--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Colds, ulcers, flu, and cancer are things…" description: "\"Colds, ulcers, flu, and cancer are things we get. Schizophrenia is something we are.\" — Mark Vonnegut" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/632/mark-vonnegut-10170_cancer_colds-ulcers-flu-and-cancer-are-things-w_397512.png" --- # Colds, ulcers, flu, and cancer are things we get… ![“Colds, ulcers, flu, and cancer are things we get. Schizophrenia is something we are.” quote by Mark Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/632/mark-vonnegut-10170_cancer_colds-ulcers-flu-and-cancer-are-things-w_397512.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/632/mark-vonnegut-10170_cancer_colds-ulcers-flu-and-cancer-are-things-w_397512.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/632/mark-vonnegut-10170_cancer_colds-ulcers-flu-and-cancer-are-things-w_397512.png) > “Colds, ulcers, flu, and cancer are things we get. Schizophrenia is something we are.” [Mark Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-vonnegut/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Illnesses are external conditions; mental illness is an internal state of being. **In simple terms:** Physical ailments are external; mental illness is part of identity. Key Takeaway Recognize mental health as intrinsic, not just another disease. Themes mental health identity stigma Mood reflective serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - healthcare - personal relationships - self‑acceptance Key Concepts psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How does framing schizophrenia as part of self affect treatment? - What societal changes reduce stigma? A Different Perspective Physical illnesses are treatable, but mental health requires ongoing support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) [Illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illness/) [Mental illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-illness/) [Schizophrenia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schizophrenia/) ## Related quotes > [I can be a little obsessive about avoiding colds and flu. Thera Zinc Echinacea lozenges are awesome, and I almost always have some with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bartlett/i-can-be-a-little-obsessive-about-avoiding-colds-and-flu-thera-zinc/) [Murray Bartlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bartlett/) > [At its best Pinterest really does help lots of people with everyday things. Those things can seem really small. 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You can have the occasional treat, but you also need to balance your diet with foods such as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-meadows/make-sure-you-eat-healthy-food-you-can-have-the-occasional-treat-but/) [Jenny Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-meadows/) > [I've had my fair share of colds, which last longer than they should and can cause wheezing, so I avoid people who are sneezing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccloud/i-ve-had-my-fair-share-of-colds-which-last-longer-than-they-should/) [Kevin McCloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccloud/) > [I take vitamin C and zinc every day to keep colds at bay. 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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. 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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": "Colds, ulcers, flu, and cancer are things we get. 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