Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Quotes

We make progress in society only if we stop cursing and complaining about its shortcomings and have the courage to do something about them.

As far as service goes, it can take the form of a million things. To do service, you don't have to be a doctor working in the slums for free, or become a social worker. Your position in life and what you do doesn't matter as much as how you do what you do.

Tu ser querido fue fuerte para pasar por todo lo que pasó mientras combatía la enfermedad. Y fue todavía más fuerte cuando finalmente se dejó ir hacia lo desconocido, muriendo con fuerza, no con debilidad.

we have long and controversial discussions about whether patients should be told the truth — a question that rarely arises when the dying person is tended by the family physician who has known him from delivery to death and who knows the weaknesses and strengths of each member of the family.

If we could literally reach into you and remove all your fears — every one of them — how different would your life be? Think about it. If nothing stopped you from following your dreams, your life would probably be very different.

Life is unfair. Death is unfair.

Now, after many years and many lessons, I know that my mother lives on in my heart and mind, and in the words of this page. I also believe she exists elsewhere, in some other way. I can’t see her or touch her, but I can feel her. Even in loss and separation, I am clear that I was with my mother in her last days, even though I could not physically be there.

You may also be angry with yourself that you couldn’t stop it from happening. Not that you had the power, but you had the will. The will to save a life is not the power to stop a death.

...the greatest rewards in your whole life will come from opening your heart to those in need. The greatest blessing always come from helping.

"We live in these paradoxes, the many pushes and pulls. While it is true that our happiness does not depend on the external circumstances, we balance that truth with the reality of this world. We are affected by what happens around us. It would be unrealistic to say to someone experiencing tragedy, "This shouldn't have any effect on you." It will take a toll. At the same time, when we are at our worst, we sometimes find our best. We do overcome tragedies, we do go on to find happiness. The sun does break through the darkness. And in the midst of death, we sometimes find life."

Acceptance is often confused with the notion of being alright or okay with what has happened. This is not the case.

Work and play do not have to be completely separate activities. It is good to find the fun in your work. Finding enjoyment in daily tasks helps us get through the day and through our lives.

When we were children, every experience was rich with possibilities for magic. If we could recapture just a touch of that old feeling and play a little more, we could regain some of our lost innocence. Even as our bodies grow older, we can stay young at heart. We can’t help growing old on the outside, but if we keep playing, we’ll stay young inside.

"When we ask someone "How old are you?" we are really asking them "What time are you?" We're trying to slap a frame of reference on the person by bringing the past into play.
When I find out how old you are, I know what memories you are likely to have. Depending on your age, you may know all about the Marshall Plan, Jackie O., the first moon walk, dial phones, disco, or DOS. I can call this information up in a friendly way, singing old Beatles songs with you. I can bring it back in a hostile way, thinking that you're a fool to have gotten caught up in "flower power." In either case, I'm not seeing you exactly as you are now. I'm judging by what I see as the sum of your past experiences."

If we could combine the teaching of the new scientific and technical achievements with equal emphasis on the interpersonal human relationships we could indeed make progress, but not if the new knowledge is conveyed to the student at the price of less and less interpersonal contact