--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But suffering from a life-threatening…" description: "\"“But suffering from a life-threatening disease also helped me have a different attitude and perspective. It has given a new intensity to life, for I re..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6da/desmond-tutu-442_different-attitude_but-suffering-from-a-life-threatening-di_2133295.jpg" --- # But suffering from a life-threatening disease also helped… ![“But suffering from a life-threatening disease also helped me have a different attitude and perspective. It has given a new intensity to life, for I realize how much I used to take for granted-the love and devotion of my wife, the laughter and playfulness of my grandchildren, the glory of a…” quote by Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6da/desmond-tutu-442_different-attitude_but-suffering-from-a-life-threatening-di_2133295.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6da/desmond-tutu-442_different-attitude_but-suffering-from-a-life-threatening-di_2133295.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6da/desmond-tutu-442_different-attitude_but-suffering-from-a-life-threatening-di_2133295.jpg) > ““But suffering from a life-threatening disease also helped me have a different attitude and perspective. It has given a new intensity to life, for I realize how much I used to take for granted-the love and devotion of my wife, the laughter and playfulness of my grandchildren, the glory of a splendid sunset, the dedication of my colleagues. The disease has helped me acknowledge my own mortality, with deep thanksgiving for the extraordinary things that have happened in my life, not least in recent times. What a spectacular vindication it has been, in the struggle against apartheid, to live to see freedom come, to have been involved in finding the truth and reconciling the differences of those who are the future of our nation.”” [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Facing a terminal illness sharpened his appreciation for everyday blessings and deepened his sense of purpose in social justice. **In simple terms:** Illness made him value life and fight for freedom. Key Takeaway Cherish relationships and stay committed to justice. Themes gratitude mortality justice family freedom Mood reflective hopeful determined Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - personal health crisis - family gatherings - political activism - community service Key Concepts existential reflection social activism spiritual awakening Questions to Reflect On - How does confronting mortality change your priorities? - What role does gratitude play in activism? A Different Perspective Illness may limit physical ability, but not moral influence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acknowledge Mortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acknowledge-mortality-4406843/) [Different attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-attitude/) [Disease Helped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease-helped-4406842/) [Finding The Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finding-the-truth/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love And Devotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-and-devotion/) [Perspective Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective-given-3652245/) [Suffering Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering-life-376193/) [Threatening Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threatening-disease-1849686/) ## Related quotes > [What 'Hundred' has done for me, it has open up avenues where people find more things about me, other than my body or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karan-wahi/what-hundred-has-done-for-me-it-has-open-up-avenues-where-people-find/) [Karan Wahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karan-wahi/) > [The question is not, will there be difficulties and threats to our existence, but how will we deal with them and what can we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/the-question-is-not-will-there-be-difficulties-and-threats-to-our/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [Being diagnosed with a possibly life-threatening disease is so jarring and for me to know that God had me in his hands, I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/being-diagnosed-with-a-possibly-life-threatening-disease-is-so/) [Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/) > [Acting is all about finding the truth within whatever world you're in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-gillan/acting-is-all-about-finding-the-truth-within-whatever-world-you-re-in/) [Karen Gillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-gillan/) > [Dude, what matters is if you're happy. What matters is your future. What matters is that we get out of here in one piece.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-king/dude-what-matters-is-if-you-re-happy-what-matters-is-your-future-what/) [A.S. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-king/) > [ “There's a whole \[...\] art to finding the truth and accomplishing value from inside a human mind : we have to learn our own… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/there-s-a-whole-art-to-finding-the-truth-and-accomplishing-value-from/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [The most important thing about my profession is finding the truth, finding the reality of these shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shuler-hensley/the-most-important-thing-about-my-profession-is-finding-the-truth/) [Shuler Hensley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shuler-hensley/) > [Love is nothing other than finding the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/love-is-nothing-other-than-finding-the-truth/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [“Whitecloak Questioners assume you’re guilty before they start, and they have only one sentence for that kind of guilt. They don’t care about finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/whitecloak-questioners-assume-you-re-guilty-before-they-start-and/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [The process of finding the truth may not be a process by which we feel increasingly better and better. It may be a process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/the-process-of-finding-the-truth-may-not-be-a-process-by-which-we/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [“Politics and self-interest should never stand in the way of finding the truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/politics-and-self-interest-should-never-stand-in-the-way-of-finding/) [Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/) > [“I do not believe in the court system, at least I do not think it is especially good at finding the truth. No lawyer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-landay/i-do-not-believe-in-the-court-system-at-least-i-do-not-think-it-is/) [William Landay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-landay/) > [“Serious circumstances remind us that the difficulty of finding the truth is no excuse for not looking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-copan/serious-circumstances-remind-us-that-the-difficulty-of-finding-the/) [Paul Copan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-copan/) > [“Living in denial only makes finding the truth that much harder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-f/living-in-denial-only-makes-finding-the-truth-that-much-harder/) [Jules F](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-f/) > [Most people do surprisingly poorly when dealing with a relative who is hurting, depressed, or anxious - we get defensive and try to solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/most-people-do-surprisingly-poorly-when-dealing-with-a-relative-who/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) ## More by Desmond Tutu > [Each of us is precious to God because each of us has their name written on the palms of God's hands. And God says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/each-of-us-is-precious-to-god-because-each-of-us-has-their-name/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Freedom and liberty lose out by default because good people are not vigilant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/freedom-and-liberty-lose-out-by-default-because-good-people-are-not/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [We shall be free only together, black and white. We shall survive only together, black and white. We can be human only together, black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/we-shall-be-free-only-together-black-and-white-we-shall-survive-only/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Many people would be surprised that, in fact, I'm quite shy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/many-people-would-be-surprised-that-in-fact-i-m-quite-shy/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Too many people think that reconciliation means you soft-pedal differences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/too-many-people-think-that-reconciliation-means-you-soft-pedal/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Our Christian faith is actually very subversive of the conventional notion of success - the notion that what invests a person with worth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/our-christian-faith-is-actually-very-subversive-of-the-conventional/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Every situation of justice is an occasion where someone is being humiliated and they want to restore their dignity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/every-situation-of-justice-is-an-occasion-where-someone-is-being/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Race should not be used to claim privileges and rights for one group, exclusively, which are denied other different groups. Then that is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/race-should-not-be-used-to-claim-privileges-and-rights-for-one-group/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [People are able to justify immense cruelty and say that it is something that is sanctioned by their faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/people-are-able-to-justify-immense-cruelty-and-say-that-it-is/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [South Africa, so utterly improbably, is a beacon of hope in a dark and troubled world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/south-africa-so-utterly-improbably-is-a-beacon-of-hope-in-a-dark-and/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [I don't often want to speak. I try to be a reasonable person and to be diplomatic, but you go to that place and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/i-don-t-often-want-to-speak-i-try-to-be-a-reasonable-person-and-to-be/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [“child of God, known by name and whose very hairs are numbered. Praise and adore God and thank him for ever and ever. Amen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/child-of-god-known-by-name-and-whose-very-hairs-are-numbered-praise/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [To remain neutral in situations of injustice is to be complicit in that injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/to-remain-neutral-in-situations-of-injustice-is-to-be-complicit-in/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [It's a fantastic thing that from moment to the next moment if God were to have stopped for a split second we would disintegrate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/it-s-a-fantastic-thing-that-from-moment-to-the-next-moment-if-god/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Once lost, trust can only be regained if we are as good as our word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/once-lost-trust-can-only-be-regained-if-we-are-as-good-as-our-word/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) [Explore all 558 Desmond Tutu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) ## More Different attitude quotes > [I think that, in the end, the military behavior and intelligence services are not very different from each other. It's an attitude of hunters;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-ramirez/i-think-that-in-the-end-the-military-behavior-and-intelligence/) [Edgar Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-ramirez/) > [On paper, swearing takes on a different attitude. It can make you sound very angry when you use it a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-coles/on-paper-swearing-takes-on-a-different-attitude-it-can-make-you-sound/) [Joanna Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-coles/) > [It will be disastrous when a leader or manager shows up with one attitude one day and treats people with a different attitude the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/it-will-be-disastrous-when-a-leader-or-manager-shows-up-with-one/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [That's the kind of musical freedom I like: jazz, rock, blues, anything. You adopt different attitudes when you play different music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-lee/that-s-the-kind-of-musical-freedom-i-like-jazz-rock-blues-anything/) [Alvin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-lee/) > [I don't have multiple personalities ...But I have different attitudes and my attitudes towards you depends on you ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venkat-desireddy/i-don-t-have-multiple-personalities-but-i-have-different-attitudes/) [Venkat Desireddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venkat-desireddy/) > [My whole life, people have been telling me that I think like a guy when it comes to dating. I was pretty carefree in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuliana-rancic/my-whole-life-people-have-been-telling-me-that-i-think-like-a-guy/) [Giuliana Rancic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giuliana-rancic/) > [A completely indifferent attitude toward clothes in women seems to me to be an admission of inferiority, of perverseness, or of alack of realization…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hortense-odlum/a-completely-indifferent-attitude-toward-clothes-in-women-seems-to-me/) [Hortense Odlum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hortense-odlum/) > [Boys use the word Friendship to begin the relationship, and girls use the same word to end the relationship. Same word, defined with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-cchan/boys-use-the-word-friendship-to-begin-the-relationship-and-girls-use/) [AaRon CcHan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-cchan/) > [I'm going to try to enjoy the All-Star break, hope my players reflect on what happened the first half of the season, come back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-baylor/i-m-going-to-try-to-enjoy-the-all-star-break-hope-my-players-reflect/) [Don Baylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-baylor/) > [A totally different attitude is needed: the attitude of love. Christ brings love to the world. He destroys law, the very basis of it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/a-totally-different-attitude-is-needed-the-attitude-of-love-christ/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Did Buddha teach that the many was real and the ego unreal, while orthodox Hinduism regards the One as the real, and the many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/did-buddha-teach-that-the-many-was-real-and-the-ego-unreal-while/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [I grew up in a small, strictly Catholic fishing village - the people there have a different attitude to life than those in Hollywood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-zeta-jones/i-grew-up-in-a-small-strictly-catholic-fishing-village-the-people/) [Catherine Zeta-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-zeta-jones/) > [What are we saying when we say now, something is holy? That means you should take a different attitude to what you are doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/what-are-we-saying-when-we-say-now-something-is-holy-that-means-you/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [Now, there are two different attitudes towards learning from others. One is the dogmatic attitude of transplanting everything, whether or not it is suited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/now-there-are-two-different-attitudes-towards-learning-from-others/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [I say that when you have perceived or attained the goal, compromises, renunciations, do not exist. If you have seen the goal, compromise ceases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/i-say-that-when-you-have-perceived-or-attained-the-goal-compromises/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) [Browse all 73 Different attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But suffering from a life-threatening disease also helped me have a different attitude and perspective. It has given a new intensity to life, for I realize how much I used to take for granted-the love and devotion of my wife, the laughter and playfulness of my grandchildren, the glory of a splendid sunset, the dedication of my colleagues. The disease has helped me acknowledge my own mortality, with deep thanksgiving for the extraordinary things that have happened in my life, not least in recent times. 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