--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wanted people to hear directly from me…" description: "\"I wanted people to hear directly from me that I have been diagnosed with ALS.\" — Stephen Hillenburg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed3/stephen-hillenburg-10039_been_i-wanted-people-to-hear-directly-from-me_2948221.jpg" --- # I wanted people to hear directly from me that I have been… ![“I wanted people to hear directly from me that I have been diagnosed with ALS.” quote by Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed3/stephen-hillenburg-10039_been_i-wanted-people-to-hear-directly-from-me_2948221.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed3/stephen-hillenburg-10039_been_i-wanted-people-to-hear-directly-from-me_2948221.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed3/stephen-hillenburg-10039_been_i-wanted-people-to-hear-directly-from-me_2948221.jpg) > “I wanted people to hear directly from me that I have been diagnosed with ALS.” [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The creator publicly disclosed his ALS diagnosis, sharing personal health information directly with the audience. **In simple terms:** Openly sharing personal health news. Key Takeaway Communicate important personal updates directly. Themes health disclosure personal authenticity public communication celebrity health Mood vulnerable hopeful inspiring Type personal public informative When to use this quote - patient advocacy - media announcements - support group outreach - fan engagement Key Concepts stigma reduction community support transparency Questions to Reflect On - How does sharing personal health affect public perception? - What responsibilities come with public health disclosures? A Different Perspective Public may focus on illness over work. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Diagnosed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diagnosed/) [Diagnosed Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diagnosed-als-266214/) [Directly Diagnosed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directly-diagnosed-4429298/) [Hear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hear/) [Hear Directly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hear-directly-1406315/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Hear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-hear/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) ## Related quotes > [The doctor who diagnosed me with ALS, or motor neuron disease, told me that it would kill me in two or three years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-doctor-who-diagnosed-me-with-als-or-motor-neuron-disease-told-me/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [When I was first diagnosed with ALS, I was given two years to live. Now 45 years later, I am doing pretty well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/when-i-was-first-diagnosed-with-als-i-was-given-two-years-to-live-now/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [I like it when I can hear directly from the writer: what they're seeing, what they're envisioning, and what their intention is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-hale/i-like-it-when-i-can-hear-directly-from-the-writer-what-they-re/) [Jennifer Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-hale/) > [For the people to hear directly from their president, no matter what format that is in - whether it's through social-media platforms, whether it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-huckabee-sanders/for-the-people-to-hear-directly-from-their-president-no-matter-what/) [Sarah Huckabee Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-huckabee-sanders/) > [Don't believe a thing unless you hear from me directly because there's a lot of bad info going on out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megyn-kelly/don-t-believe-a-thing-unless-you-hear-from-me-directly-because-there/) [Megyn Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megyn-kelly/) > [I'm responsible for what people see and what they hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lynch/i-m-responsible-for-what-people-see-and-what-they-hear/) [David Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lynch/) > [The things we don't say are the things we need people to hear the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laylablack/the-things-we-don-t-say-are-the-things-we-need-people-to-hear-the-most/) [Laylablack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laylablack/) > [You have to think not about what you mean but about what people hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murphy/you-have-to-think-not-about-what-you-mean-but-about-what-people-hear/) [Chris Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murphy/) > [You might be a redneck if people hear your car long before they see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/you-might-be-a-redneck-if-people-hear-your-car-long-before-they-see-it/) [Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/) > [At the time I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, my doctors told me that I had an incurable illness and they didn't know much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ann-mobley/at-the-time-i-was-diagnosed-with-crohn-s-disease-my-doctors-told-me/) [Mary Ann Mobley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ann-mobley/) > [There are people who could watch a hurricane like Sandy blow out of the Atlantic every other day and blame it on anything but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-specter/there-are-people-who-could-watch-a-hurricane-like-sandy-blow-out-of/) [Michael Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-specter/) > [What person doesn't search online about their disease after they are diagnosed?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/what-person-doesn-t-search-online-about-their-disease-after-they-are/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [I've diagnosed myself and discovered I have a limited 'life span' you can do this to. Then live life to its fullest in everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/i-ve-diagnosed-myself-and-discovered-i-have-a-limited-life-span-you/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [“I wonder if I’ve got any of the 374 mental disorders,” I thought. I opened the manual again. And I instantly diagnosed myself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ronson/i-wonder-if-i-ve-got-any-of-the-374-mental-disorders-i-thought-i/) [Jon Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ronson/) > [I was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as an adult, but I don't remember a time when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-mandel/i-was-diagnosed-with-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-add/) [Howie Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-mandel/) ## More by Stephen Hillenburg > [When I pitched the show, I made this special seashell. You could pick it up and hear me singing, 'Spongeboy, Spongeboy!' I also made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/when-i-pitched-the-show-i-made-this-special-seashell-you-could-pick/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) > [I eventually thought of SpongeBob, but he needed a last name - SquarePants came to mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/i-eventually-thought-of-spongebob-but-he-needed-a-last-name/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) > [I was just looking at a packet that had SpongeBob thong underwear, so it goes farther than I would imagine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/i-was-just-looking-at-a-packet-that-had-spongebob-thong-underwear-so/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) > [Laurel and Hardy are among my strongest influences, and I think they're perfect examples of two naive, kid-like characters that are still funny today.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/laurel-and-hardy-are-among-my-strongest-influences-and-i-think-they/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) > [Anyone who knows me knows that I will continue to work on 'SpongeBob SquarePants' and my other passions for as long as I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/anyone-who-knows-me-knows-that-i-will-continue-to-work-on-spongebob/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) > [On TV, it is more efficient to use voice-over people because it is really hard to get celebrity voices to recur in a series.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/on-tv-it-is-more-efficient-to-use-voice-over-people-because-it-is/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) > [In the show, the whole point of the fast food - the fact that SpongeBob loves being part of the fast-food chain and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/in-the-show-the-whole-point-of-the-fast-food-the-fact-that-spongebob/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) > [I studied marine biology, even taught marine science before I got into animation, so I had an interest in that field and those animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/i-studied-marine-biology-even-taught-marine-science-before-i-got-into/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) > [When you set out to do a show about a sponge, you can't anticipate this kind of craze. We just try to make ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/when-you-set-out-to-do-a-show-about-a-sponge-you-can-t-anticipate/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) > [Everybody's got some fascination with undersea life, don't you think?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/everybody-s-got-some-fascination-with-undersea-life-don-t-you-think/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) > [The characters are likable. Even the villainous Plankton - he's still flawed, and you still root for him, in a way, and the style…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/the-characters-are-likable-even-the-villainous-plankton-he-s-still/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) > [I knew I wanted to create a character who was nerdy and kind of square, so when I drew a square sponge, everything came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/i-knew-i-wanted-to-create-a-character-who-was-nerdy-and-kind-of/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) > [I thought, well, what about a show that stars undersea creatures, and some of the ones you rarely see animated. So, from there, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/i-thought-well-what-about-a-show-that-stars-undersea-creatures-and/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) > [Most sponges in the ocean are sedentary: They attach themselves to a rock and sit and filter-feed the rest of their lives and reproduce,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hillenburg/most-sponges-in-the-ocean-are-sedentary-they-attach-themselves-to-a/) [Stephen Hillenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hillenburg/) > [I was always interested in the ocean and also in art. 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