--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When people say there is a 'reason' for…" description: "\"When people say there is a 'reason' for the depression, they insult the person who suffers, making it seem that those in agony are somehow at fault for..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de0/kerry-kennedy-5292_depression_when-people-say-there-is-a-reason-for-th_1456540.png" --- # When people say there is a 'reason' for the depression… ![“When people say there is a 'reason' for the depression, they insult the person who suffers, making it seem that those in agony are somehow at fault for not 'cheering up.' The fact is that those who suffer - and those who love them - are no more at fault for depression than a cancer patient is for…” quote by Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de0/kerry-kennedy-5292_depression_when-people-say-there-is-a-reason-for-th_1456540.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de0/kerry-kennedy-5292_depression_when-people-say-there-is-a-reason-for-th_1456540.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de0/kerry-kennedy-5292_depression_when-people-say-there-is-a-reason-for-th_1456540.png) > “When people say there is a 'reason' for the depression, they insult the person who suffers, making it seem that those in agony are somehow at fault for not 'cheering up.' The fact is that those who suffer - and those who love them - are no more at fault for depression than a cancer patient is for a tumor.” [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Depression is not caused by personal weakness; blaming victims is unjust like harmful. **In simple terms:** Depression isn’t a personal fault. Key Takeaway Avoid blaming; offer empathy and support. Themes mental health stigma compassion Mood empathetic reflective Type advocacy educational When to use this quote - therapy sessions - support groups - public health messaging - family discussions Key Concepts psychology social perception illness metaphor Questions to Reflect On - What language reduces stigma? - How can we better support those suffering? A Different Perspective Some may view depression as a moral failing despite evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) ## Related quotes > [I dont remember the last time I was happy. All I know is, I just woke up in this wicked place. This is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/broken-soul/i-dont-remember-the-last-time-i-was-happy-all-i-know-is-i-just-woke/) [Broken Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/broken-soul/) > [The left-wing agenda wants us to think that the reason there was a depression was because the government didn't do anything. That's not true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/the-left-wing-agenda-wants-us-to-think-that-the-reason-there-was-a/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [Recent breakthroughs in science show we have just the capacities we need to face our planet's challenges. We're "soft-wired" for cooperation, empathy, fairness, along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-moore-lapp/recent-breakthroughs-in-science-show-we-have-just-the-capacities-we/) [Frances Moore Lappé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-moore-lapp/) > [To my mind, the main reason for the Depression in the United States as a whole, is the bondage of debt and the spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heber-j-grant/to-my-mind-the-main-reason-for-the-depression-in-the-united-states-as/) [Heber J. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heber-j-grant/) > [“In his talk, Suzuki Roshi says that meditation and the whole process of finding your own true nature is one continuous mistake, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/in-his-talk-suzuki-roshi-says-that-meditation-and-the-whole-process/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“Depression is an illness, and no fault of the person who suffers from it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-schumacher/depression-is-an-illness-and-no-fault-of-the-person-who-suffers-from/) [Julie Schumacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-schumacher/) > [“I realize now that there is a certain order to living; a person suffers when they don't follow that order. I must learn everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliet-valcourt/i-realize-now-that-there-is-a-certain-order-to-living-a-person/) Juliet Valcourt > [“A person who never suffers has no chance to become strong in mind and body. ~ Tochan Sayo”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiyo-sato/a-person-who-never-suffers-has-no-chance-to-become-strong-in-mind-and/) Kiyo Sato > [As the dead lingers around, the living person suffers in the end](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-the-dead-lingers-around-the-living-person-suffers-in-the-end/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When any person suffers for someone in greater need, that person is a human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/when-any-person-suffers-for-someone-in-greater-need-that-person-is-a/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [“Maybe if one person suffers anywhere in the world, we all have blood in our hands.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-singer/maybe-if-one-person-suffers-anywhere-in-the-world-we-all-have-blood/) Nicky Singer > [I don't blame anyone .. I did this to myself .. It's my fault .. Everything is my FAULT ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nurnizz95/i-don-t-blame-anyone-i-did-this-to-myself-it-s-my-fault-everything-is/) Nurnizz95 > [Sometimes I feel that my message has not been clearly heard. But that is not my fault because I feel like too much is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia-murad/sometimes-i-feel-that-my-message-has-not-been-clearly-heard-but-that/) [Nadia Murad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadia-murad/) > [“It's my fault. I am forgetting too much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/it-s-my-fault-i-am-forgetting-too-much/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [As people who know me know, probably to a fault, I am usually not without thoughts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/as-people-who-know-me-know-probably-to-a-fault-i-am-usually-not/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) ## More by Kerry Kennedy > [Firefighters and rescue workers are American superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/firefighters-and-rescue-workers-are-american-superheroes/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [I have 10 brothers and sisters. My mother raised us because my father died when I was 8.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/i-have-10-brothers-and-sisters-my-mother-raised-us-because-my-father/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [While the One Child Policy has been effective in drastically reducing Chinese birth rates, the measures adopted in its name have required exhaustive, violent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/while-the-one-child-policy-has-been-effective-in-drastically-reducing/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [I went to the Convent of the Sacred Heart for four years. It was interesting to me because, in a family where men were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/i-went-to-the-convent-of-the-sacred-heart-for-four-years-it-was/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [I think that on the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders talks about income inequality and poverty alleviation, and those issues are so important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/i-think-that-on-the-democratic-side-bernie-sanders-talks-about-income/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [Forgiveness is a gift, and central to faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/forgiveness-is-a-gift-and-central-to-faith/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [Dr. King gave his life to peace and justice and reconciliation between people, black and white, rich and poor, and he was a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/dr-king-gave-his-life-to-peace-and-justice-and-reconciliation-between/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [I'm not the most organized person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/i-m-not-the-most-organized-person/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [I have to tell you, virtually every country I've gone to, the Catholic church is on the cutting edge of social change. Really extraordinary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/i-have-to-tell-you-virtually-every-country-i-ve-gone-to-the-catholic/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [There are no wealthy people on Rikers Island because if you are wealthy, you go free because you make bail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/there-are-no-wealthy-people-on-rikers-island-because-if-you-are/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [I grew up outside of Washington D.C., a town in which the largest industry is government and in which almost everyone I knew was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/i-grew-up-outside-of-washington-d-c-a-town-in-which-the-largest/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [We need autocracies and failing democracies alike to understand that they cannot scapegoat LGBT citizens to distract from their own shortcomings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/we-need-autocracies-and-failing-democracies-alike-to-understand-that/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [I think of myself as a human-rights advocate and as a mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/i-think-of-myself-as-a-human-rights-advocate-and-as-a-mother/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [We've got to pass legislation which will allow people to have access to competent counsel no matter who they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/we-ve-got-to-pass-legislation-which-will-allow-people-to-have-access/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [There were times I should have been completely emotionally available to my kids and I wasn't there, even for reading a book with them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/there-were-times-i-should-have-been-completely-emotionally-available/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) [Explore all 102 Kerry Kennedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) ## More Depression quotes > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“As ofttimes as it rains on my little spot of earth, you'd think I'd grow accustomed to the gloom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/as-ofttimes-as-it-rains-on-my-little-spot-of-earth-you-d-think-i-d/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [There's only so much for a man to take...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gilchrist/there-s-only-so-much-for-a-man-to-take/) Kirsten Gilchrist > [“my stomach turned and burned with the acid of failure”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-ames/my-stomach-turned-and-burned-with-the-acid-of-failure/) Heidi Ames > [That is the real problem of depression - a condition which will affect an estimated one in five of the population at some point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-andreae/that-is-the-real-problem-of-depression-a-condition-which-will-affect/) [Giles Andreae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-andreae/) > [Im tired, tired of putting more effort than you do. Im tired of always having to start the conversation and if I dont, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-tired-tired-of-putting-more-effort-than-you-do-im-tired-of-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Once upon a time, there was a naïve and innocent girl who thought she could tame the beast and live happily ever after. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-na-ve-and-innocent-girl-who-thought-she/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [“Why in depression" "If we are human, why not have the right to smile, Why in depression, young, and beautiful as earth, Why in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanilsa-pena/why-in-depression-if-we-are-human-why-not-have-the-right-to-smile-why/) Yanilsa pena > [“Depression makes me stronger”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shayamalan/depression-makes-me-stronger/) Shayamalan > [“Shorter believes that psychosomatic illnesses (such as leg paralysis at the turn of the twentieth century or multiple personality disorder at the turn of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-watters/shorter-believes-that-psychosomatic-illnesses-such-as-leg-paralysis/) [Ethan Watters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-watters/) > [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Repression will provoke rebellion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-williamson/repression-will-provoke-rebellion/) Hugh Williamson > [I'm certainly not a perfect mother, but I'm trying to be what my mother wasn't for me. My mother's battled depression, so I understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-hamill/i-m-certainly-not-a-perfect-mother-but-i-m-trying-to-be-what-my/) [Dorothy Hamill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-hamill/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) James Buckham Kennedy > [Scars by Papa Roach. <3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophielianne/scars-by-papa-roach-3/) Sophielianne [Browse all 4,965 Depression quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When people say there is a 'reason' for the depression, they insult the person who suffers, making it seem that those in agony are somehow at fault for not 'cheering up.' The fact is that those who suffer - and those who love them - are no more at fault for depression than a cancer patient is for a tumor.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kerry Kennedy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/when-people-say-there-is-a-reason-for-the-depression-they-insult-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Depression" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/when-people-say-there-is-a-reason-for-the-depression-they-insult-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de0/kerry-kennedy-5292_depression_when-people-say-there-is-a-reason-for-th_1456540.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de0/kerry-kennedy-5292_depression_when-people-say-there-is-a-reason-for-th_1456540.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de0/kerry-kennedy-5292_depression_when-people-say-there-is-a-reason-for-th_1456540.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When people say there is a 'reason' for the depression, they insult the person who suffers, making it seem…” — Kerry Kennedy", "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": "Kerry Kennedy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When people say there is a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/when-people-say-there-is-a-reason-for-the-depression-they-insult-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/when-people-say-there-is-a-reason-for-the-depression-they-insult-the/#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 } } ] } ```