---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is easier to say that AS best…"
description: "\"“It is easier to say that AS best describes my differences. It makes people more comfortable to have a scientific-sounding term. But actually, I feel d..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/francisco-x-stork-16774_autism_it-is-easier-to-say-that-as-best-describ_1739317.jpg"
---

#  It is easier to say that AS best describes my differences…

![“It is easier to say that AS best describes my differences. It makes people more comfortable to have a scientific-sounding term. But actually, I feel dishonest when I say I have AS because the negative effects of my differences on my life are so slight compared to other kids who have AS or other…” quote by Francisco X. Stork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/francisco-x-stork-16774_autism_it-is-easier-to-say-that-as-best-describ_1739317.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/francisco-x-stork-16774_autism_it-is-easier-to-say-that-as-best-describ_1739317.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/francisco-x-stork-16774_autism_it-is-easier-to-say-that-as-best-describ_1739317.jpg)

> ““It is easier to say that AS best describes my differences. It makes people more comfortable to have a scientific-sounding term. But actually, I feel dishonest when I say I have AS because the negative effects of my differences on my life are so slight compared to other kids who have AS or other forms of autism and truly suffer. I always feel like I'm doing the people who have these conditions a disservice when I use the medical term, because then people say, "Oh, that doesn't seem so bad. What's all the fuss about?””

[Francisco X. Stork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-x-stork/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Using a medical label for mild traits can feel dishonest when impact is minimal compared to severe cases.

**In simple terms:** Labeling mild differences may mislead others about their seriousness.

Key Takeaway

Use language that accurately reflects personal experience.

Themes

diagnosis authenticity stigma communication self‑advocacy

Mood

thoughtful concerned

Type

ethical personal

When to use this quote

- clinical settings
- personal narratives
- advocacy work
- public discourse

Key Concepts

ethical labeling social perception identity politics

Questions to Reflect On

- What language best conveys your experience without minimizing others?
- How can society balance awareness with nuance?

A Different Perspective

Labels can oversimplify complex experiences and perpetuate stigma.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Autism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autism/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Labels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labels/)

## Related quotes

> [In an ideal world the scientist should find a method to prevent the most severe forms of autism but allow the milder forms to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/in-an-ideal-world-the-scientist-should-find-a-method-to-prevent-the/)

[Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/)

> [Society demands that we present an identity that can be comfortably catalogued. Hes a Harvard man. Shes a wild girl. Hes an airhead. Shes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-papian/society-demands-that-we-present-an-identity-that-can-be-comfortably/)

[Ruben Papian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-papian/)

> [My wife Cecily Adams was dying of cancer, my daughter Madeline was struggling to overcome an autism diagnosis, and my father was dying, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-beaver/my-wife-cecily-adams-was-dying-of-cancer-my-daughter-madeline-was/)

[Jim Beaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-beaver/)

> [These diagnostic profiles like depression, ADHD, autism, dyslexia, it's half science and the other half is a committee of doctors bickering over what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/these-diagnostic-profiles-like-depression-adhd-autism-dyslexia-it-s/)

[Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/)

> [A diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome can be useful to help a person understand why they have had difficulties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/a-diagnosis-of-asperger-syndrome-can-be-useful-to-help-a-person/)

[Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/)

> [The Lourie Center eases the burden of children and their families through early intervention and diagnoses and treatment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beverly-sills/the-lourie-center-eases-the-burden-of-children-and-their-families/)

[Beverly Sills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beverly-sills/)

> [I've been trying to diagnosis myself on the Internet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-hobbes/i-ve-been-trying-to-diagnosis-myself-on-the-internet/)

[Miranda Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-hobbes/)

> [I can tell that in Refuge the question that was burning in me was, how do we find refuge in change? Everything around me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tempest-williams/i-can-tell-that-in-refuge-the-question-that-was-burning-in-me-was-how/)

[Terry Tempest Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tempest-williams/)

> [An untreatable diagnosis is a statement about the medical system, not the patient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-brennan/an-untreatable-diagnosis-is-a-statement-about-the-medical-system-not/)

[Barbara Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-brennan/)

> [When you have a diagnosis of cancer, or any serious illness, your choices are basically to be passive and kind of accept whatever is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-jordan/when-you-have-a-diagnosis-of-cancer-or-any-serious-illness-your/)

[Hamilton Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-jordan/)

> [I have never gone for a diagnosis and I don't consider myself to be bipolar, but I have extreme moods. I get heightened. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-quentin/i-have-never-gone-for-a-diagnosis-and-i-don-t-consider-myself-to-be/)

[Caroline Quentin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-quentin/)

> ["The Diagnosis" is by far my most ambitious book. I such great hopes for it... there was so much I wanted to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/the-diagnosis-is-by-far-my-most-ambitious-book-i-such-great-hopes-for/)

[Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/)

> [I have been extremely pleased to support the Trust's work in the Lupus Unit ever since. Personal experience also motivated me to become involved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-paige/i-have-been-extremely-pleased-to-support-the-trust-s-work-in-the/)

[Elaine Paige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-paige/)

> [An important finding is that by determining the genome sequences of an entire family, one can identify many DNA sequencing errors and thus greatly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-hood/an-important-finding-is-that-by-determining-the-genome-sequences-of/)

[Leroy Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-hood/)

> [And then they sign an affidavit swearing that she's not in a vegetative stage. I'll tell you. That's a doctor you really want; they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-schiavo/and-then-they-sign-an-affidavit-swearing-that-she-s-not-in-a/)

[Michael Schiavo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-schiavo/)

## More by Francisco X. Stork

> [“1. Who is a Death Warrior? Anyone can be a Death Warrior, not just someone who is terminally ill. We are all terminally ill.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-x-stork/1-who-is-a-death-warrior-anyone-can-be-a-death-warrior-not-just/)

[Francisco X. Stork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-x-stork/)

> [“Because doing what is right is in your bones. Just follow where your bones take you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-x-stork/because-doing-what-is-right-is-in-your-bones-just-follow-where-your/)

[Francisco X. Stork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-x-stork/)

> [“There's quiet because you don't need to say anything, and then there's quiet because you don't want to say something. --Marisol”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-x-stork/there-s-quiet-because-you-don-t-need-to-say-anything-and-then-there-s/)

[Francisco X. Stork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-x-stork/)

> [“Then it comes to me. It cannot be that this is the first time I realized this, but it is. We all have ugly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-x-stork/then-it-comes-to-me-it-cannot-be-that-this-is-the-first-time-i/)

[Francisco X. Stork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-x-stork/)

> [“She reached up and kissed him on the lips. It was a small kiss. It lasted only two or three seconds, just long enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-x-stork/she-reached-up-and-kissed-him-on-the-lips-it-was-a-small-kiss-it/)

[Francisco X. Stork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-x-stork/)

> [“He is remembering," I say. "Remembering what?" "It's a word I use for praying. Sometimes it's like waiting for music to come out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-x-stork/he-is-remembering-i-say-remembering-what-it-s-a-word-i-use-for/)

[Francisco X. Stork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-x-stork/)

> [“There are better sources of energy. Like love, or wanting to do something with your life. Anger makes you sick. It makes you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-x-stork/there-are-better-sources-of-energy-like-love-or-wanting-to-do/)

[Francisco X. Stork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-x-stork/)

> [“If you're asking all this because of Wendell, forget it. Wendell has a few marbles missing when it comes to women." I like that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-x-stork/if-you-re-asking-all-this-because-of-wendell-forget-it-wendell-has-a/)

[Francisco X. Stork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-x-stork/)

> [“That's what faith is, isn't it? Following the music when we don't hear it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-x-stork/that-s-what-faith-is-isn-t-it-following-the-music-when-we-don-t-hear/)

[Francisco X. Stork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-x-stork/)

> [“I'm just human. Our task is to try. Being a Death Warrior is all in the trying. --DQ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-x-stork/i-m-just-human-our-task-is-to-try-being-a-death-warrior-is-all-in-the/)

[Francisco X. Stork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-x-stork/)

> [“Aurora once told me that she knew I was different within the first few months after I was born, because as a baby, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-x-stork/aurora-once-told-me-that-she-knew-i-was-different-within-the-first/)

[Francisco X. Stork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-x-stork/)

> [“What goes through the minds of men when they hurt them? Isn’t there a spark of conscience somewhere in them telling them to stop?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-x-stork/what-goes-through-the-minds-of-men-when-they-hurt-them-isn-t-there-a/)

[Francisco X. Stork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-x-stork/)

> [“Is not seeing any ugly parts in myself an ugly part? Is not wanting to forgive someone's ugly parts an ugly part in oneself?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-x-stork/is-not-seeing-any-ugly-parts-in-myself-an-ugly-part-is-not-wanting-to/)

[Francisco X. Stork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-x-stork/)

> [“My brain is like a water faucet that I can turn on or off. Only now there is no off and the water of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-x-stork/my-brain-is-like-a-water-faucet-that-i-can-turn-on-or-off-only-now/)

[Francisco X. Stork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-x-stork/)

> [“But today--today I will just be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-x-stork/but-today-today-i-will-just-be/)

[Francisco X. Stork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-x-stork/)

[Explore all 39 Francisco X. Stork quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-x-stork/)

## More Autism quotes

> [“We know that children with autism like order, that they are often very visual and that they can be quite literal. They deserve beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adele-devine/we-know-that-children-with-autism-like-order-that-they-are-often-very/)

[Adele Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adele-devine/)

> [In fact, when we as neuro-typical people encounter a person with autism spectrum syndrome who's always been that way it is that we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamlyn-tomita/in-fact-when-we-as-neuro-typical-people-encounter-a-person-with/)

[Tamlyn Tomita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamlyn-tomita/)

> [If you give us a safe vaccine, we'll use it. It shouldn't be polio versus autism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-mccarthy/if-you-give-us-a-safe-vaccine-we-ll-use-it-it-shouldn-t-be-polio/)

[Jenny McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-mccarthy/)

> [Autism is a big continuum, going from someone who remains nonverbal, all the way up to geniuses on Silicon Valley. And some kids are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/autism-is-a-big-continuum-going-from-someone-who-remains-nonverbal/)

[Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/)

> [Metaphor isn't just a fancy turn of speech. It shapes our thoughts and feelings, reaches out to grasp new experience, and even binds our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-richardson/metaphor-isn-t-just-a-fancy-turn-of-speech-it-shapes-our-thoughts-and/)

[James Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-richardson/)

> [The position of Autism Speaks has been for quite awhile that we need to find out what's happening. We know there's a genetic component,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-emken/the-position-of-autism-speaks-has-been-for-quite-awhile-that-we-need/)

[Elizabeth Emken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-emken/)

> [Some people with autism who don't talk, all they hear are vowel sounds. Like if I said 'cup,' they might just hear 'uh.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/some-people-with-autism-who-don-t-talk-all-they-hear-are-vowel-sounds/)

[Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/)

> [Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/children-must-be-taught-how-to-think-not-what-to-think/)

[Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/)

> [Mild autism can give you a genius like Einstein. If you have severe autism, you could remain nonverbal. You don't want people to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/mild-autism-can-give-you-a-genius-like-einstein-if-you-have-severe/)

[Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/)

> [“The autistic mind is not the wave at the surface of the ocean, but the whole world that exists below.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krissy-bells/the-autistic-mind-is-not-the-wave-at-the-surface-of-the-ocean-but-the/)

Krissy Bells

> [In the person with autism, the brain may already be seeing the part and be less distracted by the whole, and in the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/in-the-person-with-autism-the-brain-may-already-be-seeing-the-part/)

[Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/)

> [I think that the definition of autism is too broad. You got to remember, autism definition is a behavioral profiling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/i-think-that-the-definition-of-autism-is-too-broad-you-got-to/)

[Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/)

> [There is a small segment of people with autism that have savant skills, where they can memorize entire maps of whole entire city. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/there-is-a-small-segment-of-people-with-autism-that-have-savant/)

[Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/)

> [When you have autism or aspergers, it's so hard to get a social life but trust me, in the end everyone can achieve at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lia/when-you-have-autism-or-aspergers-it-s-so-hard-to-get-a-social-life/)

Lia

> [“Unfortunately, by this time it didn't matter. Self-diagnosed autistics and fakers were asking diagnosed autistics whether or not they had a diagnosis, and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-d-taylor/unfortunately-by-this-time-it-didn-t-matter-self-diagnosed-autistics/)

[Thomas D. Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-d-taylor/)

[Browse all 621 Autism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autism/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“It is easier to say that AS best describes my differences. It makes people more comfortable to have a scientific-sounding term. But actually, I feel dishonest when I say I have AS because the negative effects of my differences on my life are so slight compared to other kids who have AS or other forms of autism and truly suffer. I always feel like I'm doing the people who have these conditions a disservice when I use the medical term, because then people say, \"Oh, that doesn't seem so bad. What's all the fuss about?”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Francisco X. Stork"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-x-stork/it-is-easier-to-say-that-as-best-describes-my-differences-it-makes/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Autism"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-x-stork/it-is-easier-to-say-that-as-best-describes-my-differences-it-makes/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/francisco-x-stork-16774_autism_it-is-easier-to-say-that-as-best-describ_1739317.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/francisco-x-stork-16774_autism_it-is-easier-to-say-that-as-best-describ_1739317.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/francisco-x-stork-16774_autism_it-is-easier-to-say-that-as-best-describ_1739317.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It is easier to say that AS best describes my differences. It makes people more comfortable to have a…” — Francisco X. Stork",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Francisco X. Stork",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-x-stork/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“It is easier to say that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-x-stork/it-is-easier-to-say-that-as-best-describes-my-differences-it-makes/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-x-stork/it-is-easier-to-say-that-as-best-describes-my-differences-it-makes/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
