--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only reason to have a positive mental…" description: "\"The only reason to have a positive mental attitude is that it makes life better. It doesn't cure cancer.\" — Molly Ivins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/molly-ivins-1296_attitude_the-only-reason-to-have-a-positive-menta_2222837.png" --- # The only reason to have a positive mental attitude is that… ![“The only reason to have a positive mental attitude is that it makes life better. It doesn't cure cancer.” quote by Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/molly-ivins-1296_attitude_the-only-reason-to-have-a-positive-menta_2222837.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/molly-ivins-1296_attitude_the-only-reason-to-have-a-positive-menta_2222837.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/molly-ivins-1296_attitude_the-only-reason-to-have-a-positive-menta_2222837.png) > “The only reason to have a positive mental attitude is that it makes life better. It doesn't cure cancer.” [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A positive attitude improves daily life but isn’t a cure‑all for serious problems. **In simple terms:** Optimism helps, but isn’t a medical solution. Key Takeaway Maintain optimism while addressing real issues. Themes attitude optimism health realism well‑being Mood thoughtful balanced Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - daily stress management - coping with illness - mental health advocacy - personal growth Key Concepts psychology healthcare mindset limitations Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay hopeful during crises? - When should optimism be tempered with realism? A Different Perspective Optimism may mask necessary action on serious issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Attitude Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude-makes-541689/) [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental/) [Mental attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-attitude/) [Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive/) [Positive Mental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-mental-344972/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) ## Related quotes > [“It is our own mental attitude which makes the world what it is for us. Our thoughts make things beautiful, our thoughts make things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/it-is-our-own-mental-attitude-which-makes-the-world-what-it-is-for-us/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Take time, rest your head, focus on keeping a positive mental attitude, the problems wont change, but you can change the way you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/take-time-rest-your-head-focus-on-keeping-a-positive-mental-attitude/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have P.M.A (Positive Mental Attitude)Im positive Im mental and I know I have attitude!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-p-m-a-positive-mental-attitude-im-positive-im-mental-and-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Having a positive mental attitude is asking how something can be done rather than saying it can't be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/having-a-positive-mental-attitude-is-asking-how-something-can-be-done/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A positive mental attitude can change absolutely everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lacey-london/a-positive-mental-attitude-can-change-absolutely-everything/) [Lacey London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lacey-london/) > [A Positive Mental Attitude is the right mental attitude. What is the right mental attitude? It is most often comprised of the "plus" characteristics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-positive-mental-attitude-is-the-right-mental-attitude-what-is-the/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Through my life and my experience, I believe getting "positive mental attitude" is true. Your brain has certain pathways in it, and if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-porcellino/through-my-life-and-my-experience-i-believe-getting-positive-mental/) [John Porcellino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-porcellino/) > [I have a positive mental attitude! I just choose to leave the positive bit out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-a-positive-mental-attitude-i-just-choose-to-leave-the-positive/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Definiteness of purpose with positive mental attitude is the starting point of all worthwhile achievement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/definiteness-of-purpose-with-positive-mental-attitude-is-the-starting/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Success is achieved by those who try and keep trying with a positive mental attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/success-is-achieved-by-those-who-try-and-keep-trying-with-a-positive/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A positive mental attitude is the only way to feel good these days, I've surrounded myself with too much negativity lately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-positive-mental-attitude-is-the-only-way-to-feel-good-these-days-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You attract the good and desirable with positive mental attitude. You repel them with negative mental attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-clement-stone/you-attract-the-good-and-desirable-with-positive-mental-attitude-you/) [W. Clement Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-clement-stone/) > [“When you do what I do for a living you have to have a positive mental attitude; when that positive mental attitude isn't enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evel-knievel/when-you-do-what-i-do-for-a-living-you-have-to-have-a-positive-mental/) [Evel Knievel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evel-knievel/) > [What the mind of man can conceive and believe, the mind of man can achieve with Positive Mental Attitude. It is a form of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-clement-stone/what-the-mind-of-man-can-conceive-and-believe-the-mind-of-man-can/) [W. Clement Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-clement-stone/) > [I have a positive mental attitude, and I think I'm divine, but I also think it takes a heck of a lot of blood,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-prefontaine/i-have-a-positive-mental-attitude-and-i-think-i-m-divine-but-i-also/) [Steve Prefontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-prefontaine/) ## More by Molly Ivins > [Preemptive war is what Israel did in '67 with Arab armies on its borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/preemptive-war-is-what-israel-did-in-67-with-arab-armies-on-its/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [The idols of one's adolescence tend to endure - you never forget how you worshipped them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-idols-of-one-s-adolescence-tend-to-endure-you-never-forget-how/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Having breast cancer is massive amounts of no fun,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/having-breast-cancer-is-massive-amounts-of-no-fun/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [How the American right managed to convince itself that the programs to alleviate poverty are responsible for the consequences of poverty will someday be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/how-the-american-right-managed-to-convince-itself-that-the-programs/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [To mistake Midland for the volk heartland is the West Texas equivalent of assuming that Greenwich, Connecticut, is Levittown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/to-mistake-midland-for-the-volk-heartland-is-the-west-texas/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [I only aim at the powerful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/i-only-aim-at-the-powerful/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Even for southerners, Arkansans are amazingly friendly and extend hospitality to all strangers with astonishing openness. You couldn't find a pretension in that state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/even-for-southerners-arkansans-are-amazingly-friendly-and-extend/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [It's hard to convince people that you're killing them for their own good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/it-s-hard-to-convince-people-that-you-re-killing-them-for-their-own/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [the pyramids were built for pharaohs on the happy theory that they could take their stuff with them. Versailles was built for kings on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-pyramids-were-built-for-pharaohs-on-the-happy-theory-that-they/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Any nation that can survive what we have lately in the way of government, is on the high road to permanent glory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/any-nation-that-can-survive-what-we-have-lately-in-the-way-of/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [I think provincialism is an endemic characteristic with mankind, I think everybody everywhere is provincial, but it is particularly striking with Texans, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/i-think-provincialism-is-an-endemic-characteristic-with-mankind-i/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [During a recent panel on the numerous failures of American journalism, I proposed that almost all stories about government should begin: “Look out! They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/during-a-recent-panel-on-the-numerous-failures-of-american-journalism/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Naturally, when it comes to voting, we in Texas are accustomed to discerning that fine hair’s-breadth worth of difference that makes one hopeless dipstick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/naturally-when-it-comes-to-voting-we-in-texas-are-accustomed-to/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Be outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in all the oddities that freedom can produce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/be-outrageous-ridicule-the-fraidy-cats-rejoice-in-all-the-oddities/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Texas is not a civilized place. Texans shoot one another a lot. They also knife, razor, and stomp one another to death with some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/texas-is-not-a-civilized-place-texans-shoot-one-another-a-lot-they/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) [Explore all 260 Molly Ivins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) [Isaiah Harden (Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-harden-me/) > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) [Sheye Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheye-hassan/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only reason to have a positive mental attitude is that it makes life better. It doesn't cure cancer.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Molly Ivins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-only-reason-to-have-a-positive-mental-attitude-is-that-it-makes/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-only-reason-to-have-a-positive-mental-attitude-is-that-it-makes/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/molly-ivins-1296_attitude_the-only-reason-to-have-a-positive-menta_2222837.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/molly-ivins-1296_attitude_the-only-reason-to-have-a-positive-menta_2222837.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/molly-ivins-1296_attitude_the-only-reason-to-have-a-positive-menta_2222837.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only reason to have a positive mental attitude is that it makes life better. It doesn't cure cancer.” — Molly Ivins", "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": "Molly Ivins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The only reason to have a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-only-reason-to-have-a-positive-mental-attitude-is-that-it-makes/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-only-reason-to-have-a-positive-mental-attitude-is-that-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 } } ] } ```