--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You do what you gotta do. This is not…" description: "\"You do what you gotta do. This is not heart surgery. I'm not curing cancer. I'm just trying to put my kids through school.\" — Ron Perlman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/199/ron-perlman-7226_cancer_you-do-what-you-gotta-do-this-is-not-hea_3137794.jpg" --- # You do what you gotta do. This is not heart surgery. I'm… ![“You do what you gotta do. This is not heart surgery. I'm not curing cancer. I'm just trying to put my kids through school.” quote by Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/199/ron-perlman-7226_cancer_you-do-what-you-gotta-do-this-is-not-hea_3137794.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/199/ron-perlman-7226_cancer_you-do-what-you-gotta-do-this-is-not-hea_3137794.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/199/ron-perlman-7226_cancer_you-do-what-you-gotta-do-this-is-not-hea_3137794.jpg) > “You do what you gotta do. This is not heart surgery. I'm not curing cancer. I'm just trying to put my kids through school.” [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He emphasizes pragmatic duty over grandiose ideals, focusing on providing for his children rather than heroic feats. **In simple terms:** Doing what’s necessary for family, not seeking glory. Key Takeaway Prioritize practical responsibilities. Themes family duty pragmatism Mood determined practical Type motivational realistic When to use this quote - job decisions - financial planning - daily chores - healthcare Key Concepts ethics worklifebalance parenting Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance duty and personal dreams? - What sacrifices are worth making for family? A Different Perspective May overlook personal fulfillment in pursuit of duty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) [Surgery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surgery/) ## Related quotes > [I've done millions of mediocre movies. I've done way more than my fair share. You do what you gotta do. This is not heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-done-millions-of-mediocre-movies-i-ve-done-way-more-than-my-fair/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [I like to think of making cancer a chronic disease rather than focus just on curing cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-glimcher/i-like-to-think-of-making-cancer-a-chronic-disease-rather-than-focus/) [Laurie Glimcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-glimcher/) > [I would never do hard-core pornography, because it looks too much like open-heart surgery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-would-never-do-hard-core-pornography-because-it-looks-too-much-like/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [How much more can you give? Other than, literally, open-heart surgery onstage? Not much. But the only cure you have right now is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/how-much-more-can-you-give-other-than-literally-open-heart-surgery/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [It was in August or September of 1995 that I met Diana, Princess of Wales. Diana and I met through Oonagh Toffolo, whose husband…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasnat-khan/it-was-in-august-or-september-of-1995-that-i-met-diana-princess-of/) [Hasnat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasnat-khan/) > [Fifteen years ago tomorrow I had open heart surgery, a quintuple bypass surgery. Thanks to all of my doctors. Because of them, in 15…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/fifteen-years-ago-tomorrow-i-had-open-heart-surgery-a-quintuple/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [I had open heart surgery, exploratory surgery in my stomach, bilateral chest tubes... all this stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-stone/i-had-open-heart-surgery-exploratory-surgery-in-my-stomach-bilateral/) [Spencer Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-stone/) > [Apart from having heart surgery as a baby, I had a pretty normal upbringing. I attended mainstream school and did gymnastics and dancing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-stuart/apart-from-having-heart-surgery-as-a-baby-i-had-a-pretty-normal/) [Madeline Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-stuart/) > [Let's face it, the human body is like a condominium apartment. The thing that keeps you really enjoying it is the maintenance. There's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/let-s-face-it-the-human-body-is-like-a-condominium-apartment-the/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [To write poetry, like sincere poetry, it is like performing heart surgery on yourself without anesthesia...in public...You are peeling back layers. You are dissecting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amir-sulaiman/to-write-poetry-like-sincere-poetry-it-is-like-performing-heart/) Amir Sulaiman > [Most people are overconfident about their own abilities. That is probably a good thing. But we would be horrified if a physician's aide engaged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lo/most-people-are-overconfident-about-their-own-abilities-that-is/) [Andrew Lo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lo/) > [When I go in for heart surgery, I want a full-time surgeon. I don't want some guy who just does it part-time between rounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-meyer/when-i-go-in-for-heart-surgery-i-want-a-full-time-surgeon-i-don-t/) [Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) > [Taking Viagra after open heart surgery is like a Civil War re-enactment with live ammo. Not good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/taking-viagra-after-open-heart-surgery-is-like-a-civil-war-re/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [I have a call to speak, to write, to do sort of deep-heart surgery in people's lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/i-have-a-call-to-speak-to-write-to-do-sort-of-deep-heart-surgery-in/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [So far, I should be calm and more specifically not like that...Anything else? Would you like to do surgery on my personality? How about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianna-baggott/so-far-i-should-be-calm-and-more-specifically-not-like-that-anything/) [Julianna Baggott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianna-baggott/) ## More by Ron Perlman > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [I just think that there are those people that their resolve is strengthened by what it is that's keeping them down, and there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-just-think-that-there-are-those-people-that-their-resolve-is/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [I've always felt there were aspects of me that were monstrous, and you can either hide from it or confront it, embrace it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-always-felt-there-were-aspects-of-me-that-were-monstrous-and-you/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [I've never been pigeonholed and I've experienced so many different kinds of skin - what man will do and won't do, what you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-never-been-pigeonholed-and-i-ve-experienced-so-many-different/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [I never direct myself, because I don't like working with me. I would punch me in the mouth if I had to take my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-never-direct-myself-because-i-don-t-like-working-with-me-i-would/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [It's nice to get paid for therapy rather than having to pay $240 an hour for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/it-s-nice-to-get-paid-for-therapy-rather-than-having-to-pay-240-an/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [I've had biker clubs reach out to me whenever they knew I was in their city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-had-biker-clubs-reach-out-to-me-whenever-they-knew-i-was-in/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [Season 4 can be deadly for a show that's been a hit show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/season-4-can-be-deadly-for-a-show-that-s-been-a-hit-show/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [I like playing interesting people, I like playing slightly twisted people. I like playing people who have large appetites who are kind of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-like-playing-interesting-people-i-like-playing-slightly-twisted/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [I've always wanted to have my own studio because this is a way for me to finally take all things that I've always dreamt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-always-wanted-to-have-my-own-studio-because-this-is-a-way-for-me/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [I've never worked with a tail, that I can remember. But there's so much I can't remember.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-never-worked-with-a-tail-that-i-can-remember-but-there-s-so-much/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [The luxury of television is that you get more than one shot at who you think the guy is that you're playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/the-luxury-of-television-is-that-you-get-more-than-one-shot-at-who/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [I feel as though my criteria are based more on how challenging the role is, it doesn't have to fit into any particular profile,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-feel-as-though-my-criteria-are-based-more-on-how-challenging-the/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [I'm fully aware that things that resonate and become real hits are the exception to the rule, so much so that I've wired myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-m-fully-aware-that-things-that-resonate-and-become-real-hits-are/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [Each character represents a different color on the big palette of what this ultimate painting is going to look like, who your guy is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/each-character-represents-a-different-color-on-the-big-palette-of/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) [Explore all 93 Ron Perlman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) ## 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": "You do what you gotta do. This is not heart surgery. I'm not curing cancer. I'm just trying to put my kids through school.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ron Perlman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/you-do-what-you-gotta-do-this-is-not-heart-surgery-i-m-not-curing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cancer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/you-do-what-you-gotta-do-this-is-not-heart-surgery-i-m-not-curing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/199/ron-perlman-7226_cancer_you-do-what-you-gotta-do-this-is-not-hea_3137794.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/199/ron-perlman-7226_cancer_you-do-what-you-gotta-do-this-is-not-hea_3137794.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/199/ron-perlman-7226_cancer_you-do-what-you-gotta-do-this-is-not-hea_3137794.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You do what you gotta do. This is not heart surgery. I'm not curing cancer. I'm just trying to put my kids…” — Ron Perlman", "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": "Ron Perlman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You do what you gotta do....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/you-do-what-you-gotta-do-this-is-not-heart-surgery-i-m-not-curing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/you-do-what-you-gotta-do-this-is-not-heart-surgery-i-m-not-curing/#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 } } ] } ```