--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A positive attitude does not cure cancer…" description: "\"A positive attitude does not cure cancer, any more than a negative one causes it.\" — Siddhartha Mukherjee" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/643/siddhartha-mukherjee-1619_attitude_a-positive-attitude-does-not-cure-cancer_2491295.png" --- # A positive attitude does not cure cancer, any more than a… ![“A positive attitude does not cure cancer, any more than a negative one causes it.” quote by Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/643/siddhartha-mukherjee-1619_attitude_a-positive-attitude-does-not-cure-cancer_2491295.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/643/siddhartha-mukherjee-1619_attitude_a-positive-attitude-does-not-cure-cancer_2491295.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/643/siddhartha-mukherjee-1619_attitude_a-positive-attitude-does-not-cure-cancer_2491295.png) > “A positive attitude does not cure cancer, any more than a negative one causes it.” [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Attitudes alone cannot change disease outcomes; both positive and negative mindsets are ineffective without medical intervention. **In simple terms:** Mindset doesn’t cure illness. Key Takeaway Focus on evidence‑based treatment. Themes health mindset medicine Mood cautious balanced Type informational educational When to use this quote - doctor visits - patient counseling - support groups Key Concepts psychosomatic clinical evidence Questions to Reflect On - What role does optimism play in recovery? - How can clinicians balance hope with realism? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on attitude may neglect needed care. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Attitude Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude-does-967634/) [Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) [Cancer Negative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer-negative-967633/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Cure Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cure-cancer/) [Cures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cures/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Injury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injury/) [Negative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive/) [Positive attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-attitude/) [Therapy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/therapy/) ## Related quotes > [I think it's scandalous that we haven't done more to cure cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/i-think-it-s-scandalous-that-we-haven-t-done-more-to-cure-cancer/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [That smile could end wars and cure cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/that-smile-could-end-wars-and-cure-cancer/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [The baby will talk when he talks, relax. It ain't like he knows the cure for cancer and just ain't spitting it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-halpern/the-baby-will-talk-when-he-talks-relax-it-ain-t-like-he-knows-the/) [Justin Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-halpern/) > [Poetry can't cure cancer, but it can save your life until you die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-saatchi/poetry-can-t-cure-cancer-but-it-can-save-your-life-until-you-die/) [Maurice Saatchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-saatchi/) > [A truly compassionate attitude toward others does not change even if they behave negatively or hurt you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-truly-compassionate-attitude-toward-others-does-not-change-even-if/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A great attitude does much more than turn on the lights in our worlds; it seems to magically connect us to all sorts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/a-great-attitude-does-much-more-than-turn-on-the-lights-in-our-worlds/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [“A poor attitude does not do the body any favours. Smile and the world will smile back at you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-duffy/a-poor-attitude-does-not-do-the-body-any-favours-smile-and-the-world/) [Maurice Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-duffy/) > [Your successes and failures does not best describe you, your character and attitude does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-successes-and-failures-does-not-best-describe-you-your-character/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Grades don't define a person,attitude does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-therese-damulo/grades-don-t-define-a-person-attitude-does/) [Audrey Therese Damulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-therese-damulo/) > [If no one like you, because of your attitude, it does'nt matter, God is there you will like you & love the way you are...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaw/if-no-one-like-you-because-of-your-attitude-it-does-nt-matter-god-is/) [Isaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaw/) > [No amount of advice change his attitude. He does not listed to good advice. Rather he gets angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/no-amount-of-advice-change-his-attitude-he-does-not-listed-to-good/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [Millions of Americans every year depend upon medical imaging exams to diagnose disease and detect injury, and thousands more rely on radiation therapy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-pickering/millions-of-americans-every-year-depend-upon-medical-imaging-exams-to/) [Charles W. Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-pickering/) > [“If you found a cure for cancer, wouldn’t it be inconceivable to hide it from the rest of mankind? How much more inconceivable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-davidson/if-you-found-a-cure-for-cancer-wouldn-t-it-be-inconceivable-to-hide/) [Dave Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-davidson/) > [Just like some day, say, 1000 years from now, when we can go to another star and see a planet, that's what we would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bean/just-like-some-day-say-1000-years-from-now-when-we-can-go-to-another/) [Alan Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bean/) > [When scientists are asked what they are working on, their response is seldom 'Finding the origin of the universe' or 'Seeking to cure cancer.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/when-scientists-are-asked-what-they-are-working-on-their-response-is/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) ## More by Siddhartha Mukherjee > [Most days, I go home and I feel rejuvenated. I feel ebullient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/most-days-i-go-home-and-i-feel-rejuvenated-i-feel-ebullient/) [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) > [“A note of caution: epigenetics is also on the verge of transforming into a dangerous idea. Epigenetic modifications of genes can potentially superpose historical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/a-note-of-caution-epigenetics-is-also-on-the-verge-of-transforming/) [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) > [When you immerse yourself in medicine you realise that hope is not absolute. It's not that simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/when-you-immerse-yourself-in-medicine-you-realise-that-hope-is-not/) [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) > [“I had a novice's hunger for history, but also a novice's inability to envision it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/i-had-a-novice-s-hunger-for-history-but-also-a-novice-s-inability-to/) [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) > [“Any extrapolation of history into the future presupposes an environment of static discovery—an oxymoron.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/any-extrapolation-of-history-into-the-future-presupposes-an/) [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) > [“Six decades and two years, no more than a passing glance of time, separate Mendel's initial experiments on peas and the court-mandated sterilization of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/six-decades-and-two-years-no-more-than-a-passing-glance-of-time/) [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) > [“We now know that cells have ancient detectors that recognize viral genes and stamp them with chemical marks, like cancellation signs, to prevent their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/we-now-know-that-cells-have-ancient-detectors-that-recognize-viral/) [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) > [“Familial schizophrenia (like normal human features such as intelligence and temperament) is thus highly heritable but only moderately inheritable. In other words, genes-hereditary determinants-are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/familial-schizophrenia-like-normal-human-features-such-as/) [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) > [“If you prefer an “academic life” as a retreat from reality, do not go into biology. This field is for a man or woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/if-you-prefer-an-academic-life-as-a-retreat-from-reality-do-not-go/) [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) > [“But the pigs--seventy pounds of porcine weight that did not take kindly to weekly endoscopies--did not sprout any ulcers. And testing the theory on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/but-the-pigs-seventy-pounds-of-porcine-weight-that-did-not-take/) [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) > [“One of the four genes used by Yamanaka to reverse cellular fate is called c-myc. Myc, the rejuvenating factor, is no ordinary gene: it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/one-of-the-four-genes-used-by-yamanaka-to-reverse-cellular-fate-is/) [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) > [A breast cancer might turn out to have a close resemblance to a gastric cancer. And this kind of reorganization of cancer in terms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/a-breast-cancer-might-turn-out-to-have-a-close-resemblance-to-a/) [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) > [“But in 1960, oncology was not yet ready for this proposal. Not until several years later did it strike the board that had fired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/but-in-1960-oncology-was-not-yet-ready-for-this-proposal-not-until/) [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) > [“Mutants are necessary to maintain the essence of our selves. Our genomes has negotiated a fragile balance between counterpoised forces, pairing strand with opposite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/mutants-are-necessary-to-maintain-the-essence-of-our-selves-our/) [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) > [“Even an ancient monster needs a name. To name an illness is to describe a certain condition of suffering—a literary act before it becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/even-an-ancient-monster-needs-a-name-to-name-an-illness-is-to/) [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) [Explore all 213 Siddhartha Mukherjee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) ## 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": "A positive attitude does not cure cancer, any more than a negative one causes it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Siddhartha Mukherjee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/a-positive-attitude-does-not-cure-cancer-any-more-than-a-negative-one/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/a-positive-attitude-does-not-cure-cancer-any-more-than-a-negative-one/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/643/siddhartha-mukherjee-1619_attitude_a-positive-attitude-does-not-cure-cancer_2491295.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/643/siddhartha-mukherjee-1619_attitude_a-positive-attitude-does-not-cure-cancer_2491295.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/643/siddhartha-mukherjee-1619_attitude_a-positive-attitude-does-not-cure-cancer_2491295.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A positive attitude does not cure cancer, any more than a negative one causes it.” — Siddhartha Mukherjee", "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": "Siddhartha Mukherjee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A positive attitude does not cure...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/a-positive-attitude-does-not-cure-cancer-any-more-than-a-negative-one/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/a-positive-attitude-does-not-cure-cancer-any-more-than-a-negative-one/#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 } } ] } ```