--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whether I or anyone else accepted the…" description: "\"Whether I or anyone else accepted the concept of alcoholism as a disease didn't matter; what mattered was that when treated as a disease, those who suf..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f9/craig-ferguson-664_accepted_whether-i-or-anyone-else-accepted-the-co_1717591.png" --- # Whether I or anyone else accepted the concept of… ![“Whether I or anyone else accepted the concept of alcoholism as a disease didn't matter; what mattered was that when treated as a disease, those who suffered from it were most likely to recover.” quote by Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f9/craig-ferguson-664_accepted_whether-i-or-anyone-else-accepted-the-co_1717591.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f9/craig-ferguson-664_accepted_whether-i-or-anyone-else-accepted-the-co_1717591.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f9/craig-ferguson-664_accepted_whether-i-or-anyone-else-accepted-the-co_1717591.png) > “Whether I or anyone else accepted the concept of alcoholism as a disease didn't matter; what mattered was that when treated as a disease, those who suffered from it were most likely to recover.” [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Labeling alcoholism as a disease matters less than treating it as one, which improves recovery chances. **In simple terms:** Treatment matters more than labeling. Key Takeaway Focus on treatment, not labels. Themes healthcare stigma recovery Mood empathetic pragmatic Type motivational informative When to use this quote - addiction clinics - patient counseling - policy advocacy - public health campaigns Key Concepts medical model behavioral health Questions to Reflect On - What treatment approaches are most effective? - How does labeling affect patient motivation? A Different Perspective Some may argue disease label reduces personal responsibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepted/) [Addiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addiction/) [Alcohol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcohol/) [Alcoholism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcoholism/) [Concept Alcoholism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concept-alcoholism-1306092/) [Didn Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-matter-231173/) [Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease/) [Disease Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease-didn-1306090/) [Disease Suffered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease-suffered-845414/) [Drug addiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug-addiction/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Mattered Treated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mattered-treated-1306091/) [Recovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recovery/) [Treated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treated/) ## Related quotes > [“no disease suffered by a live man can be known, for every living person has his own peculiarities and always has his own peculiar,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/no-disease-suffered-by-a-live-man-can-be-known-for-every-living/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Nobody ever thanks you for saving them from the disease they didn't know they were going to get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-foege/nobody-ever-thanks-you-for-saving-them-from-the-disease-they-didn-t/) [William Foege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-foege/) > [I was dating a guy for a while because he told me he had an incurable disease. I didn't realize it was stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gracie-hart/i-was-dating-a-guy-for-a-while-because-he-told-me-he-had-an-incurable/) [Gracie Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gracie-hart/) > [I got sober. I stopped killing myself with alcohol. I began to think: 'Wait a minute - if I can stop doing this, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-got-sober-i-stopped-killing-myself-with-alcohol-i-began-to-think/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Alcohol ruined me financially and morally, broke my heart and the hearts of too many others. Even though it did this to me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/alcohol-ruined-me-financially-and-morally-broke-my-heart-and-the/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [The worst gift I was given is when I got out of rehab that Christmas; a bottle of wine. It was delicious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/the-worst-gift-i-was-given-is-when-i-got-out-of-rehab-that-christmas/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [As many times as I told her she was beautiful, I know that she never believed me. As many times as I said it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-weiner/as-many-times-as-i-told-her-she-was-beautiful-i-know-that-she-never/) [Jennifer Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-weiner/) > [It didn't matter what you looked like. It was how you carried yourself, how you saw yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/it-didn-t-matter-what-you-looked-like-it-was-how-you-carried-yourself/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [“All I saw was Ben, and I knew that all he saw was me. The whole world didn't - it was there, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivy-devlin/all-i-saw-was-ben-and-i-knew-that-all-he-saw-was-me-the-whole-world/) [Ivy Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-devlin/) > [“It didn't matter to her that Tamani only had weak magic, he was magic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/it-didn-t-matter-to-her-that-tamani-only-had-weak-magic-he-was-magic/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [Even to me, as I was trying to tell the government what had happened, it just didn't seem to matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-hearst/even-to-me-as-i-was-trying-to-tell-the-government-what-had-happened/) [Patty Hearst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-hearst/) > [“It didn’t matter what he’d said or done in life, in death he was innocent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callie-hunter/it-didn-t-matter-what-he-d-said-or-done-in-life-in-death-he-was/) [Callie Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/callie-hunter/) > [“Niles actually didn't care about me. Once he had me, he thought he had me and that was it. The world revolved around him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/niles-actually-didn-t-care-about-me-once-he-had-me-he-thought-he-had/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [If there was a wrong note, it didn't matter as long as it was rocking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-young/if-there-was-a-wrong-note-it-didn-t-matter-as-long-as-it-was-rocking/) [Malcolm Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-young/) > [Imagine what you'd do if it absolutely didn't matter what people thought of you. Got it? Good. Never go back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/imagine-what-you-d-do-if-it-absolutely-didn-t-matter-what-people/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) ## More by Craig Ferguson > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Sometimes people think you’re smart if you question the status quo, if nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/sometimes-people-think-you-re-smart-if-you-question-the-status-quo-if/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Sober alkies are often asked: "When did you hit rock bottom?" but a more informed question might be: "How many times did you hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/sober-alkies-are-often-asked-when-did-you-hit-rock-bottom-but-a-more/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Remember the band, Flock of Seagulls? They had their van stolen. I was like, They still have a van?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/remember-the-band-flock-of-seagulls-they-had-their-van-stolen-i-was/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [People spend thousands of dollars trying to keep their teeth straight. I just hope we can live in a world where we accept gay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/people-spend-thousands-of-dollars-trying-to-keep-their-teeth-straight/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Whoever I had become had to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/whoever-i-had-become-had-to-die/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [My pilot's license. I'm proud of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/my-pilot-s-license-i-m-proud-of-that/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [People are saying that Anderson Cooper could be the new Oprah. And then these people are struck by lightning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/people-are-saying-that-anderson-cooper-could-be-the-new-oprah-and/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I think comedy comes more from a low sense of self-esteem, and I certainly have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-think-comedy-comes-more-from-a-low-sense-of-self-esteem-and-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I'm so excited about the new iPad, I just iPeed my iPants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-m-so-excited-about-the-new-ipad-i-just-ipeed-my-ipants/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [For my birthday that year Anne gave me an inflatable atlas globe, along with a birthday card in which she wrote: I give you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/for-my-birthday-that-year-anne-gave-me-an-inflatable-atlas-globe/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [114 isn't as old as it used to be they say its the new 104.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/114-isn-t-as-old-as-it-used-to-be-they-say-its-the-new-104/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I have to do a show which is of interest to me, or else I'm lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-have-to-do-a-show-which-is-of-interest-to-me-or-else-i-m-lost/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [The first ads for medical marijuana have started airing on television in California. The ads are quite expensive. It costs a lot of money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/the-first-ads-for-medical-marijuana-have-started-airing-on-television/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I wanted to be a rock star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-wanted-to-be-a-rock-star/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) [Explore all 421 Craig Ferguson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) ## More Accepted quotes > [Merkel has realized that the euro is not working, but she cannot change the narrative she has created because that narrative has caught the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/merkel-has-realized-that-the-euro-is-not-working-but-she-cannot/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [I started off playing by ear, and being around a bunch of musicians and playing in the streets and in the different parades and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-andrews/i-started-off-playing-by-ear-and-being-around-a-bunch-of-musicians/) [Troy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-andrews/) > [Greatness is not guarding yourself from people. Greatness is being accepted by the people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/greatness-is-not-guarding-yourself-from-people-greatness-is-being/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [The idea that this world is a playground instead of a battleground has now been accepted in practice by the vast majority of Christians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/the-idea-that-this-world-is-a-playground-instead-of-a-battleground/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [Bruce Katz is a spectacular talent! He's a brilliant composer and arranger who uses uncommon and unique musical intelligence to redefine jazz and blues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-coryell/bruce-katz-is-a-spectacular-talent-he-s-a-brilliant-composer-and/) [Larry Coryell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-coryell/) > [wishes for sons by Lucille Clifton i wish them cramps. i wish them a strange town and the last tampon. I wish them no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/wishes-for-sons-by-lucille-clifton-i-wish-them-cramps-i-wish-them-a/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [What our species needs, above all else, is a generally accepted ethical system that is compatible with the scientific knowledge we now possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-our-species-needs-above-all-else-is-a-generally-accepted-ethical/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are a lot of movies about misfits that are quite cool, that kind of glamorize it on some level. I think there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/there-are-a-lot-of-movies-about-misfits-that-are-quite-cool-that-kind/) [Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/) > [In Quebec City many Muslims have said that they hide their faith because they know that if they don't, if they show that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-pratte/in-quebec-city-many-muslims-have-said-that-they-hide-their-faith/) [Andre Pratte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-pratte/) > [The rules and principles of case law have never been treated as final truths but as working hypotheses, continually retested in those great laboratories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-n-cardozo/the-rules-and-principles-of-case-law-have-never-been-treated-as-final/) [Benjamin N. 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