere-to-go-this-hate-was-everywhere-even-in-my-bedroom-i/) Jackie Nacht > [I'm black because I was born this way. I'm proud of it. Thank God I am who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darius-rucker/i-m-black-because-i-was-born-this-way-i-m-proud-of-it-thank-god-i-am/) [Darius Rucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darius-rucker/) > [I've created, directed and choreographed for Lady Gaga since the beginning, so 'Born This Way,' this was musically such an amazing evolution and such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurieann-gibson/i-ve-created-directed-and-choreographed-for-lady-gaga-since-the/) [Laurieann Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurieann-gibson/) > [There's nothing I can do about looking short. I'm born this way. And my face is on the long side so I look even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seungri/there-s-nothing-i-can-do-about-looking-short-i-m-born-this-way-and-my/) [Seungri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seungri/) > [My mama told me when I was young we're all born SUPERSTARS!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/my-mama-told-me-when-i-was-young-we-re-all-born-superstars/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [Choices lead to habits. Habits become talents. Talents are labeled gifts. You’re not born this way, you get this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/choices-lead-to-habits-habits-become-talents-talents-are-labeled/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I think my personality is not because I was born this way but because I was raised this way. I was raised with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-anthony-towns/i-think-my-personality-is-not-because-i-was-born-this-way-but-because/) [Karl-Anthony Towns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-anthony-towns/) > [I'm a heterosexual. I don't know why I'm like this. I was just born this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/i-m-a-heterosexual-i-don-t-know-why-i-m-like-this-i-was-just-born/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) [Browse all 77 Born this way quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born-this-way/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The first thing you need to know about me is I’m not retarded. Or mentally handicapped I guess is the polite term these days. But whatever you call it, I’m not that. I have a mental disability, but I wasn’t born this way. 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