--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why can someone get so sick that the only…" description: "\"“Why can someone get so sick that the only way to get better is to make them more sick? It’s like the world’s longest exorcism. It doesn’t make sense t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/511/julie-halpern-26666_cancer_why-can-someone-get-so-sick-that-the-onl_2749684.jpg" --- # Why can someone get so sick that the only way to get… ![“Why can someone get so sick that the only way to get better is to make them more sick? It’s like the world’s longest exorcism. It doesn’t make sense that I can chat with someone live on a tiny screen, that governments spend billions of dollars on war and mayhem, that actors make millions of…” quote by Julie Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/511/julie-halpern-26666_cancer_why-can-someone-get-so-sick-that-the-onl_2749684.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/511/julie-halpern-26666_cancer_why-can-someone-get-so-sick-that-the-onl_2749684.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/511/julie-halpern-26666_cancer_why-can-someone-get-so-sick-that-the-onl_2749684.jpg) > ““Why can someone get so sick that the only way to get better is to make them more sick? It’s like the world’s longest exorcism. It doesn’t make sense that I can chat with someone live on a tiny screen, that governments spend billions of dollars on war and mayhem, that actors make millions of dollars to just look pretty and skinny, yet no one can fucking fi gure out how to cure cancer without torturing people.”” [Julie Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-halpern/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights paradoxes of modern society where extreme measures are taken for health, war, and entertainment, exposing moral contradictions and inefficiencies in solving critical problems. **In simple terms:** Society often uses harmful methods to address serious issues. Key Takeaway Question ethical ways to solve big problems. Themes ethics healthcare war entertainment paradoxes Mood critical skeptical Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - medical research - war strategy - media critique - policy reform Key Concepts moral philosophy systems thinking public policy Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance urgency with humane approaches? - What alternatives exist to current harmful practices? A Different Perspective The quote may overgeneralize and ignore successful medical advances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) [Doctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctor/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“Don’t you think it’s a little sick the way that most of the culture denies death? It’s there all the time, and most people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trish-cook-brendan-halpin/don-t-you-think-it-s-a-little-sick-the-way-that-most-of-the-culture/) [Trish Cook, Brendan Halpin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trish-cook-brendan-halpin/) > [It's sick the way you people keep having sex without me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/it-s-sick-the-way-you-people-keep-having-sex-without-me/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [I never was a sick like throwing up type of guy. I get nervous with the butterflies in the stomach. I was never a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rivers/i-never-was-a-sick-like-throwing-up-type-of-guy-i-get-nervous-with/) [Philip Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rivers/) > [You're never satisfied here we go again. We're sick like animals, we play pretend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neon-trees/you-re-never-satisfied-here-we-go-again-we-re-sick-like-animals-we/) [Neon Trees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neon-trees/) > [I am really just like, exhausted. I'm sick of life. I'm sick of people I'm just sick of everything like, I'm done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-really-just-like-exhausted-i-m-sick-of-life-i-m-sick-of-people-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He was ridiculously gorgeous, even with bed-head--maybe because of it. It made her sick--like violently, ill. He could at least be polite and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-marks/he-was-ridiculously-gorgeous-even-with-bed-head-maybe-because-of-it/) [Daniel Marks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-marks/) > [“Sick people should look sick, like in fairy tales or on television. They shouldn 't be wearing sexy dresses and shaving their legs. How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-lodato/sick-people-should-look-sick-like-in-fairy-tales-or-on-television/) [Victor Lodato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-lodato/) > [Being sick it is like loosing all your fun day out. You cant do nothing, but all you do is you stay in bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-jessenia/being-sick-it-is-like-loosing-all-your-fun-day-out-you-cant-do/) [Jess Jessenia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-jessenia/) > [“Play with murder enough and it gets you one of two ways. It makes you sick, or you get to like it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/play-with-murder-enough-and-it-gets-you-one-of-two-ways-it-makes-you/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [“These are war stories. When you’re on tour, short of loss of life and limb – or actual death – you have no time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-tyler/these-are-war-stories-when-you-re-on-tour-short-of-loss-of-life-and/) [Steven Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-tyler/) > [In my sobriety, I have discovered that the people I love, and who hurt me, were sick like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sia/in-my-sobriety-i-have-discovered-that-the-people-i-love-and-who-hurt/) [Sia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sia/) > [“You make me sick. Because I adore you so..." ~Space Dementia”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-bellamy/you-make-me-sick-because-i-adore-you-so-space-dementia/) [Matthew Bellamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bellamy/) > [Words can make you sick. Or healed. - Words create worlds because the universe is always listening... and so are your cells, your psyche,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/words-can-make-you-sick-or-healed-words-create-worlds-because-the/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [“Your mind can make you sick, and your mind can heal you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-mind-can-make-you-sick-and-your-mind-can-heal-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Selfish people make me sick to my stomach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/selfish-people-make-me-sick-to-my-stomach/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Julie Halpern > [“I didn’t have a boyfriend. I had someone to watch horror movies with while my best friend was too sick with cancer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-halpern/i-didn-t-have-a-boyfriend-i-had-someone-to-watch-horror-movies-with/) [Julie Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-halpern/) > [“Raisins again. I like raisins, but I have a habit of losing one or two on the floor every time I eat them. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-halpern/raisins-again-i-like-raisins-but-i-have-a-habit-of-losing-one-or-two/) [Julie Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-halpern/) > [“I did it." Who leaves a message like that? Who is so paranoid that they have to be so cryptic? If this wasn't day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-halpern/i-did-it-who-leaves-a-message-like-that-who-is-so-paranoid-that-they/) [Julie Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-halpern/) > [“So love is possible at the Loony Bin. Or, at least, lust.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-halpern/so-love-is-possible-at-the-loony-bin-or-at-least-lust/) [Julie Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-halpern/) > [“It's amazing how something can be blue and yet absolutely colorless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-halpern/it-s-amazing-how-something-can-be-blue-and-yet-absolutely-colorless/) [Julie Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-halpern/) > [“When I die, I want them to bury me facedown and ass up so that the whole world can kiss my ass!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-halpern/when-i-die-i-want-them-to-bury-me-facedown-and-ass-up-so-that-the/) [Julie Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-halpern/) > [“Can we stop calling it a bucket list? Again: implied death,” I noted. “I thought it meant all the things you can fi t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-halpern/can-we-stop-calling-it-a-bucket-list-again-implied-death-i-noted-i/) [Julie Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-halpern/) > [“I can't buy the idea that we're supposed to live and learn from horrible things. That somehow these things happen so we can grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-halpern/i-can-t-buy-the-idea-that-we-re-supposed-to-live-and-learn-from/) [Julie Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-halpern/) > [“I have always kept a stack of library books next to my bed as a lifeline. If I ever woke in the middle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-halpern/i-have-always-kept-a-stack-of-library-books-next-to-my-bed-as-a/) [Julie Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-halpern/) > [“I hardly think it wise to put the idea of flying into the heads of impressionable teenagers who are already battling the challenges of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-halpern/i-hardly-think-it-wise-to-put-the-idea-of-flying-into-the-heads-of/) [Julie Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-halpern/) > [“Get Well Soon. People sent me get well soon cards while I was in a mental hospital. There were fluffy little bunnies, floaty rainbows,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-halpern/get-well-soon-people-sent-me-get-well-soon-cards-while-i-was-in-a/) [Julie Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-halpern/) > [“Her words were generically profound, like a Hallmark card I’d skim over to get to the check.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-halpern/her-words-were-generically-profound-like-a-hallmark-card-i-d-skim/) [Julie Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-halpern/) > [“I know a flute player is technically called a "flautist," but something about it sounds a little sketchy, as does "pianist," so I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-halpern/i-know-a-flute-player-is-technically-called-a-flautist-but-something/) [Julie Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-halpern/) > [“I wished I could erase the message, suck the word “sorry” from the En glish language, and hack it to pieces with a rusty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-halpern/i-wished-i-could-erase-the-message-suck-the-word-sorry-from-the-en/) [Julie Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-halpern/) > [“Is it the boiler room? Is this the part where we both fall asleep and Freddy comes after us? ’Cause I could so kick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-halpern/is-it-the-boiler-room-is-this-the-part-where-we-both-fall-asleep-and/) [Julie Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-halpern/) [Explore all 21 Julie Halpern quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-halpern/) ## More Cancer quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [If one truly has lost hope, one would not be on hand to say so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bentley/if-one-truly-has-lost-hope-one-would-not-be-on-hand-to-say-so/) [Eric Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bentley/) > [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [Historically, more people have died of religion than cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-francis/historically-more-people-have-died-of-religion-than-cancer/) [Dick Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-francis/) > [“Our kind of love can go into remission, but it's always waiting to return. Like the world sweetest cancer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/our-kind-of-love-can-go-into-remission-but-it-s-always-waiting-to/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [Bollywood is a cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-banerjee/bollywood-is-a-cancer/) [Victor Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-banerjee/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [When people go get chemo, they're not injecting themselves with will - I have lost various loved ones to cancer, and I certainly don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-hall/when-people-go-get-chemo-they-re-not-injecting-themselves-with-will-i/) [Michael C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-hall/) > [“the doctor hesitated before breaking the news to her. "those aren't stars. it's cancer." - forty years a smoker”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lovelace/the-doctor-hesitated-before-breaking-the-news-to-her-those-aren-t/) [Amanda Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lovelace/) > [I loved you to the moon and back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-loved-you-to-the-moon-and-back/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [The risk of developing carcinoma of the lung increases steadily as the amount smoked increases. If the risk among non-smokers is taken as unity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-doll/the-risk-of-developing-carcinoma-of-the-lung-increases-steadily-as/) Richard Doll > [I would do away with super PACs. I think it's a cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-conrad/i-would-do-away-with-super-pacs-i-think-it-s-a-cancer/) [Kent Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-conrad/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [If you are a white male, you don't deserve to live. You are a cancer, you're a disease, white males have never contributed anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-ignatiev/if-you-are-a-white-male-you-don-t-deserve-to-live-you-are-a-cancer/) [Noel Ignatiev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-ignatiev/) > [The way I look at it is, cancer research is absolutely nonpartisan. Cancer is very democratic in the sense that it attacks people regardless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-koch/the-way-i-look-at-it-is-cancer-research-is-absolutely-nonpartisan/) [David H. Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-koch/) [Browse all 3,177 Cancer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Why can someone get so sick that the only way to get better is to make them more sick? It’s like the world’s longest exorcism. It doesn’t make sense that I can chat with someone live on a tiny screen, that governments spend billions of dollars on war and mayhem, that actors make millions of dollars to just look pretty and skinny, yet no one can fucking fi gure out how to cure cancer without torturing people.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Julie Halpern" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-halpern/why-can-someone-get-so-sick-that-the-only-way-to-get-better-is-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cancer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-halpern/why-can-someone-get-so-sick-that-the-only-way-to-get-better-is-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/511/julie-halpern-26666_cancer_why-can-someone-get-so-sick-that-the-onl_2749684.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/511/julie-halpern-26666_cancer_why-can-someone-get-so-sick-that-the-onl_2749684.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/511/julie-halpern-26666_cancer_why-can-someone-get-so-sick-that-the-onl_2749684.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Why can someone get so sick that the only way to get better is to make them more sick? It’s like the world’s…” — Julie Halpern", "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": "Julie Halpern", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-halpern/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Why can someone get so sick...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-halpern/why-can-someone-get-so-sick-that-the-only-way-to-get-better-is-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-halpern/why-can-someone-get-so-sick-that-the-only-way-to-get-better-is-to/#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 } } ] } ```