--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I guess that one of the most important…" description: "\"I guess that one of the most important things I've learned is that nothing is ever completely bad. Even cancer. It has made me a better person. It has ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/896/terry-fox-13686_awful_i-guess-that-one-of-the-most-important-t_2014894.jpg" --- # I guess that one of the most important things I've learned… ![“I guess that one of the most important things I've learned is that nothing is ever completely bad. Even cancer. It has made me a better person. It has given me courage and a sense of purpose I never had before. But you don't have to do like I did...wait until you lose a leg or get some awful…” quote by Terry Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/896/terry-fox-13686_awful_i-guess-that-one-of-the-most-important-t_2014894.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/896/terry-fox-13686_awful_i-guess-that-one-of-the-most-important-t_2014894.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/896/terry-fox-13686_awful_i-guess-that-one-of-the-most-important-t_2014894.jpg) > “I guess that one of the most important things I've learned is that nothing is ever completely bad. Even cancer. It has made me a better person. It has given me courage and a sense of purpose I never had before. But you don't have to do like I did...wait until you lose a leg or get some awful disease, before you take the time to find out what kind of stuff you're really made of. You can start now. Anybody can.” [Terry Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-fox/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Facing illness, the speaker finds purpose, courage, and personal growth, urging others to act before crisis. **In simple terms:** Illness can inspire purpose and courage. Key Takeaway Start personal growth now. Themes adversity purpose courage Mood encouraging inspirational Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - cancer recovery - disability advocacy - mental health journeys - community service Key Concepts personal transformation health challenges meaning making Questions to Reflect On - What small challenge can you use to grow? - How can you help others find purpose? A Different Perspective Not everyone experiences crisis, so motivation may feel forced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awful/) [Bad Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-cancer-3617893/) [Better person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-person/) [Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) [Cancer Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer-better-1361057/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [I've learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-ve-learned/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Legs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legs/) [Lose Leg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lose-leg-2429989/) [Loses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loses/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Start now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start-now/) [Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff/) [Things i've learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-i-ve-learned/) [Ve Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ve-learned-241342/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) ## Related quotes > [But my body was telling its story. I have read a lot of stuff about cancer. I needed this book. I wish I'd had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/but-my-body-was-telling-its-story-i-have-read-a-lot-of-stuff-about/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [Our bodies are critical. If I learned anything from getting really bad cancer seven years ago, it's that your body is what you've got.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/our-bodies-are-critical-if-i-learned-anything-from-getting-really-bad/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [If we include hedonistic philosophy in hospitals, the lives of patients suffering from cancer would be much, much better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-onfray/if-we-include-hedonistic-philosophy-in-hospitals-the-lives-of/) [Michel Onfray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-onfray/) > [If I can just stop being so stressed out, maybe my cancer will get better! This is far less scary than treating a disease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-julavits/if-i-can-just-stop-being-so-stressed-out-maybe-my-cancer-will-get/) [Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) > [To hell with your cancer. I've been living with cancer for the better part of a year. Right from the start, it's a death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-white/to-hell-with-your-cancer-i-ve-been-living-with-cancer-for-the-better/) [Walter White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-white/) > [It's inexplicable why somebody can lose a leg and it doesn't effect them at all emotionally; and another person can lose a foot and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/it-s-inexplicable-why-somebody-can-lose-a-leg-and-it-doesn-t-effect/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) > [Life is not orderly. No matter how we try to make life so, right in the middle of it we die, lose a leg,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/life-is-not-orderly-no-matter-how-we-try-to-make-life-so-right-in-the-2/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [Life is not orderly. No matter how we try to make it so, right in the middle of it we die, lose a leg,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/life-is-not-orderly-no-matter-how-we-try-to-make-it-so-right-in-the/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [What is normal? Normal was yesterday. If you lose a leg, one day you're hopping around on one leg, so you know the difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/what-is-normal-normal-was-yesterday-if-you-lose-a-leg-one-day-you-re/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [ \[There are\] so many things I've learned, and I'm still learning, actually. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christophe-lemaire/there-are-so-many-things-i-ve-learned-and-i-m-still-learning-actually/) [Christophe Lemaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christophe-lemaire/) > [One thing I've learned: you can know anything, it's all there, you just have to find it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/one-thing-i-ve-learned-you-can-know-anything-it-s-all-there-you-just/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [One of the greatest things I've learned, as an actor, was how to talk to actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-balfour/one-of-the-greatest-things-i-ve-learned-as-an-actor-was-how-to-talk/) [Eric Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-balfour/) > [The main thing I've learned is that we all have to learn to work with - and appreciate - the brain we've been given,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/the-main-thing-i-ve-learned-is-that-we-all-have-to-learn-to-work-with/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [3 things I've learned in school: Texting without looking, sleeping without getting caught, and team work on tests!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carissa-aydaa/3-things-i-ve-learned-in-school-texting-without-looking-sleeping/) [Carissa Aydaa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carissa-aydaa/) > [I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-ve-learned-that-you-can-tell-a-lot-about-a-person-by-the-way-he-she/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) ## More by Terry Fox > [It almost hurts me to walk down a road and have people grab my hand and ask for my autograph and not sit and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-fox/it-almost-hurts-me-to-walk-down-a-road-and-have-people-grab-my-hand/) [Terry Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-fox/) > [Our privacy is starting to be invaded and we can't get anything done. I'm happy with the fundraising but upset we don't have time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-fox/our-privacy-is-starting-to-be-invaded-and-we-can-t-get-anything-done/) [Terry Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-fox/) > [“I just wish people would realise that anything is possible if you try. Dreams are made if people try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-fox/i-just-wish-people-would-realise-that-anything-is-possible-if-you-try/) [Terry Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-fox/) > [Dreams are made possible if you try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-fox/dreams-are-made-possible-if-you-try/) [Terry Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-fox/) > [Maybe now, instead of being afraid and saying, 'Look how hard Terry tried, and he still got cancer,' instead people will say, 'Look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-fox/maybe-now-instead-of-being-afraid-and-saying-look-how-hard-terry/) [Terry Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-fox/) > [If I ran to a doctor every time I got a little cyst or abrasion, I'd still be in Nova Scotia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-fox/if-i-ran-to-a-doctor-every-time-i-got-a-little-cyst-or-abrasion-i-d/) [Terry Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-fox/) > [I know that you can do the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-fox/i-know-that-you-can-do-the-impossible/) [Terry Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-fox/) > [I don’t feel that this is unfair. That’s the thing about cancer. I’m not the only one, it happens all the time to people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-fox/i-don-t-feel-that-this-is-unfair-that-s-the-thing-about-cancer-i-m/) [Terry Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-fox/) > [I bet some of you feel sorry for me. Well don't. Having an artificial leg has its advantages. I've broken my right knee many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-fox/i-bet-some-of-you-feel-sorry-for-me-well-don-t-having-an-artificial/) [Terry Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-fox/) > [I'm not a dreamer... but I believe in miracles. I have to](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-fox/i-m-not-a-dreamer-but-i-believe-in-miracles-i-have-to/) [Terry Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-fox/) > [It took cancer to realize that being self-centered is not the way to live. The answer is to try and help others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-fox/it-took-cancer-to-realize-that-being-self-centered-is-not-the-way-to/) [Terry Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-fox/) > [Twenty-six miles is now my daily minimum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-fox/twenty-six-miles-is-now-my-daily-minimum/) [Terry Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-fox/) > [I've said to people before that I'm going to do my very best to make it, and I'm not going to give up. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-fox/i-ve-said-to-people-before-that-i-m-going-to-do-my-very-best-to-make/) [Terry Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-fox/) > [One thing hurts me. I keep hearing 'Terry Fox.' I'm not doing the run to become rich or famous... To me, being famous is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-fox/one-thing-hurts-me-i-keep-hearing-terry-fox-i-m-not-doing-the-run-to/) [Terry Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-fox/) > [If there's a pro-Canadian, or someone who's a real proud Canadian, I am. Nobody in Canada would want a united Canada more than me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-fox/if-there-s-a-pro-canadian-or-someone-who-s-a-real-proud-canadian-i-am/) [Terry Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-fox/) [Explore all 49 Terry Fox quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-fox/) ## More Awful quotes > [It must be that I am dreaming, and that I shall awaken in a moment to see that awful knife descending toward my heart-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-rice-burroughs/it-must-be-that-i-am-dreaming-and-that-i-shall-awaken-in-a-moment-to/) [Edgar Rice Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-rice-burroughs/) > [I spent two years in Palo Alto - what an awful, suffocating place for those of us who don't care about yoga, yogurts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeny-morozov/i-spent-two-years-in-palo-alto-what-an-awful-suffocating-place-for/) [Evgeny Morozov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeny-morozov/) > [Layla brought her arms around herself, no doubt because she was remembering the feel of another, stronger set. "I have wanted to, but he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/layla-brought-her-arms-around-herself-no-doubt-because-she-was/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [You've seen the first issue and what happened in the last page. Some pretty awful stuff. I don't know why I seem to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-shalvey/you-ve-seen-the-first-issue-and-what-happened-in-the-last-page-some/) [Declan Shalvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-shalvey/) > [It is not like studying German, where you mull along, in a groping, uncertain way, for thirty years; and at last, just as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/it-is-not-like-studying-german-where-you-mull-along-in-a-groping/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [There was a special challenge in describing the awful childhood of a person who happens to be my own husband. It was very painful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-stephenson/there-was-a-special-challenge-in-describing-the-awful-childhood-of-a/) [Pamela Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-stephenson/) > [On balance the moral influence of religion has been awful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weinberg/on-balance-the-moral-influence-of-religion-has-been-awful/) [Steven Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weinberg/) > [When you finish a poem, it clicks shut like the top of a jewel box, but prose is endless. I haven't experienced an awful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-koch/when-you-finish-a-poem-it-clicks-shut-like-the-top-of-a-jewel-box-but/) [Kenneth Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-koch/) > [Fascism: awful stench of saw and axe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-leiris/fascism-awful-stench-of-saw-and-axe/) [Michel Leiris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-leiris/) > [No one with a bad tie is getting my vote. Some Lib Dems wear the most shockingly awful ties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-fox/no-one-with-a-bad-tie-is-getting-my-vote-some-lib-dems-wear-the-most/) [Freddie Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-fox/) > [“Here she was back in the brightly lit world she had been avoiding for twenty years, and it was exactly as awful as she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-charles-wilson/here-she-was-back-in-the-brightly-lit-world-she-had-been-avoiding-for/) [Robert Charles Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-charles-wilson/) > [I'm pretty indiscriminating, and I have awful taste, generally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-mckay/i-m-pretty-indiscriminating-and-i-have-awful-taste-generally/) [Nellie McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-mckay/) > [The blessed Religion revealed in the word of God will remain an eternal and awful monument to prove that the best Institution may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-blessed-religion-revealed-in-the-word-of-god-will-remain-an/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“I am awful. I am heartless. I am scared that these things are actually true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-am-awful-i-am-heartless-i-am-scared-that-these-things-are-actually/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Democracy is an awful way to run a country, but it's the best system we have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/democracy-is-an-awful-way-to-run-a-country-but-it-s-the-best-system/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) [Browse all 1,826 Awful quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awful/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I guess that one of the most important things I've learned is that nothing is ever completely bad. Even cancer. It has made me a better person. It has given me courage and a sense of purpose I never had before. 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