I've always wanted to write a book relating my experiences growing up as a deaf child in Chicago. Contrary to what people might think, it wasn't all about hearing aids and speech classes or frustrations.
Marlee MatlinRead
I'm a proud person who happens to be deaf. I don't want to change it. I don't want to wake up and suddenly say, 'Oh my God, I can hear.' That's not my dream. It's not my dream. I've been raised deaf. I'm used to the way I am. I don't want to change it. Why would I ever want to change? Because I'm used to this, I'm happy.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses a sense of pride and acceptance in one's identity, specifically being deaf.
Marlee Matlin emphasizes the importance of accepting oneself as they are, highlighting that her deafness is not something she wishes to change. Instead of seeing her disability as a limitation, she embraces it as an integral part of who she is, reflecting a deep sense of contentment and happiness in her unique identity.
Themes
DeafnessPrideAcceptanceIdentityHappiness
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about embracing diversity, this quote can be used to highlight the importance of accepting one's unique traits.
More from Marlee Matlin
All quotes →It was ability that mattered, not disability, which is a word I'm not crazy about using.
Marlee MatlinRead
The only thing I can't do is hear. I can drive, I have a life with four kids, I work on TV, I do movies, so the deafness question, is it that they want to know because, what? Not sure.
Marlee MatlinRead
I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, and in spite of what most people might have expected from a young girl growing up deaf, life for me was like one long episode of The Brady Bunch. Despite whatever barriers were in my way, I imagined myself as Marcia Brady skating down the street saying “hi” to everyone, whether they knew me or not.
Marlee MatlinRead
When I was 11, I knew that I wanted to write a kid's book and tell the world what it was like being deaf.
Marlee MatlinRead
I like to say that the greatest handicap of deafness does not lie in the ear, it lies in the mind. I hope that through my example, such as my role on 'The West Wing,' I can help change attitudes on deafness and prove we can really do everything... except hear.
Marlee MatlinRead
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By deafness one gains in one respect more than one loses; one misses more nonsense than sense.
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