--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The thing most disabled people cite when…" description: "\"The thing most disabled people cite when they are seriously or terminally ill is not the pain, not the suffering - it's being a burden.\" — Tanni Grey-T..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fa/tanni-grey-thompson-5713_being_the-thing-most-disabled-people-cite-when_2164059.jpg" --- # The thing most disabled people cite when they are… ![“The thing most disabled people cite when they are seriously or terminally ill is not the pain, not the suffering - it's being a burden.” quote by Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fa/tanni-grey-thompson-5713_being_the-thing-most-disabled-people-cite-when_2164059.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fa/tanni-grey-thompson-5713_being_the-thing-most-disabled-people-cite-when_2164059.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fa/tanni-grey-thompson-5713_being_the-thing-most-disabled-people-cite-when_2164059.jpg) > “The thing most disabled people cite when they are seriously or terminally ill is not the pain, not the suffering - it's being a burden.” [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People with serious illness often fear becoming a burden more than physical pain. **In simple terms:** Fear of being a burden outweighs pain. Key Takeaway Prioritize emotional support over solely physical care. Themes vulnerability burden illness empathy Mood empathetic reflective Type inspirational humanitarian When to use this quote - hospital care - family discussions - end‑of‑life planning - support groups Key Concepts psychology care ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can caregivers balance emotional reassurance with practical assistance? - What societal changes reduce the stigma of being a burden? A Different Perspective May overlook practical needs while focusing on emotional reassurance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Burden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burden/) [Disability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disability/) [Disabled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disabled/) [Disabled People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disabled-people/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Pain suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain-suffering/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Suffering Burden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering-burden-1262193/) [Terminally ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terminally-ill/) ## Related quotes > [Most disabled people get used to a certain level of abuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/most-disabled-people-get-used-to-a-certain-level-of-abuse/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [I'm not sure the public is always able to differentiate between someone who's terminally ill and someone who's disabled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/i-m-not-sure-the-public-is-always-able-to-differentiate-between/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [We think we know what it's all about; we think that disability is a really simple thing, and we don't expect to see disabled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-young/we-think-we-know-what-it-s-all-about-we-think-that-disability-is-a/) [Stella Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-young/) > [For all the challenges facing governments and their economies around the world equality for disabled people is not just a big part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/for-all-the-challenges-facing-governments-and-their-economies-around/) [Penny Mordaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/) > [Disabled people used to be either the good person or the real evil villain. There's no way in between.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-jones/disabled-people-used-to-be-either-the-good-person-or-the-real-evil/) [Rosie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-jones/) > [When you hear the word 'disabled,' people immediately think about people who can't walk or talk or do everything that people take for granted.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teri-garr/when-you-hear-the-word-disabled-people-immediately-think-about-people/) [Teri Garr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teri-garr/) > [Of course there are people who, either because of sickness or disability, can't work, in the short term, and sometimes throughout their lives. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-reeves/of-course-there-are-people-who-either-because-of-sickness-or/) [Rachel Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-reeves/) > [“For lots of us, disabled people are not our teachers or our doctors or our manicurists. We're not real people. We are there to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-young/for-lots-of-us-disabled-people-are-not-our-teachers-or-our-doctors-or/) [Stella Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-young/) > [You can take them in a wheelchair and put them in a pool, so they can move their arms and legs. In a pool…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lalanne/you-can-take-them-in-a-wheelchair-and-put-them-in-a-pool-so-they-can/) [Jack LaLanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lalanne/) > [We’ve been sold this lie that disability makes you exceptional and it honestly doesn’t. … I want to live in a world where we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-young/we-ve-been-sold-this-lie-that-disability-makes-you-exceptional-and-it/) [Stella Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-young/) > [I really think there's a difference between people born disabled and people who become disabled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-jones/i-really-think-there-s-a-difference-between-people-born-disabled-and/) [Rosie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-jones/) > [Disability is everywhere. It's just something that happens. It could happen to friends, family, loved ones. It could happen to you. I mean after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mccausland/disability-is-everywhere-it-s-just-something-that-happens-it-could/) [Chris McCausland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mccausland/) > [Disabled people need more invested in their education, housing, job training, transportation, assistive technology, and independent-living facilities. Governments earn back this investment - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ventura/disabled-people-need-more-invested-in-their-education-housing-job/) [Jesse Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ventura/) > [The world worries about disability more than disabled people do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/the-world-worries-about-disability-more-than-disabled-people-do/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Disability simulation fails to capture the nuance and complexity of living in a disabled body. And it certainly fails to give a deep understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-young/disability-simulation-fails-to-capture-the-nuance-and-complexity-of/) [Stella Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-young/) ## More by Tanni Grey-Thompson > [People come up to me and say 'I wouldn't want to live if I was like you.' And I say 'Actually, my life's pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/people-come-up-to-me-and-say-i-wouldn-t-want-to-live-if-i-was-like/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [Every disabled person's experience is different. As a wheelchair user I can experience something different from someone who is visually impaired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/every-disabled-person-s-experience-is-different-as-a-wheelchair-user/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [I'm too much of a coward for plastic surgery, but if I could wave a magic wand and change something, it would be my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/i-m-too-much-of-a-coward-for-plastic-surgery-but-if-i-could-wave-a/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [When I was competing we were training 15 times a week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/when-i-was-competing-we-were-training-15-times-a-week/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [Twenty years in sport has given me a broad perspective on life, bringing me into contact with a variety of social issues, and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/twenty-years-in-sport-has-given-me-a-broad-perspective-on-life/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [When I started, nobody knew what the Paralympics were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/when-i-started-nobody-knew-what-the-paralympics-were/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [I remember trying to go to the cinema with my friends, so I must have been nine or 10, and being told I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/i-remember-trying-to-go-to-the-cinema-with-my-friends-so-i-must-have/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [Perhaps we need to redefine our idea of role models; they're not always elite athletes whose success might seem too distant or unachievable. Sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/perhaps-we-need-to-redefine-our-idea-of-role-models-they-re-not/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [Wheelchairs get lost or damaged during transit because some staff don't always understand how important the equipment is, or the cost of it. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/wheelchairs-get-lost-or-damaged-during-transit-because-some-staff-don/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [The reality for most athletes is that they have to deal with the wrath of the media only after they have performed, not in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/the-reality-for-most-athletes-is-that-they-have-to-deal-with-the/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [I have seen first hand the vital role that the physical activity sector - with its widespread workforce of coaches, youth workers, activity professionals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/i-have-seen-first-hand-the-vital-role-that-the-physical-activity/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [Despite hanging up my racing wheels over a decade ago, I still get a buzz when we enter an Olympic and Paralympic year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/despite-hanging-up-my-racing-wheels-over-a-decade-ago-i-still-get-a/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [I've lost track of the amount of time I've been spoken down to, literally patted on the head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/i-ve-lost-track-of-the-amount-of-time-i-ve-been-spoken-down-to/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [At 70, my late father, Peter, underwent a foot amputation after surgical complications. There were suggestions that at his age being in a wheelchair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/at-70-my-late-father-peter-underwent-a-foot-amputation-after-surgical/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [My father was an architect and I grew up knowing more about planning regulations and the constraints of old buildings than most children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/my-father-was-an-architect-and-i-grew-up-knowing-more-about-planning/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) [Explore all 100 Tanni Grey-Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) ## More Being quotes > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/) [Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [I love to fish. I love the peacefulness of being around the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-love-to-fish-i-love-the-peacefulness-of-being-around-the-water/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [We should not live in fear, we should all enjoy being able to express our views freely and openly, challenge each other on issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-should-not-live-in-fear-we-should-all-enjoy-being-able-to-express/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) [Browse all 18,139 Being quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The thing most disabled people cite when they are seriously or terminally ill is not the pain, not the suffering - it's being a burden.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tanni Grey-Thompson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/the-thing-most-disabled-people-cite-when-they-are-seriously-or/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/the-thing-most-disabled-people-cite-when-they-are-seriously-or/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fa/tanni-grey-thompson-5713_being_the-thing-most-disabled-people-cite-when_2164059.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fa/tanni-grey-thompson-5713_being_the-thing-most-disabled-people-cite-when_2164059.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fa/tanni-grey-thompson-5713_being_the-thing-most-disabled-people-cite-when_2164059.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The thing most disabled people cite when they are seriously or terminally ill is not the pain, not the…” — Tanni Grey-Thompson", "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": "Tanni Grey-Thompson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The thing most disabled people cite...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/the-thing-most-disabled-people-cite-when-they-are-seriously-or/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/the-thing-most-disabled-people-cite-when-they-are-seriously-or/#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 } } ] } ```